city council m - framingham unfilteredframinghamforward.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/...4.10...

City of Framingham of 1 Updated 5/21/2018 4:07 PM

CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DISCUSSIONS

1. FY19 CDBG Budget 2. Outstanding FY19 Budget Issues 3. Summer Schedule and Potential Topics

MEMBER PREROGATIVES ADJOURN

CITY COUNCIL MEMORIAL BUILDING – ROOM 113

150 CONCORD STREET, FRAMINGHAM, MA 01702 508.532.5400 – [email protected]

DENNIS L. GIOMBETTI, CHAIR | CHARLES J. SISITSKY, VICE CHAIR MICHAEL P. CANNON | JUDITH A. GROVE | GEORGE P. KING, JR.

PAM RICHARDSON | MICHAEL M. ROSSI | MARGARETH BASILIO SHEPARD ADAM C. STEINER | CHERYL TULLY STOLL | EDGARDO A. TORRES

SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS: GEORGE P. KING, JR., CHAIR | JUDITH A. GROVE MICHAEL M. ROSSI | CHARLES J. SISITSKY | ADAM C. STEINER

FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA: MAY 23, 2018

BLUMER COMMUNITY ROOM, 7:00 PM

elb

Received

FRAMINGHAM COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEMORIAL BUILDING 150 CONCORD STREET ROOM B-2

FRAMINGHAM, MA 01702-8325 TELEPHONE: 508.532.5455

FAX: 508.532.5461

TO: Dennis Giombetti, Chair, and Members of the Framingham City Council

Via: Arthur P. Robert, Director of Community and Economic Development (CED)

From: Nathalie Jean, Community Development Coordinator

Subject: Proposed FY2019 CDBG Budget

Date: May 11, 2018

Please find enclosed the recommended budgets for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

and HOME Programs for Fiscal Year 2019, together with the detailed information attached.

Fiscal 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds

CDBG Allocation: $542,862

CDBG Program Income: $20,000 (projected)

Total Available: $562,862

Fiscal 2019 HOME Investment Partnership Funds

HOME Allocation: $246,665.00

Program Administration: $24,665.00

Est. Total Available: $271,330.00

Following the community process established in the Framingham Citizen Participation Plan, the funding

recommendations presented here were arrived at from proposals received from the FY2019

CDBG/HOME Request for Proposals, programs identified by CED staff and reviewed against established

priority needs and input from the community for any new needs.

All eligible public services proposals were referred and forwarded to the Community Development

Committee (CDC). The CDC reviewed and made funding recommendations for the public services budget

at a public meeting with input from the community. The remainder of the budget for CDBG as well as

HOME represents the recommendations of CED staff and approval by CDC vote, held at a public hearing.

I will explain the FY19 plan for the CDBG and HOME budgets in forthcoming presentations and

respectfully request that you

Approve the recommended CDBG budget. A motion to the above effect is below, pending your

approval of the recommended CDBG budget and the following actions:

Vote to authorize the Community Development Department to accept and expend funds in

accordance with the provisions of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974,

as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U. S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development.

MOTION

I move to authorize the Community Development Department to accept and expend funds in accordance with the provisions of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and in accordance with the “Statement of Community Development Objectives and Projected Use of Funds.” Said projected use of funds is shown on the attached pages.

Vote to approve receiving, through the WestMetro HOME Consortium, the recommended FY19

HOME budget and conduct the associated necessary activities that implement projects.

