Committee on Housing and Community Development
 155 Deer Hill Avenue
 Danbury , Connecticut 06810

Minutes for June 5, 2008

Present: Scalzo, Elpern, Lemme, Barrows, Zaborowski

Guests: Joe Sullivan, Paul Schierloh, Carolyn Sistrunk, Dawn Wilson

The meeting of the Committee on Housing and Community Development of the Danbury Housing Partnership was held in Danbury City Hall, Planning and Zoning Department conference room, 1st floor, on June 5, 2008. Chairman Scalzo called the meeting to order at 2:07pm. There were no messages from the Chairman.

A motion to accept the minutes of May 1, 2008 was made by C. Barrows, seconded by D. Elpern, passed unanimously and placed on file.

Guest speaker, Joseph Sullivan attended the meeting to discuss his agencies participation in the Next Step Program. Paul Schierloh provided background information on the Next Step Program regarding the State of Connecticut funding key support housing. The Finance Committee held a meeting with other key subcommittee members to discuss the application process for the Next Step Program. The information would be supplied to the entire membership of the Housing Partnership. Mr. Sullivan had contacted Mr. McLachlan, from the Mayor’s Office indicating that MCCA would be submitting a construction/application proposal for the Next Step Program.

Mr. Sullivan provided important information to the committee regarding his organization’s plan to submit an application for Next Step. Actually MCCA placed an application, linked with the Housing Authority, many years ago for support services and funding opportunities. MCCA had initiated their Sunrise Terrace project and needed to be assured that this project would not interfere with his recent application for the Next Step Program.

MCCA is an organization that provides a multitude of services, programs, outreach assistance, case management, etc. In filing the application, Mr. Sullivan indicated that the present challenge is to find a site, have control of the site and ensure that it meets all applicable city department regulations and approvals. An engineering consultant has been hired to facilitate the application process for MCCA. The process for development would be to have CHAFA fund a minimum of 8 units, but MCCA would like to develop 12 units(2 sites with 6 units of each site or 10 units on one site).

Mr. Sullivan provided information of 1br being proposed, the time frame, deadline for filing the application(July 25th), construction phase, land acquisition, DEMAS involvement, new construction vs. rehab, etc.

Mr. Sullivan explained the defining population being served in the community. The profile for clients is defined as assisting more men than woman, mid-age rank of 25-50 years old, single adults, substance abuse, etc. Mr. Sullivan indicated to the subcommittee that Sunrise Terrace is transitional housing for one year from treatment, with the client becoming or is employed, then proceed to permanent housing. Some of the clients may be able to obtain rental assistance, accept veterans housing, senior housing, etc. There are approximately 16 beds/18 units at Sunrise Terrace. These are 2 bedroom townhouses, and the list is already full. Mr. Sullivan indicated to the subcommittee that MCCA would be willing to set aside some housing units for veterans.

Mr. Sullivan stated that there are still 3 hurdles to accomplish:

  1. Site control, in which the contract is based on conditional approval.
  2. Zoning compliance/approval
  3. Site Plan approval

The Housing Partnership and this subcommittee are willing to provide support for MCCA and their endeavor to succeed in the Next Step application process.

Chairman Scalzo indicated that Mr. Bill Beattie may be the guest speaker for the subcommittee. Other speakers who need to be asked to attend our monthly meeting are Joe and Gus DaSilva and all their properties. A person to be possibly added to the Housing Partnership is John Kline.

There was no further business to address. A motion to adjourn was made by S. Zaborowski, seconded by G. Lemme, passed unanimously and placed on file .