Selectmen take actions on Brownfield Loan Fund

WINSTED — On the suggestion of brownfield consultant Arthur Bogen and Town Manager Dale Martin, the Board of Selectmen took several actions to keep the town eligible for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund.According to Martin, the town’s eligibility for the fund was set to expire on Aug. 20.However, Martin said the EPA granted the town an extension to Nov. 20 to choose projects that would potentially be eligible for the fund.“Even though we were granted an extension, there is a financial uncertainty in Washington that funding [for the program] may be pulled,” Martin said.The selectmen, minus Selectman Michael Renzullo, who recused himself, passed Martin and Bogan’s suggestions quickly and unanimously.The selectmen appointed a three-member executive committee made up of Mayor Candy Perez and Selectmen Glen Albanesius and Lisa Smith to confidentially review financial data and the suitability of loan applicants.The selectmen also voted to establish the interest rates for brownfield loan funds to zero percent.Finally, the selectmen authorized the executive committee to recommend to the selectmen a licensed environmental professional to represent the best interests of the town.