cc: Beverly Good, Chair, Community Development Committee

150 CONCORD STREET MEMORIAL BUILDING ROOM B-3 FRAMINGHAM, MA 01702-8325

TEL: 508.532.5457 WEB: WWW.FRAMINGHAMMA.GOV

1

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS

Community Development Department

USES OF FISCAL YEAR 2019 CDBG FUNDS

1.0 ADMINISTRATION/PLANNING $112,572.00*

2.0 HOUSING REHABILITATION $260,143.00

2.1 Housing Rehabilitation $190,143.00

2.2 Code Enforcement $70,000.00

3.0 PUBLIC FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS $20,000.00

3.1 Butterworth Park $20,000.00

4.0 PUBLIC SERVICES $84,429.30**

4.1 Literacy Unlimited $11,029.54

4.2 Framingham Adult ESL Plus $19,324.10

4.3 Community Connections Summer Work Program $21,542.35

4.4 Pearl Street Cupboard Café $3,815.97

4.5 Healthy Options for Progress through Education (HOPE) $7,647.23

4.6 Hoops & Homework $4,769.98

4.7 Brazilian American Center (BRACE) $3,179.98

4.8 South Middlesex Opportunity Council $2,607.92

4.9 Resiliency for Life $3,440.78

4.10 Latino Health Insurance Program $3,461.69

4.11 Edward M. Kennedy Health Center $1,752.60

4.12 Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) $1,857.16

5.0 DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS $85,717.70

5.1 South Framingham Main Streets Program $58,000.00

5.2 Downtown Commercial Sign & Façade Program $27,717.70

TOTALS $542,862 +$20,000 Program Income = $562,862

* Administration: The maximum amount of funds that may be budgeted to Administration is $112,572*, 20% of the sum of the Entitlement Grant plus

estimated Program Income realized in the program year.

** Public Services: The maximum amount of funds that may be budgeted to Public Services is 15% of the sum of the Entitlement Grant plus Program Income

realized in the prior program year.



2

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


FISCAL 2019 CDBG PROJECT BACKGROUND

1.0 ADMINISTRATION & PLANNING

Goal: To administer the CDBG program effectively and equitably and to ensure that all members of

the community can participate in or benefit from program activities.

1.1 CDBG PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION $112,572

Sources of funds: CDBG Entitlement Grant: $112,572

These funds are for the administration and planning costs of the CDBG program. No more than 20%

of the grant allocation and program income earned can be allocated for administration.

2.0 HOUSING REHABILITATION

Goal: To arrest deterioration in the existing housing stock and to stabilize neighborhoods through

ongoing financial and technical housing rehabilitation assistance to property owners.

2.1 HOUSING REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HRAP) $190,143

SPONSOR: Framingham Community Development Department


Program Income: $20,000

In fiscal year 2019, HRAP will provide deferred, no-interest loans to repair code violations, improve

energy efficiency and enhance ADA-accessibility in 2-4 owner-occupied homes with lower-income

owners, and, if possible, 1 to 2 rental units occupied by lower-income tenants. Both CDBG and HOME

funds will be used for loan capital. CDBG & HOME funds will be loaned to eligible owners, in any area of

the city, to address emergency repair needs, such as heating system and roofing repairs. Rehabilitation

funds will be loaned to eligible homeowners and multi-family residences in low-income target

neighborhoods to fix housing code violations and to improve exterior appearances. CDBG monies will

also pay for the program delivery costs for the CDBG & HOME funded HRAP Program. PERFORMANCE

TARGET: 3-6 dwelling units; very low, low & moderate-income clientele

2.2 NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION/CODE ENFORCEMENT $70,000

SPONSOR: Framingham Inspectional Services Division




3

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


The city will use CDBG funds to pay for housing inspections in targeted low/moderate-income (LM)

neighborhoods. Housing code violations will be required to be corrected by the property owners, in

partnership with the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program (HRAP) where possible. This program

works in coordination with the Code Enforcement Task Force, an inter-department team that conducts

monthly site visits of the neighborhoods to develop solutions and improvements from a holistic, inter-

disciplinary approach. PERFORMANCE TARGET: 400 – 500 inspections in LM areas

3.0 PUBLIC MPROVEMENTS

Goals: To improve infrastructure that will prolong the useful life of public facilities; and to remove

architectural barriers to improve access to public and private facilities.

