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Council obligates remaining ARPA funds for IT upgrades, roads, equipment and fire station improvements
Summary
Council approved a series of interdepartmental agreements and resolutions to obligate remaining ARPA funds for a ladder/engine purchase ($400,000), a camera truck for wastewater, IT infrastructure ($235,000), road rehabilitation (~$990,000 total funding mix) and accepted a state recovery grant for fire-station improvements requiring a 50% local match (~$574,250).
The West Warwick council approved multiple resolutions and interdepartmental agreements to obligate remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and to accept related grant awards.
Administration described a standard interdepartmental-agreement form (drawn from a template circulating among Rhode Island municipalities) to document obligations to comply with U.S. Treasury guidance before spending ARPA funds. The council approved a $400,000 allocation to the fire department for a ladder and engine that must be expended by the end of 2026.
Separately, the council approved the obligation of funds for a camera truck for the wastewater treatment facility and a $4,649 allocation to replace part of the epoxy flooring at the youth center. The council also authorized up to about $990,000 for 2025 road rehabilitation projects using a mix of ARPA (about $267,207.11), RIDOT reimbursements, accrued interest and other reimbursements.
Jeff Burnett, introduced as the town’s VPW/head director and internal IT lead, presented a request to use $235,000 in ARPA funds for an IT infrastructure upgrade. Burnett said the funding would replace approximately one-third of desktop PCs (roughly 30–35 units), upgrade servers (up to four) and pay associated software licensing to address end‑of‑life equipment and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The council approved the IT allocation.
The council also voted to accept a state pandemic‑recovery (municipal public safety infrastructure) grant of roughly $574,250 for Fire Station 1 improvements; that award carries a 50 percent local match the administration proposed to fund from FY24 surplus or anticipated FEMA recovery funds upon receipt. Fire department priorities described to the council included gym-floor replacement work, roof repairs across the public safety complex and replacement of backup antennas on the building.
