KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S

PUBLIC HEARING - 4/20/2004

Application Seeking Community Development Block Funds to Continue A Housing Rehabilitation Project

A Public Hearing was held on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at 10:20 a.m. in the County Commissioners' Hearing Room, County Government Center, Chestertown, Maryland for the purpose of discussing a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application seeking Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in Federal CDBG Program funds on behalf of the Kent Center, Inc, from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to build a 22,000 square foot building on Scheeler Road, Chestertown, to provide adequate space for expansion of program activities; food preparation and dining; conference rooms for team meetings and staff training; and the administrative offices for the Kent Center, Inc.

The new facility will replace the current building in Betterton and will become the hub of activity for the programs offered by the Kent Center.

County Commissioners William W. Pickrum, Roy W. Crow, and Scott D. Livie were in attendance as well as Susanne Hayman, County Attorney, T. Edward Robinson, County Administrator, Jack Canan, Coordinator, and Robin Spielman, Administrative Aide, both of Housing and Community Development, Carol D. Callaway, Executive Director, and Jeannette Silva, Development Coordinator, both of Kent Center, Inc. and seven individuals who participate in the programs offered by the Kent Center.

Notice of the public hearing was read into the record by Commissioner Pickrum.

A presentation on the $500,000 CDBG application was given by Ms. Callaway including the following points: the need for Kent County to continue serving adults with developmental disabilities, which is the mission of the Kent Center, Inc., to ensure the safety and well-being of each of these individuals; to treat them with respect and dignity; and to provide adults with developmental disabilities to live and work independently and to contribute positively to their community to the greatest extent possible.

Ms. Callaway also announced that the Kent Center, Inc. had recently received $1.6 Million from the State. She expressed her appreciation for the assistance and expertise of Mr. Canan and the staff of the Housing and Community Development Office staff.

Ms. Callaway distributed copies of letters of support for Kent Center, Inc. from the following: Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, Mayor Carolyn Sorge of Betterton, Mayor Harry Pisapia and the Town Council of Galena, and Delegate Mary Roe Walkup.

Mr. Canan recommended to Mrs. Callaway that a project manager for the Kent Center, Inc. be designated for the administration of the grant funding.

A motion was made by Commissioner Crow, seconded by Commissioner Livie, and made unanimous by Commissioner Pickrum to approve and sign Resolution seeking Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in Federal CDBG Program funds on behalf of the Kent Center, Inc, from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to build a 22,000 square foot building to provide adequate space for expansion of program activities; food preparation and dining; conference rooms for team meetings and staff training; and the administrative offices for the Kent Center, Inc.

Commissioner Pickrum extended, on behalf of the Board, the support of the County for the mission of the Kent Center, Inc.

This hearing was taped for reference and adjourned at 10:30 a.m.


THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND

Janice F. Fletcher
Executive Assistant


Approved: William W. Pickrum, President