Board approves five‑year consolidated plan and 2025 annual action plan for CDBG funds; members raise questions about affordable housing and Section 108 loan

The Milford Board of Aldermen voted 12–1 Aug. 4 to approve the city’s five‑year consolidated plan (2025–2029) and the 2025 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The plan outlines priorities and project allocations for public services, public facilities, housing and administration. During discussion City CDBG administrator (Kelly) described program priorities, outreach and the application process: stakeholder Zoom meetings, resident surveys (about 70 online responses and over 200 paper surveys) and targeted outreach to social-service and community organizations. She said the city had solicited housing projects this year but received no eligible construction applications, so funds were allocated to an array of projects including shelter planning and public-services subrecipients. Alderman Bevin identified a numeric error in the resolution’s header; the administrator acknowledged the correction and said the correct annual entitlement figure is approximately $518,000 (the packet had referenced an earlier figure). Alderman Smith raised concerns about the scale of housing and development in Milford and said he would vote no; he also questioned a cover-letter reference to available Section 108 loan guarantee borrowing authority of $2,591,410 and asked whether accepting the plan authorized the city to borrow. The administrator and the mayor clarified that accepting the grant and plan does not by itself obligate the city to borrow; CDBG staff would administer any Section 108 borrowing if a separate decision were made. Key program details discussed include: a $10,000 award to the Boys & Girls Club for an after‑school coordinator (reimbursed upon documentation), a residential repairs forgivable loan program of up to $30,000 per household (recorded as a second mortgage), a new $10,000 security‑deposit assistance program capped at $2,500 per eligible household, and use of planning/capacity funds for the Bethel Shelter project at 995 Bridgeport Ave. Aldermen asked about where grant funds are recorded (Finance Director said the CDBG fund is separate from the general fund), about how public‑facilities sidewalk and curb-cut projects are prioritized (CDBG administrator said they use low‑to‑moderate income census-tract mapping in coordination with Public Works), and about performance reporting (quarterly reports from subrecipients are entered into HUD’s IDIS system and published after the public comment period). Alderman Smith said he would vote no; the roll-call recorded 12 yes, 1 no and the motion passed. The board also discussed that Section 108 loan authority noted in the cover letter would be administered by the CDBG office if the city later chose to use it; the mayor confirmed accepting the plan does not automatically trigger borrowing.