Erica Johnson of PVPC speaks to Highway Superintendent Chip Dazelle about CDBG grants at Huntington Board of Selectmen Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – Erica Johnson of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission held a public meeting during the Board of Selectmen meeting on Wednesday to discuss the new round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, for which she is seeking more than $2 million for the towns.
Johnson said the state has made an ongoing effort to streamline the process, in order to make the application easier so that more communities will participate. “The process keeps people away, because they need assistance with it,” she said.
Johnson said in the ten years she’s been working on CDBG grants, she always started with a community development strategy. This year, the state struck it from the process, saying the strategy document wasn’t important. “However, I think it’s still important to have that conversation,” she said, because funding changes, and funding priorities change.
This year, Johnson plans to write two grants; one for $975,000 for infrastructure work in Huntington, and one for $1.3 million for the regional community block grants, with Russell as the lead town. Johnson said social services would be funded through the second grant.
For the infrastructure work, Huntington Highway Superintendent Charles “Chip” Dazelle said they have been discussing a few priority projects for the town, including Goss Hill Road and Kennedy Drive/Lowell Lane.
Johnson explained that priority projects move forward with income surveys, and that at least 51% of residents in the project area must have low to moderate income in order for it to qualify. She said surveys were sent out to both project areas, with mixed results. She said they had a poor response from residents returning surveys on Goss Hill Road, and a pretty good response from the Kennedy Drive/Lowell Lane project, which she said is looking positive.
“We need to get a good response,” Johnson said, adding that she will send another round of surveys to Goss Hill Road, which residents must respond to in order for the road to be considered for CDBG grant funding.
Another project they are working on in Huntington is Aldrich Avenue, for which they received funding for design work last year. She said the ads for an architect will go out next week, and there will be a quick turnaround to respond. She said four firms have expressed an interest in doing the design work for the road. She said they will be able to go forward with the work if weather holds.
St. Thomas church in Huntington is for sale again, and the town is interested. (WNG Photo)
Selectman Darlene McVeigh told Johnson that the former St. Thomas Catholic church is for sale, and the board considers it a perfect multi-use building for record storage, a senior center, possible library, and possible emergency management center. McVeigh asked if CDBG funds could be used for that project. McVeigh said they’ve looked at the building, and the owner, who bought it at auction from the diocese in July, 2017, is anxious to sell.
“It’s in pretty amazing shape, quite frankly,” McVeigh said about the historic-designated church. The town’s purchase will depend on how much the owner is selling it for, and how much it will cost to refurbish, she added.
Johnson said she would look into the mechanics of acquisition with CDBG. She said a senior center is a viable project, as is handicap accessibility. “There are some possibilities,” she said, adding that she wasn’t sure about acquisition, but that she would find out quickly.
Erica asked if acquisition had to be a part of it, or could the town pursue a purchase of the building without grant funding. Darlene said it wouldn’t be a “showstopper,” if they could get grants to refurbish the space for the town’s use.
“If we knew there were grant money available, it would help us,” added Board of Selectmen chairman Edward Renauld.
Johnson said it might be difficult if they were looking to do anything with grant funding in a hurry.
“The owner is just looking for a commitment,” McVeigh said, adding that he would know that they would have to put the item on the Annual Town Meeting. Johnson said she would get back to them.
Two social service programs that will be part of the Russell community block grant application made a short presentation to the board.
Heather Morgan of the Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center (SHAEC), now in its 20th year, gave a report on activities in 2018. Morgan said over 400 people participated in classes last year, 287 from eligible CDBG towns, and others from all over the area (including 16 from Westfield.) Approximately 50 Classes were offered in GED/HI Set, computer training, business development, sustainability, and wellness. Last year, SHAEC received $75,000 in CDBG funding.
Ron Craig of the Huntington Food Pantry said they serve 400-500 families a year. He said they are part of the Feeding America umbrella, under which they can purchase food inexpensively at the Food Bank in Hatfield. He said they have many new donors, including CISA and Big Y, and that every single area church donates monthly. Craig said last month the Russell Police held a drive and donated 75 toys for Christmas, along with 500 pounds of food, and $830. The Huntington Food Pantry is open Thursdays.
“We’re doing very well and meeting a tremendous need. People walk in weekly,” Craig said, offering to give the selectmen a tour. He said the Food Pantry’s overhead includes their truck, repairs and insurance.
Johnson said next week she will be holding a public hearing in Russell on the CDBG grant funding.
