City discloses $1 million CDBG for affordable housing; mayor says he will recuse

Sam Crocker, speaking for Franklin Affordable Housing, told the commission the nonprofit and the city jointly applied for a $1 million Community Development Block Grant through the Department of Local Government to fund a second phase of the Dixon Grove project.

"It is a $1 million community development block grant," Crocker said, and staff explained the award will fund six new units (three one‑bedroom, two two‑bedroom and one three‑bedroom) once standard grant conditions — environmental reviews and other clearances — are satisfied and the grant agreement is executed.

Crocker and staff made a public disclosure that Mayor Dixon serves on both the city and Franklin Affordable Housing boards and that, to avoid any appearance of conflict, the mayor will be recused from discussion and decision on the grant. Mayor Dixon confirmed that recusal on the record: "That is accurate."

Jolie Brown, executive director of Franklin Affordable, described the project’s first phase on Orange Street (four homes, including units with accessibility features) and said the CDBG would help fund an additional six homes as a second phase. Matt Pedigo, the grant writer, outlined the post‑award steps needed to secure and release funds, including environmental and endangered‑species reviews.

Staff stressed this was a disclosure and informational presentation; no formal action or vote was taken by the commission on the grant at the meeting. The commission noted that once the grant agreement is issued and clearance steps completed, procurement and construction steps would follow.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the grant at this meeting; staff said the city and the nonprofit have already taken steps to address the conflict of interest concern by documenting the mayor’s recusal.