Clarion Borough Council agreed April 7 the borough is interested in possible federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding but details of the funding and it’s use are undecided.
The borough is interested in a portion of CARES Act funding that follows Community Development Block Grant guidelines.
Those guidelines require granted funding be used to benefit low- to moderate income residents. As an “entitlement community,” Clarion Borough qualifies to apply for its own CDBG funds and thus qualifies for the portion of designated CARES Act funding.
Clarion Borough Council President Carol Lapinto said Clarion County Director of Planning Kristi Amato encouraged the borough to notify the Department of Community and Economic Development of the borough’s interest in the CARES funding.
Lapinto said the borough’s expressed interest does not commit the borough to further application for the grant nor actual use of the money.
“We just had to let them know by April 17 that we are interested,” explained Lapinto.
The CDBG-style CARES funding is to be used to prevent, prepare for and respond to the Coronavirus emergency.
Economic assistance for local businesses is a potential eligible activity.
Lapinto said Amato originally suggested the borough partner with Clarion County and Clarion Township to pursue a grant for the establishment of a COVID-19 clinic to serve the area.
“DCED said that wouldn’t qualify,” said Lapinto.
With the deadline for showing interest in the grant approaching and conducting official meetings a challenge, council opted to tell DCED it is interested in the program and might apply for the aid.
“It’s all a little sketchy right now as far as details,” said Lapinto. “Our main goal was to get our name in before the deadline.
Meeting here and there via phone
Under the COVID-19 emergency, government meetings must still be open to the public but certain allowances are being made.
Clarion Borough Council met at 7 p.m. April 7 in the basement of the Clarion Free Library building.
Public libraries are crossed but Clarion Borough owns the building.
Council members Lapinto, Ben Aaron, Rachel Roberts, Jason Noto and mayor Brett Whitling were joined by legal counsel John Marshall and police chief William H. Peck IV and borough secretary Linda Lavan-Preston in the basement meeting room.
Council members Rose Logue, Zac Garbarino and Brenda Sanders Dede participated via telephone conference call.
Clarion Borough resident Janice Horn also joined via telephone.
The CLARION NEWS participated via telephone and found the audio from the meeting sometimes broken and hard to hear.
Delays in responses from those participating by telephone created some confusion in vote tallies, however, when that situation occurred, Lavan-Preston questioned the callers to ensure their votes were properly counted.