East Franklin Focuses on Funding for Homeowners
Community Development Coordinator Kathy Heilman held a second public hearing in East Franklin Township to discuss grant funding.
by Jonathan Weaver
Eligible East Franklin Township homeowners needing a household fix may be able to utilize some of the municipality’s 2015 grant funding.
In a short public hearing conducted last week by Community Development Coordinator Kathy Heilman, Supervisor Chair Barry Peters and Vice-Chair Dan Goldinger voted to set the money aside for housing rehabilitation projects.
About $67,500 would be available to local residents and the other $14,800 dedicated toward County Planning and Development administration fees.
Heilman said applications would have to be first taken by interested individuals, to when they will be assessed for income eligibility and if their structures have any code deficiencies.
“We have to look at all the code deficiencies first - such as hot water tank replacement, the furnace or windows,” Heilman said.
Officials have not yet finalized how that information will be collected.
Projects must benefit a majority of low-to-moderate income individuals.
Supervisors still hope to dedicate grant funding toward for ultraviolet disinfection at the Cowansville treatment plant, but not enough income surveys were received.
Peters explained that the disinfection equipment would be used instead of chlorine.
“We’d like to have that done because the chlorine is so expensive,” Peters said.
Another survey could be conducted, but results from previous residents would not count toward the new results.
Last October, Township Engineer Ken Howard of Bankson Engineering read multiple bids for the installation and equipment, totaling more than $150,000. He wondered if supervisors could dedicate two years of grant funding toward what he thought would eventually be state-required equipment.
Heilman said supervisors could utilize funding from several different grant years if survey results warrant.
Grant funds must be utilized three years from their State contract - which might be returned by the first quarter of 2016.
Township officials have utilized nearly $250,000 in CDBG funding since it was named an entitlement community in 2012, but has also received more than $2.7 million in funding through the County’s general allocation.
Those competitive funds received were dedicated toward water system upgrades in the 1980s/1990s and sewage lateral connections in 2009.
Supervisors are to consider adopting the resolution at their October 29 public meeting.
Comments or grievances will still be accepted by Heilman until October 27.
Local News | jweaver October 26, 2015
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