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Council reallocates 2025 CDBG funds to keep stormwater application moving; endorses curb-cut work
Summary
County CDBG administrator told council a 2025 flood-drainage application lacked required income surveys; council voted to reallocate the 2025 CDBG allocation to curb-cut accessibility improvements so the joint application could advance and avoid risking other entitlements.
Hollidaysburg Borough Council voted to reallocate a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation to eligible curb-cut accessibility projects after county staff said the flood drainage project's application lacked enough certified income surveys and was delaying the entire joint application.
Trina Illig (S7), identified by the borough manager as the county staffer who administers CDBG funds, told council she had received only five of 11 required surveys to recertify the project area for the stormwater/flood drainage work. She said that without reallocation the joint application could be held up and potentially imperil other entitlements included in the same submission.
"We have 5 surveys back. I need 6 more surveys," Illig said, explaining that the application rules require an income survey threshold (at least 51% low- to moderate-income benefit) and that nonresponses must be presumed to be above eligibility thresholds unless recertified.
To keep the application moving, Illig recommended reallocating the 2025 allocation (transcript references amounts of $90,589 and $90,005.89 in discussion) to curb-cut improvements that do not require income surveys. Council members asked about deadlines, the ability to reverse the reallocation if surveys later qualify the flood project, and whether borough funds or retention funds could cover the needed $80,000 environmental/engineering testing for the retention pond.
A motion to reallocate the 2025 CDBG funds to eligible curb-cut work passed by voice vote; council and staff agreed to continue outreach to secure the remaining surveys and to revisit the allocation if the flood project becomes certifiable. Borough manager (S4) and staff said they would request updated consultant quotes and hold a special meeting to discuss the Phase 2 environmental study and funding options.
Council also noted the borough holds prior-year funds (2022 and 2023 allocations) that remain allocated to the flood drainage improvements, and that the reallocation applies to the 2025 allocation only while staff pursues surveys and other funding options.
