FY ’08 CDBG Application
Informational Meeting
July 25, 2007 @ 7:15 p.m.
Orange Town Hall

Present: Chairman Steven E. Adam, Vice-Chairman Robert F. Andrews, and Clerk Richard P. Sheridan

Also Present: Town Administrator Rick Kwiatkowski and CDO Administrative Assistant Wendy S. Johnson

Rick requested audience members that wanted to come forward to speak regarding the FY ’08 CDBG application do so.

Donna Liebl, Franklin County Home Care, questioned the grant overlapping with the FY ’07 grant that the Town recently received. Bruce Hunter, FCRHRA Assistant Community Development Director, stated that Donna was correct. The FY ’07 grant that was recently awarded to the Town runs for 18 months from July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008. The FY ’08 application will need to be submitted in February or March and should be awarded by July of 2008. So there is a potential overlap for existing social service programs.

Betsy Alkins, N.Q. Citizen’s Advocacy, said she would like to express the wish that the Town continue to place an emphasis on social services including mentoring and advocacy. Donna Liebl said she would like to second that and that the FCHC will continue to work on elder needs. She said she would like the Town to continue to look at elders’ needs and that it should be important to the Town given the results of the needs survey that was completed.

Rick said he wanted the Board to be aware of a small business loan program that will be handled through the Franklin County CDC. The Town will participate in a regional small business loan fund for established and emerging businesses. Rick said the Community Development Strategy will need to be updated by adding this information.

Letters regarding the FY ’08 CDBG application were acknowledged, coming from the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF), Water Department, and radio station WJDF. The letter from the WWTF talked about the Leonard and Summit Streets sewer replacement as well as a similar need for Gay Street. The Water Department requested upgrading infrastructure on Prentiss and Benham Streets. The letter from WJDF talked about their wish for a storefront improvement program or sign and facade program for the downtown area.

The Town does not need formal proposals at this time. We will be forming a committee and set a schedule to meet with social services similar to the way we did last year. Social services should expect to receive information in the middle part of August as we work toward formalizing the process. Bruce stated there would be a public hearing and comment period to make necessary revisions three months prior to the application deadline. The Town will need to follow the same process as in the past, holding a public informational meeting. Guidelines will be submitted to Rick and he will set up the required meetings and get information from the boards and re-prioritize the CD Strategy. We will need to discuss target areas and why the need is there. Bruce said the FCRHRA would assist the Town in doing this. Bruce said this will be done in September or October and the application is due in February. The hearing closed at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Wendy S. Johnson
CDO Administrative Assistant