WILTON — Townspeople will gather for a public hearing and special town meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Town Office.

Voters will consider declaring a portion of town as a slum and blighted area in order to apply for a Community Development Block Grant.

The declaration would pertain to Depot Street from Route 2 to Main Street and Main Street from Academy Hill School to the lake, Town Manager Rhonda Irish previously told the Board of Selectmen.

The grant is under consideration to pay for infrastructure improvements in that area, a gateway to the town. 

Because the town does not qualify for a CDBG based on the percentage of low-to-moderate incomes, the designation would allow the town to be considered under CDBG requirements for a slum and blighted area. 

A letter of intent to apply for the grant needs to be sent by mid-January, she said of the need for this week’s hearing and town meeting.

The town needs to specify an area that meets the definition of a blighted area under state law.

The definition, according to the CDBG program, means within the designated area “at least 25 percent of the buildings are considered as deteriorating, and public improvements are in a general state of deterioration.”

A slum and blighted area can also include dilapidated, dangerous buildings and deficient public improvements, which can create serious concern and potential injury to the public’s health, safety and welfare, according to program material.

The hearing and town meeting will be followed by a Board of Selectpersons meeting.

During the meeting, the board will consider the purchase of a sidewalk sander for the Highway Department from the capital equipment account. 

They will also receive an update on the status of a vehicle purchase for the Fire Department.

abryant@sunjournal.com