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Select Board approves $667,500 in ARPA reallocations to vehicles, school tech and public-safety gear
Summary
Brookline’s Select Board voted to approve an omnibus reallocation of $667,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for departmental vehicles, school classroom technology, police uniforms/equipment and fire department needs, after staff outlined oversight and encumbrance deadlines tied to a Dec. 31 federal obligation date.
The Brookline Select Board on Nov. 21 approved a final omnibus reallocation of $667,500 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover departmental vehicles, school classroom technology, police uniforms and fire department equipment.
Charles Young, the town’s assistant town administrator for finance, told the board the funds were returned from earlier projects that could not meet timelines and must be placed under contract or purchase order by Dec. 31 to meet a federal “obligation” deadline. Young said the reallocation package requests $275,000 for departmental vehicles (including a DPW dump truck, a police cruiser, a fire administration vehicle and a building department staff vehicle), $225,400 for school classroom technology, $107,000 for police uniforms and equipment and $60,000 for fire department needs.
The board’s questions centered on feasibility and oversight. Members asked whether large vehicles such as dump trucks and police cruisers could be procured as electric vehicles; Young and staff said some vehicle types are difficult to source as EVs but they will pursue electrification where feasible. Staff also described procurement constraints and the town’s policy framework that can limit EV options for certain vehicle classes.
On oversight and subrecipient spending, staff member Tyler said the town requires robust subrecipient agreements, invoices, bid responses and award letters; subrecipients must file quarterly reports that the town reviews. Tyler said no subrecipient is currently projected to be off track, and town staff plan to publish quarterly reports and invoices (with personal information redacted) to improve transparency.
Board members pressed on whether subrecipients already had contracts or signed encumbrances tied to their ARPA budgets. Staff said major subrecipient projects include documentation (contracts, RFPs and awards) and that, while the town has two more years to spend ARPA funds, the near-term encumbrance deadline requires staff to prioritize projects they can put under contract quickly.
After discussion, a board member moved to approve the ARPA reallocations as presented. The board indicated assent by voice; staff recorded affirmative responses during the roll call. Chair Bernard Green thanked staff and moved on to the next agenda item.
The approved reallocations are intended to be encumbered quickly to meet the federal deadline; staff committed to continuing oversight via quarterly reporting and to return with any additional details if procurement or timing issues arise.
