Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing And Community Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves agreement for outside administration of CDBG intake; $75,000 tentatively set for emergency home repairs
Summary
Council authorized an administrative agreement with CITICOG to handle intake and income verification for the city's CDBG owner-occupied single-family emergency rehabilitation program; council members and nonprofit partners discussed tentative allocation of $75,000 pending formal grant allocation and public comment.
Williamsport City Council on Feb. 13 approved a resolution authorizing an administrative-services agreement with CITICOG to perform customer intake and income verification for the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) owner-occupied single-family emergency rehabilitation program.
Valerie Fessler explained the contract will allow CITICOG to act “as an extension of our city staff to do income verification and process eligible applicants” for the rehabilitation program. The resolution passed by roll call, 6-0.
Councilwoman Bonnie Katz and other members discussed the city’s broader relationship with external partners. Katz said many municipalities use regional providers because federal and state rules change frequently; Fessler confirmed the city is coordinating to make the application process accessible when applicants apply for building permits.
During the meeting staff and nonprofit representatives described a tentative allocation of $75,000 of the city’s 2025 grant funds for the owner-occupied emergency rehab program, but Fessler emphasized that figure is provisional: the plan is still in the public-comment phase and the allocation will be formally brought to council once the city receives its HUD allocation. “That dollar amount has not yet been approved by council,” Fessler said.
Randy, representing STEP, told council that STEP relies heavily on federal funds and that there remains high demand for low-income housing and services in the city. The city and partners said combining the city’s tentative $75,000 with STEP’s available funds could leverage additional housing work, but no binding funding transfers were approved at the meeting.
Jamie Schroeder of Setacog (available on Zoom) was noted as available to answer technical questions; council took no additional changes and approved the resolution by unanimous vote.
