Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 5/28/2019 - P8
Board of Aldermen 05-28-2019 Page 8
ON THE QUESTION
Alderman Lopez
With regards to the 50% versus 30% question, it was my recollection that that decision was made so
that we didn’t use up the entire fund on just a small group of people and so that there would be more
available for lower income people. Was that accurate? | am asking Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja.
Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Yes. At the second to the last meeting, which Mr. Teebom referenced where | made the motion to the
50% of AMI; Ms. Schena was with us and she had sent up a communication indicating that was her
recommendation. At our last meeting with further discussion, it was the feeling of the committee that
because this was a new program, and we weren't sure what was going to happen with our resources,
we would try it this year at 30% AMI so we would hopefully have enough money. Then depending upon
the requests for funding we would look at it in next year’s CDBG grant and look at increasing that or
lowering it as it is to 50%, that’s my recollection. | see Alderman Caron and Alderman Wilshire nodding
in agreement. So the original motion had been for 50% but then like | said after further conversation,
because it is something new that we are doing, it was determined that we should start at 30% and then
based on the response look at 50% for next year.
Alderman Clemons
To the last point, why is the minimum $1,000.00, why isn’t it $0?
Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
The guidance we have always received Alderman Clemons and I’m saying always that we’ve received
for a number of years from Ms. Schena is that again as Mr. Teebom referenced, anything below that we
really look at being deferred maintenance or maintenance. There’s probably very few things that would
come in under $1,000.00 so that was the cut off that has been used historically for that.
Alderman Clemons
| respect that but | don’t think there’s any harm then if that’s the case in amending this to be zero or just
basically to say up to $5,000.00. So! am going to make that amendment. That’s my motion, to amend
that wording to eliminate the words “$1,000.00 and up to”. I’m sorry | am going to eliminate the
$1,000.00 so it basically says “emergency work costing up to $5,000.00”.
MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO AMEND TO ELIMINATE THE $1,000.00 AND REPLACE
WITH UP TO $5,000.00.
MOTION FAILS
Alderman Lopez
| would just want to point out that there are a number of cash assistance programs that are operating in
other areas too that do the same thing and they typically reach $500.00. So if the City gets into the
business of processing every single claim, then basically someone is applying for CDBG money for
much smaller and more difficult to reach repairs or emergencies, that kind of stuff. Whereas other
groups can do it better and additionally then we are subject to HUD Guidelines as to whether we accept
that or not. And it could further erode the resources for somebody who doesn’t have anywhere else to
go.
