01/23/2023 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 Mashpee Select Board Minutes January 23, 2022 Discussion wand Possible A °l roval of Grant A� lication withmRegard to Communi Develalament Block Grant:n Town Planner Evan Lehrer: Members of the Select Board reviewed criteria relative to the Community Development Block Grant(CDBG). The grant if secured would give the Town the ability to access funds through a competitive program to assist low to moderate income households in connecting to the wastewater treatment system in Phase 1 of the intended Sewer Service Area. The deadline for the grant application is March 3, 2023, The CDBG funding round would combine FY2022 and FY2023 funds. This is a competitive application. One of the areas measured competitively is the readiness to proceed at the time of the award. In addition to this grant, there are alternative loan programs through the Barnstable County Septic Loan Program and through conventional home equity programs from local lenders. Mr. Lehrer indicated he was significant reservations about the competitiveness of this grant submission in this upcoming year. It is estimated in a best case scenario the treatment facility and the collection system would be operational in early Summer 2024. Under this highly competitive grant, penalties may be imposed if the wastewater treatment facility is not operable for household connection at the time of the grant award. The Town would be in a more competitive position to receive a funding award if an application was submitted in the March 2024 funding round opposed to March 3, 2023. This would allow the homeowner ample time to complete necessary paperwork, obtain competitive bids, and not compromise a property owner's ability to obtain assistance for the sewer connection. With the operation of the collection system property owners in Phase I of the Sewer Service Area would have 90 days to connect to the system. If a municipality has not received a Massachusetts CDBG grant in three prior years,up to $9,000 for grant application preparation can be charged as an allowable expense of the grant criteria. Mr. Lehrer indicated that it is too late in this grant round to hire a consultant. It may be more beneficial for the Town to procure a consultant to assist in the preparation and submission of a grant application in March of 2024. Discussion followed with respect to securing a consultant such as the Housing Assistance Corporation(HAC) or taking the advantage of utilizing the Mashpee Housing Authority for this service to maintain funding within the Town of Mashpee for the benefit of the Town and its affordable housing. Mr. Lehrer reiterated he is concerned with the timeline of the application due for submission on March 3,2023. The grant if secured would offer the release of funds on July 1, 2023 and it is not likely the sewer connections would be ready. If the funds aren't utilized, monies would be required to be returned, and the Town would be penalized. As the matter was debated it was noted that it may be advantageous to submit the grant to establish a relationship with DHCD. Selectman Wyman-Colombo offered to write the grant proposal for the Town of Mashpee.