3.1 Butterworth Park Basketball Court Relocation $20,000


Parks and Recreation requests $20,000 through the CDBG program to help fund the removal and

relocation of the current full-sized basketball court. This project will move the basketball court to a

more suitable location, as the current court is consistently exposed to foul balls due to its close

proximity to the baseball diamond. Butterworth Park is a true neighborhood park in every sense of

the word. The site currently has four tennis courts with night lighting, a full-sized basketball court,

large playground and swings, picnic areas for residents, and a multi-use field with softball amenities,

baseball field, and full-sized rectangular field able to accommodate soccer, lacrosse, football, etc.

The park is heavily utilized by local organizations for a variety of events ranging from formal sports

activities to field days. Current users include Marian High School, McAuliffe Charter School,

Framingham Youth Baseball, Mass. Bay Community College, Greater Framingham Church, Boys and

Girls Club, and other local groups. PERFORMANCE TARGET: 11,000 LMI residents

4.0 PUBLIC SERVICES

Goal: To improve the quality of life for low and very low income residents of the city through the

provision of public services.

4.1 FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY’S LITERACY UNLIMITED PROGRAM $11,029.54

Sources of funds: CDBG Entitlement Grant: $11,029.54

Seeks partial funding to continue the work of an adult literacy training program, which features trained

volunteer tutors who teach basic reading, writing, and computational skills, to illiterate and learning

disabled adults on a one-to-one basis and in groups. The range of activities include classroom training

of tutors, one-to-one tutoring, tutoring in conversational English to limited English speakers,

counseling, job development, General Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation and materials, and



4

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


maintenance of student and tutor support networks. CDBG funds support the administrative staff to

recruit and train volunteer tutors. The program will evaluate students initially and on an on-going basis,

develop a learning plan for each low level literacy student, and provide guidance to tutors as they work

with these students. PERFORMANCE TARGET: Approximately 100 very low, low & moderate-income

clients.

4.2 FRAMINGHAM ADULT ESL PLUS PROJECT $19,324.10


Requests partial funding is sought to provide free English-as-a-Second Language classes, training, and

development to adult (ages 18 - 85) limited-English speakers to facilitate their integration into the

community, prepare them for their GED, Citizenship Preparation classes, the job market, customs,

culture and the law. Funds will meet the cost of instructors and counseling support for three full

capacity classes of instruction for two semesters operated during the evening hours. PERFORMANCE

TARGET: Up to 60 very low, low & moderate-income clients.

4.3 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS/FRAMINGHAM COALITION SUMMER WORK PROGRAM $21,542.35


Requests funding to provide a youth summer work program to employ a total of 30 teens (ages 14 to

17) that live in low socioeconomic Framingham neighborhoods. The program will operate during the

summer months in which teens will learn responsibility and investment in their community by

implementing appropriate landscaping, general clean up, painting, maintenance skills, and

teamwork. Because this will be a first job for most, teens will also learn the interview process and

how to complete a job application. These sessions are supervised (on-site) by adults who have

numerous years of experience working with youth in both school and community settings. The

program will involve orientation and participation in enrichment sessions on safety and health

issues. PERFORMANCE TARGET: Up to 40 very low, low & moderate-income clients.

4.4 UNITED WAY OF TRI-COUNTY PEARL STREET CUPBNOARD AND CAFÉ $3,815.97


Requests funds to provide hunger relief, improve quality of life and connect families and individuals

in need to essential services and resources in Framingham. In 2014, the Cupboard served 4,889

unduplicated clients through 18,896 visits. In an average month, it provided groceries to 683

families consisting of 1,044 adults, 646 children and 2019 seniors, totaling 1,899 individuals; 36%

of clients were new. The Cupboard provides hot meals two nights each week and serves an average

of 1,600 meals each month. PERFORMANCE TARGET: 14,752 low- and moderate-income clients.

4.5 HOPE (HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR PROGRESS THROUGH EDUCATION) $7,647.23



5

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


SPONSOR: Pelham II Corporation


Requests funding for their on-site community-based program, which is geared toward 14-21 year old

youth residing at the Pelham Apartments. H.O.P.E. provides access to computer technology that

supports academic success and obtaining better jobs. H.O.P.E. provides one-on-one mentoring,

community engagement, healthcare information, and other social services. Monthly field trips to

educational, cultural, and scientific institutions will also be organized. The proposed program will be

conducted during the evening hours of 5:30—8:30 p.m. A family night will be offered once per month

where student progress will be reported to the parent or legal guardian. The funds will directly pay

the part-time bilingual program coordinator, program supplies, and costs associated with weekly

programs and instructions and related materials. PERFORMANCE TARGET: Up to 40 very low, low &

moderate-income clients.

