The town will likely aid the Borough of Newtown in its goal to fund two sidewalk projects with American Rescue Plan funds.

At a March 13 Board of Finance meeting, board member and ARP Workgroup member Sandy Roussas reported the workgroup has approved a recommendation that the town use $200,000 of its ARP funds toward the sidewalk project. The approval by the workgroup means it will now go before the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and the Legislative Council for their approvals.

Borough Senior Burgess Chris Gardner said he was “thrilled” about the ARP Workgroup approving the funds. Gardner, a former BOF member, also currently serves on the Legislative Council.

“I’m so happy that the borough and town can cooperate on this,” said Gardner. “We’ve been talking about sidewalks on 302 for more than ten years, since residents of the neighborhood came before the board asking for funds for the sidewalks.”

Gardner said the borough “was not in a financial position” to do the sidewalk projects on its own, but with the ARP money, he hopes that “good cooperation with the town will finally see this project realized.”

The Board of Burgesses in January received estimates on the two planned sidewalk projects, totaling $338,000.

Borough Warden Jay Maher clarified that the two projects are 1,400 feet of sidewalk along Sugar Street to Madison Drive, costing $194K; and a crosswalk project at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Queen Street, costing $144K.

Both proposed project budgets include incidentals and contingency costs.

The Borough still has $183,000 of its $359,000 American Rescue Plan disbursement, and plans to use that money to help fund the project. The Borough was looking to split the cost of the project with the town, not only to make it more affordable but also because the project will benefit both residents of the borough and residents of the rest of the community.

Gardner classified the sidewalk proposal as a “Cadillac project” for both the town and the borough, and that the Queen Street crosswalk was an “important project, especially for the middle school.”

The crosswalk allocation is mostly for the electronics necessary to run the signage. In trying to decide how to split the project between the town and borough, some burgesses pressed for a split more favorable to the borough, while Gardner said he is “sensitive to the cost, especially as it benefits the whole community.”

“Sidewalks will last forever, particularly if the property is maintained,” said Gardner. “This is a great use of money.”

Maher said the project can likely go to bid in April.

At the finance board meeting, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said that the town still has $938,000 of its $7.5 million allocation of ARP funds. Should the sidewalk projects be approved by all three boards, the town will have $738,000 left.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.