March 16, 2010

TOWN GETS $288,020 FOR ROAD WORK

The State Bond Commission approved $30 million for municipal road paving and repair projects Tuesday; of that, East Hartford will receive $288,020, a development town officials say comes as a relief.

"It was good to see it come through," said Finance Director Mike Walsh, who added he had started to get nervous late in the winter as the town paid for road salt on the expectation that the check would eventually arrive. "There were quite a few anxious moments on this side," he said. Walsh added that the town can rest easier for now, but as the state struggles with its finances, concerns remain over the future of other payments earmarked for East Hartford.

State Rep. Tim Larson, a former East Hartford mayor whose district now includes the town, joined state Reps. Henry Genga and Jason Rojas, also of East Hartford, voicing support for the bond commission's decision. "These funds put people to work and fix the roads," Larson said.

The money was paid out using bonding this year, a process subjected to a cap dictated by revenue, which has been declining. Gov. M. Jodi Rell also said she was happy to get the money out to the towns. In previous years road funding was usually released in the beginning of the fiscal year or around the beginning of the calendar year. This year it will go out closer to mid-April — later than last year, but still at roughly the same amount.

— Anne VanderMey