From pool house to transfer station, grant fuels $620K in improvements across Falls Village

FALLS VILLAGE – Town officials are moving forward with plans to spend more than $620,000 in state funding on infrastructure improvements ranging from the transfer station to the town pool.

The funding comes through the state's Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), which awarded Falls Village $620,051 for what the state described as "critical municipal infrastructure" projects. The town will contribute a local match of $155,014.

The grants will fund a food waste diversion program and trash compactor at the transfer station, improvements at the Recreation Center and town pool, interior painting at the Senior Center and construction of a salt shed for the highway department.

First Selectman Dave Barger said the process begins with the town's STEAP Grant Implementation Committee, which consists of chair Eileen Kinsella, Chris Wadsworth, Greg Marlowe and Catherine Wales.

The committee is responsible for developing Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the projects. Barger said the town works with a representative from the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), which reviews and approves the RFPs before they can be released for bidding.

Once the DECD signs off, the RFPs may be published and contractors may submit bids.

The salt shed project is being handled separately because of its complexity. The town has retained Allied Engineering Associates to prepare the RFP, which Barger said is nearly ready for submission to DECD.

During a May 27 implementation committee meeting, Kinsella reported that DECD had approved the RFP for the trash compactor portion of the transfer station project. She also noted that a concrete pad has been installed at the transfer station to support a bear-resistant shipping container that will be used to store food scraps.

The committee also reviewed paint samples for the Rec Center poolhouse and chose a stain called “bleached grey.” The group decided to host a painting party on the weekend of June 6 and 7, together with members of the Recreation Commission.

Kinsella said she had completed the paperwork for the Senior Center painting project and planned to submit the RFP to DECD for review.