Children's theater group vies with fire department for grant

FALLS VILLAGE — Two prominent town organizations have approached the Board of Selectmen looking for a piece of a possible $500,000 state grant.

The Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department is poised to enter the mechanical phase of building a $1.5 million firehouse on town-donated land on Route 7. Earlier this year, the Falls Village Children’s Theater Company completed the $150,000 purchase of the former R&D Emerson Books building on Main Street for use as a performing venue and as a cultural and community center. The 100-year-old former church and bookstore will need an estimated $450,000 in renovations.

At the Dec. 10 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, officials from the children’s theater company updated the board on its progress and asked the board for all of that half-million dollar grant from the state Small Towns Economic Assistance Program (STEAP).

"As far as we’re concerned, we want to apply for that STEAP grant and we want to get $500,000," said Bob Neimeth, who co-chairs the board of directors of the Falls Village Cultural and Community Center, a division of the children’s theater company.

First Selectman Pat Mechare told Neimeth and four other board members of the center that earlier this fall, the selectmen decided both organizations were worthy and a formula for sharing the grant between the two could be worked out.

"You will be considered for at least a portion of what is available," Mechare said. "The Board of Selectmen already made a decision back in September that the two groups that applied would get a portion of that grant."

"Times have changed since then," Neimeth said.

He alluded to a snag in the fire department’s use of the first STEAP grant it was awarded in 2004. Fire department officials say the $250,000 grant application was mishandled by the state Department of Public Safety, which administers the grant application. So, earlier this year the town had to take the lengthy and complicated step of applying for an extension.

The extension application is now in the hands of state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s office. The fire department has received part of that grant, although Mechare would not say how much. Neimeth characterized the mishap as "an opportunity that was not captured."

Citing an outpouring of financial support from interested town residents and a plan for the Emerson Building that is already in place, Neimeth insisted his group wants to be considered for the full amount of the STEAP grant.

"We feel that with half a million dollars we can get this project up and running," Neimeth added. "I think people understand the value this project will have to the town."

"The community wants this," added Denise Cohn, executive director of the children’s theater company. "We’ve raised a total of $220,000 from the beginning."

Mechare said the fire department has detailed architectural and engineering plans for its 7,380-square-foot new facility. Cultural and Community Center board member Dale MacDonald asked Mechare which criteria the selectmen will use to determine how to divide the grant application amount between the two organizations.

"Fire services and emergency services are mandated," said Mechare, whose husband, Curt, was a longtime chief of the fire department. "What you folks do is important and that’s why we are inclined to support both of you."

The children’s theater company has received substantial support from the town. A few months after its founding in 2005, the FVCT received a $3,500 grant from a private foundation and $2,500 from the Falls Village Recreation Commission.

At a town meeting last December, voters overwhelmingly approved a donation by the town of $25,000 to the nonprofit theater company to help with the purchase of the Emerson property. In January, voters also approved granting an easement to the theater company to repair or install a septic system on town-owned property behind the building.

Mechare said many aspects of the STEAP application are unclear at this point. Both the state Office of Policy and Management and state Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30) have told her they don’t even know when the funds will be available.

Furthermore, Selectman Chuck Lewis said the state could decide not to award the full amount to Falls Village, or even not award any funds at all. He suggested that fire department officials come to the selectmen soon to make a similar presentation before the selectmen decide how to proceed with the grant application next year. Mechare suggested the children’s theater group also pursue grants that support the preservation of historic structures.

Neimeth added that his group appreciates what the fire department does and that he hopes the grant process does not start a rivalry between the two organizations.

"It might have already," Mechare replied.