Block grant ideas wanted

NORTH EAST — Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are an important component of municipal government. The grants, with funds coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are distributed by county government based on a list of priorities. Typically high among those priorities are affordable housing projects, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, infrastructure projects.

In years past, the town of North East and the village of Millerton have joined forces to apply for a single project, with the hopes of gaining approval for something with the power to impact residents living in two municipalities rather than just one. There have been sidewalk improvement projects and even a project to update the entrance way to the local library.

This year, the town and village won a joint application to make both the Town and the Village Halls ADA compliant. The block grant award was for a total of $186,000.

According to Kaye, HUD recommended the town and village get together with their attorneys and “divide the project.” 

The Town Hall needs a new automatic front door and ramp, a new interior door to the conference room/courthouse and two interior bathroom/kitchen doors.

The Village Hall needs more foundation work, to support the ADA updates it hopes to accomplish. 

“It’s always better to go in jointly, you have a much better chance,” said town Supervisor George Kaye at last month’s Town Board meeting about their approach.

In the meantime, the two municipalities are trying to set up a meeting with all involved parties, though Kaye said setting a date has been difficult.

“We will be starting [discussions] in the near future,” said Kaye. “We’re working now for next year.”

This year, as is protocol, the town is seeking block grant ideas from local residents. It plans on holding a public hearing, as is protocol, to solicit suggestions from area residents and business leaders.

“Anyone who has ideas that may be usable for Community Development Block Grants we’re certainly open to them,” said Kaye. 

The Town Board scheduled a public hearing for block grant project ideas for Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7:15 p.m. at Town Hall, 19 North Maple Ave., Millerton. For more information, call 518-789-3300.

The Village Board, meanwhile, will also hold a public hearing on block grant ideas, to which local residents are encouraged to attend. The date and time of that meeting have yet to be determined.