Fire Department to get largest amount of Portsmouth ARPA funds. Residents had other ideas.

PORTSMOUTH — The Town Council on Nov. 22 approved a public safety capital funding plan which would use the largest chunk remaining of Portsmouth’s $5.1 million American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy or rehabilitate apparatus for the fire department.

A town survey had revealed that respondents overwhelmingly favored the use of ARPA funds to improve water and broadband infrastructure, so the move to divert $1.5 million as “seed money” for an emergency apparatus/capital improvement plan seemed to contradict that.

The vote passed 4-1, with Councilor Daniela Abbott dissenting (councilors Linda Ujifusa and J. Mark Ryan were not present).

“We did a survey, people responded to the survey, I read through the comments and people wanted infrastructure-related stuff. You know, water, sewer, internet, roads. And if you look at the list of what we’re spending money on, the single largest line item is the purchasing of fire apparatus which I think is not in alignment with what the people would like to see the money used on,” Abbott said in a phone call with The Daily News on Wednesday.

“I’m in favor of the plan for purchasing the fire truck and everything else, and from a financial planning point of view it really does make a lot of sense and I think it would behoove us to find money in the budget to implement that plan cause it saves us money in the long run. I just don’t think it’s an adequate representation of how people wanted to use those ARPA funds.”

Portsmouth isn’t alone. The Woonsocket Town Council’s move to devote some of the city’s ARPA funds to items like a synthetic skating rink and plan to use some of the funds to re-pave streets and sidewalks doesn’t square with what residents listed as top priorities when surveyed by the city (housing or social services were items those residents listed).

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Town Administrator Richard Rainer at the council meeting said town officials considered the survey results, assessed the town’s capital needs and spoke with other town administrators to come up with a list of recommended priorities for the spending of ARPA funds.

The emergency apparatus/capital improvement plan — Rainer at one point during the meeting said “public safety investments” would probably be “better nomenclature” — topped the list. But water-related projects were also included.

Looking at the survey, “overwhelmingly, people want us to address storm water issues, and specifically drinking water issues on Prudence (Island),” Rainer explained in a presentation of the survey results at Monday’s council meeting.

“Behind that were issues regarding comments on broadband. People do feel that there is a need for faster internet, faster broadband access on Aquidneck Island…and third, town infrastructure,” including road improvements.

There were 186 responses to the survey, which represents 13% of the registered voter population in town.

Behind the emergency apparatus/capital improvement plan, second in the list of priorities that Rainer presented to the council was the Prudence Island water system, with $300,000 to support that.

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“Prudence Island water has been under a boil water advisory now for three years,” Rainer said. “There are substantial improvements that need to be made…that really are beyond the financial capability of the residents that are on that system.”

Rainer pointed to earmarked federal funds for the Prudence Island water system, and “to get them past the finish line we need about another $300,000 investment, and this will take care of the water treatment that is going to be required and the replacement and renovation of the piping system.”

Next on the priorities list: an Island Park storm drain repair ($150,000) and Portsmouth Park storm drain and catch replacement ($725,000).

“We don’t feel that the amount of money that we’re getting from ARPA would make a dent into bringing broadband to Aquidneck Island,” Rainer added.

The council approved the priority list for spending the rest of the ARPA funds, with Abbott again the sole dissenter.

The fire department’s plan for ARPA funds

“The typical way apparatus has been purchased is through a lease program. So rather than saving ahead of time, or funding the depreciation of the vehicle… we end up with this cycle of leasing,” Fire Chief Paul Ford explained to the council.

“This ARP Act, this creates a once in a lifetime opportunity to wean (ourselves) off of leasing equipment…and in any other way, shape or form borrowing to buy these assets, we have an opportunity and a plan…where we can at least create that segment of our (capital improvement plan), self-sustained,” Rainer said.

“(With) this plan, we would be able to purchase our capital vehicle needs and pay for our fuel and pay for our maintenance,” Ford said.

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The $1.5 million in ARPA funds would be used as “seed money” to buy or rehabilitate apparatus for the fire department: the purchase of a new pumper, the rehabilitation of the fire department’s current pumper, the rehab or replacement of the department’s ladder truck, a new vehicle for the chief, a new vehicle for the assistant chief and a new medical rescue vehicle.

“With a fixed percentage of the EMS revenue we can continue this funding of apparatus,” Ford added.

Ford also pointed to improved safety of firefighters and residents with more modern and reliable apparatus.

“The reality of it is this plan is something they’ve been wanting to implement for a long time, and this opportunity just arose and it was a legal use of these ARPA funds. But I just don’t think that (it’s) in the best interest of the residents or in alignment with their priorities,” Abbott said Wednesday.

“I would rather see us spend that million and a half dollars to build a bike path or fix some of our town properties, improve some of our outdoor parks. Those are the things that really became evident during COVID that people, you know, kind of value and need. And we have a huge need in Portsmouth to re-invest in those things.”

Are surveys worth it?

Abbott still sees the value in town-wide surveys, “but I think we do have to do a better job all around…if we’re going to do surveys, we have to put in the work to get better participation.”

“The parks and (recreation) survey is a great example. We had excellent participation in that,” she said. “And the results are being used as the foundation for starting the whole master plan effort…that’s a better example of a town survey that I think is being used appropriately. This one, I just don’t think the participation was enough.”

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Portsmouth ARPA funds earmarked for fire department over broadband