HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-22 - PI TOWN OF ULYSSES
PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING
ULYSSES HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM
OCTOBER 22 , 2007
Present : Supervisor Douglas Austic ; Town Council Roxanne Marino , Lucia Tyler, and
Don Ellis : Rod Ferrentino absent ; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia; Deputy Supervisor
Richard Coogan .
Others Present : John Spencer and Charlie Baldwin from Better Housing; Charles
Hooper, Curtis Banta, Grace Riddle, Susan Jones , Susan Terry, Catherine Tuskey, Judy
Hockenberry, Leslie VanHouten, Allen Borden, Adelaide Rice, Tracey Juneney, Janet
Olsen, and Randy Smith.
Mr. Austic called the meeting to order at 6 : 30 PM and introduced John Spence from
Better Housing.
Mr. Spence gave the following presentation.
Ulysses Housing Rehabilitation Program - Overview
The Town of Ulysses is contracting with Better Housing for Tompkins County to provide
moderate rehabilitation (repairs valued between $5 , 000 and $25 , 000) to the residences
of qualified homeowners within the Town . The program is funded by a grant for
$400 , 000 from the New York State Office for Small Cities . Funding is available to assist
about 15- 18 homeowners .
Program summary
The Town has applied to the NYS Office for Small Cities for the funding to assist 15- 18
families by providing housing rehabilitation ( repairs valued between $5 , 000 and $25 , 000)
to the residences of qualified homeowners within the Town of Ulysses . The grant
application has been approved .
In order to qualify:
Homes must need more than $5 , 000 in rehabilitation ; examples of projects include
roof repair/replacement, wells , septic , electrical work , plumbing and heating
systems .
Taxes must be paid up to date .
Homeowners must be low-income , as defined by HUD ; see chart below:
Family Size: Annual gross income no higher than:
50% Median 80% Median
1 person 22 , 900 36 , 640
2 people 26 , 150 41 , 840
3 people 29 , 450 47 , 120
4 people 32 , 700 52 , 320
5 people 35 , 300 56 ,480
6 people 37 , 950 60 , 720
7 people 40 , 550 64 , 880
8 people 43 , 150 67 , 040
Repayment requirements for homeowners :
Funding for repairs will be provided through a no-interest , diminishing-balance loan
made to the homeowner. A percentage of the loan is forgiven every year; the balance
is paid off in 5 years . As long as a homeowner doesn 't move for 5 years following the
repairs , the entire loan is forgiven . Repayment of remaining balance is due only if the
homeowner does sell the home and moves before the 5 years is completed . In
addition , homeowners are required to sign a property maintenance agreement, which
requires them to keep up any improvements that were funded by the grant .
Other assistance offered to homeowners
Better Housing will be offering classes in home maintenance and repairs that will be
available to participants of this program as well as those who benefited from past
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Ulysses Housing Rehabilitation Program
10/22/2007
grants who would be interested in joining . In addition , the Construction staff will be
available to advise homeowners as needed with information on how to maintain the
improvements that the grant provides .
Who will get help first?:
There is currently a waiting list for services . The grant requires us to give priority to
those with incomes below 50% of median income (see chart above) . While
repairs to mobile homes on private lots can be considered , priority also must be given
to permanent "stick-built" houses . Mobile homes in parks do not qualify.
The exact order of the waiting list will be decided by a committee that will
oversee the grant throughout its term.
I think I applied a long time ago. How do I make sure I'm on the waiting list?
Call our office and ask for Caitlin Pinchin , who keeps the waiting list, at 273-2187. She
won 't be able to tell you when or if your name will come up , just if you are on the list .
How do I get on the waiting list if I'm not on it already?
Interested homeowners may submit a pre-application to Better Housing ; if eligible , you
will be added to our waiting list. Pre-applications can be obtained by calling Better
Housing at 273-2187 .
When will / know if I've been selected?
The Town is working to complete paperwork with the State to get the program up and
running . We anticipate that we 'll be able to begin helping families early this winter and
Better Housing will contact people as they come up on the waiting list, usually by letter
first. The State requires that the grant be completed in two years . There will not be
enough funds to help everyone , but we will help as many people as we can with the
grant money.
Is there a lot of paperwork to participate?
If you are selected to participate , there is a 2-page form we will ask you to complete .
You will also be required to submit copies of some personal records so we can
document that you are eligible . Our staff can help with some of this , such as getting
records from the assessment office . Any and all documents sent in to Better Housing
are kept confidential and only used for the program . A sample list of the documents
that the grant requires is on the following page .
How do I get a hold of Better Housing ?