4.6 HOOPS & HOMEWORK $4,769.98


Hoops & Homework is requesting funding for an educational and recreational after- school program

for school age children located at the Carlson and Pusan Roads Community Rooms. Homework

assistance, snack, on-site tutoring and recreational activities will be included. PERFORMANCE

TARGET: Up to 50 very low, low & moderate-income clients.

4.7 Brazilian American Center Adult ESL Program $3,179.98


BRACE requests funds to add four class sessions, employ two part-time teachers and create a

financial aid and scholarship program based on need and merit. The Brazilian American Center has

the mission of integrating the large immigrant population of the Framingham area into mainstream

American culture. Its ESL program has a goal of promoting the English language, as well as customs,

traditions and history of the United States. Its programs are aimed at easing the adaptation and

integration of the immigrant population into American society, preparing the students for

employment interviews, job-related conversation, immigration and naturalization specialized

programs and understanding of greater American culture and customs. PERFORMANCE TARGET:

240 low- & moderate-income clients

4.8 South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) $2,607.92


In 2015, SMOC established a new microloan program entitled SMOC Financial Services (SFS) and

requests funds for SFS to achieve the goal of removing barriers for low and moderate income

entrepreneurs through the following services: Microloans, Pre- and Post-Loan Technical Assistance

as well as Trainings and Workshops. SFS' mission is to promote economic opportunities for LMI



6

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


entrepreneurs and businesses located in LMI census tracts and to promote the revitalization of

downtown districts and commercial corridors. It targets current or emerging immigrant, women,

minority, disabled, veteran and unemployed small business owners. The universal barriers facing LMI

entrepreneurs in starting and growing a business is the inability to access financial resources and

technical assistance. PERFORMANCE TARGET: 20 low- & moderate-income entrepreneurs.

4.9 Resiliency for Life $3,440.78


Requests funding to help operate a new, pilot service — namely, the acquisition and use on an on-

going basis of an Assistance Service Dog. While the practice of training service dogs to assist visually

impaired people (Seeing Eye dogs) and others with certain physical disabilities is well known, service

dogs are proving to also be very effective in hospitals, prisons and juvenile detention centers and

veterans programs at calming people with PTSD, anxiety disorders and other mood disorders, in

situations when they might well seize up in stress or act out in disruptive ways. These are very

intensely trained dogs, prepared to react sensitively and immediately to provide therapeutic and

calming attention to agitated and potentially disruptive people. Nursing home services, incidentally,

feature pet visitation programs commonly now for the same reason, to help their agitated residents;

these programs have been very successful, calming not just individuals but whole wings of the

facility, and significantly lowering blood pressure in the process.

PERFORMANCE TARGET: 50 low- and moderate-income individuals

4.10 Latino Health Insurance Program $3,461.69


Requests funds to evaluate older adults for fall risk and asthma home safety in promoting health

and preventing morbidity and mortality. Through referrals from community providers and in-clinic

providers as well as in-home assessments, the proposed Framingham Home Health and Safety

Project will identify 200 residents who are seniors and who are at risk of falls or asthma. The project

will offer referrals to community programs that may reduce falls and the subsequent medical costs

and complications resulting from falls. The primary outcomes expected from the Framingham Home

Health and Safety Project are to identify these residents, assess their risk of falling and help them

find adequate medical care if they screen in for test findings and to educate parents of children with

asthma and to reduce asthma and complications from attacks. PERFORMANCE TARGET: Primarily

200 low- and moderate-income older adults

4.11 Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center $1,752.60


Requests funds in support of a monthly Mobile Food Market to address food insecurity for residents

of Framingham. Nearly 7,000 Metro West patients of all ages receive care and service through

