Minutes 06/08/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1999 requested position were not provided, and Mr. Knox replied that this was a possibility. Mayor Crabtree asked if the additional $17,000 in VHDA funds was dependent upon the presence of the new position. Mr. Knox stated that technically this was not the case, however it was unlikely that the additional work necessary to generate the funds would be done without the requested position. Vice-Mayor Teague asked if the revenue to come to the Housing Fund would directly support the new position, and whether there would be a transfer from the General Fund to support the Housing activities. Mr. Reynolds stated that there would be a transfer from the General Fund in the coming fiscal year to subsidize the housing activities and work related to the City's Community Development Block Grant Programs, as well as to assist in the Critical Care housing repair program. He further stated that the Housing Program operated well beyond the narrow view of the State as a rental assistance operation, and that it encompassed the City' s CDBG programs, the Critical Care program and now the Martinsville Affordable Housing Project as well. Vice-Mayor Teague asked if there would be revenue from the Federal Home Loan Bank to help support the position, and was told that there would be. Mr. Knox stated that the Rental Assistance program workload had increased greatly, especially in the area of Henry County activity, and Mr. Tom Harned, Assistant to the City Manager for Development, stated that there would be additional funds from the State to support the increased program activity in rental assistance, to come from fees associated with the work to be carded out, and that this would support the cost of the new position to do that work. Council Member Roop stated that he appreciated the hard work of the Housing Department but felt that a careful look needed to be taken at all City staffing to see how the line might be held on new positions, and was concerned about the City's ability to support the cost of added employees. Council Member Roop then moved to delete the requested new position for the Housing Office from the proposed budget.