Bacon makes everything taste better.
So much so that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s chief political consigliere says that GOP lawmakers demonstrated their hypocrisy Monday when the state awarded $11 million in grants through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) to 28 municipalities, $3.4 million of which are earmarked for Fairfield County.
Roy Occhiogrosso, a consultant to the governor and to the state Democratic Party, said that many of the same Republicans who take every opportunity to rail on spending levels under Malloy’s administration were quick to take credit for bringing home the bacon for their districts.
“You can’t have it both ways,” Occhiogrosso told Hearst Connecticut Media. “Be intellectually honest about it. This undermines the credibility of their argument when they talk about being fiscally responsible.”
State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, the top Republican in the Legislature and recent qualifier for the GOP primary for governor, called Occhiogrosso’s argument “illogical.”
“It’s not hypocritical,” McKinney told Hearst. “First of all, the Malloy administration is well aware of the Republican towns and requests for STEAP grants because we worked with them on that.”
McKinney said state lawmakers have a responsibility to advocate for funding for their districts and should absolutely take credit for the grants.
“And so should the governor,” McKinney said. “That money is going to be spent. The question is where?”
Here’s the full list from the governor’s office of projects qualifying for grants under the program:
Bethel
$430,000 for the installation and repair of sidewalks for various streets (8) throughout the town. These upgrades will provide pedestrian and handicapped pathways to the Downtown Business District as we as the Bethel Metro-North train station.
Canton
$500,000 for various capital improvements to Mill Pond Park. The majority of the funding will go toward upgrading the existing pool house, including upgrades to the bathrooms and locker rooms. Funding will also go towards resurfacing four tennis courts and two basketball courts, and the design and construction of the Canton Skate Park, which will be located in the Mills Pond Complex.
Cheshire
$500,000 to fund the design and construction of 1,630 linear feet of sidewalks throughout the town center. This sidewalk extension project will connect the recently upgraded West Main Street commercial area to a number of municipal facilities, retail establishments and residential neighborhoods.
Colchester
$350,000 for the removal of a dam, restoration of a river (including restoring the river banks), and rehabilitation of an old mill along the Jeremy River in Colchester. The project provides numerous benefits to diverse user groups and significantly enhances wildlife habitat and restores an ecosystem.
East Hampton
$500,000 to implement Phase II of a comprehensive blight removal, public safety and public parking project. The project promotes economic development and removes a public health threat by remediating a brownfield at the former site of the Summit Thread Powerhouse and turning it into a public parking area, which will provide easy access to public transportation, retail and restaurant establishments and other area businesses.
Ellington
$500,000 to help fund an addition to the Ellington Town Hall. The structure is nearly 100 years old (1915) and due to an increasing population, added space is essential for citizens to have easy access to town agencies and to ensure municipal services function properly. The funding will go toward the construction of a 1200 square foot, two-story addition. In addition to housing municipal offices, the town’s emergency operations Center will be relocated to the Town Hall in anticipation of making it the town’s emergency management headquarters.
Greenwich
$500,000 to help fund the expansion of the Nathaniel Witherell’s rehabilitation center. The Nathaniel Witherell is a 110-year-old municipally-owned, skilled nursing facility and short-term rehabilitation center that cares for hundreds of people every year. The existing conditions pose severe accessibility issues for residents, staff and visitors as the building was constructed before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. The renovations will provide ADA and facility upgrades to provide patients with more comfortable, updated surroundings.
Harwinton
$325,000 for the construction of a municipal emergency operations center (EOC). The space will be shared with the Harwinton Ambulance Association to better facilitate emergency operations and communication during an emergency event.
Marlborough
$500,000 for the North Main Street Exit 12 gateway Economic Enhancement Project. This project will improve the appearance, enhance vehicular access, improve public safety, and increase the visibility of the businesses located on and adjacent to North Main Street. The project includes sidewalk extensions, and streetscape and lighting improvements.
Newtown
$500,000 for the Hawleyville Sewer Extension Project, which involves the installation of the sewer infrastructure in the Hawleyville area of Newtown. This project will provide the infrastructure necessary for the development of several land parcels in Newtown.
North Haven
$470,267 for the redesign and renovation of the town’s public works garage. The facility currently houses 35 employees and has limited space available for restrooms, locker rooms and kitchen and office spaces. This renovation involves the addition of an overnight sleeping facility and various other modifications including new flooring, a new ceiling and new staff lockers.
