North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 04 - COMMERCE › Chapter 19 - RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT › Subchapter L - NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM › Section .1000 - COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS › Section 19L .1002 - CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a) Each applicant
				  and recipient shall provide citizens with an opportunity for meaningful
				  involvement on a continuing basis and for participation in the planning,
				  implementation and assessment of the program. Each applicant and recipient
				  shall provide information to citizens, hold public hearings, provide for timely
				  responses to citizens' complaints, and certify that it is following a detailed
				  Citizen Participation Plan as in (b) through (h) of this Rule. All public
				  hearings shall be held by the governing board of the applicant or
				  recipient.
(b) Citizen
				  participation in the application process.
(1)
				  Each applicant for CDBG funds shall:
(A)
				  Solicit and respond in a timely manner to views and proposals of citizens,
				  particularly low- and moderate-income persons, members of minority groups, and
				  residents of blighted areas where activities are proposed. Applicants shall
				  respond in writing to written citizen comments. Responses shall be made within
				  10 calendar days of receipt of the citizen comment, when practicable.
(B) Provide technical assistance to
				  facilitate citizen participation, where requested. The technical assistance
				  shall be provided to groups representative of persons of low- and
				  moderate-income that request such assistance in developing proposals. The level
				  and type shall be determined by the applicant.
(C) Provide notices of public hearings in a
				  timely manner to all citizens and in such a way as to make them understandable
				  to non-English speaking persons. Hearings must be held at times and locations
				  convenient to potential or actual beneficiaries and with accommodations for
				  persons with disabilities. A notice of the public hearing shall be published at
				  least once in the nonlegal section of a newspaper having general circulation in
				  the area. The notice shall be published not less than ten days nor more than 25
				  days before the date fixed for the hearing. The notice of public hearing to
				  obtain citizens' views after the application has been prepared, but prior to
				  the submission of the application to the Division, shall contain a description
				  of the proposed project(s) including the proposed project location, activities
				  to be carried out, and the total costs of activities. The notice of the public
				  hearing shall also contain the language for submitting objections contained in
				  the Part (b)(2)(A) of this Rule.
(D) Schedule hearings to obtain citizens'
				  views and to respond to citizen proposals at times and locations which permit
				  broad participation, particularly by low- and moderate-income persons, members
				  of minority groups, handicapped persons, and residents of blighted
				  neighborhoods and project areas.
(E) Conduct one public hearing during the
				  planning process to allow citizens the opportunity to express views and
				  proposals prior to formulation of the application, except that applicants in
				  the Urgent Needs category are exempt from holding this public
				  hearing.
(F) Conduct one public
				  hearing after the application has been prepared but prior to submission of the
				  application to the Division.