Citizens Advisory Committee

CITY OF MIDDLETOWN CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes – January15, 2020 Committee Members: Attendance: Staff Member: R. Pelletier, Chairman Present Lynda MacPherson R. Bantum M. Belyea H. Cushing Present G. Daley Present M. Fallon Present G. Faulkner Present Mayor Florsheim S. Fulton Present J. Middleton S. Owens Present J. Rumberger L. Salafia Present M. Salafia C. Smith Present V. Szynkowicz Present Others Present: Bobbye Knoll Peterson, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Councilman McKeon; Councilman Loffredo; Dan Osborne, Gilead; Joe Samolis A. Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 6:11 p.m. B. Public Comment –Dan Osborne from Gilead commented on the 5 Year Consolidated Plan and noted that Gilead had been involved in this process in the past and would like an opportunity to comment on this plan. Councilman Loffredo would like the committee to consider funding for early childhood programs and would like to have the application information. Ms. MacPherson noted that the application should come from the Middletown Board of Education and that Natalie Forbes is very familiar with this process. C. Approval of Minutes –On motion of V. Szynkowicz, seconded by G. Daley, the minutes of the meeting held on December 18, 2019 were unanimously approved. D. Establish Priorities and Strategies for 5 Year Consolidation Plan 2020-2024 –Ms. MacPherson provided information to the committee on possible activities that can be included in the 5 Year Consolidated Plan. If the plan includes specific activities, the City must use CDBG Funds to address those activities in each of the five subsequent years. A discussion was held on all eligible CDBG projects and activities. On motion of H. Cushing, seconded by V. Szynkowicz, it was approved to include: Residential Rehabilitation Activities; Economic Development Activities; Public Facilities and Public Improvements and Public Service Activities in the City’s 2020-2024 5 Year Consolidated Plan. Ms. Fulton was opposed to including just these categories in the plan. E. Other – At the September 18, 2019 meeting, the committee voted to reprogram $5,695 from a completed and closed CDBG project to the Public Works Department to replace 17 trees in low to moderate income areas that had been lost due to the Emerald Ashe Borer Disease. The resolution was prepared and sent to the Finance and Government Committee. Finance and Government was questioning the process on reprogramming funds. The process was explained and on motion of G. Daley, seconded by G. Faulkner, it was unanimously approved to reaffirm the reprogramming. F. Adjournment – It was unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m. Lynda MacPherson Community Development Specialist, Planning, Conservation & Development