MAINE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
GENERAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Friday, March
11, 2005
UPDATE ON CDBG:
* Regarding
the elimination of the CDBG program, MMA is collecting statements and
resolutions from communities. Some
letters and resolutions have been sent directly to the congressional delegation
offices so it has been difficult to keep track of just how many communities
have responded. Senator Snowe’s office
has requested that the submittal of letters from individual communities and
organizations be slowed somewhat. Mathew
Eddy proposed that MCDA develop a single position paper through the Maine
Municipal Association and send it to the congressional delegation offices.
* There
has not been a great deal of information circulated through the media other
than a few press releases from municipalities regarding the CDBG resolutions
and support for the program. Ron
Harriman stated that he had some publicity via the radio, which played for 6
weeks. He will work with Mike Bush of
Eastern Maine Development Corporation to get more publicity in the Bangor area. Matt Eddy is concerned that the momentum
will diminish and has proposed that MCDA maintain communication with the media.
* Orman
Whitcomb stated that statements from both the House and Senate mirrored the
President’s budget amounts. It appears
that there will be some reductions in the budget, but he does not know the
individual programs that will be affected at this time. The first step in the budget process is to
establish budget limits, then there will be a significant amount of time for public
comments. Orman anticipates that we
should have some indication of how the budget will be affected sometime in June
or July. The federal budget is supposed
to be passed by October, 2005.
* In
light of the uncertainty of the CDBG program, the 2006 Proposed Statement
process will be slowed down.
* CDBG
Implementation Workshop will be held on May 18. The site of the workshop has not yet been established.
* The
Governor’s Bond Issue did not include the MITF program, but Sen. Lynn Bromley
and Rep. Nancy Smith have submitted a
proposed amendment for $15,000,000 for the MITF program. There will be no public hearings on this
program; work sessions only.
* Both
Sen. Collins and Sen. Snowe, as well as Congressman Michaud have signed on to a
letter of support for the CDBG program.
They further support that the program be funded at the current level of
funding.
* Communities
should focus on the loss that would result if CDBG funds were eliminated. Stories and photos of CDBG-projects that
have made a significant impact on low-to-moderate income people should be
submitted to Joella McBreairty for inclusion in the Newsletter. The impact of the CDBG-funded projects on
Maine communities should be expressed to all of our local legislators and
senators during the Community Development Day at the Legislature to be held in
the Hall of Flags on Friday, April 1, 2005.
The presence of CDBG beneficiaries at this event so that they may convey
their appreciation of the program is another way of demonstrating the
importance of this program. If any community
wishes to have beneficiaries attend CD Day, please let Mike Baran know. He can be reached at 624-9816.
* The
request for nominations to the Advisory Committee for “Strenghtening America’s
Communities” has been extended to March 25, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. The original deadline was today (March 11)
at 4:00 p.m. As of yet, no one was
aware whether a Maine representative had been nominated to serve on this
committee.
* Today’s
attendance was up from the previous teleconferences held. Suggestions for the next meeting included
inviting someone from COSCDA to do a teleconference with MCDA regarding their
strategy in Washington. Also, the State
Planning Office should be encouraged to participate since CDBG plays a big part
in the proposed implementation of Comprehensive Plans.
* The
EDA will be holding a telecast on
Strengthening America’s Communities Initiative on Tuesday, March 15,
2005 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Locations
for the telecast will be at the University of Southern Maine, University of Maine
at Fort Kent, and various other locations in Maine. For more information visit the National Association of Regional
Councils at www.narc.org.
* Schedule
for April 1, 2005:
9:00 a.m. to
10:15 a.m. - Maine Community Development Association meeting at DECD Conference
Room
10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Community Development Day at Hall of Flags
1:45 p.m. to - CD Technical Assistance
Meeting with OCD and T.A. Providers
Respectfully submitted by,
Joella R. McBreairty
Secretary