Our phone number is 273-2187 ,
Our fax number is 273- 1630 , and
The email contact is : progassist @betterhousingtc. org
This request will be mailed with a letter requesting your formal application for
assistance . . .
The following information is needed to complete your application for the Town of
Ulysses Housing Rehabilitation Assistance . We must have all documents in order to
approve your case . If you have any questions about this information , please call Caitlin
Pinchin at 273-2187 .
1 . Completed application for assistance (enclosed with this letter)
2 . Financial Privacy Notice (enclosed)
3 . Inspection Acknowledgement (enclosed)
4 . Copy of the Deed to the property. ( If any of the owners listed on the Deed are
deceased , we will need a copy of the death certificate . )
5. Property tax payment receipt
6 . School tax payment receipt
7. Proof of homeowners insurance on the property. j
8 . Most recent Federal Income Tax return . ( If you do not file taxes please state this
on a separate sheet of paper and sign it. )
9 . Verification of ALL household income. The income of anyone who has
permanent residence at the home and is over 18 should be included . Examples of
income verification include :
a . Four most recent pay stubs
b . Pension pay stub
c. Unemployment payment card
i
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Ulysses Housing Rehabilitation Program
10/22/2007
d . Rental income receipts
e . W=2 form from your employer
f. Social Security award letter
g . Copy of bank statements for verification of interest on savings , securities ,
dividends ( 1099 form )
Please Note : In order to be eligible for this program your property and school taxes
must be paid-to-date , you must have a current homeowner's insurance policy, and you
must earn an income below the program 's income guidelines .
A few people in the audience asked Mr. Spence questions .
Mr. Spence said that the 15 applicants that were used for the grant application would be
on the list first for review and if there were any on that list that did not qualify the
remaining applicants ( 120 originally applied) would be reviewed. Mr. Spence said that if
there were still interested residents who wished to apply could do so .
Hearing no further business the public informational meeting was closed at 7 PM .
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha L . Georgia
Ulysses Town Clerk
MLG : mlg
TOWN OF ULYSSES
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
BUDGET WORKSHOP
OCTOBER 22 , 2007
Present: Supervisor Douglas Austic ; Town Council Roxanne Marino , and Lucia Tyler;
Don Ellis and Rod Ferrentino absent ; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia; Deputy Supervisor
Richard Coogan.
Others Present : Stacey Sillman
Before the Board opened discussion on the 2008 budget they discussed forming the
Oversight Committee for the Housing Rehabilitation Grant which Mr. Spence suggested
that five to six people would be a good number to serve .
Ms . Tyler and Ms . Marino brought forward two people that are interested in being on the
committee who are Calista Smith and Nancy Zahler. Mr. Austic said that he had talked
with Chip Martin and he also is interested.
Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Austic the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses appoint the
following to serve on the Oversight Committee for the Ulysses Housing
Rehabilitation Program :
Supervisor Doug Austic
Councilwoman Lucia Tyler
Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun
Calista Smith
Nancy Zahler
Mr. Austic aye
Ms . Tyler aye
Ms . Marino aye
Adopted .
Supervisor Austic distributed a new copy of the 2008 budget for the General Fund A and
General Part Town B with the changes that were made at the last budget meeting and
reviewed these changes .
The Board discussed the DA and DB funds making a correction in account DA5230. 4 for
Machinery CE which was changed to $ 36, 050 .
Ms. Marino had worked on some figures on sales tax and fund balances that she shared
with the Board . Ms . Marino said she could come in the next day and review them with
Mr. Austic and provide him with a copy of what she had .
The main thought was to try and keep the total used from sales tax as close to the
$469,000 that was used in last years budget and try to keep the tax levy below 4% if
possible.
The Board discussed the amount of money to be set aside for a new garage and if the total
to be raised should be based on two years or three .
Mr. Austic brought up the purchase of the used truck from the Village and explained that
the money would come from Water District #3 funds .
Mr. Austic moved, seconded by Ms . Tyler the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses purchase the
2001 used pick-up truck from the Village of Trumansburg to be used for Water
Special Meet'ng/Budget 2
10/22/2007
District #3 & 4 for a total of $ 7000 and the money would come from SW3 -
8340 . 2 .
Mr. Austic ) aye
Ms . Tyler aye
Ms . Marino aye
Adopted .
The Board set another meeting to work on the budget for November 1 , 2007 at 8 : 30 AM
if it is agreeable to the absent Board members .
Hearing no further business Ms . Tyler moved, seconded by Ms . Marino to adjourn the
meeting . Unanimously approved . Meeting adjourned at 8 : 20 PM .
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha L. Georgia
Ulysses Town Clerk
MLG :mlg