The Pine Bluff City Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee reviewed some low-income housing development budgeting and operational procedures in a two-hour meeting Wednesday, agreeing that the Community Housing Development Organization’s process needs to be simplified and streamlined to enhance future actions.
The committee was seeking clarification on 2011 and 2012 operations and acquisition fundings and appropriations for the CHDO, which is involved in the construction and selling or renting of low-income houses and apartments. Alderwoman Thelma Walker, chairman of the committee, and Aldermen Glen Brown and George Stepps learned that $82,500 from 2008 CHDO funds must be disbursed by June 2013 or turned back to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Ted Davis, an aide to Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr., requested an outline of the current CHDO funding process as it relates to the city, especially the council. Davis was displeased that he hadn’t had prior “access” to a Jefferson County Community Development Corp. request for appropriations of 2010 home funds of $100,000 in addition to the aforementioned $82,500.
“It would have been appreciated if we had had this to review,” Davis said.
Davis requested that some related data be brought into the process, to which JCCDC’s Jerry Riley responded, “We don’t need any data.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Yes, we do,” Davis said. “We’re talking about public money.”
Stepps, who said he would like to see measures enacted that would “save time” in budgeting procedures, called for all parties to “come together and work as a unit.”
“We’re arguing over peanuts,” said Stepps, pointing out he’s aware of other cities with issues concerning “a lot more” money. “We need to come to the table with a better mindset to serve the city. We’ll never get to second base because we won’t get off first.”
Davis agreed, adding, “We want to be supportive.”
Brown’s motion to sell three CHDO-constructed homes that had originally been intended as rentals was unanimously approved, as was a JCCDC request for payment of a $987.50 change order on a contractor’s item required to satisfy a state plumbing code.
The committee tabled two requests – one for $3,000 in street funds for a trenching and conduit project, and the other authorizing home down payments as assistance in University Park – until City Attorney Althea Hadden-Scott can further research the issues.