The Borough of Tyrone is continuing its effort to seek public opinion on the possible use of Community Development Block Grant money through a series of public hearings on the subject.
Last week, the borough conducted the first of two such hearings intended as a general discussion of the program. A second hearing is set to take place in February with council action planned in March before an application is submitted near the end of March. The CDBG money is available through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“We estimate our funding to be around $134,817 depending on federal budget figures,” stated Phyllis Garhart, Tyrone’s Director of Administration. The figure Garhart quoted is similar to the 2003 allocation.
The funds can be used for numerous activities including the acquisition and disposition of property, public facilities improvements, housing rehabilitation, new housing construction, code enforcement, historic preservation, clearance and demolition, special economic development, commercial and industrial rehabilitation, public services, handicapped accessibility projects, planning, private utility improvements along with interim assistance and relocation payments.
The issue of displaced low or moderate-income households as a result of CDBG activities through the demolition or conversion of occupied or vacant habitable properties. Those in attendance at the hearing were given detailed written information about the issue of displacement.
It stated as a policy, the Borough of Tyrone avoids displacement activity. However, if displacement occurs, the borough will be responsible for one-to-one replacement of the units as outlined in its Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. The statement also cited specifics such as the advertising of activity, as well as the relocation plan, prior to the commencement of activity.
The borough is responsible for finding similar housing for each displaced low-or moderate-income household in the same neighborhood that is designed to remain affordable for at least 10 years. The relocation would be at the borough’s expense and is required to occur within three years of displacement.
Two Tyrone Borough Council members were in attendance at last week’s meeting including Sharon Dannaway and Bill Fink.
Fink introduced two letters on behalf on citizens who were unable to attend the meeting on Jan. 22. One of the letters expressed concern about the 3 p.m. start time of the meeting. The letter went on to highlight concerns about the low to moderate income housing issue as well a general concern the public would not be informed enough about the CDBG funds and its potential use. The letter encouraged the borough to offer public hearings at a variety of times so more people would have the opportunity to attend.
“I touched on something that is not on the list,” said Fink. The use of funds for public and safety entities such as the police and fire departments. The person from DCED indicated there would be no problem with using funds for the police but the fire department was a different issue.”
“The concern is if the fire department offers services to areas outside the borough (which Tyrone’s fire companies do) then the low-to moderate income status of surrounding townships would have to be taken into account also, not just the Borough of Tyrone,” explained Fink.
Fink also questioned in which instances would the displacement rules apply. He cited the proposed downtown hotel/motel which would take up a block and displace some low income residents in his opinion.
Tyrone is currently working on a survey of its residents to see to if it should be classified as low-to moderate income. Recent census figures did not place it in that category. A previous survey conducted by the borough did find nearly 57 percent of residents would be have low to moderate income status.
According to guidelines established in the CDBG funding process, 51 percent must be low to moderate income for project funding eligibility.
The next hearing to discuss proposed uses of the money will be conducted on Feb. 19 at 3 p.m.
Citizens are also encouraged to submit written comment.
