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Havre de Grace council authorizes CDBG application to fund sidewalks in Somerset Manor
Summary
City council voted 6-0 to authorize an application for a Maryland Community Development Block Grant to pay for sidewalks and code-enforcement work in the HUD-funded Somerset Manor neighborhood; the city proposes a $27,944 local match for a $156,336 grant request.
Havre de Grace Mayor Kirk Smith and the City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 6 to authorize submission of an application to the Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to fund sidewalk repairs and related work in the Somerset Manor neighborhood.
The council action follows a required public hearing in which Dr. Ritchie, a city official, read state program language and described the local proposal. Dr. Ritchie said the city is pursuing a $156,336 CDBG award; the city plans to provide $27,944 in cash and in-kind match, for a total project cost of $184,290. The application text circulated to council identifies eligible activities the city is pursuing as acquisition, construction or installation of public works facilities and code enforcement in deteriorating areas.
At the public hearing, resident Carrie Parsons said she uses the Somerset Manor area for daily walking and described broken sidewalks, missing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb cuts and surfaces that are unsafe for people who use wheelchairs or have mobility disabilities. “I cannot walk safely through that area at all,” Parsons said, and urged council to approve the grant application.
Council President moved the resolution authorizing application submission; the motion to adopt the resolution passed on roll call 6-0. The resolution is captioned Calendar Resolution 2025-15 and will allow city staff to complete and submit the grant application to the Maryland CDBG program.
The city’s administration said the neighborhood qualifies for CDBG funding because Somerset Manor is a HUD-funded development that meets the program’s income-targeting requirements. City staff told council the requested funding would be used to rebuild or repair sidewalks, add curb ramps for ADA access and address pressing pedestrian-safety deficiencies in that part of the city.
Councilmembers asked no substantive questions on the funding mechanics during the vote; Dr. Ritchie and city staff said additional project details and the draft resolution are part of the application packet being filed with the state.
If the state awards the grant, the city will manage the program within the CDBG rules and the scope described in the application. The mayor and administration said the city will proceed with the application immediately following the council’s authorization vote.
