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Trappe Council approves ARPA spending for town technology, water-system fixes and security upgrades
Summary
Council members approved use of remaining ARPA funds for new town computers and firewalls, three 2-inch water meters, HVAC and treatment-plant work, and a $10,495.94 security camera upgrade after a discussion of wastewater ENR design and other capital needs.
President Schmidt and the Trappe Town Council on Sept. 4 approved a set of capital purchases and project steps using remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, including IT equipment, water-system hardware, a security-camera upgrade and advancing design work on the wastewater treatment plant ENR upgrade.
The council unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Jeremy Newnam, seconded by Commissioner Walter Chase, to use ARPA funds to purchase new computers and monitors and two firewalls per BDK's proposal; outfit town trucks with requested equipment except window tinting pending Attorney Lyndsey Ryan's review of tint regulations; purchase three new 2-inch water meters per L/B Water's proposal; and accept Comfort Plus's proposal to replace the HVAC unit at the treatment plant.
Why it matters: the purchases and procurement steps fund routine municipal operations and address immediate operational risks at the town's water and wastewater facilities. Council members said the measures will support continuity of services and the town's ongoing ENR upgrade schedule for the treatment plant.
Council action and next steps: Attorney Lyndsey Ryan presented a separate GMB agreement to proceed with engineering design and bidding for the Town's ENR upgrade. Commissioner Jeremy Newnam moved to put that phase out to bid and to request a stricter project schedule; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Walter Chase and unanimously approved. Council also authorized an RFP to obtain quotes to replace and rebuild the bar/filter screen at the treatment plant; staff noted that this work can be removed from the ENR grant scope and completed now with no effect on the grant.
Security and emergency equipment: Commissioner Walter Chase moved, and the council unanimously approved, a proposal to use ARPA funds for Safehouse's camera-system installation and upgrade for all town locations at a cost of $10,495.94. Chase said the upgrade was prompted by an "emergency security situation" tied to an incident of an outsider tampering with chlorine levels in the town's water; the council approved the camera upgrade as part of the ARPA spending package. The council also declared the purchase of a new generator for the water tower an emergency purchase because the current generator is inoperable and requires constant monitoring; they asked staff to gather additional proposals to review at a special council meeting scheduled for Sept. 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Budget and procurement notes: Attorney Ryan suggested the council consider increasing the formal procurement threshold (noted in the meeting as $10,000) because rising costs have made the current limit result in frequent RFPs; the council asked her to draft an ordinance proposal for consideration at the October meeting.
What remains: staff will solicit bids per the council's direction for the ENR design phase and the bar/filter screen, obtain additional proposals for the water-tower generator in advance of the Sept. 11 special meeting, and provide a quote from PE Moore if the vendor is interested in renewing the snow-removal contract that expires Dec. 31.
