Hartford to manage federal grant for West Cornwall’s future wastewater plant

CORNWALL — Concerns regarding a potential halt on government grants raised questions about the funding for West Cornwall’s sewer project.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway described it as “the three-million-dollar question.”

The grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was approved in 2022, was awarded to fund roughly half the cost of the $6.2 million wastewater plant. Planning for the project has been ongoing since 2015.

A Jan. 27 memo from President Trump froze all federal grant moneys. The memo was rescinded Jan. 29 and the freeze was thawed due to questionable legality.

Following these developments, Ridgway checked in with the town’s HUD contact in Washington D.C. He was redirected to the Connecticut office, which explained the town’s grant is now being administered through Hartford.

“The word we got from the Department of Housing and Urban Development was that the freeze order that was put out [last] month will not affect this project. So that sounds pretty definite,” said Ridgway at a meeting of the Wastewater Management Project in West Cornwall Village Construction Committee Feb. 11.

Although it was approved three years ago, no money has been released to Cornwall to date. Reimbursement for project costs can begin after the design phase of the facility gets underway.

Members of the Committee discussed next steps at the February meeting. Engineer Steve McDonnell said the team is prepared to send out Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) to prospective design firms.

The Committee planned to finalize the RFQ for release later this month. It was hopeful to have responses by the next meeting, which is scheduled for March 11.

Latest News

Swinging into spring sports at HVRHS

HVRHS sophomore Wyatt Bayer will suit up for the Mountaineers' varsity baseball team.

Photo by Riley Klein

FALLS VILLAGE — With the arrival of warm weather, so too comes a new season of athletics at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

The Mountaineers will field teams in five different sports for the spring season: baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis and track and field.

Keep ReadingShow less
Northlight art show opens at Historical Society Gallery
One of a dozen artists participating in the Northlight Art Center’s 14th annual student exhibit is Cathleen Halloran, above, who paused for a photo by one of her several works on display. The opening reception at the Sharon Historical Society’s Gallery on Saturday, March 15, brought out a robust group of local art fans.
Leila Hawken

Fans of fine art filed into the Sharon Historical Society’s gallery on Saturday, March 15, for the opening reception of student works from the Northlight Art Center in Amenia, New York.

Northlight was founded in Sharon by Pieter Lefferts in 2010 and later moved to Amenia. This is the 14th year of the annual student exhibit.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Urinetown’ makes use of brand new HVRHS auditorium

Tess Marks as Little Sally and Jackson Olson as Officer Lockstock in the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society production of "Urinetown."

Tom Brown

Last week’s Housatonic Musical Theatre Society production of “Urinetown” featured strong performances and superb choreography.

The remodeled auditorium at Housatonic Valley Regional High School made a big difference as well. New seats were a welcome addition, and the increased technical capability meant that the show was flawless from a production point of view.

Keep ReadingShow less
Race Brook Lodge: A timeless haven for music, art, and community

Race Brook Lodge

Lety Marcos

Tucked away on Under Mountain Road in Sheffield, Massachusetts, The Stagecoach Tavern dates back to the mid-18th century and offers fine dining in an enchanted setting. It also serves as the portal into the Race Brook Lodge, which harbors unique spaces for entertainment, lodging and wellness.

Intimate outdoor gathering areas are illuminated by strings of lights. A cluster of mid-century bungalows can be rented by guests who come to spend the weekend and attend concerts and retreats, which typically take place in the barns farther back in the woods.

Keep ReadingShow less