Council approves CDBG extension, board appointment and ordinance codification; moves to closed session

At its Feb. 24 meeting the Sydney City Council approved several formal actions: a one-year extension request for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) downtown revitalization program, confirmation of Jennifer Halligan to the Historic Preservation Board, adoption of Ordinance 18-87 to update the city's codified ordinances, and a motion to enter closed session for contract negotiations.

On the CDBG item, city staff explained approximately $100,000 remained in the program and asked for an extension of the final completion date from May 17, 2026, to May 17, 2027, to allow one more construction season and to permit staff to add criteria to program guidelines as funds wind down. David Wilenko, who is managing the grant, told council the remaining contracts have ranged from about $16,000 to $133,000 and that the extension would provide flexibility to spend the last funds.

Council also considered an appointment to the Historic Preservation Board. City staff recommended Jennifer Halligan for a three-year term ending Feb. 2029; the council moved and confirmed her appointment. Later, the council considered Ordinance 18-87, the annual codification of previously approved ordinances. The council moved to designate, waive three readings and pass Ordinance 18-87; the motion passed and the ordinance number was read for the record.

Near the end of the agenda council moved to go into closed session for contract negotiations related to the city clerk and city manager search; the motion carried on roll call and the time was recorded at 6:20 p.m.

All formal motions taken during the meeting carried on roll call votes as recorded in the meeting minutes.