http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-security3nov28,0,6044521.story?coll=green-news-local-headlines
By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer
November 28, 2004
Federal money approved for Greenwich -- An expected delay in receiving homeland security funds has prompted the town to put off paying for equipment purchases and training exercises for terrorist attacks and disasters, according to town officials.
to pay for equipment including satellite phones and laptop computers, a phone-based emergency notification system, and to stage live-action training drills and carry out other projects -- is on hold until Congress votes to release the funds to states, town officials said.
In addition, the state's plan to combine its emergency-management and homeland-security agencies into one department at the beginning of the year could extend the wait.
First Selectman Jim Lash said town officials had expected federal legislators to authorize the money for release in October and November, and said the town would not appropriate any money for items until it is sure it will be reimbursed. Lash projected the money would be distributed to Greenwich by April, but said he wasn't depending on even that.
"I am not so confident about this money," Lash said. "First it has to come from the federal government, and whether the state's reorganization will impact when we get it I don't know."
Paul Connelly, the town's emergency operations management coordinator, said once the federal government approves the money the new state agency might take several months to release funds to municipalities.
"With the actual organizational makeup changing, it will probably impact the allocation of funds," Connelly said. "There might be a new process we are unfamiliar with."
Greenwich is expected to receive $467,561 in domestic-preparedness and law-enforcement money.
According to Dennis Schain, spokes-man for Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Connecticut officials have requested the federal government hold onto this year's state homeland-security money until the state Department of Emergency Management and state Division of Homeland Security are integrated into the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security on Jan. 1.
But he said he expected the money to start being distributed after the new agency opens on Jan 1, with most of the money being passed out by the spring. "I don't foresee any major delays in it," Schain said.
Among the planned expenditures are $222,085 for training exercises which are planned for this spring and address scenarios including terrorist attacks, power outages, hurricanes and blizzards.
The fund includes $81,051 for fire department training exercises focusing on regional response to emergencies coordinated by the South Western Regional Planning Agency, involving the eight member municipalities of Greenwich, Stamford, Nor-walk, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Wilton and Weston.
Fire Chief Daniel Warzoha said he anticipated some delay in funding because of the creation of the new agency.
But Warzoha said the interim could be used to discuss ways to make the money go farther, including joint purchasing of equipment with other towns.
"We're going to be dealing with a new agency in the throes of development," Warzoha said. "But it could be an advantage if we can use the time to see what kind of state, local, and regional agreements we can piggyback on."
Copyright © 2004, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.