Old Saybrook
$500,000 for the Main Street Connections Park and Parking Lot Project. The project involves redeveloping the property where an irreparably storm-damaged municipal building is located and replacing it with a parking area and recreational park. This will create a place in the center of town where people can relax and recreate. Features include much needed additional downtown parking, multi-modal canopied pathways, and seating in the park.
Oxford
$500,000 for the design, construction and completion of Phase I of the Agnes Schiavi Tetlak Park project, including excavation, site preparation, utility work and completion of an all-purpose athletic field. The overall project also includes building a pavilion on site.
Portland
$363,000 for the fourth and final phase of the Brownstone Avenue Extension project. The first three phases involved the extension of Brownstone Avenue, new sidewalks and parking, and the construction of a pavilion and outdoor amphitheater stage. The fourth phase involves installing water and sewer connections to the pavilion, completion of a storage facility, construction of ADA-compliant bathrooms, and various outdoor amenities such as grills and picnic tables.
Redding
$342,000 for parking lot improvements to the Mark Twain Library, a private, non-profit corporation that provides free library services to the Town of Redding. The funding will be used to expand and improve the parking and make improvements to the drainage and septic system infrastructure.
Ridgefield
$320,000 for Phase III of the Danbury Road Streetscape project. Funding for this phase will go toward the installation of decorative streetlights, new sidewalks, and retrofitted handicapped ramps to enhance pedestrian safety.
Ridgefield
$180,000 for final design and construction of exterior site improvements to Ridgefield’s Town Hall, including the reconstruction of existing walkways and stairs, installation of new lighting, and drainage improvements to improve site safety and aesthetics.
Seymour
$200,000 for Phase III of the Seymour Sidewalk Replacement Project, making them ADA compliant. Streets include Pearl Street, Washington Ave and Roberts Street.
Sherman
$205,000 for a public works wash station. This wash station will help protect the environment and adjacent watershed by including a buried tank to catch any water contaminating elements. The wash station will be used to clean road salt and magnesium chloride that could cause corrosion to the public works vehicles. This wash station will help the town reduce maintenance and replacement costs.
Suffield
$250,000 to restore a structure at Hilltop Farm that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Hilltop Farm is situated on the banks of the Connecticut River and is a tremendous recreational and agricultural education venue. It is also a heritage tourism destination.
Trumbull
$226,000 for the renovation of the Mary J. Sherlach Counseling Center, which provides family counseling for Trumbull residents and their families. The center will undergo a general renovation, including making the building ADA compliant. Formerly the Trumbull Council Center, the town council voted to rename the building in February 2013 in honor of Mary Sherlach, who lost her life in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
Weston
$225,000 to replace the town’s worn soccer/lacrosse field with synthetic turf. The field is used by Weston High School, Weston’s Park and Recreation, soccer clubs and various other community groups.
Wethersfield
$450,000 for the Commercial Façade Improvement Program and redevelopment of 1000 Silas Deane Highway. The Façade Improvement Assistance program has been in existence since 2005 and was established to provide financial assistance to business owners along the Silas Deane Highway, Berlin Turnpike and Main Street with commercial building façade improvements. 1000 Silas Deane Highway is a blighted property that will be redeveloped with the intent to create a net positive impact for the community.
Willington
$500,000 for Phase III of the reconstruction of Turnpike Road, including drainage and improvements. The road was heavily damaged by flooding in October 2005 and the town has been working diligently to repair it to ensure a smooth and safe drive for commuters.
Wilton
$500,000 for the Wilton Train Station Walkway Project, which consists of the design and construction of a pedestrian travelway that connects the Wilton Train Station, Wilton Center and several multi-family residential communities. The project will provide a safe pathway for people to walk throughout the center of town.
Wolcott
$350,000 to purchase property across from the high school to designate as open space to use for the preservation of natural resources and wetlands.
Woodbridge
$500,000 for pedestrian and traffic flow improvements to the north entrance of the Beecher Road Elementary School. The renovation will improve safety and access to the school for students, employees and the residents of Woodbridge.
Woodstock
$450,000 to modify and update the Woodstock Transfer Station, including installing new roofing and repaving the entire lot.