At the July 27, 2023, Board of Selectman meeting, Amber Wakley-Whaley, Director of Grants + Community Development, and Devin Cowperthwaite, Public Works Director, appeared before the board to present three potential projects for a STEAP grant application. They asked the selectmen to decide on which project to move forward with. The options were:
Repaving of the Stafford Community Center parking lot and addressing drainage improvements.
Upgrades to Kealy Field lighting and paving; this would be an upgrade only as everything still works and is functioning properly.
Purchase the former Cumberland Farms property for additional downtown parking and possible town uses for the building.
Cowperthwaite gave rough estimates of what the projects would cost, though the meeting minutes did not specify what those estimates were.
Selectman Kurt Vail was in favor of the Kealy Field improvement project but also wanted to know if the town could apply for more than one project. Wakley-Whaley explained that the grant applications were due by the end of August, and there was not enough time to finish two applications. Furthermore, Wakley-Whaley added she did not think two grants would be approved.
Selectman Rick Hartenstein said he is in favor of purchasing the former Cumberland Farms property because more downtown parking for residents, businesses, and events is greatly needed. He prioritized this project as the other two projects could be part of another grant in the future, but the former Cumberland Farms property could be sold and the town would lose the opportunity to acquire it.
First Selectman Sal Titus agreed with Hartenstein. After more discussion, Hartenstein moved to approve applying for the purchase of the former Cumberland Farms as the top priority and the Community Center project second if time allows. Titus seconded the motion, which was approved with Hartenstein and Titus in favor, and Vail opposed.
[This article was written using the official minutes from Board of Selectman’s meeting.]