The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to use $385,000 from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act federal grant to purchase nearly 30 acres off Ox Hill Road as a potential site for a new police station and to expand Mohegan Park. Residents will vote on whether to build a proposed new $44.75 million police station at a Nov. 7 referendum. The council removed $500,000 from the $715,000 earmarked to hire new police officers. Police Chief Patrick Daley said the department is having a difficult time hiring officers and likely could not use the ARPA money within the federal time limits. The council used $385,000 of the police money to cover the entire purchase price for the land. Speakers during public comment Monday offered mixed reactions to the use of ARPA funds to purchase the land for the police station.
https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231017/norwich-city-council-approves-385000-to-buy-land-for-proposed-police-station/