Sen. Joseph Griffo, at right, speaks with, from left, Pitcairn Town Budget Director Leland Ryan and Pitcairn Town Supervisor Clyde "Sam" Frank Jr. on Thursday, Oct. 15, as they discuss how $50,000 in state grant funding secured by Sen. Griffo was used to make the town garage (pictured here) more energy-efficient.

PITCAIRN-- Senator Joseph Griffo says $50,000 he secured will help the Town of Pitcairn save thousands of dollars in heating costs through energy-efficient renovations to their municipal garage, officials announced Thursday.

The town garage was constructed in 1972 primarily using cement blocks that provided no insulation.

Relying on this funding secured by Sen. Griffo, the town was able to complete renovations that included: adding 3 inches of insulating foam to the outside walls of the garage, covered by new steel siding, and construction of a larger garage door to allow room for the town’s plow.

Pitcairn Town Supervisor Clyde “Sam” Frank Jr. thanked Sen. Griffo, R-Rome, for obtaining $50,000 in available grant money that will reimburse the town for upgrades to the municipal garage and adjacent office building at 10 Edwards Road.

Last year, the town budgeted about $13,440 to heat the garage. With this new funding, town officials estimate that taxpayers will save several thousand dollars this winter by cutting their heating bills to about $9,000.

“Every municipality is looking to cut spending nowadays, and that’s what we’re doing by making this whole building more energy efficient,” Frank said. “While these renovations will cut down on our utility bills and help keep us under the tax cap, it is something we never could have afforded to do without this funding so I want to thank Sen. Griffo for this grant money on behalf of our town residents and Town Board. This funding is really going to benefit the town.”

“This funding exists to help municipalities like the Town of Pitcairn avoid having to raise taxes in order to complete necessary capital projects, and I am glad to see the grant money I was able to secure will help the town cut costs and save taxpayer dollars. By becoming more energy efficient, the town will be in a better position to focus its budget on more important priorities,” Griffo said.