By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice

The city received high marks from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last month in its review of community development programs for fiscal 2008-09.

Although HUD mandates that at least 70 percent of those assisted by the federal Community Development Block Grant funds are low to moderate income, the city has exceeded that requirement by 16 percent.

HUD’s annual performance report includes an analysis of the city’s planning process, management of funds and progress in accomplishing strategies and goals in its consolidated plan, according to a Nov. 16 letter to Paul W. Bauer, interim manager of the Community Development Administration, which manages the city’s allotment of CDBG funds.

The review, by Julie B. Fagan, director of HUD’s Hartford Field Office, pointed out the city’s “compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, accuracy of required performance reports and evaluation of accomplishments in meeting key departmental objectives.”

Highlights of the report include:

* Of those assisted by CDBG funds, 86 percent are in the low- to moderate-income bracket.

* Assisted 15 first-time homebuyers with down-payment commitments totaling $102,525.

* Kept administrative costs within guidelines.

* Assisted owner-occupied properties with loans totaling $336,651 to rehabilitate 19 single-family homes.

* Improved the housing stock for low- and moderate-income residents while working with other agencies, including the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force.

* Assisted disabled adults with assistance totaling $9,000 to install handicapped-accessible ramps at three homes.

* Allocated CDBG funds consistently within guidelines.

* Met the standard for timely expenditures of funds with a credit balance.

For program year 34, which ran from July 1, 2008, to June 30, the city received $716,514 in CDBG funds, down from $736,083 the previous year, based on its 50,000-plus population.

Funds were granted for an amalgam of public services, including the West Haven Community House Head Start and Kids in the Neighborhood programs and the fire departments’ carbon monoxide program, as well as programs for the Adult Day Center, Child Development Center, Interagency Network for Children and Ward-Heitmann House Museum.

They also went to Achieving the Dream for after-school tutoring, along with brownfield cleanup and tree-planting programs.

Earmarking the funds, CDA has worked to help low- and moderate-income residents, prevent or eliminate blight and foster community needs since 1974.

In addition to Bauer, CDA comprises Housing Specialist Thomas Reilly and administrative assistant Rosa Richardson.

Mayor John M. Picard praised CDA, saying, “I commend the members of CDA for their many accomplishments during the year and for working together to achieve the revitalization goals of our community.”