Southwick Selectman Douglas Moglin, at left, Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart and Erica Johnson of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission meet Feb. 4, 2020 during a public hearing. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY / THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
SOUTHWICK – The town could receive up to $468,000 in Community Development Project funds from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
Erica Johnson of the Commission met Feb. 4 with the Southwick Select Board during a public hearing where she outlined three projects, including the design for road improvements to North Lake Avenue, housing rehabilitation and septic repair and supporting the Our Community Food Pantry.
On North Lake Avenue, up to $70,500 was earmarked for the engineering and design of improvements that include water main replacement, drainage system improvements and street paving.
“It’s similar to the Bungalow Street project,” Johnson said, stressing it was for design only.
Johnson said surveys went to residents of North Lake Avenue, but she still has not reached several residents.
“If you know anyone on North Lake, ask them to fill it out,” Johnson said.
Resident input is required for the grant. Johnson stressed that the responses are completely confidential, and residents’ names are not entered into the database for the project.
Up to $260,000 was proposed for deferred payment loans for repair and replacement of basic building systems, lead and hazardous material abatement, removal of architectural barriers and corrections to sanitary building code violations for approximately six housing units.
Johnson said $75,000 was requested by Our Community Food Pantry for operations, including staff and supplies.
The Pantry provides weekly and monthly food for food insecure residents of Southwick, Granville and Tolland. Last year over 140,000 pounds of food was distributed to over 3,200 people through 7,788 visits to the Pantry.
The Pantry also provided food for children during school vacations.
Johnson said the funds would also be used to support the Pantry van, which is used to collect food donations.
Select Board Chair Russell Fox asked Johnson about a second vehicle for the Pantry, which had been discussed as part of the grant application.
Johnson said she believed the vehicle could be funded through another Commission account and she wanted the Pantry to get full use of the grant funds for operations.
Selectman Joseph Deedy asked if the grant funds could be used toward the purchase of a new Pantry building.
Johnson said it was a solid “maybe” depending on several factors.
