California eyes CDBG funding resolution, tentative budget
CALIFORNIA — Borough council acknowledged it needs to determine what kind of funding project it will prioritize with 2017 Community Development Block Grant funding at its regular monthly meeting Thursday, also looking ahead to settling upon a tentative budget for 2017.
Council agreed to hold a continued meeting on Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. to determine the project for which it will allocate CDBG funding, and council will also tackle a tentative budget for 2017 at that meeting.
Council President Patsy Alfano said the CDBG funding would amount to approximately $84,000 and must be spent by the end of the calendar year 2017.
In related business, council agreed to meet on today at 6 p.m. with the borough budget committee for a budget workshop to prepare for approving a tentative budget.
Alfano announced that the final walk-around for the Rotary Park Pike Run stream project had been held earlier in the day and declared the project a success, noting that it was a $300,000-plus project. Alfano added that the project was a joint effort among the borough and “all the alphabet agencies,” including PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation), the DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), the DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development), and the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection).
“I think we were all totally shocked at the beautiful facility that it’s turned out to be,” Alfano said. “The place is so cleaned up. It’s accessible.”
Alfano also said the water there was “crystal clear,” noting during and after the meeting that the project would encourage new aquatic life and recreational opportunities, including fishing.
In other business, borough Solicitor Thomas Agrafiotis noted ongoing discussions with Long Branch regarding extending the current police service that California provides Long Branch for another three years. The current agreement expires at the end of 2016, Agrafiotis said. Council authorized Agrafiotis to advertise and prepare an ordinance in December that would give Alfano the authority to sign a contract with Long Branch for a new police agreement.
Alfano announced that the term for the borough’s representative on the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority board, Jon Bittner, is set to expire and that the borough is seeking to either reappoint Bittner or accept a new appointee. Bittner said he would defer to anyone who would like to assume the role of MMVTA representative.
In unrelated business, the holiday celebration “Holly Days” will be held at the Elmo Natali Student Center on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m., featuring Santa Claus, movies, crafts and other items, Alfano announced.