Delhi: $469K Park & Pool Grant Updates

DELHI - Delhi Supervisor Maya Boukai provided updates on the $469,569 Environmental Protection Fund Grant Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF) through New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Boukai is working with state representatives to finalize the terms of the matching-grant contract for the park and pool expansion project. The multi-year master plan includes several new structures - bath house, pavilion, and chemical building - along with a new pool patio, trees and shrubs, parking areas, and roadways.

The total project cost is estimated at $625,000. The grant permits a five-year project timeline.

The planned fitness court is estimated at $240,000 - $175,000 for equipment, $30,000 for installation, and $35,000 for the concrete pad. The town received a $40,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign, which will count towards the match.

The council is utilizing services and other grants to meet the local match requirement. A contract with Delaware County Planning to assist with the RFP (Request For Proposals) will amount to $60,000 of the matching portion. The town will only pay $6,000 for those services. An O’Connor Foundation grant totaling $47,000 was secured, along with $50,000 from town reserves. The town needs to raise about $155,000 and is currently about $20,000 short.

“I hope to have the rest of the match secured by the end of this year,” said Boukai.

The grant reimburses costs incurred, Boukai said, and reserve funds might be used to meet requirements.

Other Business

Town Historian Marianne Greenfield hopes to organize a booth at the July 3rd Fair on the Square. She will hand out pamphlets on six Revolutionary War veterans buried in Delhi and town and village historical items. Greenfield hopes to educate fairgoers about Delhi veterans who fought in the War of Independence, in honor of the United States' 250th anniversary.

The Comprehensive Plan Committee has completed the survey. Postcards are being developed and are expected to be available at Delhi businesses and at town hall, with instructions on how to participate. The survey will also be available on the website and will close on April 3rd. Postcards were authorized for printing at a cost not to exceed $150.

Internal audits of the clerk and bookkeeper were completed. “Everything looked good,” reported Councilmember Christina Viafore.

The pool is tentatively scheduled to open the week of Memorial Day. The director aims to schedule two after-school swim lessons from June 8th through July 3rd. Water aerobics is planned for 6 p.m. sessions.

The town will host an open meeting law training, free and open to the public, on May 11th from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. They will similarly host a FOIL training on June 8th from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Both trainings are offered free by NYS.

The town and village are discussing ways to develop shared services. Boukai stated that shared services should mean both municipalities are saving money on something they once paid for individually.

Councilmember Josh Morgan informed the town that it should hire a handyman to handle several building repairs at town hall. He will search for one.

All town microfiche dating back to the 1880s will be digitized for $565.20.

The board entered an executive session to discuss potential litigation of a contract.

The next regularly scheduled town council meeting will be held on Monday, April 13, at 6 p.m.