Warren County opens public hearing on FFY2025 CDBG; commissioners adopt required CDBG/HUD plans

Warren County commissioners opened a public hearing to receive comments on the county’s proposed uses of an estimated $237,530 in federal fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and then, later in the meeting, adopted the program’s required resolution package.

The county proposed four capital and housing projects and an administrative allocation. The projects listed during the hearing were an additional $25,000 for the Sheridan Street stormwater and road rehabilitation project in Tidioute; a $66,000 countywide housing rehabilitation program administered with the Warren-Forest Economic Opportunity Council for low- and moderate-income property owners outside the city of Warren; a $113,925 stormwater installation on High Street in Clarendon Borough; and a $22,450 project to construct handicapped parking and related ADA access at a park and playground in Spring Creek Township. The county proposed $10,155 for grant administration and outreach. Dan (staff member) told the hearing that at least 70% of the available funding must benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and that the county’s application deadline to the state is Oct. 31, 2025.

The purpose of the hearing, Dan said, was to receive public feedback and any complaints or grievances on the proposed use of the funds; written, emailed, or phone comments would be accepted until Oct. 1, 2025. Dan also identified Josh Cotton as the county CDBG administrator and contact for comments, giving a courthouse address and an email (jcotton@warrencountypa.gov). He said it is anticipated the commissioners will consider approval of the application at the October commissioners meeting.

Members of the public asked about household income thresholds and eligibility for the housing rehabilitation program. Dan responded that eligibility depends on household size and income under federal guidelines and that staff would meet individually with applicants to determine qualification. A resident asked whether the Spring Creek playground site already allowed drive-up access; county staff answered that while one can currently drive close to the building, the site does not meet today’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and that the proposed project would add paved parking and ramps to bring the site into compliance.

After the hearing, county staff moved to adopt a series of resolutions required by HUD and CDBG program rules. The board approved Resolution Nos. 3309 through 3314, a package that included a fair housing plan, appointment of a fair housing officer (Josh Cotton), a fair housing complaint procedure, an anti-displacement plan, an income reutilization plan, and a Section 3 plan encouraging use of local small businesses and hiring of low-income residents for CDBG-funded projects. The motion to adopt Resolutions 3309–3314 was seconded and carried by voice vote (all in favor; no roll-call tally recorded).

The county has said it will advertise and submit the required narratives to the state as part of the application. The public comment period and the written-comment deadline were reiterated during the hearing. The county also closed the public hearing by motion before continuing to the regular meeting agenda.