IF it is true that 50% of the fed money never leaves the city building as Vivian states, where is it going and if not going for the intended purpose, can it be reported to the feds and will they respond? This is what we were talking about the other day......CS&H auditing the city's financial situation. This information from Vivian, IF accurate, is a perfect example and reason for the city to be investigated and if need be, prosecuted for misappropriation of funds. Is there no way to inquire to the feds about having someone follow the money trail?....Vet

Vet
  Let me try to make my point in a better more accurate way.
  If I had a Magic Wand and could remove all HUD funding and Section 8 from the City of Middletown at 8 am this morning you would be shocked at the number of employees that would suddenly disappear from City Hall. I believe it is HUD funding that is now keeping City Hall alive. But what will happen when these funds are no longer available or program funding is reduced?
  These HUD programs have a very complicate formula on the ways and amounts the City can use for administering the programs. I was only involved in the construction, design and inspection of large HUD projects. But I believe the City is now using 50% maybe a little more depending on the program. I do not know nor can I prove any misappropriation of funds however I will say that I do not believe the City is using these funds in the wisest way to solve the problems that plague our City. I also believe the City needs to more frugal in the use of these HUD funds. We need to get more bang for the buck. 
   I’m sure Nelson Self can give us the answers on all these formulas, percentages and rules etc.
   

Vivian, you suggested above that NSP and CDBG funds are being used in the Highlands.

Support
 I’m sorry I did not mean to confuse all these issues so I’ll try this again….

HUD has given the City the tools, such as CDBG & NSP, to help solve the problems of revitalization, high crime and high poverty in the 1^st & 2^nd Wards
Until last year when Mr. Adkins declared the 54% Rule all CDBG funds could ONLY be used in the 1st & 2^nd Wards. Ya see many of these programs came about in the late 1960’s as part of Pres Johnson’s WAR ON POVERTY.   

CDBG funding was never intended to be used in an area such as the Highlands Historic District.
Under the rules you would not qualify for these funds because of your income.

I think you confused things, the paragraph you posted is about Certificed Local Government (CLG) funds, which don't come from HUD. CLG is a historic preservation designation through the Ohio Historic Preservation Office that opens up grant opportunities for Middletown. Oxford, for example, is a CLG and thus eligible for these grants.
I’m not confused on the facts at all and I have no problem with the City filing for CLG funds.
However the City stated that the Middletown Cemetery would not qualify for these funds and I don’t believe that to be an accurate statement.

The report only mentions HUD because the grant-funded efforts would be in accordance with the city's 5 year consolidated plan.
CDBG funds will be used to repair the streets in the Highland District as per Mr. Adkins.
Under the rules this area should not receive any CDBG funds.
(This new plan has NOT been approved by HUD) 

I feel like you make many assumptions without giving City Hall any benefit of the doubt.
Well I’m really sorry that I have given you that impression.
I have given the City 7 years of benefits and at this moment I have a lot of doubt and concern about the way the City is spending tax payer dollars.

3. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs.

4. Identify the federal, state and local resources to be made available to address the needs identified in the plan. Federal resources should include Section 8 funds made available to the jurisdiction, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and competitive McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act funds expected to be available to address priority needs and specific objectives identified in the strategic plan.

Program Year 2 Action Plan General Questions response:

As noted in the Strategic Plan, based on the latest U.S. Census data and Comprehensive Housing

Affordability Strategy (CHAS) information, the City of Middletown qualifies as a low- to moderateincome

area on a citywide basis. The areas of racial concentration are primarily on the west side of

town. The areas that the program will focus assistance on this year are broken down into 38

individual neighborhoods (see attached map). These are the City’s target areas. Each year of this 5

year consolidated plan will focus the majority of all activities to 1 to 2 of the neighborhoods in the

most need of revitalization. The selection is based on the data listed in the neighborhood strategy

section of the consolidated plan and with consultation of the Consolidated Planning Committee.

Work will continue in these target neighborhood(s) until all available efforts have been depleted or

until statistics show the area has become self-sustaining. For the FY 2011 action plan, the City will

continue to focus on the Douglass and Harlan Park neighborhoods. It is our intention to start focus

on the Highlands and El Dorado neighborhoods as well.