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Clarks Summit council accepts FY2025 CDBG allocation and approves three candidate projects
Summary
The borough voted Oct. 1 to accept federal fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and to designate three candidate projects — a solar crosswalk, Lakeside Pavilion improvements and senior center repairs — so the county can apply for and later disburse the funds to the borough.
The Clarks Summit Borough Council voted Oct. 1 to accept a FY2025 Community Development Block Grant allocation and to designate three candidate projects — a solar crosswalk on a borough street, improvements to the Lakeside Pavilion at Hillside Park, and repairs to the senior center — so Lackawanna County can submit the federal application on the borough’s behalf.
Council members said accepting the allocation is an administrative first step that makes the funds available and does not by itself commit the borough to immediate construction spending. Borough officials described an eight-step process that will follow: state approval of projects, county authorization to advertise for bids, bid award resolutions and final contracting before construction begins.
The action on Oct. 1 included two votes. The council approved Resolution No. 2025-7, authorizing the Board of Commissioners of Lackawanna County to submit an FY2025 CDBG application on the borough’s behalf, and separately approved moving forward with the three candidate projects so the county can include them in the application packet. Council members said the projects were chosen because they are eligible under CDBG rules (senior services or barrier removal for people with disabilities) and because some earlier allocations are nearing their spending deadlines.
Why it matters: CDBG funds have deadlines tied to prior-year allocations; borough staff said the 2021 allocation is scheduled to expire in February 2026 and county staff has requested an extension that could move the deadline to September 26, 2026. Accepting the FY2025 allocation preserves the borough’s ability to access federal funds for senior programs and handicap-access improvements without immediately obligating the borough to construction contracts.
Council members and staff outlined next steps and fiscal details. Borough consultant and staff described that the crosswalk project is likely to be largely grant-funded but will require borough-paid engineering; the engineering estimate for the crosswalk design is about $9,000. Staff said the senior-center parking-paving work was completed recently and met its eligibility date. If the state or county later determines a different eligible project better fits CDBG rules, the designated project list can be amended before contracts are signed.
Votes at the meeting were recorded as unanimous in favor; council members present voted to approve the resolution and the project list. Council members said a separate future resolution would be required to authorize bidding and, later, to enter agreements with low bidders once bids are received.
Authorities and budget context: Council referenced the federal CDBG program and borough/county procedures for applying and disbursing funds; borough staff noted that prior allocations remain subject to state approval and deadline extensions. Borough officials said the combined available CDBG funds are sufficient to pursue the three projects and still leave funds for a possible additional eligible project if one is identified.
What’s next: Borough staff will work with the county to finalize the application materials and with the borough solicitor and consultant to prepare any required bidding and contract documents. Council members asked staff to return with project descriptions and timelines when state approvals or county guidance are received.
