Notice of comment period & public hearing modification to FY 2018 and FY 2019 “OBO” North East Borough CDBG programs. Notice is hereby given that North East Borough officials will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. at the North East Borough Municipal Building, located at 31 West Main Street, North East, PA 16428 for the purpose of a considering proposals to “modify” the Borough’s FY 2019 and FY 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.
The Borough received $93,227 in FY 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the PADCED and previously resolved that the monies be used to undertake the following projects:
• $30,979.77 – Handicapped Accessible Curb-Cut Ramps Project (Phase I)
• $52,457.23 – Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Project
• $9,130.00 – Program Administration
The proposed modification would involve deleting the Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Project and allocating the $52,457.23 for a new activity known as the Phase II Handicapped Accessible Curb-Cut Ramps Project.
The Borough received $95,244 in FY 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the PADCED and previously resolved that the monies be used to undertake the following projects:
• $86,194.00 – Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Project
• $9,050.00 – Program Administration
The proposed modification, like that of the FY 2018 modification, would involve deleting the Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Project and allocating the $86,194 for a new activity known as the Phase II Handicapped Accessible Curb-Cut Ramps Project.
The combined fiscal year monies totaling $138,651.23 would provide for the installation of approximately sixty (60) curb-cut ramps at various 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 curb ramps. Without these ramps, sidewalk travel and street crossing can be difficult, dangerous and in some cases impossible for people who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids. The proposed projects are “eligible” activities and meet the primary National Objective of the CDBG program of “principally benefiting low-to-moderate income persons (LMI)” in that the curb-cut ramps would primarily benefit disabled persons who are “generally presumed by HUD to be principally LMI persons”.
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 by emailing jberdis@eriecountypa.gov. Comments will be accepted until 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. 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 program modifications at their meeting of August 2, 2021. County Planning on behalf of the Borough will submit requisite documentation to DCED for review/approval.
Patrick Gehrlein
Borough Manager
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