WOBURN - The Woburn Redevelopment Authority is not to be denied!

Last year, the WRA came so, so close to landing a coveted Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to improve housing on both sides of Main Street from the Winchester line (South End) through Woburn Center to Central Square.

The city just missed the cut.

Now, on Thursday, December 11 at 7 p.m, the Woburn Redevelopment Authority has scheduled a public meeting as part of the process to get back in line for FY 2009.

Now, the keener and wiser WRA will take a second shot with an eye more toward a secondary, socio-economic reason why the city should place ahead of other Massachusetts communities in getting the funds.

"It is a tight time frame," said WRA Executive Director Donald Borchelt to the WRA board last night.

Last year, the city requested $790,750.

There has been an important change in the guidelines for the FY 2009 Massachusetts CDBG Community Development Fund Application, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, which effect the city of Woburn, noted WRA Executive Director Borchelt in a memo to his five-member board.

The application deadline for this program is scheduled for February 13, 2009.

"Last year, we prepared and submitted the application requesting approximately $800,000 to establish a Woburn Housing Rehabilitation Program targeted to the South End and the neighborhoods around Woburn Square," Borchelt lamented. "The application just missed being funded. We later filed a grievance when it appeared that the city had been passed over for additional funding."

"Part of the reason that we filed the grievance was because the original guidelines for the FY 2008 round would have made the city ineligible to apply for funds from the program, because of the unexpended HDSP funds allocated to the 397 Main Street Redevelopment Project.

The revised "action plan" changes exempt the HDSP program from the unexpended funds threshold requirement.

Borchelt submitted a copy of the proposed guideline changes to his board.

Side issues

Among the "extra" considerations considered, the WRA heard that such efforts as violence prevention, assisting the needy and other non-building related issues are at stake. At one point, the name of the Council of Social Concern in Woburn would be approached, as well as other non-profit groups, to provide input as to the need in the containment area being considered.

The non-profit involvement raised a red flag for two WRA members, Chairman Donald Queenin and Donald Manzelli, who are on the board at the Council of Social Concern that has headquarters in North Woburn. Queenin spoke of the "arms length" need by the two members, as well as other members, who in a smaller community are usually involved in such non-profit groups.

Borchelt surmised such individuals could "participate" in discussions but not vote.

The WRA will act as the arm for the city of Woburn in attempting to get the CDBG grant. Mayor Thomas McLaughlin, said Borchelt, has been kept informed at each step.

Advice

The WRA has also been working with the private Communities Opportunity Group on a fee basis. The WRA had met with William Garragh of the firm in September.

In a pre-meeting report, Borchelt felt it as was a good news and bad news scenario.

"That is the good news," he said in regards to the change in qualification rules. "The bad news is that we have not begun any work on the application, which has some looming, pre-application requirements!"

The WRA must hold a public meeting prior to December 13, 2008, to discuss and receive public input regarding the city's "Community Development Strategy."

Last year, the WRA held the meeting in the Police Station.

This year, Borchelt felt the date of Thursday, December 11th would be fine at the WRA office. Some 8-10 residents appeared at the Police Station last year.

The WRA board also authorized a "small contract" with Community Opportunities Group, the firm which has been serving as our CDBG consultant, to assist in the preparation of the application.

Overall, Borchelt said there would be the "same arrangement as last year; the firm will receive a lump sum of $3,000 if the application is successful, and $1,500 if it is not."

Borchelt reported at another point: "Last year, our core application scored quite well; we were knocked out through the loss of points due to our socio-economically derived 'community-wide needs score,' and the fact that we did not have a second activity."

"This issue was discussed at length several months ago. Given the late start, I believe we should focus at this point on a social service activity, presumably through Woburn Council of Social Concern, Community Services Network, or similar organization," he said.