Town sets deadline for grant funds for facade work

NORTH CANAAN — Anyone looking for free money? The town is giving some away.

Well, of course it’s not as simple as that, but it seems it will take nothing short of taking out an ad with just that wording to drum up interest and applications.

At its March 2 meeting, the Board of Selectmen discussed a facade grant program that has been lingering in the application phase since last summer. When asked how many applications were in, First Selectman Douglas Humes said it had been so long since on came in, he’d have to check with the consultant to be sure.

But the list is short and the board cannot understand why, even with the uncertain economy, a business would not want to take advantage of a chance to get money to fix up an exterior, maybe add a coat of paint, install energy-efficient windows and doors, put up a new sign.

Each applicant is eligible for up to $25,000. The only string attached is that the money needs to be paid back if the property is sold within 10 years.

“You can’t get a better deal than that anywhere,� Humes said.

This is money up front, not a reimbursement program. There is little or no cost involved in applying. The application process involves little more than providing plans for proposed work. In most cases, an estimate by a company or contractor would suffice. Grant consultant Peter Testa is available to walk applicants through the process.

Board members are concerned that the $95,000 the town currently has available in it own coffers could disappear. It was originally given to the town in the form of state Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant money.

“The state is going to check into it at some point. If they see we’re not spending the money, they’re going to take it back,� Humes said.

The board decided on a deadline. They will make grant award determinations at their April 6 meeting. That pretty much means applicants have until the end of this month.

For more information on applying, call 860-824-7313.

In other business, the board had no trouble filling several vacancies on the Inland Wetlands Commission. Alternates Matthew Freund and Michael O’Connor both expressed interest in becoming permanent members. They will fill vacancies created by the deaths last year of Thomas Foley and Stephen Segalla.

Their alternate seats went to two of four interested people, Robert Slonaker and Barry Brown. Other candidates were Robert Jacquier and MaryAnn Halloran. Ultimately, the choice was an easy  one, dictated by the candidates’ party registration and the minority representation requirement.