SOUTHWICK – The Select Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday night to present a proposed program amendment that is through the state’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
In August of 2016, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that they would be awarding $28 million in Community Development Block Grants to 57 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts.
Southwick Town Hall. (WNG File Photo)
Southwick and Granville received a combined grant of $900,000 and one of the projects included was the reconstruction of Veteran Street. That project received $479,000 of funding.
The Veterans Street project is already complete and there was nearly $69,000 left over that wasn’t spent for the project. Because of this, a line item could be created to transfer that money over to a project that is on the Town of Southwick’s capital replacement list.
According to Erica Johnson, a Principal Planner for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), money from the Veterans Street project was left over as a result of the contractor’s bid and construction work having a lower price than anticipated. PVPC, the designated regional planning body in the Pioneer Valley, has been working with the town on the CDBG projects.
“It’s very important that these funds are added,” said Johnson.
It’s been decided by the Town of Southwick to use the $69,000 to purchase a new accessible passenger van for the Southwick Senior Center.
The Town of Southwick is asking that if anyone has questions or comments about the proposed line item, they are encouraged to attend the hearing. For questions before the hearing, contact the Select Board at 413-569-5995 or Johnson at 413-781-6045.
