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Middlebury in line for grant for new radios
Aug 12, 12:03 PM
Waterbury Republican American
BY MATTHEW O’ROURKE | REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
MIDDLEBURY — The town may get federal assistance to upgrade its radio communications system.
Town officials met Friday with U.S. Rep Christopher Murphy, D-5th District, to discuss obtaining a federal grant that could offset some costs to upgrade from a low-band to a more reliable hi-band radio system.
Murphy told officials he has earmarked $215,000 in a bill that has yet to be voted on by the full U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
First Selectman Thomas Gormley mentioned the town’s nearly 18-year-old radio system during a meeting with Murphy several months ago. The town has been trying to upgrade to hi-band since emergency officials had difficulty speaking to one another inside buildings, and parts for the system became harder to replace.
“My personal feeling on this is if you can get the money, great, hopefully that’s something off the backs of the taxpayers,” Gormley said. “Any little bit can only help us.”
He has said that getting taxpayers to pay for the project, which could cost as much as $1.7 million, may prove difficult this year because the town has yet to pass a budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The money for the upgrade would most likely be bonded, he said.
Murphy, who also toured the communications facility inside the police station on Southford Road, said he was surprised by the state of the equipment.
“In the world of public safety communications systems, Middlebury police are bordering on the stone age,” he said Monday. “They’re still using a system with bells and buzzers.”
He acknowledged federal funding for the project could still be a year or more away, but said he felt confident the money would be secured.
Oliver Associates of Orange is completing a study of the town’s needs for the system. In a draft report released in May, the consulting firm stated that while the current system is suitable for the town’s terrain, the upgrade would make it easier for emergency officials to communicate with other towns that are already on a hi-band system.
