2022 AAP Draft Hearing 2022-03-29 MinutesCDBG AAP Draft Hearing Minutes
Meeting Setup
• Time and Date: 6pm, 3/29/2022
• Format: Hybrid (Zoom and In-person at the Hearing Room)
• Contact: Keith Benoit at kbenoit@northamptonma.gov
• URL for video recording and presentation slides:
http://archive.northamptonma.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=732093&dbid=0&repo=CityOfNor
thampton
• Staff present: Keith Benoit, Community Development Planner and Nathan Chung, Grants
Administrator. Both from the Office of Planning and Sustainability
• In-person public members present: 2 people. Janna Tetreault (Community Action Pioneer Valley)
and Laurie Millman (Center for New Americans)
• Online public members present: 7 people. Judith Roberts (The Literacy Project); Lisa Downing
(Forbes Library); Lisa Lapierre (Community Action Pioneer Valley, Youth and Workforce
Development); Megan Paik; Ryan Feyre (Reminder Publishing); Sarah Sargent (Valley Community
Development); Susan Nicastro (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County)
Meeting Minutes Body
Keith Benoit went over presentation slides prepared for the meeting. He introduced himself as the
community development planner, Nathan Chung as the grants administrator, and Wayne Feiden as the
planning director. He then explained the purpose of the meeting to go over the draft plan, budget, and
take comments.
Keith Benoit reviewed the agenda for the meeting and the CDBG program with its priorities such as
housing, public service, and slums and blight. He explained the meeting is a part of the public
participation process. He explained that the CDBG projects are justified based on various plans. Some
are newer like the Resilience and Regen and ADA the plan. Some are older.
Keith Benoit went over the funding structure and budget. He explained next year’s funding (2022-2023)
has not been confirmed by HUD yet, so the slides are using the current year’s funding, $693,839, for
next year’s proposed budget.
Keith Benoit reviewed the list of projects and looked at photos of some of the proposed projects. He
then explained the planned number of units, tenant income breakdown, and potential rents for the
proposed Prospect Place affordable housing project.
Keith Benoit explained next steps and contact information. He opened up the floor for questions.
Nathan Chung added that assuming the funding remains the same as last year, the Office will be able to
fund all proposed public service projects for the full requested amounts with some surplus funding left
over. He explained that the Public Service Advisory Committee proposed giving the surplus to the
Literacy Project and the Center for New Americans. The draft budget reflects this.
Judith Roberts asked for the public service slide again via Zoom chat.
Janna Tetreault, who was in person, commented on the value and efficiency of the coordinated housing
approach across departments and organizations. Keith Benoit replied that the Planning Office really
stressed coordinated approach to purchase land to give it to organizations like VCDC for developing
smaller individual houses and larger affordable housing projects funded by sources such as CDBG and
CPA.
Susan Nicastro from Big Brothers Big Sisters thanked the Office for including CHD in the funding. Susan
also noted it is good to learn about important projects.
Judith Roberts from the Literacy Project thanked the City of Northampton for the support provided on
behalf of the students. She noted students are focusing more on career readiness the upcoming year
and the funding will be helpful.
Keith asked for any remaining comments or questions and reiterated his contact info and next steps.
--Meeting Adjourned--