CDBG Public Hearing

[Terri]

I attended the first public hearing on Thursday March 18th at 10am., three more were held.  

The public hearings give the social service agencies serving Berwyn and its residents an opportunity to present their wish list to Community Development. Mayor Lovero, Alderman Avila, Alderman Paul, representatives from the BPD, CEDA, Youth Crossroads, Solutions for CARE and a few residents attended.  

Director Bob Dwan opened with a PSA for the census. If you haven't filled it out, take 10 minutes and send it in and remind your neighbors.  

The Community Development Block Grant is granted to the City of Berwyn by the Federal Government/HUD and locally administered by the Community Development Department.  Specific federal guidelines must be followed to disburse the spending of funds, that being 65% Bricks and Mortar, 20% Administration and 15% to Social Agencies.  

Senior Housing, ramps for seniors, youth internships, special recreation, and ADA compliance for the parks were some of the requests.  Mayor Lovero was recently approached by three different developers interested in building senior housing.  Director Dwan said a portion is able to be allotted with CDBG funds.  The Mayor also requested funds to build an addition onto the 16th St. Firehouse on the property where a home presently resides.  I understood this was in the original plan.  

Another concern is lack of programs for teens during the summer months.  The Mayor reported that Tony Martinucci of the Berwyn Recreation Department plans to hire teens this summer.  The teens will work four hour shifts instead of eight putting more to work.  

The CDBG process is that the agencies submit proposals to Community Development, is then forwarded to the Community Relations Commission for review. An additional public hearing will be held in June, the CDBG Action Plan is then presented to City Council for city approval and sent to HUD for final approval.

Link to the Community Development Block Grant Program:
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/

[n01_important]

Other communities have much more methodical processes to distribute CDBG grant money.

This seems to be a fly-by-the-seat of your pants approach.

[Joe Keating]

Other communities have much more methodical processes to distribute CDBG grant money.

Which communities and what processes?