Final Public Hearing Scheduled for North East Borough FY 2021 CDBG Program

Notice of final public hearing North East Borough FY 2021 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Notice is hereby given that the second and final public hearing regarding North East Borough’s FY 2021 CDBG program will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at the North East Borough Municipal Building, 31 West Main Street, North East, PA 16428. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss how the Borough proposes to utilize its FY 2021 CDBG funds and to provide for public comment.

North East Borough is entitled to apply for and receive an annual allocation of CDBG monies from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) pursuant to the provisions of PA Act 179 of 1984 and since 1985 has received approximately $3.7 million in CDBG funding.

For FY 2021, the Borough is entitled to $96,485 which is $1,241 or 1.3% more than last year’s grant of $95,244. The County on behalf of the Borough will submit an application to DCED requesting the funding by October 28, 2021.

Based upon a public needs hearing (First Public Hearing) held on April 5, 2021 and subsequent discussions with municipal officials, the Borough proposes that the funds be used for the following:

• $87,485 – Handicapped Accessibility Curb-Cut Ramps Project – Installation of approximately thirty-six (36) new curb-cut ramps to replace older, non-compliant or missing ramps at several locations throughout the Borough. Title II of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local governments to make pedestrian crossings accessible to people with disabilities by providing ramps. The project meets the National Objective of the CDBG program to primarily benefit low-to-moderate income (LMI) persons in that according to HUD, persons with disabilities are “generally presumed to be principally LMI”.
• $9,000 -Program Administration- General management, oversight, and coordination of the Borough’s CDBG program.

All interested persons are encouraged to attend the hearing. Those who are unable to attend but would like to comment, may do so by writing to the Erie County Department of Planning (ECDP), 150 East Front Street, Suite 300, Erie, PA 16507 /or e-mail: jberdis@eriecountypa.gov. Comments will be accepted until 9:00 AM the day of the hearing. The meeting room where the hearing will be conducted is handicapped accessible. The Borough will make reasonable accommodation for any known disability that may interfere with a person’s ability to participate in this public hearing. Persons needing an accommodation should notify/contact Nancy Anderson, Borough Administrative Assistant at 725-8611 at least 48 hours prior to the hearing

It is anticipated that Borough Council will pass a resolution approving the application at a meeting of October 8 or October 12, 2021.

Patrick Gehrlein
Borough Manager