Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Published: 3/1/2023 11:18:08 AM
Modified: 3/1/2023 11:17:01 AM
Temple is now recording and posting meetings, with equipment purchased through American Rescue Plan Act funding.
The installation of cameras and microphones in both the main room and the annex of the Town Hall was a significant investment of the town’s ARPA allocation, about $70,000, according to Select Board member Ken Caissie. The town has been recording meetings and posting them both to YouTube and to a Zoom archive on the town website since January.
The board has also allocated ARPA funding for repairs to the Town Hall roof and updates to the Town Hall septic system. Currently, the town has between $40,000 and $50,000 in funding remaining in American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Other items that were identified as priorities for town residents are standing items on the Select Board’s agenda, but the board is waiting on estimates for several projects before making final decisions on which projects to pursue.
The town received input from residents on uses for the funding through a town survey, which was available on the town’s website and also sent to town residents signed up for town alerts by email.
The upgrading of audio/visual equipment for the town to make meetings accessible remotely was one of the options on that survey, as were overhauling the town’s tennis courts, basketball courts and playground area, replacing the septic and water systems in the town center and installing a well on the town common. Residents were asked to support or not support using ARPA funding for these potential projects.
Based on community feedback, the town is still considering the common well, improvements to the ball field and playground, including replacing fencing and gates; and fencing behind Mansfield Public Library, as well as updates to the fire system for all town buildings, including Town Hall, the municipal building, Fire Department and library.
Caissie said the board has the remainder of the year to decide on how to allocate the funds, and will continue to review those projects as cost estimates come in.
“For most of them, we are waiting on estimates, so that we can figure out what we can still get accomplished with those funds,” Caissie said.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.