Referred to: The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Corcoran, Criswell, Hewitt, Litts, Maloney and Sperry)

Legislator Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr. offers the following:

WHEREAS, the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) issues an annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the following programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), RESTORE, Affordable Homeownership Development Program (AHODP), Access to Home, and Access to Home for Medicaid Recipients Program; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has, in the past, made application under the CDBG Housing Program and is likely to do so in an upcoming funding round; and

WHEREAS, NYSHCR also has a continuing funding round that provides grants to communities that wish to sponsor economic development activities that create or retain jobs for low and moderate income persons with goal to fund projects that result in high quality, full-time jobs that are well paying and provide benefits and training to low- and moderate-income persons; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has in the past and may in the future wish to sponsor economic development applications as an eligible activity under the CDBG Program; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing consistent with Federal Requirements found in 24 CFR 570.486 is required prior to the submittal of a grant application under all CDBG funding opportunities administered by NYSHCR; and

WHEREAS, the CDBG Program also requires a public hearing during the implementation of the grant award; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, desires to be more responsive in its ability to meet the timetables for necessary public hearings as required for submittal of applications under the CDBG Program as well as providing for public comments as required for on ongoing implementation of funding already awarded; now, therefore be it,  

RESOLVED, that the Director of Planning, or designee, shall provide to the Clerk of the Legislature draft legal notice for any necessary public hearing pursuant to this policy, along with any and all supporting documentation, including but not limited to, any draft application pertaining to any necessary public hearing, which shall be provided to the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee for review; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is authorized to call public hearings as necessary to satisfy the public participation requirements of the CDBG Program for submittal of applications or as required once funding is awarded; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that upon setting of the date of the required public hearing by the Chair, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall cause notice of said hearing to be posted on bulletin boards in County Buildings and published in official publications; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall provide copies of the hearing notice to all chief elected officials of municipalities within Ulster County and other notice as required by NYSHCR rules;

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:    

Passed Committee:  Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$300.00 – APPROXIMATE ADVERTISING COSTS FOR EACH HEARING