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Torrington council approves ARPA package funding security upgrades, parks master plan and senior services
Summary
The Torrington City Council on Dec. 16 approved amendments and new allocations from ARPA funds including $595,000 for citywide security/access control, $150,000 for a parks master plan, stipends for volunteer fire departments, and multiple senior‑center projects and technology purchases.
Torrington — The City Council voted Dec. 16 to approve a package of ARPA-funded amendments and new allocations that expand citywide security and fund parks, senior services and volunteer fire department stipends.
The council increased a prior security/access control authorization from $500,000 to $595,000 to include a previously separated access‑control line item, with officials saying the work will be done in phases and begin at the police department. "This proposal is for every single building within the city," a staff member said, adding the system will centralize recorded camera feeds and consolidate multiple access‑control fob systems into one managed platform. Council members clarified the cameras will record for later review rather than be continuously monitored.
Council also approved $150,000, supplemented by $59,000 from capital reserves, for phase one of a citywide parks and recreation master plan. The contract was awarded through an RFQ to SLR; staff said the study will evaluate 29 park spaces (including the Metruger and Red Mountain properties), review ADA needs and convene public engagement sessions such as on‑site pop‑ups and workshops.
The council authorized $25,000 in stipends payable to the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department and the Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department. At public comment earlier in the meeting, Chief Tom Kalinowski of the Drakeville department had urged support for stipend funding, saying the department had a roster of 14 firefighters and described equipment and response needs.
Several senior‑center projects were approved: $10,000 for medical transportation to out‑of‑town appointments and $4,000 for 'winter wellness' packs for homebound seniors; $24,000 (use of the state DAS contract) to replace a second furnace at the senior center; $5,000 toward a computer lab (vendor: B&H Photo Video & Pro Audio); up to $3,000 for 10 iPads and training for isolated seniors; and $10,000 for a bingo‑machine replacement. Officials said the transportation MOU provides roughly 286 hours of service for medical rides and that the wellness packs are budgeted at approximately $10 per recipient for about 400 recipients.
Other ARPA approvals included up to $10,000 to purchase an emergency backup generator for the animal control facility (propane‑fired, including required automatic transfer switch) and up to $10,000 to commission juried public artwork by Torrington artists for display in city spaces. Economic development director William Wallach said local residency or a recent Torrington high‑school graduate tie will be used to define eligibility for the artist program.
Council members stressed timing: several approvals were structured as 'not to exceed' or preapprovals so contracts could be executed before ARPA funds expire; staff indicated they expect contracts to be in place or under special meeting approval by Dec. 31 where required. The council approved the package by voice votes with no recorded opposition.
What’s next: The mayor is authorized to execute memorandums of agreement related to the senior programs and artist purchases where applicable, and staff will proceed with phased implementation of the security/access control rollout and procurement steps for the approved items.
