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Council authorizes grant application for proposed Access Road arboretum
Summary
Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to submit a grant application to an environmental fund to support construction of a proposed arboretum on Access Road; council members asked for example projects and design renderings.
The Town of Stratford Town Council on April 7 authorized Mayor Laura R. Hoyde to apply for grant funding to support construction of an arboretum on town property at Access Road, approving a resolution that empowers the mayor or her designee to execute a grant application and related documents.
The resolution, presented as item 6.2.0.1, was moved by Councilman O'Neil and seconded; council members approved the item without recorded dissent. The motion’s text authorized the mayor to “execute and deliver such grant application, including any amendments thereto and any and all related documents necessary to apply for and obtain funding from Environmental Justice for New England and to support the Arborton construction,” as stated in the meeting record.
Council members asked for examples and visuals to better understand the scope. Councilman Cheah (asked by name in the transcript) asked whether staff had examples of similar projects in other municipalities. Mayor Hoyde and Molly (a grants staff member) said design drawings and renderings exist and can be circulated to the council, but implementation funding beyond the design has not yet been secured. “We do have drawings and renderings… We don't really have the implementation funded totally. But if you're willing to look at it, I'm happy to send it to you,” the mayor said.
Molly and other town staff described a multi‑year effort to use the Access Road site for an arboretum, recalling earlier neighborhood decisions that declined a splash pad at the location and noting that the site was chosen to promote greenery and neighborhood improvement. Councilman O'Neil noted that when the property first became available he had sought to keep it in community ownership and said he wanted it preserved for community uses in perpetuity.
The council’s approval authorizes the town to apply for the identified external grant; the meeting record does not show a committed implementation budget or a grant award. Council members requested that staff provide the available renderings and additional details about likely scope and funding once those materials are ready.
