Community Development Block Grant Steering Committee

CDBG STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 8:15 am Meeting Room – City Hall Annex Gardner, Massachusetts Committee Members present: Joshua Cormier-Chairperson, Scott J Goguen Graves, Sandy Mullins, Trevor Beauregard, Jennifer Susen-Roy, Roland Jean and Tracy Hutchinson Committee Members absent: None Others Present: Katie Medina, DCDP and Jonathan Marien, Open Sky LS ______________________________________________________________________________ J. Cormier opened the meeting at 8:15 a.m. J. Cormier pointed out the Open Meeting Announcements posted at the two entrances in the meeting room. 1. Acceptance of Minutes Motion to accept minutes of November 13, 2018 S. Graves/J. Susen-Roy All in favor 2. Old Business: None 3. New Business: 3.1 Sign & Façade Projects J. Cormier presented the following Sign & Façade projects after transferring $15,000 from the NewVue – Central Street Project: Motion to approve Ann’s Bridal awning for $2,500 S. Graves/T. Beauregard All in favor Motion to approve Yoga Tree sign for $2,500 J. Susen-Roy/S. Mullins All in favor Motion to approve Cup of HOPE for $1,380 T. Beauregard/S. Graves All in favor Motion to approve Chamber of Commerce sing for $494.28 S. Graves/ S. Mullins T.Beauregard and T. Hutchinson abstained Motion Passes (2 Abstain) 3.2 Community Development Strategy 1 J. Cormier explained DHCD no longer requires us to submit a CDS with our application but we still would like to keep it up to date as a guideline for project goals and application guidance. 3.3 CDBG FY19 Target Area J. Cormier requested an approval of the Target Area to be submitted with the CDBG FY19 application. Motion to approve the Target Area. T. Beauregard/S. Graves All in favor 3.4 CDBG FY19 Public Social Services MVOC-Nichols Street Upgrade: MVOC is requesting $15,000 for upgrading permanent supportive housing to 8 LMI veterans. T. Beauregard questioned the estimate and whether the quote included minimum wage. J. Cormier indicated he will ask for more information from MVOC. Motion to include MVOC in FY19 application. All in favor S. Graves/J. Cormier CAC-Fuel Assistance: Gardner CAC is requesting $5,000 for fuel assistance to help with 100 LMI. Motion to include CAC in the FY19 application. T. Beauregard/J. Susen-Roy All in favor Boys & Girls Club- Gardner Clubhouse: Boys & Girls Club are requesting $10,000 to help 100 LMI students with the after school program “Project Learn STEAM” as well as the Summer program “SummerBlast, Summer Brain Gain”. Motion to include Boys & Girls Club in FY19 application. All in favor J. Susen-Roy/S. Mullins GEHM-Emergency Housing: GEHM requested $10,000 to assist 8-20 LMI persons by renting a second apartment unit for transitional housing. J. Cormier explained that he had spoken with DHCD and the project could not be approved at this time. He mentioned that he encouraged representatives from GEHM to resubmit when the organization was able to secure transitional housing and had historic milestones to present. NewVue-Small Business Technical Assistance Program: NewVue is requesting $3,000 to help 6 businesses in Gardner. Motion to include NewVue in the FY19 application. All in favor T. Beauregard/J. Cormier Gardner Public Schools: The Gardner Athletic Program is requesting $15,000 to help 150 student athletes with user fees that qualify for services through review within the Free & Reduced Lunch Waiver Program. 2 Motion to include GPS in the FY19 application. All in favor J. Susen-Roy/S. Mullins 3.5 CDBG FY19 Projects J. Cormier presented the projects for the City to be included in the FY19 application. The projects consist of the Demolition of 20 Rock Street, Design of Downtown Phase II and Parker Street Façade. Additionally, the application will include funding for small business technical assistance, athletic user fees at GHS, fuel assistance, and upgrades at a Veterans’ housing unit. 3.6 Financial Summary J. Cormier provided the committee with activities related to BG16. BG16 will not be extended and will expire 12/31/18.  Demolition: All demo projects complete.  NewVue Central Street: We have now moved the funds for this project to Sign & Façade.  Gardner Travel: Roof will be completed by the end of the week.  Social Services: All public social services projects are complete J. Cormier provided the committee with activities related to BG17.  Demolition: Remainder of the uncommitted money has transferred into the Park/Parking Lot Project.  Park/Parking Lot: Work has begun. Enhanced drainage is complete as well as some asphalt demo.  Design-Rear Main: No Update.  Public SS: NewVue meets here every Tuesday to meet with any potential new businesses in Gardner. Counseling for existing business is also available. J. Cormier provided the committee with the update on BG18.  Downtown Phase I: Waiting on DHCD’s approval.  Public SS: Gardner Athletics and Voices of Truth Contracts have been issued and we are waiting on complete signatures to begin. 4. Announcements and Recognitions: None Adjournment Motion to adjourn R. Jean/T. Hutchinson All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m. 3 DOCUMENTS Minutes from meetings of November 13, 2018. Sign In Sheet for December 18, 2018. Meeting notes taken by K. Medina/J. Cormier All documents are filed in the Office of Community Development and Planning, 115 Pleasant Street, Room 202, Gardner, MA 01440. 4