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Lackawanna council approves CDBG submission after public hearing notice error
Summary
The Lackawanna City Council voted to submit projects for the 2026–27 Community Development Block Grant cycle and adopted language listing senior-center upgrades as a first priority — a designation council members said is a "wish list" and does not obligate appropriation — after public speakers complained a posting error deprived residents of timely input.
The Lackawanna City Council on Oct. 27 moved to receive, file and adopt a resolution submitting projects for consideration under the 2026–27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) cycle, despite public concern that a posted time change kept residents from the scheduled public hearing.
Council President opened the special meeting to allow speakers because a public hearing notice had erroneously been changed from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Council members recorded that the mayor’s office had proposed listing senior-center upgrades as the first priority on the application to the Erie County consortium. Council President said the resolution lists priorities for consideration but does not itself appropriate funds.
"The way the language reads, the Lackawanna City Council submits the following projects to be considered for funding by CDBG program during the 26–27 grant cycle," the Council President said while reading the resolution language. City attorney Ariana said she did not have a definitive answer on whether the county required a specific priority to be identified on the application and said she would review the grant documentation.
After discussion about the posting error and the need for residents to be heard, the council moved to receive and file the resolution and then moved to adopt it "as written with the understanding that the 1st priority is a wish list consideration only." Both motions carried on roll call (recorded 5–0). The council cited a Nov. 3 grant deadline as a reason not to delay submission.
The adopted resolution lists "senior-center upgrades and repairs" as the first priority for the CDBG application but council members emphasized that any specific appropriation would require a separate vote when the city is asked to appropriate funds.
