Newburgh City Council approved to open the first 30-day public comment period and schedule a public hearing for Monday, June 10, on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) New Consolidated Plan.The plan is to be implemented in Fiscal Year 2025 to 2029. A Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Action Plan (AAP) will also have the opportunity to be commented on by the public.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds are allocated to local and state governments on a formula basis. For the City of Newburgh, it is required to prepare and submit a Consolidated Plan that establishes goals for the use of the program’s funds. National priorities set by CDBG include activities that benefit low and moderate-income people, the prevention or elimination of slums or blight or community development activities to address an urgent threat to health or safety.
At the work session on May 23, City Director of Planning and Development Alexandra Church reported that 20 community outreach meetings have been conducted in the local community, collecting input. The Consolidated Plan priority needs for 2025-29 include areas such as infrastructure improvements, economic development, quality of life and housing.
Councilman Omari Shakur requested a discussion period before the motion Monday night where he requested better options of communicating to the public about the hearings and wanted more people to attend to give comments. Mayor Torrance Harvey made the suggestion of having a digital flier and/or leaflet created for the public to learn more about the hearings.
Church referenced the outreach meetings held in the community and told the city council that the planning department would be happy to host more meetings. Corporation Counsel Michelle Kelson also referenced the city website, the city’s official publications and the city’s agendas for information on any hearings the public may be interested in attending.
Kelson also re-emphasized that if residents are not able to physically attend the council meeting to comment, comments can still be submitted via email or in writing to the department of planning and development after the hearing for 30 days. A second public hearing and public comment period will be held in September.