Community Development Advisory Committee

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 11, 2009 3:00 P.M. Members Present: Vice-Chairperson Les King, John Mathieu, Demo Angelopoulos, Red McKeon and Tamara Lanier Others Present: Jennifer Gottlieb and Linda Lee Smith Vice-Chairperson Les King called the meeting to order at 3:09 p.m. Motion was made by John Mathieu and seconded by Red McKeon to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2009 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by John Mathieu and seconded by Demo Angelopoulos to approve minutes of the April 20, 2009 Public Hearing meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Red McKeon and seconded by John Mathieu to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2009 Special meeting. Motion carried unanimously. An updated PY 35 CDBG Request sheet had been handed out to all the members. Les King reviewed the changes with the committee. The total amount of Social Service funds to be allocated is $215,000 rather than $217,000 because that was the amount allocated last year. The City is allowed to allocate $217,000. The total dollar amount for Social Services applications was $423,680. The total dollar amount for Construction Project applications was $890,247.91. The following updates were included by Jennifer Gottlieb. The total available funding has changed because there was $40,000 previously available that was allocated to the Greeneville Fire Station Boiler on an emergency basis. The total allocated to CD Administration was increased based on the actual entitlement, rather than the projected entitlement. The application for YMCA Summer Scholarships is withdrawn because they have closed. The original application for Norwich Supportive Housing was for $40,440. Bev Goulet has withdrawn the $10,440 from her request due to the closure of the YMCA. The new amount is $30,000. The rear façade of the Greeneville Fire House Renovation Project was funded through the City’s Capital budget and the boiler was funded as an emergency measure. The items the Fire Chief asked for in his PY 35 application were therefore fully funded. The general operating expenses portion of the Dr. Martin Luther King Center application, teen dances and field trips were not eligible. The CD office did not receive any updated information from the Martin Luther King Center related to the summer art classes as was requested at the public hearing. Their application was not filled out as per all the other organizations. When an agency needs technical assistance it is given. The CD Childcare Assistance Program – these funds are given to the providers for eligible childcare. NHS does the administration of this program. The committee recommended $15,000. NAACP was awarded $3,675 last year. This year they are requesting $7,500. They served 40 students for the program that will ran from November – March. The committee recommended $5,000. Tamara Lanier stated that she will recuse herself from voting on the NAACP because she is a member. CT Legal Services did not request funds last year. This year they are requesting $25,000. These services are for mainly civil law matters such as housing, elder care and juvenile. The committee members were in agreement not to fund the CT Legal Services. NHS/Hospitality Center requested $29,500. Les King mentioned that it is cheaper to house people through apartments than the shelter. Jennifer Gottlieb pointed out that direct payments for housing beyond three months is ineligible under the CDBG regulations and also that some people are not able to sustain housing for various reasons and so the shelter is needed. The committee recommended $29,500 for this activity. NHS/Supportive Housing is requesting $30,000 for a health care worker that specializes in helping people apply for Social Security disability benefits. This is an administrative position. There was some discussion that they can’t give people money directly for income payments and so the jobs program portion of the application would be an ineligible activity under the CDBG regulations. They could supply the money to the trainer but not give income to the people. Jennifer Gottlieb will send a letter telling them this portion of their request would not be eligible for payments. The committee recommended $15,000 for the NHS Supportive Housing. NHS/Norwich Works is requesting $50,000 to do healthcare training, which has been very successful. Education is very important. It was estimated that 50 people received training. Of the $50,000 they use only $11,589 for salaries. The committee recommended $50,000 for the NHS/Norwich Works. NHS/Food Pantry is requesting $10,000 for the food pantry. They no longer keep food onsite. It goes to other organizations. They go to Gemma Moran United Way. But if they run out food they have the option of giving out a credit card. One of the programs talked about people from different cultures coming in and not knowing how to culturally prepare the food. This might limit them to the variety of foods they can get. These funds go directly for food. The committee felt this was a necessity. The committee recommended $10,000 for the NHS/Food Pantry. Adult Education ESOL – Last year they asked for $20,000 and received $20,000. This year they are asking for $25,000. The increase was due to an additional activity to have an ESL teacher at Madonna Place for learners who needed childcare to go to