Councilmembers Faravelli, Kasperzak, Pear, Stasek, Zoglin, Vice Mayor Lieber and Mayor Ambra. The Senior Planner stated that tonight is the second public hearing on the City's Fiscal Year 2001-02 CDBG and HOME Programs as well as the allocation of General Funds to social service agencies. She said that Council will be hearing from the agencies requesting funding and will be making funding decisions. CDBG is a Federal block grant program which can be used to fund public services, housing and community development projects which benefit low-income persons.
HOME is a Federal housing block grant program which can be used to fund affordable housing.
Councilmember Kasperzak stated that he would be abstaining from participation in any discussion regarding the American Red Cross, under the CDBG public service program, and the Community School of Music and Arts, under the General Fund public services, due to a conflict of interest. He requested that consideration of these two programs be taken out of order so he could participate in the discussion of the remaining agencies. A Councilmember expressed concern that if the Council takes organizations out of order they would not be able to either increase or decrease the funding allocated to those agencies as they go through the remainder of the process, and another Councilmember concurred. The public hearing was opened. Inc. Seeing no one further wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed.