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Council tables expansion of downtown construction impact grant after members seek cost and eligibility details
Summary
Council postponed action on a proposal to expand a small-business grant program addressing downtown construction impacts, citing lack of cost estimates and lists of qualifying businesses; members requested a public work session and clearer funding sources before proceeding.
On May 7 the Clarksburg City Council considered but ultimately tabled a proposed amendment to expand the downtown construction impact grant boundaries and to include certain personal-service and subtenant businesses. Council members repeatedly asked for a list of affected businesses and an estimate of the total cost before committing city funds.
Council member Worth moved to extend the grant boundary to include Baker Street, Milford Street, West Pike Street and Coleman Avenue to cover additional businesses he said were affected by construction. Several council members objected that the expansion had been circulated to them only that day and that no cost estimate was included. “It’s tough for us to make a decision based on a number we don’t know,” one member said. After heated discussion, a motion to table for a future work session to gather numbers and stakeholder input carried on recorded roll-call.
Council signaled support for a dedicated work session to examine the program’s scope, eligibility rules and fiscal impact, and several members urged staff to prepare lists of eligible firms and precise funding needs before returning to the chamber. The grant program remains paused pending that additional analysis.