class. The entire amount is to fund 2 classes and a teacher at Madonna Place. Madonna Place pledged to provide childcare during class hours. The committee recommended $15,000 intended to fund 1 class ($10,000) for Norwich Adult Education ESOL and $5,000 for the teacher to do the program at Madonna Place. Bethsaida – Last year they didn’t receive any funding. This year they are asking for $10,000. The committee members were in agreement not to fund Bethsaida. Literacy Volunteers - Last year they received $10,000 and this year they are requesting $12,000. The committee recommended $10,000. Catholic Charities requested $65,000 for clients counseling going through eviction. The concept and intent seem very worthwhile but their administration is very heavy. The committee members were in agreement not to fund Catholic Charities. TVCCA requested $30,000 for the security deposits, 1st months rent on apartments to be used to get homeless families out of the shelter and into housing. This is for the security deposit for the first and last months rent. There were more people that could have been helped but they ran out of funding. They asked for $30,000 for those clients who have been prescreened and whom TVCCA thought could maintain housing. The large amount of cash needed to secure an apartment is a huge impediment for families trying to get out of the shelter. Even if they are working, it is very hard to save that much cash and shelter stays are limited. Families go to different shelters when their shelter stay runs out. With the security deposit landlords can now ask for two months rent which is pretty standard because of the changes in legislation on evictions and screening criteria and many will ask for two months security deposit and a months rent. The committee recommended $30,000 for the TVCCA Shelter for Homeless Families. CT Pardon Team is asking for $15,000. They have accomplished a lot with their program. The real question was raised by Tammy Lanier how the Pardon Team measures outcomes. They do not measure how many of their clients succeed with getting the pardons. How are they measuring how many people they are referring? There are also countless people with felony positions that are working. The committee recommended $5,000 for the CT Pardon Team. Martin House requested $10,000 for their Independent Living Skills Training Program. There were some concerns with the majority of the funds to pay salaries. The committee members were in agreement not to fund the Martin House. Thames River Family Program requested 10,000. The committee members were in agreement not to fund the Thames River Family Program that receives extensive aid from various sources. Norwich Recreation Dept. requested $20,000 for Scholarships Last year they requested $26,000 they were given $20,000. This year they are asking for $20,000. They are absorbing more children due to the YMCA’s camp closure. Those clients depending on the YMCA for summer daycare they would need to find another place. This is for 240 scholarships as daycare. The committee made comment that the more scholarship/daycares under one single roof the less administration cost per child and bigger bang for the buck. The committee recommended $20,000. Martin Luther King Center requested $49,680. The committee did ask specifically for an updated summer program break down, which the committee did not receive. The committee noted that these funds are not for this summer but next year 2010 and that Mr. Rucker claims the Center is struggling and may close. The committee members were in agreement not to fund the Martin Luther King Center. Women’s Center requested $5,000. There was some concern they may have to close the Norwich office. The Women's Center is a court advocate and if people wanted to apply they would need to go to New London. This is a public safety program. The committee recommended $5,000 for the Women’s Center. Artworks requested $5,000. They work with Reliance House and Madonna Place. In the past they’ve given letters of support. The committee members were very impressed with the two clients that came to speak on how the program has helped these two individuals. The committee members this year wanted to deal with the “basic needs” first with feeding, housing people and helping people keep and get jobs. Childcare and Summer scholarships relate to this because they allow parents to work. The committee members were all in favor of the presented CD Budget Recommendations for Public Social Services with Tamara Lanier recusing herself from the NAACP vote. Four in favor and 1 abstention for NAACP. John Mathieu made a motion seconded by Demo Angelopoulos to take the $6,000 from PY 34 YMCA scholarships and transfer to the Norwich Recreation Dept. scholarships PY 34. All were in favor. It was noted that the Stimulus funds need to be committed with an Action Plan submitted to HUD by June 5. The public notice period for those funds will be for 7 days, not the usual 30 days. The citizen participation procedure will be suspended as per HUD to meet their strict timelines. Tamara Lanier left at 4:48 p.m. Final decision needs to be made May 20, 2009. HUD told the City that they could suspend the Citizen Participation Plan. The next CDAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. John Mathieu made a motion seconded by Demo Angelopoulos to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The CDAC meeting ended at 4:50 p.m.