New Fairfield residents are voting today on 10 projects to be funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.  The biggest allocation would be for sewer design.  If the package of projects is voted down, First Selectman Pat Del Monaco says the town stands to miss the window of opportunity for obtaining grants funded by the Infrastructure Act.

The project would be funded through the Connecticut Clean Water Revolving Fund which provides both grant funding for a percentage of the cost of the sewer and a low interest loan to the Town for the balance.  The loan is repaid primarily by revenue generated through sewer connection and user fees beginning up to a year after the completion of the project.  Once the sewer design is complete and the final cost of the project is determined, a Town vote will be required to approve the construction of the sewer. 

If the projects are voted down, Del Monaco anticipates another 12 to 18 months of deliberation before another referendum could be held.

New Fairfield officials say the dispatch console is beyond end of life, which is why funding has been proposed for its replacement.  Del Monaco says the console can no longer be repaired.  If this funding is denied, the $500,000 will go into the budget plan next year,  resulting in a nearly one percent increase in the budget.