Death of a Cemetery

From: Self, Nelson
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:58 AM
To: 'Hendershot, Richard'
Cc: 'trevia_thomas@hud.gov'
Subject: HUD-Funded Programs -- Administration & Program Delivery Costs

 

Rich & Trevia –

 

At present there are seven (7) full-time positions approved for the operation of CDBG and HOME Program funded activities.  Salary and fringe benefits for these positions are:

 

Senior Planner (Nelson Self)                                      $  75,000

Neighborhood Improvement Advisor (Skip Batten)      81,300

Neighborhood Improvement Advisor (Kyle Fuchs)       69,200

Housing Code Specialist (Annette Accurso)                56,000

Housing Code Specialist (Vacant)                                52,000*

Housing Code Assistant (Debbi Fish)                          55,800

Secretary III (Judy Demostenes)                                    46,800

 

                                                Total                             $436,100

 

* Costs could increase by $7,000 if family medical plan required by the person hired to fill this position.

 

Our funding for Program Year 2008 is as follows:

 

CDBG            $   670,051

HOME                 370,000

 

Total                $1,040,051

 

We have also budgeted an additional $59,000 for local mileage, vehicle maintenance, travel, training, telephone, office equipment, advertising, office supplies, legal, appraisals and office supplies.

 

My concern is that nearly 50% of our combined HUD funding is allocated for administration and program delivery.  Would you contact me to advise if we are within established Federal guidelines as I wish to ensure full compliance.

 

Thanks again.

 

Nelson Self, CD Administrator

Planning Department - Community Development

One Donham Plaza

Middletown, Ohio 45042

(513) 425-7942

(513) 425-7921 fax

nelsons@cityofmiddletown.org

Viet Vet -

This makes you wonder. Were building permits required for this so called "Revitalization work" or not? Under the radar?

Very possible, makeadifference. The mayor andcity planner live in very close proximity, and through possible ?able use of HUD and CDBG funds, have re-habbed the area properties. If any of you remember a big front page MJ article a few years back, the neighbors were so grateful for Mr.Kohler's "help" in the neighborhood, that they worked for free on his home re-modeling. Wouldn't this be a somewhat serious violation, IF Mr.Kohler had helped these neighbors acquire grant funding? Always wondered about that one.

Could the Sorg Mansion become the next Historical Society property? Remember--Ms.G is very close with Mr.Ashworth.

Vivian- So the City Manager told you that the city would like to buy the Sorg Mansion. I would imagine that it would be costly to rehab to former glory from the current apartment setup. Where's the money going to come from for that? This stands in direct conflict with the mentality of a few years ago (Ron Olson era perhaps?) when the city decided that they had too much property and wanted to unload them, never to return to buying real estate around the city again. Schiavone himself, has said in Council meetings (the latest being about Section 8 property), that it wasn't a good idea for the city to buy and rehab houses. Now, which is it- Gilleland's way or Schiavone's? Can't be both. I'm curious as to where this $650,000 amount came from. Thought the city had to make cuts to balance the budget for 2009??????? Now, Gilleland and crew have enough laying around to purchase a property for $650 grand? From what fund? What would this property be used for if they purchased it? What "lake"? Does she mean the overgrown mudhole by the non-used AK pavillion/commons area next to the West Midd. bridge? None of this was worth the effort/cost it took to build it. It is a monument to futility. This is not a "plan". This is an attempt to buy and develop random property along a river that never has attracted anyone except an occasional person fishing for carp or catfish. What is the matter with these people?

What in the world is this? Another Kohler plan!!

Correct, Vet--howevere the city "leaders" are going to have to care now.

Vet

WARNING

The City will demo the vault over my dead body!

 

 

I seen in the Middletown Journal this morning  and I quote the Journal and the Mayor here

"For safety reasons, the mayor has asked Gilleland to look into the demolition or removal of the vault at the cemetery, which is on the verge of collapse. The vault is a building where unburied corpses were kept during the winter until the ground thawed."

For safety reasons huh? Is that what we call it now when  a city doesn't want to spend money to repair something "they" should have been taking care of all along?  I think if the city goes to destroy the vault we should all go down there and  surround it to stop them. You tell me what day they'll be coming Mrs. Moon and I will be there. 

Thanks Truth Teller
I'm aware of the amount in the CDBG funds ...the city buzz words are now  "OUR PRIORITY LIST"...the problem for the past four years is I can't seem to get off the bottom of their list.