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.
The city has also submitted a proposal for a new drinking water filter plant. “The new filter plant would cost $8.5 million,” Roberts said. The state leaders pointed out that the highest priority would be given to areas at potential risk if the projects were not to be completed. While Roberts said the city is not one of those areas, he explained they are trying to be proactive instead of reactive in this situation.
In addition, Maiurano said the city has submitted many other smaller projects. “We’ll probably see some funding through other offices for our sidewalk program or our Main Street Grants,” he said. Funding is also available for housing programs, and Maiurano said he is hoping projects like the city’s Brown Ave. housing units could see more funding. “We’re doing our due diligence to get these projects done.”
Maiurano pointed out that the city submitted proposals for the projects last October, and has been discussing projects with state and local officials since that time. “For the Waste Water Treatment Plant project, we should have word within the next six to eight weeks,” Maiurano said.
Other priorities for the city include getting the railroad running through Norwich again. “We just have to keep plugging away. There’s a lot of work to do,” Maiurano said.