Selectmen advised on joint grant application
By Karen Mann Journal correspondent

Shelly Hatch of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission recommended Townsend apply jointly with Lancaster, Lunenburg and Ashburnham for a Community Development Block Grant.

Hatch said if Townsend applied with Lancaster, town officials would have a better chance of receiving the grant money.

This is because Lancaster is classified as a Community Development Fund 1 town, which, according to Hatch, has a larger pot of money. Townsend is part of the CDF 2, which has a smaller amount of money to give out.

Community Development Block Grants are awarded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Authority through the Regional Housing Rehabilitation Program.

The money is given to low to moderateincome level families who need money for repairs to their houses or property.

Hatch said applicants who meet the financial requirements are put on a waiting list for the money.

According to Hatch, the maximum amount of the grant is $1,000,000; each town would receive $200,000. She said this would be split into helping six parties on Townsend's waiting list - two at $35,000, and four at $30,000.

As she stated at the November 7 selectmen's meeting, Hatch reiterated it is important for their grant application to receive all of 15 bonus points. She said the applicants who received money last year mostly scored 15.

She reminded selectmen how to receive these bonus points.

The first step, according to Hatch, is to pick a target area. Michele Cannon of the Housing Authority Board said the area near St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church would be it.

H a t c h said using that area would help them receive bonus points in another c a t eg o r y : complimentary project funds. This means the town has done in the past year, or is going to do in the next year, an improvement project in the target area. New granite sidewalks were installed near the church.

Communities receive 10 bonus points for having an integrated project. Ten thousand dollars of the grant money for each town would be used to fund this. Hatch recommended having a housing counseling program.

Selectmen agreed to continue the public hearing until January. At that time they will discuss creating a Community Development Strategy, which is a requirement of the application. The grant application is due in February.

In other business:

• James Smith was appointed to the position of truck driver for the highway department contingent on a successful drug test, physical, and CORI check.

• Selectmen signed an agreement with Lunenburg for the town to use Townsend's Advanced Life Support service. Fire Chief William Donahue said there were no chances from the previous contract with Lunenburg.

• Selectmen gave their approval for Town Administrator Gregory Barnes to seek informal requests for labor and/or town counsel services. Barnes said because the current contract has expired, it is a good time for town officials to explore their options.