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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-05-04 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Monday, May 4, 1992 at 7 : 00 PM MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilor Donald Soucy Councilor Marshall Frankel OTHERS PRESENT: Councilor Jane Saxl Council Chair Wm. Cohen Kenneth R. Gibb, Director of Community & Economic Dev. Rodney G. McKay, Community Development Director T.J. Martzial, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator Members of the Public - Charles Curran; Elizabeth Whitehouse NEWS MEDIA: Ned Porter, BDN The meeting was called to order at 7 :05 PM, by Councilor Don Soucy who was chairing in Councilor W. Tom Sawyer's absence. AGENDA ITEM #1 - Public Hearing Proposed for FY 92 Community Development Block Grant Program. Rod McKay, Community Development Director, made a presentation to the Committee for their consideration on the Proposed Statement of Community Development Objectives and Projected Use of Funds for 1992-93 CDBG funds . This presentation will also be made before the City Council at the May 11th meeting for their consideration as well . Public Hearings are required at the time of both meetings . The Community Development Director provided information about the City's Community Development Program, the total amounts of funds available, the range of activities that can be undertaken and Community Development funds and the types and levels of activities to be proposed. The City's Citizen Participation Plan was also explained. Explanatory hand-out materials were supplied to all attending. At this point in the meeting the Public Hearing was opened by Councilor Don Soucy. Mrs . Whitehouse, a Bangor citizen who resides at The Bangor House, made her comments to the Committee and Staff. She spoke in relation to the Americans with Disabilities Act (which went into effect on January 26, 1992 ) . She stated that Channel 7 had asked her to participate in a taping as to how pleased she was that the Act was passed. She, instead, took the opportunity to show the conditions that a disabled person has to encounter in trying to cross Union Street at the Main Street intersection. She 411 2 stated that she has reported to at least three City committees how dangerous the steep inclines are (near the front of the Greyhound Station and on Union Street) to the current ramps . She presented pictures that showed graphically the danger involved. She indicated to Staff and Committee that more thought has to be given to future handicapped access areas as to their location and angles from and into traffic areas . At this point, Edward Barrett, City Manager, stated that Mrs . Whitehouse has supplied him with substantial information regarding this situation. Mr. Barrett stated that Staff will try to work more closely with her and other individuals who do use wheelchairs to ensure the correct placement of the sidewalk ramps . He and Jim Ring, City Engineer, or Arthur Stockus, Public Works Director, will be going around investigating all the locations which Mrs . Whitehouse has identified. He stated that most of what she has requested can be corrected through maintenance work. It is the intent of the City to correct as much of this work during the course of this Spring/Summer season as possible through the City' s regular maintenance budget. It is felt by Staff that winter deterioration is the major cause of a portion of these problems . Both Engineering and Public Works staff are constantly seeking better materials to be used in road and sidewalk maintenance in hopes to lessen the frequency of such repairs . Community Development funds will be used to help pay the cost of additional handicapped access ramps on Harlow Street in front of the Better Homes & Gardens building and in the area of the Farrar Mansion. If any of the areas that Mrs . Whitehouse has pointed out are going to require significant changes that will be costly, then Rod McKay, the Community Development Director, will be asked to make adjustments in his budget to cover these costs . Councilor Marshall Frankel inquired as to whether or not the 504 Committee which included local handicapped people still existed. Staff replied, "No, but that it had been suggested that this should be reestablished" . Councilor Marshall Frankel motioned to reimburse Mrs . Whitehouse for her costs involved in her photo display. There was no objection to this by Committee or Staff . The next Bangor citizen to speak was Charles Curran, a resident of 239 Pine Street. He recently received a residential rehab loan (a Federal HUD program which is designed to help low- and moderate-income people) through the Community Development Division to do various repairs to his home on Pine Street. He is very pleased with the work, the contractors and the City Staff that helped him through this procedure. His basic concerns (merely out of concern for other property owners involved with the rehab program) dealt with making sure that when Bangor residents, who receive rehab loans, are not, at a later time, overburdened with increased property taxes due to the improved condition of their homes . He suggested also that at the time rehab projects are done that the sidewalks and street lighting in the area of the subject property be looked at for necessary improvements . In his neighborhood there are a lot of elderly people. The sidewalks (which exist only on one side of the street) , are rolling as are the driveways -- he would like this looked into to see what can be done to improve the sidewalks . 