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Public works reports ARPA project delays; council authorizes contract awards and truck purchases highlighted
Summary
The public works director updated the council on ARPA-funded projects (Roy Avenue, animal shelter, track), said some work is suspended for weather, described new vehicle acquisitions funded by ARPA and federal funds, and the council approved multiple vendor contracts including a one-year contract with Diggers Landscaping; one councilor voted no on
The city's public works director gave a status update Monday on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)–funded projects and other infrastructure matters and the council approved several related contract resolutions.
Director D'Agostino reported three ARPA projects under way: renovations at Roy Avenue (employee water garage/facility), work at the animal shelter (suspended until weather improves) and improvements to the John R. Dion track/facility (also temporarily suspended). He told the council the Roy Avenue work was progressing with sheetrock up and painting expected soon, while work on the animal shelter and the track had been paused because of icy conditions.
The director also addressed prior discussion of selling water outside city limits, saying he will not advocate for supplying infrastructure outside city limits and that the financial return on selling water is poor: "we make 0.008, not even a penny, on a gallon of water," he said on the record.
The director said the city received three new dump trucks (Freightliners) with sanders and plows, purchased with ARPA funds, plus several new pickups and a recycling truck on order; he said the purchases relieve pressure on the FY26 equipment line item. He said proper fleet upkeep is critical for timely street and snow response.
On contracts, the council approved a one-year contract awarding miscellaneous construction services citywide to Diggers Landscaping Inc. (bid number 6300). Director D'Agostino and council members described the vendor's past use for stump removal and emergency work when city crews were unavailable; the director said they had been used "quite a bit" in recent years. The resolution (25 R 22) passed 6–1, with Councilwoman Sierra recorded as voting no and explaining she would not support awarding work to a vendor she said had contributed to the city's current budget duress.
Other contract and procurement resolutions were approved by the council at the meeting (see votes at a glance). The director cautioned that federal and ARPA funds are finite and that fleet and infrastructure maintenance will remain a budget priority going forward; he said the city has roughly another year of ARPA funds for some projects and warned that long-term funding gaps remain.
