Stafford Council Offers Raising, Grant Advice

Although the Stafford Township Council meeting this week was not as well-attended as other meetings, each Council member contributed this week with answers and directions for residents, as well as grant guidance. 

I missed the FEMA circus over at although my friends that attended told me that not much has changed there - including not many answers (if you went and got any useful advice or were frustrated further by the meeting, I encourage you to post in the comments below). 

The good news is Mayor John Spodofora and town officials have been out doing their homework and are building solid data to present to FEMA and the state when it comes to the proposed flood advisory maps. The simplest advice that town officials gave is: "if you raise it, raise it high."

Discussing the rSpodofora promised extra patrols by Stafford's finest and he said a task force is being put in place. Having twice been the victim of thefts in town here, I can tell you I feel that as long as we as a town allow a pawn shop here, I feel nothing is safe.

and are listed on the township website. I would encourage you to apply for everything, even if you don't think you qualify.

Besides the frustration we have all felt, we as a town are way ahead of the game and lucky we have forward-thinking leadership, as many towns do not.  The town Council has a very thankless job and they take a lot heat. Despite a lack of communication from FEMA to them, they maintain an open-door policy to answer questions and help best they can. Spodofora and other area mayors also have been regularly visiting Trenton to address all of our concerns with the Governor. 

Also mentioned at the meeting, a Rutgers University initiative should help Stafford with the FEMA flood maps and the bay restoration projects. They will be assisting us with data for addressing the flood advisory maps.  

Finally, I would like to send a shout out to our Department of Public Works. The infrastructure damage is almost complete from Cedar Bonnet island to Mud City and bayside, yet the system is going to be updated. The Department continues to clean up debris from our marshes. And they are doing this all with no money yet from FEMA. 

Grant Information:

• The Disability Funders Network Rapid Response Fund is providing mini-grants to help nonprofit organizations meet the immediate and long-term needs of people with disabilities in Northeastern regions impacted by Sandy. www.disabilityfunders.org/new_events
• The Andy Warhol Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and Lambent Foundation have established an Emergency Relief Fund, administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts, to assist artists with damages and losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy. www.nyfa.org
• The Kessler Foundation is offering Hurricane Sandy Emergency Grants designed to help nonprofit organizations meet the immediate needs of people with disabilities in New Jersey affected by the hurricane. http://kesslerfoundation.org/grantprograms/hirricanesandyemergencygrants.php
• Grassroots Hurricane Relief Fund The North Star Fund has announced the Grassroots Hurricane Relief Fund to help the most vulnerable residents and communities in the region affected by Hurricane Sandy. http://northstarfund.org  
• CERF Offers Assistance for Artists Impacted by Hurricane Sandy along with its partners in the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response are beginning to connect with the artists and arts organizations in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.  http://craftemergency.org
•  If FEMA has identified you as having been affected by Hurricane Sandy and you OWN your home (you make a monthly mortgage payment, or you own your home 'free and clear'), but you're experiencing financial hardship for one of the specific reasons listed above, Modest Needs' Hurricane Relief Grant may be able to help you, and we'd encourage you to apply for a Hurricane Relief grant. https://www.modestneeds.org/for-applicants/grant-types-hurricane-relief.asp