Select Board discusses limits on ARPA funds for street project plantings

At the end of the April 10 meeting, a Select Board member asked for a motion at the next meeting to broaden an ARPA request for a street project to include plantings beyond shade trees.

A board member noted the town researched the request and said they did not think broader plantings were allowed because the ARPA request as submitted is for shade trees. One board member expressed concern about potential repayment obligations, saying that they did not want to "pay back $25,000" if the funding were found ineligible; that remark was not attributed to a named speaker in the transcript.

The board did not take further action on the matter at the April 10 meeting; members asked that the issue be raised again at the next meeting so they could consider whether to pursue a motion to modify the ARPA request or seek alternative funding if necessary.