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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURA-2026-02-26` 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY BOARD 8:30 A.M., Thursday, February 26, 2026 Common Council Chambers, Third Floor (City Hall) 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 Members: Robert G. Cantelmo (Mayor), Chair; Karl Graham, Vice-Chair; Shaianne Osterreich Excused: Donna Fleming Vacancies: 1 Common Council Liaison: Patrick Kuehl [virtual] IURA Staff: Nels Bohn; Anisa Mendizabal; Charles Pyott [virtual] City Staff: None. Guests: None. I. Call to Order Cantelmo called the meeting to order at 8:31 A.M. II. Agenda Additions/Deletions Cantelmo introduced new Common Council Liaison Patrick Kuehl to the Board. III. Public Comments None. IV. Review of Meeting Minutes: January 22, 2026 Cantelmo moved, seconded by Graham, to approve the meeting minutes with no modifications. Carried Unanimously: 3-0 V. New Business A. Independent Contractor Agreement for Accounting Services Bohn explained, as described in the resolution, the preferred candidate for the Accountant position declined an offer of employment as part-time IURA Accountant, since she was advised that employer- offered individual health insurance would make her ineligible for family health insurance coverage subsidies available through the NYS marketplace. Hiring Ms. Moore as an independent contractor was then identified as a viable alternative. Ms. Moore would be working remotely the vast majority of the time. Approved: 3/26/26 IURA Minutes February 26, 2026 Page 2 of 5 Graham asked if the independent contractor agreement would have any impact on completion of the recent audit, to which Bohn replied, no. The audit has already been completed and he expects to receive the audit report within the next two weeks. Osterreich moved, seconded by Graham: Authorize Independent Contract for Full-Charge Accounting Services: Moore WHEREAS, the IURA part-time Accountant resigned effective January 16, 2026, creating a need for IURA accounting services, and WHEREAS, an IURA Accountant search committee included the following persons: • Shaianne Osterreich • Kathy Schlather • Nels Bohn • Anisa Mendizabal, and WHEREAS, the search committee conducted numerous candidate interviews and recommended hiring a preferred candidate, and WHEREAS, IURA Human Resource policies establish that the IURA shall offer individual health insurance to a part-time employee, and WHEREAS, the preferred candidate declined an offer of employment as a part-time IURA Accountant as she was advised that IURA employer-offered individual health insurance to her would make the candidate ineligible for subsidies for family health insurance coverage available through the NYS marketplace, and WHEREAS, the search committee subsequently recommended engaging the preferred IURA accountant candidate through an independent contractor agreement, and WHEREAS, the preferred candidate has conceptually agreed to provide full-charge accounting services to the IURA as an independent contractor on an annual renewal basis, and WHEREAS, the proposed cost to hire accounting services through an independent contractor agreement at $57/hour does not exceed the cost the IURA would incur to hire an accountant at the advertised rate of $40.70/hour with employer benefits; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA Chairperson is hereby authorized, subject to review by IURA legal counsel, to execute an independent contract agreement for full charge accounting services with Amber Moore, at a rate of $57/hour. Carried Unanimously: 3-0 IURA Minutes February 26, 2026 Page 3 of 5 VI. New Business A. HUD Entitlement Grants 1. Designate INHS, Inc. as Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO) & Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Osterreich explained the proposed resolution represents the IURA’s annual designation of INHS as a CBDO and CHDO. Mendizabal added that CHDOs automatically become CBDOs. A CHDO is a private, nonprofit, community‑based organization that meets specific Federal criteria to receive special set‑aside funding under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME Program). CHDOs develop affordable housing for low‑ and moderate‑income households. To be certified as a CHDO, an organization must: • Be a non-profit with a mission focused on community development or affordable housing. • Have a board of directors that includes at least one‑third community residents or low‑income representatives. • Demonstrate capacity to develop affordable housing (experienced staff, financial controls, etc.). • Be independent from government, though local government members can serve on the board in limited numbers. CHDOs get access to special funding. At least 15% of a city’s or county’s annual HOME allocation must be reserved for CHDOs. These funds can be used for: • acquiring property • constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing • developing homeownership units • rental housing projects CHDOs may also receive operating support, capacity‑building funds, and project‑specific technical assistance. Cantelmo moved, seconded by Graham: 2025 Designation of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) As Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) & Community Based Development Organization (CBDO) WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) has been designated by the City of Ithaca as the Lead Agency to develop, administer and implement the HUD Entitlement Grant program, including funds received through the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program, and WHEREAS, grant recipients under the HOME program are termed Participating Jurisdictions (PJs), and WHEREAS, PJs must reserve not less than 15% of their HOME allocation for investment in housing to be developed, sponsored, or owned by Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), and WHEREAS, each PJ must annually identify CHDOs that are capable of carrying out projects to address priority housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan, and IURA Minutes February 26, 2026 Page 4 of 5 WHEREAS, a CHDO is a specific type of community-based non-profit organization as defined in 24 CFR §92.2, and WHEREAS, on April 9, 2025, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) submitted materials documenting its qualifications and requested renewal of its designation as a CHDO by the IURA, and WHEREAS, on February 9, 2026, IURA Staff completed a point-in-time review of said documents, and WHEREAS, at its February 12,2026 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency compared the submitted materials against CHDO criteria and recommends the following; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the IURA, acting in its capacity as the Lead Agency for the Participating Jurisdiction of the City of Ithaca, hereby renews its designation of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. as a CHDO for the 2025 Action Plan, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA, acting in its capacity as the Lead Agency for the Participating Jurisdiction of the City of Ithaca, and pursuant to 24 CFR §570.204(c)(3) hereby renews its designation of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. as a Community Based Development Organization (CBDO) for the 2025 Action Plan, pending input from HUD. Carried Unanimously: 3-0 C. Committee Chairperson Report None. VII. New/Other/Old Business A. REPORTS: IURA Chair/Mayor, Common Council Liaison, & Staff IURA Chair/Mayor’s Report Cantelmo thanked the Board for accommodating the earlier start-time to today’s meeting. Common Council Liaison Report None. Staff Report Bohn remarked the meeting agenda packet contains the summary table of all 2026 grant applications received under the HUD Entitlement Program. He added that some of the housing applicants may be eligible for Housing Development Action Grants (HODAG) funding, in order to demonstrate the City’s financial support. IURA Minutes February 26, 2026 Page 5 of 5 Osterreich requested a list of CDBG spend-down totals in advance of the Board’s March 5, 2026 special meeting to inform the Board’s decision-making process regarding the Annual Action Plan. Bohn agreed to provide one. VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:55 A.M. — END — Minutes prepared by C. Pyott, edited by N. Bohn.