Kennedy CHC -- Framingham’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the



7

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, dental care, optometry, behavioral

health, social services, and health education. The mission of Edward M. Kennedy Community Health

Center is to “help people live healthier lives.” We believe that everyone has a right to accessible,

high quality, comprehensive, integrated and compassionate health care. As a community health

center, Kennedy CHC has always provided comprehensive care to its patients, who are at disparate

risk for chronic disease and poor health outcomes due to poverty and other social determinants of

health. In CY 2016, 65% of Kennedy CHC patients who responded identified themselves as at or

below 200% of the federal poverty level. PERFORMANCE TARGET: 8,400 low- and moderate-

income clients

4.12 MASSACHUSETTS ALLIANCE OF PORTUGUESE SPEAKERS $1,857.16


Seeks CDBG Framingham funds to help support additional hours for an Immigrant Integration

Services (IIS) Case Worker. We respectfully request $12,000 to cover 8 additional hours per week for

an IIS Case Worker for one year to serve 120 more Framingham residents, mostly low-income, at the

MAPS Framingham Office at 24 Union Ave., Suites 8 & 10. The MAPS Framingham office operates

all year—currently with a limited schedule.

The IIS program helps move Portuguese speakers forward so they can become more self-sufficient

and share their knowledge and skills with the rest of the city, benefitting Framingham in ways that

range from business and tax-base development to cultural enrichment. No other local organization

offers a comprehensive and full range of services tailored to our target population. Although a few

other organizations provide limited Portuguese-language services, they do not duplicate ours.

PERFORMANCE TARGET: Primarily 120 low- and moderate-income clients

5.0 DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS

Goal: To improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income people by improving economic

conditions for small businesses in the Downtown Commercial Target area that serve local

residents

5.1 SOUTH FRAMINGHAM MAIN STREETS PROGRAM $58,000

SPONSOR: Framingham Downtown Renaissance (FDR)


FDR seeks funding for the city’s downtown commercial target business district and surrounding

residential neighborhoods, where 66% of residents have low or moderate-incomes. Funds will pay for

staff who will promote the area’s economic development by providing marketing or other technical

assistance to firms that serve neighborhood residents as well as small businesses owned by low or



8

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


moderate-income people, hold community events, assist new businesses, and serve as liaison and

support during the Downtown redesign and reconstruction project. PERFORMANCE TARGET: 150+

small, local businesses that serve clientele from LM areas.

5.2 DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL SIGN AND FAÇADE PROGRAM $27,717.70

SPONSOR: Framingham Community Development Department


Requests funding to provide capital for partial rebates to help small businesses located in the

Framingham Downtown Commercial District to install new signage and improve building facades.

PERFORMANCE TARGET: Grants to improve storefronts in the Downtown Commercial Target

District.

CDBG GRAND TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2019: $562,862

USES OF FISCAL 2019 HOME FUNDS

1.0 Funds Available for Housing Programs and Projects $246,665

(First-Time Home Buyers Program, Tenant Based Rental Assistance as well as Housing

Rehabilitation and Housing Development Projects)

2.0 Home Program Administration

$24,665

TOTALS: $271,330

The Community Development Department requests the city council’s vote to authorize the office to expend

funds in accordance with the provisions of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974,

as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development for the following budgets:

Fiscal 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds

CDBG Allocation: $542,862

CDBG Program Income: $20,000 (projected)

Total Available: $562,862

Projected Fiscal 2019 HOME Investment Partnership Funds



9

FRAMINGHAM,

MASSACHUSETTS


HOME Allocation: $246,665.00

Program Administration: $24,665.00

Est. Total Available: $271,330.00

The vote authorizes expenditures in accordance with the Statement of Community Development

Objectives and Use of Funds for CDBG and approves receiving through the WestMetro HOME Consortium

the recommended FY19 HOME budget and conducting the associated necessary activities that are

undertaken to implement HOME projects.

city council m - framingham unfilteredframinghamforward.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/...4.10...

Documents