South Windsor may seek $1.5M from FEMA to fix stormwater failure points

Dec. 22—SOUTH WINDSOR — The Town Council will consider applying for a $1.5 million federal grant to improve stormwater management systems that failed during Tropical Storm Henri.

The grant would require the town to contribute $500,000 toward the work.

Council members will vote on spending $77,500, included as part of the town's contribution, to consulting firm Weston and Sampson to prepare an application to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, offered by FEMA and the state's Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Town Manager Michael Maniscalco said the payment is partly reimbursable to the town if the grant is received.

Public Works Director Vincent Stetson told the Town Council meeting Monday that the application requires specific Henri failure points to be identified for improvements.

"For this FEMA grant, we have to show evidence of loss and impact, and it needs to check specific boxes," Stetson said.

Stetson said the town would target three areas for drainage system improvements: Chandler Drive, Sele Drive, and Spring Pond, behind Veterans Memorial Pool.

The failures caused widespread flooding around town during the tropical storm on Aug. 22, including overflowing of the pool that led to early closure and possible erosion around it.

A memo from Stetson states flooding of homes may have been caused by the failures.

Stetson said that if the application is sent, the review and award process could take six to 12 months. If the grant is issued, he said, that he anticipates the town's contribution would not be needed until 2023.

Stetson said Weston and Sampson would prepare the grant because the town lacks the "bandwidth" to do it on their own.

He added that if the grant is not received, the town will have a comprehensive plan to proceed with when funding can be acquired.

Council members intended to vote on the matter at their meeting Monday, but an error in the language of the motion caused the action to be delayed to their Jan. 3 meeting.

The council also voted unanimously to allocate $140,000 of reimbursement funds from FEMA for Tropical Storm Isaias to emergency management projects.

Of that, $80,000 will go to installing emergency generators at Flax Hill and Wapping Mews community houses, and $50,000 will go to repairing and replacing emergency communication equipment.

The remaining $10,000 will go toward technology for Crisistrack, a service through FEMA that allows responders to track damage and expenses.

Fire Marshal Walter Summers said the funds would provide Crisistrack technology to responders in the field, speeding up data collection and, subsequently, reimbursement.

"Currently, we have to get all that data by paper and input it into Crisistrack to get the FEMA forms," Summers said.

Summers added that FEMA looks to collect photos of damages as part of their reimbursement, and the technology would make that easier for crisis responders.

Rescue plan funds

Council members also discussed using American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds for small business grants.

Maniscalco said the business culture of South Windsor is more corporate-focused than nearby towns.

"We wanted to make sure the projects we chose for ARPA funds were going to be having the biggest impact for all members of the community," Maniscalco said.

He added that loans have been made available for business owners and most, if not all, of the ARPA funds have been allocated.

Council member Karen Lydecker said she asked for small business grants through ARPA funds "months ago."

"I am a little frustrated that we're waiting for another round, so I'd like to make sure this is followed up upon," Lydecker said.

She added that the pandemic hit small business owners hard, and improvements to town services aren't what they need.

"Fitness centers aren't paying bills, fitness centers aren't putting food on the table," Lydecker said.

Paterna said some businesses were unable to get loans, either due to "red tape" in the process or not enough funds left.

"When they try to contact the Small Business Administration today, it's very hard to get through to them," Paterna said, and proposed hosting a forum in town for small business owners in town with representatives from the SBA.

"Maybe that would be a good first step, and then six months or eight months from now, if we have some additional dollars, maybe we do some grants," Paterna said.

Maniscalco said he could reach out to relevant parties about holding such a forum.

Joseph covers East Hartford and South Windsor. He joined the JI in July 2021. Joseph graduated from the University of Connecticut and he is an avid guitarist and coffee enthusiast.