NORWICH – Norwich City officials went to Albany last weekend to meet with state leaders to discuss the burdens of local governments and to hear about how the $787 billion economic stimulus funds would be dispersed.

City of Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano and Finance Director William Roberts attended a two-day New York Conference of Mayors Legislative meeting on Sunday and Monday and got an update on the Federal Economic Stimulus program and how its funding will be distributed at the local level.

Most of the information received at the meeting was repeated in a press conference held by Governor David Paterson and top state officials Wednesday. During the press conference, Paterson explained that the stimulus funds will be distributed through agencies, and not legislators. New York is expected to receive approximately $24.2 million over the next 27 months. The funds will be distributed in areas including health care and education, transportation, housing, energy, water and sewer treatment and broadband availability.

“Our number one project is the replacement of the RBCs (Rotating Biological Contactors) at the Waste Water Treatment Plant,” Roberts said. Money for waste water treatment is likely to be administered through the Department of Public Health, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Facilities Corporation. “We’ve been on the phone with the Environmental Facilities Corporation a few times now, and they’re intensely hopeful about the possibility for the city with these funds,” Roberts said. The RBC project is expected to cost approximately $4.5 million.