Grant Writer Appears Before Mayor and Council

The Borough Grant Writer, Marlene Casey of Capital Alternatives, appeared before the Mayor and Council Monday night to clarify her position regarding available grant money during the time that the Borough was in a position to purchase the United Water property.

Saying that she was "solemnly hurt" by the comments and rhetoric regarding her position on the grants available at the time the town had the opportunity to purchase the United Water property, Casey said, "I want everyone here to understand what I say and what I do."

SOD has put forth that Casey informed them during a 2012 SOD meeting that there were grants available for the purchase of the property in early 2011.

Mayor Ann Subrizi has contended that when the town considered purchasing the property in early 2011, Casey offered the Mayor and Council no guarantees that grant money was available for the purchase. 

"You kept saying 'Yes, but...,'" Subrizi said.

Conceding that she may not have been clear when she spoke before the Mayor and Council during the March 2011 meeting, Casey responded, "If asked today if grants were available my answer is 'yes,' but you probably won't get it all in one year."

Casey said that she was "hurt" to hear the Mayor publicly state that there was no grant money available for the Hirschfeld Brook flood mitigation project. "I was never instructed by the council to file an application," Casey said.

Again, Subrizi said, "Because you kept saying, 'Yes, but...'"

"I want to be clear that going forward I will provide the most accurate information of what's available," Casey said, adding, "I'm telling you now, Hirschfeld would qualify."

Subrizi urged the council to pass a resolution authorizing Casey to get "whatever grant money possible" for the $1.6 million Hirschfeld Brook flood mitigation project.

"We've been working on this since Hurricane Floyd," Subrizi stressed.

The council unanimously voted 'yes' to authorize Casey to apply for any and all available grants to help fund the Hirschfeld Brook flood mitigation project.

Councilman Michael Putrino suggested that Casey be scheduled to appear before the Mayor and Council on a regular basis in order to foster better communication regarding the status of grant applications and the availability of grant money.  

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