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Committee questions RDA funding, ARPA eligibility for six-month blight pilot in south Williamsport
Summary
Chief Hair presented an intergovernmental cooperation agreement from the Redevelopment Authority to hire a third party (RDA-funded) to address blight in a defined south-of-High-Street area; council members asked for documentation of RDA non‑ARPA funds after initial references to up to $100,000 for the effort.
Chief Hair presented a resolution June 9 that would allow the city to enter an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) to address blighted properties in a defined area south of High Street. The RDA would hire a third-party contractor at RDA expense for an initial term of June 15 to Dec. 31, with a possible extension if results warranted oversight.
Council members pressed Chief Hair about how the work would be funded. Councilman Yoder asked whether the RDA had non-ARPA funding for the pilot; Chief Hair said the RDA had told staff it "has funds that are not ARPA money that they can fund this with," and that she had heard the RDA's total possible commitment might be "up to $100,000" but that the committee needed documentation from the RDA or finance before Thursday's full council meeting.
Yoder and others emphasized the need for clarity because ARPA funds are not eligible for the pilot; Chief Hair confirmed the RDA had stated ARPA would not be used for the work. Committee members said they will ask the RDA and finance for formal documentation on available non-ARPA funding and suggested questions remain about term length and whether funding would be exhausted before the pilot ends.
No vote was taken; committee members requested additional information from the RDA and finance for the full council meeting.
