



The loan, which was issued through the city-affiliated Troy Local Development Corporation, was never paid back. The city has sued the loanee, a case that remains pending. In any event, HUD is requiring that the city pay it the money back—sort of. "In discussing how the payback is to occur HUD has told the City that the City’s General Fund needs to pay the CDBG Program the monies and then the funds can be used on a CDBG eligible project," planning commissioner Steve Strichman said in a memo. So, there's no net impact on this year's general fund.



Olga Alvarez, a spokesperson for HUD Region II, characterized this outcome as "a best case scenario" for the city "because HUD is not asking them to send money back to HUD or Treasury."



Instead, Alvarez explained, "HUD is basically asking them to repay their own line of credit. Doing this allows them to spend their own funds on block grant eligible activities, replacing the funds that were appropriated to them by Congress for use on block grant eligible activities. This allows money to remain in Troy and not be sent back to Washington."

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development "has determined that the City did not perform the proper level of due diligence when monitoring" a $25K loan to the since-closed Minissale's Wine Cellar it issued back in Jan. 2011, according to documents attached to an ordinance passed by the city council on Thursday.The loan, which was issued through the city-affiliated Troy Local Development Corporation, was never paid back. The city has sued the loanee, a case that remains pending. In any event, HUD is requiring that the city pay it the money back—sort of. "In discussing how the payback is to occur HUD has told the City that the City’s General Fund needs to pay the CDBG Program the monies and then the funds can be used on a CDBG eligible project," planning commissioner Steve Strichman said in a memo. So, there's no net impact on this year's general fund.Olga Alvarez, a spokesperson for HUD Region II, characterized this outcome as "a best case scenario" for the city "because HUD is not asking them to send money back to HUD or Treasury."Instead, Alvarez explained, "HUD is basically asking them to repay their own line of credit. Doing this allows them to spend their own funds on block grant eligible activities, replacing the funds that were appropriated to them by Congress for use on block grant eligible activities. This allows money to remain in Troy and not be sent back to Washington."

Library Projects





The ornamental, marble-clad west and south sides of the building also need work, but the library does not yet have a firm estimate in hand regarding the potential cost. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're looking at $500,000 for those two facades," said Paul Hicok, the library director.



Another potential big project: replacing or overhauling the downtown building's HVAC system. The last page of



During the meeting, by chance, I saw on my phone that the Albany Public Library had announced, starting next year, it will no longer charge late fees for books and other items. I asked the board members present and library director what they thought of potentially making that change here.



Hicok, who acknowledged this "new movement" among libraries and was familiar with its justifications (see link above), called it a "wonderful idea" but added that TPL would need to figure out how to make up the ~$7,500 in revenue that late fees bring in.

The Troy Public Library's building committee this week discussed two largely state grant-funded capital projects at the downtown Hart building that the library hopes to start and complete in 2019. One project, backed by a $125K State and Municipal Facilities Program grant, involves the rehabilitation of the historic building's east brick wall. The other project ($320K including a local match) involves a rehab of the north wall (pointing, resealing, repainting, and securing) and the parapet walls above the reading room.The ornamental, marble-clad west and south sides of the building also need work, but the library does not yet have a firm estimate in hand regarding the potential cost. "I wouldn't be surprised if you're looking at $500,000 for those two facades," said Paul Hicok, the library director.Another potential big project: replacing or overhauling the downtown building's HVAC system. The last page of this years-old report by an outside architecture firm details recommendations regarding the heating and air conditioning systems. The building committee brainstormed potential grant funding avenues for overhauling the faulty mechanicals—maybe it could be framed as a matter of patron comfort?During the meeting, by chance, I saw on my phone that the. I asked the board members present and library director what they thought of potentially making that change here.Hicok, who acknowledged this "new movement" among libraries and was familiar with its justifications (see link above), called it a "wonderful idea" but added that TPL would need to figure out how to make up the ~$7,500 in revenue that late fees bring in.

Other Items

Links

Events

, the former longtime leader of TAP and ex-interim director of the Troy Community Land Bank,," which the city library has made available for free h/t Troy by Gas-Light ). If you've never heard of the "North-South Arterial," that's probably because it was never built. (Disclosure: I read two drafts of this article and offered comments on potential changes/improvements.)in Troy.: HVCC is offering a non-credit course titled " Historic Preservation Carpentry I ," which starts 1/8/19. Blurb: "This introductory course covers the basics of both preservation carpentry and building conservation, and will provide you with a working knowledge of basic carpentry skills and practices as well as historical construction methods." It's not very cheap ($775), and you'll need to take a OSHA 10-hour construction safety class before the course ends, but I suppose all that would still be a fairly modest investment if you were really thinking of changing your life.In a short decision dated Dec. 4,of a city court decision that said Lamont Lee, a man who alleged police brutality, cannot withdraw his guilty plea. An appeal was not perfected with the county court within the requisite time frame, the new decision says.On Tuesday night,. From the minutes: “The applicant explained how the cafe aspect is limited, and the food and drinks would be prepared at other local businesses, and kept separate from the cats. The space will be a haven for foster cats, where patrons can come to hang out with and adopt cats. The cat lounge will get cats from local shelters and will not profit off the adoptions, but charge a small cover/entrance fee to sustain their business. The cat lounge will hold a ‘soft opening’ and after gauging demand…could be open up to 6 days a week.”