Human Affairs Committee

HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 8, 2010 A meeting of the Human Affairs Committee was held Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:03 p.. m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. Chairman Lori Wilshire presided. Members of the Committee present: Alderman Richard LaRose, Vice Chair Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons Alderman Diane Sheehan Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Members not in Attendance: Also in Attendance: Officer Joseph Brown, Nashua Police Department COMMUNICATIONS MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS THAT THE RULES BE SO FAR SUSPENDED AS TO ALLOW FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMMUNICATION RECEIVED AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PREPARED MOTION CARRIED From: Katherine E. Hersh, Director, Community Development Division Re: CDBG - Proper Coding of NHSGN Activities MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE MOTION CARRIED UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS - RESOLUTIONS R-10-04 Endorsers: Mayor Donnalee Lozeau Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire Alderman Michael J. Tabacsko Alderman Richard LaRose Alderman Arthur T. Craffey, Jr. Alderman Kathy Vitale Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons Alderman Jeffrey T. Cox Alderman Diane Sheehan Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja RELATIVE TO THE ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,125 OBTAINED FROM THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE INTO SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT 331-6284 "2010 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN GRANT PROGRAM" AND TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF $40,294 FROM ACCOUNT 591-86007 "CONTINGENCY - POLICE GRANTS" INTO SAID SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT MOTION BY ALDERMAN LAROSE TO RECOMMEND FINAL PASSAGE Human Affairs - 02/08/10 Page 2 ON THE QUESTION Joseph Brown First let me say thank you for allowing me to be here tonight to speak about this particular grant. This particular grant is important to the Nashua Police Department as well as to the community of Nashua. As you folks already know, I am Officer Joseph Brown with the Nashua Police Department where I am currently assigned to the Services Bureau where I am the grants manager, and I do write some of the grants. As you are aware, we are here to discuss R-10-04, the 2010 Violence Against Women Grant, also known as STOP (Service, Training, Officers, Prosecutors). The STOP Grant is a seed grant. We have had this grant since 1996. Basically a seed grant helps get a program started. When this program first came to be we did not have a domestic violence unit. This money allowed us the opportunity to address an issue that was important to the community. We ended up being able to hire an investigator or a police officer as well as a civilian advocate. The important thing to realize is that the domestic violence unit has grown. 2009 numbers they handled 1,862 domestic violence calls. The investigator that we are talking about tonight on this particular grant handled approximately 628 of these investigations. The advocate handled 1,862 of these cases. It is important to realize that the advocate, even though she is a civilian, she reviews each and every domestic violence report that comes through the police department, she ensures that the quality of care that is given to each particular case is adhered to and that it can have the follow-up that is needed to ensure the safety of the victim and/or family members. We are asking tonight that you support this particular grant as you put out the totals of the federal funds of $63,125, matching contribution of $40,294 for a total of $103,419. The way the grant is organized does only cover the one officer and the civilian advocate. It does not cover the whole domestic violence unit, which, just so you know, consists of one supervisor, three investigators, and the civilian. If you folks have any questions I would be more than happy to address those. Alderman LaRose I think this is a good program. Obviously every year we have been supportive of the program. Is there some mechanism where they help these people out as far as getting them rehabilitated? Joseph Brown I am sure that is addressed through the courts. Once the arrest is made and it is determined, and again that is where the advocate comes into play; she tries to make sure, he is the liaison for the victim through the court process. She ensures that her voice is heard. If it is a simple situation where it can be handled with enrolled in a batterers' program or if prosecution is needed and/or desired, the only thing we can address is her needs. We do not get involved in the extra-curricular stuff such as rehabilitation and/or jail time. This program is limited only to the salaries and the benefits for those two employees. Human Affairs - 02/08/10 , Page 3 Chairman Wilshire Is there further discussion? Seeing none, the motion before us is to recommend final passage of R- 10-04. MOTION CARRIED Joseph Brown Thank you again for your commitment. Have a good evening. NEW BUSINESS - ORDINANCES - None PUBLIC COMMENT - None GENERAL DISCUSSION Alderman LaRose requested a discussion on the communication, which was accepted under suspension of rules. Chairman Wilshire stated the City requested a written response from HUD with regard to whether Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Nashua falls under public services rather than housing activity, which is where it had been placed in prior years. HUD provided their opinion in writing that it should be categorized under public services. Chairman Wilshire explained there are two different applications that Neighborhood Housing Services makes; housing counseling and promoting affordable housing. Therefore, she believes, one portion falls into the public services category, and another portion of CDBG funds received, falls under housing activities. Alderman LaRose requested further clarification. Chairman Wilshire explained, in the past, Neighborhood Housing Services has been funded (through CDBG) as a housing activity. What Director Hersh is stating is that last year HUD called and said the coding was office, and that the campaign for home ownership that Neighborhood Housing Services runs should be classified under public services (Review & Comment process) rather than housing activities. Alderman Clemons requested