SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
A Special Meeting of Council was held on January 5, 1981 at 7:30 p.m. with Mayor McDonough presiding. Councilmen present were Messrs. Bewick, Weyandt, Boaman, Hardcastle, Carey, Witt and Carson. Councilman Richter was absent.
A public hearing was held for the purpose of receiving citizen input for the planning process prior to finalizing a proposal to apply for a grant under the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Small Cities Single Purpose Program.
Mayor McDonough declared the hearing open, informing those present that a maximum amount of $250,000 could be allocated by HUD for the Small Cities Single Purpose Program and presented the following written Citizen's Participation Plan.
11 The City of Dover realizes the benefits gained from citizen's involvement at all stages of the HUD Community Development Block Grant Program. To ensure adequate involvement of our citizens, two public Hearings will be held prior to the preparation of the preapplication. The first hearing will be held on January 5, 1981 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall to explain the program and the procedures involved as outlined in the Federal Register under Section S70.431, subparagraph (c), subheading Preapplication Stage. At this time, citizens will be permitted to present ideas in order that Council may approve a single project during the second public hearing, to be held on January 12, 1981 at 7:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
At the second public hearing, to be held on January 12, 1981, City Council will approve and announce the project to be submitted. At this time, plans for developing the preapplication will be made. Both hearings -sill be advertised in accordance with Federal Regulations and announced on radio station WKEN at various times. Notice of the public hearings will appear in the Delaware State News, fourteen days prior to these meetings for seven consecutive days. The purpose of the advertisement and the public hearings is to permit broad participation, particularly by low and moderate income persons and residents.
If the City of Dover is asked to submit a full application and if any changes, amendments or budget revisions are necessary, public hearings will be held in a manner similar to that at the preapplication stage with notices and citizen involvement given a top priority.
The preapplication, full application and all additional records will be kept in the Office of the City Manager at City Hall and will be available for public review during regular business hours."
Mr. Veto Profaci of 431 Barrister Place was present to address Council on the importance of applying for the funds from HUD. As a rental property owner, Mr. Profaci realizes the need for decent housing for low and moderate income persons. He stated his desire to further upgrade his properties but cited the hardships incurred with borrowing monies through conventional sources. With today's high interest rates, improvements to properties would have to be recouped from renters, causing housing costs to increase. It was his feeling that the monies from HUD could allow a property owner to upgrade properties without having to channel the costs through the.renter.
Mr. Profaci also cited the need for playgrounds in the proposed target area (New Street area) and suggested that some of the small, vacant lots be utilized.
If HUD monies were allocated to Dover, Mr. Profaci stated that not only would it benefit low and moderate income persons for housing, but would also provide employment for local carpenters, plumbers, etc.
Mr. Roland Ridgeway, of the Delaware Division of Economic Development, addressed Council on the intent of the Small Cities Single Purpose Program. He stated that the purpose of the program is to provide grantsfor low interest loans to be utilized to upgrade housing for low and moderate income persons. These monies are to be made available to owner/occupants first and any remaining monies could be made available to investor owned properties. Mr. Ridgeway strongly suggested that Dover pick a target area where the majority of the properties are owner/occupied. This is the main objective of the program and would hold a priority with HUD.
Mr. Ridgeway explained that should Dover apply for these funds, they would first
have to project how many houses would be involved, how many of these are owneT/occupant houses and how many are investor owned properties. The maximum amount allowed is $2SO,000; however, Dover would only apply for what they project would be necessary to renovate the target area homes and 20% of the monies ($50,000 maximum) must be set aside to cover administrative costs.
Mr. Ridgeway touched lightly on the role of the Chief of Inspections Office with this type of federal program.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. and reconvened into a Council Workshop dealing with this same subject matter.
WILLIAM H. WILLIS
CITY CLERK
JOSEPH M. MCDONOUGH
MAYOR
January 8, 1981
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