The second of two public hearings regarding Tyrone Borough\’s application for Community Block Grant Development(CDBG) funding was held yesterday.
Several borough officials were on hand to conduct the meeting and two council members attended as part of the audience.
The meeting was also attended by a representative of Blair Senior Services, along with a dozen elderly members of the community.
Director of Development Robin Beck asked officials to consider a $10,500 proposal which would have a direct benefit to borough residents who use the Senior Center and its services.
“Since last July, 118 Tyrone residents have been at the center at one time or the other,” said Beck.
“On average, we have about 45 residents come through our doors. Since last July, we\’ve also determined 166 residents have used other services provided outside the center.”
The meeting was chaired by Diana White who is a grant administrator with Improved Dwellings for Altoona, Inc. White helps the borough to verify if the projects they designate would qualify for the funding.
“We will have to look at the proposal from Blair Senior Services and determine if it meets the guidelines,” said White.
The proposal was not among the proposed uses previously revealed in a public notice and announced at yesterday\’s hearing.
Those proposed uses had been determined at previous council meetings earlier this month.
“Tyrone Borough reserves the right to change or revise the purposed uses,” White told The Daily Herald. “If the proposal (from Blair Senior Services) were accepted, the funding for the other proposed uses would have to be changed.”
The amount of this year’s estimated grant is $137,272.
White explained the proposed uses for the money and the amounts set aside for each use. Those uses including more than $100,000 to be used for public facilities improvements with the money to be used for work along Washington Avenue between 4th and 9th Streets.
The exact amount is $103,567.
The other major project will address Americans with Disabilities Act issues. After hearing from citizen Mardell Cooper at a previous borough council meeting, the borough has proposed to designate $10,705 to be used to install audio equipment in the council chambers to aid those who are hearing impaired. Perhaps fittingly, some of the residents in attendance said they had a hard time hearing what was going on during the proceedings.
The remaining money will be used for economic development and enterprise zone activity with $6,000 being given to the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation.
Sixteen-thousand dollars is also being set aside for general administration costs and $1,000 for audit purposes.
The three major projects designated by the borough are designed to help those in the low to moderate income range.
The borough is now in the process of completing a survey of residents to prove Tyrone\’s low to moderate income status.
The survey is similar to one conducted previously and is designed to overcome census figures which show the borough in a higher classification.
Borough council must now approve the proposed uses and also reserves the right to add to or delete projects as long as any changes meet funding guidelines.
White suggested council take action in March even though an application deadline has been extended to Apr. 16, 2004.
