Council members debated whether to use CDBG-CV (COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant) funds to pay for an HVAC replacement at the Greenwich Community Center, with several members expressing concern that the federal dollars should instead pay for direct housing repairs and other resident-facing assistance.

Councilman Marshall (as identified in the transcript) said he supported the center getting air conditioning but objected to the funding source. "What we have a problem with is the source of the funds that are being used to put the air conditioning in," he said, arguing the money was intended to help individuals and low-income households. Susan Pickett, a city official, explained there are two different grant streams — "CDBG and CDBG-CV are two different sources of funds" — and that CDBG-CV funds date to February 2020 and had to be spent within time limits. Pickett told the council HUD had urged the city to spend the remaining CDBG-CV funds and that HUD had suggested projects to help expend the balance.

Speakers discussed alternatives that could have used the funds directly for residents: Pickett and others listed HUD-approved uses such as roof repairs and other housing assistance; Marshall said one eligible household example would be a four-person family with income thresholds discussed in the meeting. Marshall noted urgency because the CV funds had expiration timing: "They ended in '23. They were to take them back. We had notification that they were gonna be taken back... HUD came back to us, the mayor, and said, we need to help y'all spend these funds."

Marshall questioned prioritizing infrastructure when the city also uses other funding sources for large capital purchases. He cited past uses of CDBG funds for fire trucks and asked rhetorically whether those purchases helped individuals in need, noting a recent fire truck cost he reported as "$1,100,000." Council discussion included possible reallocation via a substantial amendment and mention of a separate road project estimated at about $800,000.

The agenda included a "Resolution authorizing approval and execution of a contract with DNP for HVAC services for the Greenwich Community Center HVAC replacement project." The transcript notes the resolution was "previous moved by Councilman Marshall and seconded by Councilman Tisdale," and then the meeting record shifts to extended discussion; the provided segment does not contain a final roll-call vote on that resolution.

Why it matters: CDBG-CV funds carry program restrictions and time limits; choosing between infrastructure at a public facility and direct assistance to low- and moderate-income households can affect who receives federal benefits and risks federal clawback if funds are misused or left unspent.

The transcript ends before a final council vote on the DNP HVAC contract is shown.