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Richmond approves up-to-$121,120 contract for parking improvements and reallocates ARPA line items
Summary
Council awarded a bid to Solitro Property Solutions for parking and boardwalk improvements at Chelsea Farm Drive (up to $121,120, contingent on matching funds) and approved reallocations of ARPA line items after staff presented current balances and possible projects.
The Richmond Town Council voted to award a construction contract to Solitro Property Solutions for parking improvements, a timber stairway and boardwalk work at Chelsea Farm Drive, authorizing an amount not to exceed $121,120 pending additional funding from the Rhode Island DEM and local matching funds.
Staff explained the bid process and said the project received five bids, with Solitro the low bidder. According to staff, available funding includes a $76,000 DEM grant and stewardship funds from a land trust; the land trust reported $30,000 available but said $8,000 of that amount is earmarked for a consultant. A staff representative said they would request an itemized bid from the contractor to allow prioritization if grant funding falls short and to use volunteer labor where feasible.
At the same meeting, staff presented an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding update and recommended reallocating remaining balances toward projects that can be obligated by the end of the calendar year. In the record staff stated, "we did receive a total of $2,000,313 I'm sorry, dollars 313,838 in total," (staff phrasing in the public record). Staff listed completed projects, line-item balances (generator, IT, police station match, town hall renovations) and a $249,000 balance available for reallocation. Following discussion, council approved a motion to unallocate and reallocate specified ARPA line items (including amounts cited in staff materials) by voice vote.
Direct quotes from staff included budget and timing notes about obligations and matches, and council members pressed for itemized bids and timing so obligated funds can be spent before federal deadlines. Council approved both the Solitro contract award and the ARPA reallocation motion by voice vote.
What happens next: Staff will seek an itemized bid from Solitro and proceed with contract negotiations and awarding subject to available grant matches. The ARPA reallocations will be executed administratively as directed; projects chosen must be obligated under ARPA timelines and will be brought back to council for required approvals where necessary.
