CDBG funds to be used for different project

Birmingham city commissioners approved authorizing finance director Mark Gerber to reprogram some 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars from the minor home repair project to retrofit the main entrance of the Birmingham Police Department's as ADA-compliant, at their meeting on Monday, March 26.

Gerber explained that there were CDBG funds in the amount of $17,834 that the city would like to transfer from the minor home repairs for seniors, to the project of removing architectural barriers, which would help ADA retrofit the main entrance of the police department.

“There would still be over $19,000 left over for the minor home repairs program,” Gerber said.

At the city commission meeting on Monday, November 13, a resolution was part of the consent agenda authorizing mayor Andy Harris to sign the 2017 program year grant of $46,585, an increase of $14,565 from December 2016. Birmingham has been receiving CDBG funds for 26 years, with $37,268 in 2017 going to minor home repairs, and $6,017 to yard services.

The federal CDBG program provides funds to local municipalities dedicated to assist low- and moderate-income residents with affordable housing, home repairs and other needs through individual grants and other anti-poverty programs. The objective is to prevent or eliminate slums and blight, and to meet an urgent community need where no other funding is available. Community and charitable organizations may also make direct requests to the cities for direct grants. Federal regulations require communities to hold public hearings and pass a resolution approving the planned use of funds as part of the application process.

Birmingham commissioners voted 5-0, with Harris and mayor pro tem Patty Bordman absent, to approve the fund transfer.