clarification of the item(s) that should be considered as housing activity. Chairman Wilshire responded Neighborhood Housing Services is funded for the affordable housing program and the home ownership program. They report separately on the two activities, through CDBG to HUD. Alderman LaRose stated affordable housing as rental units that a social agency is responsible for. Chairman Wilshire explained Neighborhood Housing Services continues to oversee the rental units; ensures individuals are income eligible, etc. They continue to provide that in the community, which is the affordable housing piece that she does not believe falls under public services, but under housing activity. When asked about the home ownership portion, Chairman Wilshire explained that is housing counseling, which is clearly what HUD says falls under the public services portion. Alderman Clemons suggested clarification be provided on the second portion. Chairman Wilshire stated she would make the request on behalf of the committee. Human Affairs - 02/08/10 Page 4 Chairman Wilshire explained clarification of activity has been requested by Alderman Clemons. She stated her belief the activity is a housing eligible activity whereas it is the affordable housing program where they develop and manage low-income rental housing using multiple private and federal funding sources. There remains oversight as to the eligibility of the affordable units. Alderman LaRose questioned whether Harbor Homes is a different entity, and was told it is. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO ADJOURN MOTION CARRIED The meeting was declared adjourned at 7: 18 p.m. Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Committee Clerk  City of Nashua Community Development Planning and Zoning 589-3095 589-3090 Community Development Division BUilding Safety Code Enforcement 589-3080 589-3100 City Hall, 229 Main Street, PO Box 2019 Urban Programs 589-3085 FAX 589-3119 Nashua, New Hampshire 03061-2019 www.gonashua.com Page lof2 OF MEMORANDUM TO: Alderman-at-Large Wilshire, Chair Aldermanic I-Iuman Affairs Committee FROM: Katherine E. Hersh, DireCID~ SUBJ: CDBG - proper coding ofNHSGN actIvities DATE: February 8, 2010 cc: Donnalee Lozeau, Mayor Carrie Schena, Urban Programs Manager Per your request, the Urban Programs Manager requested an opinion in writing regarding the coding ofNeighborhood Housing Services of Greater Nashua. We received the following response via e-mail: From: Brodeur, Charlene [mailto:charlene.brodeur@hud.gov] sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 9:07 AM To: Schena, carrie Subject: RE: FTHB Education Hello Carrie. 111 the beginning of April 2009, the HUD office in Manchester received a telephone call from the Erititlement Communities Division in HUn Headquarters. The staff was working on an activity report for OMB/Congress. They stated that there was an incorrect IDIS coding for Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Nashua. These funds were being used to support housing services and operations including operation of the "Campaign for Home Ownership". You are correct that "in order to be classified as a Housing Activity, the funds must be used to provide direct homeowner assistance or be associated with participants". Therefore, based on these activities, the proper coding is under Public Services. Please see below 24CFR 570.200(e). (e) Public services. Provision of public services (including labor, supplies, and materials) including but not limited to those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education f fair housing counseling, energy conservation welfare {but excluding the f  City of Nashua Community Development Planning and Zoning 589-3095 589-3090 Community Developm'ent Division BUilding Safety Code Enforcement 589-3080 589-3100 City Hall, 229 Main'Street, PO Box 2019 Urban Programs 589-3085 FAX 589-3119 Nashua, New Hampshire 03061-2019 www.gonashua.com Page 2 of2 provision of income payments identified under Sec. 570.207{b) (4), homebuyer downpayment assistance, or recreational needs. To be eligible for CDBG assistance, a public service must be either a new service or a quantifiable increase in the level of an existing service above that which has been provided by or on behalf of the unit of general local government (through funds raised by the unit or received by the unit from the State in which it is located) in the 12 calendar months before the submission of the action plan. (An exception to this requirement may be made if HUD determines that any decrease in the level of a service was the result of events not within the control of the unit of general local government.) The amount of CDBG funds used for public services shall not exceed paragraphs (e) (l) or (2) of this se9tion, as applicable: (1) The amount of CDBG funds ~sed for public services shall not exceed 15 percent of each grant, except that for entitlement grants made under subpart D of this part, the amount shall not exceed 15 percent of the grant plus IS percent of program income, as defined in Sec. 570.500(a). For entitlement grants under subpart D of this part, compliance is based on limiting the amount of CDBG funds obligated for public service activities in each program year to an amount no greater than 15 percent of the entitlement grant made for that program year plus 15 percent of the program income received during the grantee's immediately preceding program year. (2) A recipient which obligated more CnBG funds for public services than 15 percent of its grant funded from Federal fiscal year 1982 or 1983 appropriations (excluding program income and any assistance received under Public Law 98-8), may obligate more CDBG funds than allowable under paragraph (e) (1) of this section so long as the total amount obligated in J any program year does not exceed: (i) For an entitlement grantee, 15% of the program income it received during the preceding program year; plus (ii) A portion of the grant received for the program year which is the highest of the following amounts: (A) The amount determined by applying the percentage of the grant it obligated for public services in the 1982 program year against the grant for its current program year; (B) The amount determined by applying the percentage of the grant it obligated for public services in the 1983 program year against the grant for its current program year; (C) The amount of funds it obligated for public services in the 1982 program year; or, (D) The amount of funds it obligated for public services in the 1983 program year.