The West Haven ARPA Committee on Dec. 2 approved a series of routine payments and project authorizations, including design work for an animal‑shelter addition and environmental sampling tied to a planned house demolition, committee chair Ken Carney said.

Carney opened the meeting and confirmed attendance, including Attorney David Grubberg of Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessy, Dwight Knowles, Chris Forrester, Mike Glass and Anne Farris. The committee waived the reading of the Nov. 4 minutes and approved those minutes by voice vote.

The committee approved a Carmody invoice for $19,500 and a $471 invoice from Frank's & Fence Company for Glade Street fence repairs. Carney noted a change to the city's purchasing ordinance: the public‑bid threshold was raised from $10,000 to $35,000.

Members approved a Daniel's Equipment invoice that matches a previously approved proposal. Carney said the vendor slightly overspent ARPA funds and finance has reconciled the balance; the committee approved the invoice as it appeared in the meeting packet. During discussion, Carney described the purchase as a specialized extractor used to decontaminate firefighting gear to remove pollutants and PCBs, not a standard washer.

The committee reviewed a multi‑district emergency consulting study commissioned by the fire districts that models ideal firehouse placement against response‑time standards and federal/state guidance. Carney said the study could inform consolidation or realignment of stations, and that the fire districts paid for the work.

On facility projects, the committee approved a Diversity Construction invoice for $7,719.78 charged to designated West Shore funds and authorized a $25,000 design contract with Antonacci for an addition at the city animal shelter. Carney said Andrade's competing design bid was about $95,000 and Antonacci's $25,000 proposal would reuse prior plans to reduce cost. Carney said funding for the project would come from roughly $243,000 in ARPA funds and about $88,000 in urban grant funds.

The committee approved a quarterly rent payment for Campbell Commons of $11,400 and approved an Antonacci invoice associated with West Shore (amount as presented in the transcript packet was unclear). The committee also voted to authorize Attorney Grubberg to complete and file the invoice approval form.

Carney reported ARPA funds had been budgeted to demolish a house at 8167 Avenue to expand parking for the Center Fire District. The committee approved Brooks Environmental Consulting to carry out environmental sampling for the demolition, accepting the firm's proposal summarized in the packet as a flat fee of $525 plus $30 per sample; the committee noted an estimate of about 75 samples and that the procurement is below the $500,000 threshold and meets ARPA procurement rules.

The meeting concluded with no further new business and the committee adjourned by voice vote.

Quotes from the meeting include Carney describing procurement thresholds and the extractor equipment: "The purchasing ordinance has been updated. The threshold before going out to public bid is now 35,000, moved up from 10,000," and, on extractor equipment, that "it's more than a washer... it has to be disposed of, you know, PCBs and everything else."