West Haven ARPA committee approves dozens of invoices, reallocations and project payments

The West Haven ARPA Committee on Tuesday approved a series of invoices, contract payments and one internal budget reallocation totaling several million dollars in committed projects funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations.

The committee approved payments and contract applications across parks, public works, public safety and community programs, including a $856,225.95 application for an annex project, a $187,668 purchase order for storm-basin equipment, a $70,120.40 furniture purchase for a firehouse and a $100,000 first installment request on a $795,000 tennis-court project at Painter Park.

Those approvals follow the committee’s work to move ARPA-funded projects toward completion. Committee members also approved a budget revision for NewReach, moving $8,507.72 from telecommunications and indirect costs to salary and fringe to cover staffing costs for food service, and authorized payment of $12,500 to Stantec for a Contact Drive flood study design. The committee voted to pay invoices for City Hall cameras and associated wiring: A & S’s $15,891 invoice and an OmniData invoice of $15,946.42 for camera wiring.

Most motions carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies. Rohan Smith, who led the meeting, told members the WI Clark Company purchase — $187,668 for a larger storm-basin machine for Public Works — was procured through a cooperative purchasing group and had previously been approved by Marv (staff review). "It was approved. Yeah. I I researched that today," Smith said, and the committee approved the PO.

Committee members flagged several implementation and documentation issues during discussion. The child-development center roofing project remains without required closeout documents despite outstanding payments, and a committee member asked that the job be wrapped up. For the Diversity Construction annex project, staff said they had withheld seven percent of payments to prod contractors over slow schedules; committee members approved submitted application No. 1 for $856,225.95 and a later application (referred to as application No. 8) for $23,474 to clear additional work, with the committee noting concerns over the contractor’s timeline despite satisfactory quality.

The committee also approved smaller facilities and maintenance invoices: a French drain at Painter Park ($2,490), a Pagel sign ($2,357), painting and repairs at Morris Park (wizard painting, $1,970), a new gate at Pagel School ($1,725) and storefront and countertop work at city offices (Cherry Hill Glass $8,095; Classic Drywall countertop $1,575). Several vendors with recurring invoices — Jow Films (three $300 invoices), Pagel signage, Ballard’s and Antonacci/Anton Isaac contractors — were approved as presented.

On a separate item, the committee approved reimbursement to the mayor for two Home Depot receipts — $442.69 and $250.65 — for mural supplies that staff said were purchased with the mayor’s personal funds because there is no city Home Depot card. During that exchange, a committee member objected to the mayor obligating the city without preapproval; Rohan Smith said the mayor had a prior courtesy preapproval and added, "I have the authority to preapprove up to $20,000 based on the authority you've given me as the chairman." The committee approved the reimbursement by voice vote with one abstention.

Other approvals included a $70,120.40 purchase from W.B. Mason for bunk furniture at a firehouse annex, and multiple invoices related to the West Shore and Center District housing projects (including a house closing and forthcoming demolition). The committee also approved training reimbursements for three firehouses and payments for bleacher repairs pending certified payroll documentation.

The meeting ended after members completed the agenda and approved adjournment. Staff were directed to follow up on outstanding closeout documents and to continue monitoring contractor schedules and documentation for larger construction projects.