3 T.J. Martzial, Housing Resources Coordinator in the Community • Development Division, indicated, in response to Mr. Curran's property tax concerns, that this is taken into account in the underwriting process at the time of the property owner's application for a rehab loan. He reassured Mr. Curran that it is not the intent of this program nor the City to overburden any property owner and that his concerns were welcomed. Out of $4 million made in rehab loans over the last 20 years there has been only one foreclosure. One last concern of Mr. Curran's was whether or not the Code Enforcement Dept. , and the Assessing Dept. all worked in conjunction with Community Development on the rehab process or separately. He was reassured that they worked in conjunction with each other in the process, not separately. Councilor Don Soucy stated to Mr. Curran that City staff would take a look at the sidewalk situation to see what can be done to improve them. Mrs . Whitehouse had additional comments to make regarding the area out near Evergreen Woods (a medical complex) , located off Hogan Road. She questioned if the City had future plans to install sidewalks from Hogan Road to the vicinity of Evergreen Woods . She stated that the Eastern Transportation service is extremely busy at this time to the extent that you have to schedule a ride with them at least 24 hours ahead of time; in a case of a medical emergency, for example she had a dental emergency, you can not get their service. She, consequently, had to take the City Bus which had to drop her off on the corner of Hogan Road and Mt. Hope as the outer route of Mt. Hope is not on their route. She had to maneuver her wheelchair on the shoulder of the road (she does not feel secure riding in the road) . It had rained heavily in recent days and her wheelchair got stuck in the soft shoulder. Luckily for her a passerby stopped and helped her. Councilor Marshall Frankel suggested that perhaps there is a way that the City and the public can work together on situations like Mrs . Whitehouse's . He suggested that the City contact an Association, that the doctor's who are located at Evergreen Woods may belong to, to see if they can help the City defray some of the costs which would be involved with helping the handicapped in their commuting to and from their offices . Councilor Don Soucy asked for further comments by those in attendance. As there were no other speakers , Councilor Jane Saxl motioned to close the Public Hearing. Councilor Marshall Frankel seconded. So voted. Councilor Jane Saxl then motioned to recommend approval of the FY 92 Community Development Block Grant Budget. Councilor Marshall Frankel seconded. So voted. 4 I AGENDA ITEM #2 - Rehab Loan - Single Family, 40 Fremont Street Owner of this property is Brenda Gans . The total rehab loan amount is for $14,461 . A previous loan for emergency furnace installation was approved. This portion of the request is to replace a deteriorated retaining wall, repair the front porch, new doors, windows, other foundation repairs, new kitchen floor and electrical work. Ms . Gans has excellent credit; employment is secure with a good income. A limited equity is available due to 100% MSHA financing. Marshall Frankel made a motion to approve this loan request for 40 Fremont Street property. Councilor Don Soucy seconded. So voted. AGENDA ITEM #3 - Rehab Loan - Single Family, 34 Lane Street Owners of this property are Stephen & Maxine Landman (son and mother) . Their total loan request is for $34, 214 which includes refinancing $6 ,717 of a first mortgage as well as for previously approved emergency repair work done on their foundation. Mr. Landman is temporarily unemployed (was laid off from Diamond International after 13 years - has had a good work record) . They are not able to repay the loan back at the required rate ($97 per month) . The option that Staff has proposed is to pay off their first mortgage of $6, 717 and refinance that; loan them the balance of the funds at 3% interest for 20 years and keep their monthly payment as it is now until Mr. Landman goes back to work. His employment status will be monitored at 6-month intervals . A motion was made to approve this loan request with the repayment option as proposed by Staff; it was seconded and so voted. AGENDA ITEM #4 - Burgundy Realty Trust - 20 South Street Project Ken Gibb updated the Committee on this project as it nears completion. According to a portion of the original agreement between the City and Burgundy Realty Trust, an easement is to be prepared which will allow Burgundy to place their signage and fuel tanks near the South and Pleasant Street intersection. Ken stated that a proposed parking lease has since been developed which will put official approval on the agreement they already have with the City allowing Burgundy to lease up to a minimum of 29 parking spaces; these were designated at the last City Council meeting. Staff recommends approval of this parking lease and requests the Committee's approval at this time. It was motioned and seconded to approve the proposed parking lease between the City and Burgundy Realty Trust. So voted. 5 AGENDA ITEM #5 - Jobs Bond Application Ken Gibb reviewed the purpose and required criteria of the Jobs Bond Application. These funds can be used for infrastructure projects in the City of Bangor. The Jobs Bond issues will be brought before the Maine voters in June. Some of the program criteria would be - for example, the projects have to be ready to go or near ready within 90-days after approval . Otherwise, the State of Maine will cancel the funds for these projects . Therefore, Engineering work and permits need to be near ready or ready to go. Also, short-term jobs (ie street paving) or building construction and potential for long-term job creation are a consideration of the required criteria. Matching funds by the community are rewarded in the rating system. Federal monies can be used to match, ie Community Development funds . However, the projects that Staff have in mind are not eligible for C.D. money. Some of the projects that are being considered are as follows: 1 . Hogan Road Fire Station 2 . Police Station Improvements 3 . Cargo building at BIA 4 . Maine Business Enterprise Park 5 . Viner Building rehab Ken Gibb indicated that Staff will consider these and other projects and bring back a recommendation to the Committee on which projects should be pursued. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. rp May 14, 1992