ARPA committee denies large Utility Communications invoices over procurement mismatch, approves small camera bill

WEST HAVEN, Conn. Aug. 5, 2025 The West Haven ARPA Committee on Tuesday declined to pay several Utility Communications invoices after the committee chair said the vendor used a state radio contract that does not cover camera installation, but approved one smaller invoice that fell beneath the city—purchasing threshold. Ken Carney, chair of the West Haven ARPA Committee, told the committee he had denied multiple invoices because the vendor—was not demonstrably compliant with procurement rules.

The committee chair said the vendor—referenced a state contract that "is specific to walkie talkies and walkie talkie apparatus" and does not cover camera systems. "I have denied these 2 invoices totaling about $50,000," Carney said, and later noted an additional invoice of $7,349 he had also denied pending procurement documentation. The committee approved a separate Utility Communications invoice for $1,841.75 because the city's purchasing ordinance allows purchases under $2,500 without formal competitive bids or cooperative purchasing.

Why this matters: ARPA funds are federal dollars with local procurement rules that the committee said it will enforce before authorizing payment. Committee members emphasized that invoices routed directly to city hall sometimes arrive without the procurement paperwork the ARPA committee requires for payment.

Committee action and counts: Carney presented letters denying two larger invoices and a later letter denying $7,349; he presented one invoice for $1,841.75 that he recommended approving under the city's purchasing ordinance. Committee members moved and seconded the approval; the motion passed on voice vote.

Details from the meeting: Carney said he examined the state contract cited by Utility Communications and found it described radio equipment only (pages 42—through 44 of the packet). He said purchase orders existed but ARPA funds would not be released until procurement compliance could be proven. Carney told the committee: "POs were written, but the ARPA committee is not gonna consider [payment] without procurement." Committee members agreed to pay the sub-$2,500 invoice for camera work that Carney said covered perimeter cameras at City Hall and cameras in parks and parking lots, while denying the larger charges.

Next steps: The committee will not pay the denied invoices until the vendor provides procurement documentation that aligns the billed work with an appropriate procurement authority. The approved under-$2,500 invoice will be paid from ARPA funds.

Ending: The committee continued with other agenda items after the procurement decisions, and several members reiterated that ARPA payments will be vetted against the city—purchasing ordinance going forward.