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Council approves $590,036 CDBG annual action plan after questions on concentrated allocations
Summary
Danbury City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 5 to submit and accept a $590,036 Community Development Block Grant for program year 51 after members questioned a shift toward fewer social-service recipients and staff explained federal timeline constraints.
The Danbury City Council on Aug. 5 approved the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan for program year 51, authorizing Mayor Roberto L. Alves to submit and accept $590,036 in federal funds.
Councilman Irving Fox pressed staff for clarity about changes he said concentrated funding into fewer recipients than in prior years. “I did go back and look at the allocation… there are many fewer social service agencies listed in this allocation. The money is much more concentrated,” Fox said, urging the administration to provide more advance notice when allocations shift.
Cara Prunty, assistant director of finance, budget, and grants, told the council the department follows a federally mandated sequence: a public hearing, policy committee review, then council action. Prunty said the city did hold a public hearing (July 10) but received no attendees and that federal notice of entitlement amounts arrived late this year, which compressed local review timelines. “We get notice and then we have to notice the public hearing for a certain number of days… we didn't get official notice,” Prunty said, explaining why timing sometimes forces council consideration in August.
Fox said he was satisfied with the staff follow-up he received but reiterated a preference for earlier packet notification when substantive allocation changes occur. Prunty said staff will continue to try to accelerate internal steps where possible while complying with federal notice periods.
The council voted to authorize Mayor Alves to execute all documents necessary to submit the action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to accept the $590,036 award; the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
The action funds community development programs and infrastructure activities for the period 08/01/2025 through 07/31/2026, with no local cash match required. The council did not specify the full breakdown by recipient in the meeting materials presented that night; Prunty said allocations had been posted and that the process includes an application and policy committee review prior to the council vote.
Next steps: the mayor’s office will submit the plan to HUD and, per the grant timetable, staff will implement the projects and report as required under the terms of the award.
