Nutley Officials Prioritizing Block Grant Application

Town officials are prioritizing what projects to apply to the county for block grant funds for 2013, but were told that the money would mainly be available to repair roads and make buildings and bathrooms handicapped accessible.

The Board of Commissioners talked about county Community Development Block Grant funding at its most recent meeting Dec. 4.

Kathy Rempusheski is a town employee who has overseen the CDBG funding applications for several years. 

Rempusheski told the commissioners, "CDBG will be limited to fixing roads and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) improvements."

The commissioners must pass a resolution with projects listed by priority to be submitted by Dec. 20, she said.

"We can look at doing bathrooms, handicapped ramps and cutouts on streets as part of the list," Rempusheski said. 

In past years the funding included equipment purchases, like public works and fire trucks, but not this year, she said.

Also, funds have been available to improve the facades of business storefronts in the past, but not for 2013, Rempusheski said.

"We have been the number one town in Essex County in utilizing what is covered," Rempusheski said. "We will always be able to spend our money."

Commissioners said they will make a list and have projects prioritized in time for the deadline.

Rempusheski said the county does not announce what has been approved usually until March of the following year at the earliest.