WILTON – Town officials decided Tuesday they will refuse a $45,000 grant to partially fund a project to run town water to homes on Thompson and Bennett streets.

Instead they will apply in December for a grant to finance the entire project. If approved, the money would be available next year, Town Manager Peter Nielsen said.

It was discovered that wells at 14 homes on those streets were contaminated. Nielsen said the town voted in 1999 not to invest town money to extend water mains to people’s homes. That helped the town to qualify for an urgent needs grant. But the state was only able to grant the town half of the required $90,000 to do the project. About 20 percent of that money would need to be spent on engineering, officials said.

Officials discussed the options. They said it didn’t make sense to accept the money because they wouldn’t be able to complete the work with it. They asked Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Russ Mathers whether he would consider taking out a loan or using Water Department funds to make up the difference.

“I don’t want to spend money that I’m not certain we have and that I’m not certain will be there in the future,” Mathers said, referring to the unknown financial ramifications if the Palesky tax cap measure passes in the statewide referendum Nov. 2.

Nielsen said the urgent needs program will be changing next year. He said the program will require a presidential declaration of disaster in order to be eligible for funds. Nielsen told officials they could apply for a Community Development Block Grant in December for public infrastructure. Selectmen agreed.

In other business, officials agreed to purchase a 5-foot, 6-inch tall granite tablet in memory of Milford Burgess. Burgess’ wife donated 11 acres to the town for recreational purposes in 1994. The tablet will be 6 inches thick and cost $1,295. Officials said the town’s Highway Department will set the stone. The money will come from the town’s legal and contingency fund.

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