CDBG - Running Late? Who's in Charge?

Plainfield's major goal in the 2010 Census was to attain a count exceeding 50,000 residents, because then the city could receive federal funds for housing and social services directly instead of having the money funneled through Union County. The goal wasn't met, and so the annual Community Development Block Grant process still goes on.

The lead agency for many years has been the Office of Community Development, within the Department of Public Works & Urban Development. Through the McWilliams and Robinson-Briggs administrations, it was the responsibility of Al Restaino, even after he was named director of Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services in 2010.

For a complete overview of the Union County CDBG program, click here. The process is spread out over many months, starting with applications becoming available in September. A committee representing various agencies within each community reviews and ranks applications for social services, public facilities, public improvements,housing and administration of the program itself.

The requests are supposed to go to the county in December, according to the chart in the brochure linked above. At this point, in February, presentations on requests are supposed to be made to the Union County Revenue Sharing Committee for ranking, with determinations made in April and May. Approved funds come through for use from September through August of the following year.

Monday's agenda includes a resolution to submit requests totaling $2.6 million for Plainfield projects and services. Among social service requests are $90,000 for recreational and social services at the Senior Center, $71,000 for the Boys & Girls Club, $50,000 for the shelter at the YMCA and $17,000 for the New Horizons College Club. The total for social services is $445,785. There are seven requests for improvements to public facilities, including $196,449 sought by the YMCA and $202,000 for UCPC Behavioral Healthcare Inc.

The city itself seeks $450,529 for roadway improvements on West Second Street and $200,000 for better lighting at Seidler Field. In addition, there is a $110,000 request for administration of the Office of Community Development. Housing requests include $80,000 for the Elmwood Gardens demolition and funds to fix homes of low-income residents and for emergency housing needs.

So who's in charge of this important program? Nobody, right now, according to the city web site

One hopes the process is not too far off the track outlined by Union County. Plainfield does have two newly-named representatives on the Union County Revenue Sharing Committee, Councilman Cory Storch and Council President Bridget Rivers. In all, nineteen Union County municipalities are vying for Year 40 funds.

Besides assigning someone to be in charge of the Office of Community Development and making sure Plainfield's requests are heard for Year 40, the new administration has an opportunity to broaden the way requests are reviewed locally. Formerly requests were reviewed at the city level by the Citizens Advisory Committee, up to 31 representatives of  various community agencies. Even though council liaisons are named annually, there is no committee and a handful of city officials have reviewed requests in recent years. Many of the named agencies are defunct, so to revive the CAC, the ordinance would have to be overhauled to reflect current community organizations and entities that can speak to the city's actual needs.

All this may seem like one of those bureaucratic nightmares that affect cities, but until Plainfield can prove it has more than 50,000 residents, these are the steps to accessing potentially millions of dollars in federal funds . The situation deserves a close look and whatever action is needed to put the city in the best position to compete for these funds.

--Bernice