Find out what else you missed at this week’s council meeting
Palmyra Borough Council announced new funding granted by the state Department of Community Affairs’ Small Cities Housing Rehab, which awarded the borough money to loan to qualifying residents looking to make home improvements.
The government-funded housing rehabilitation program is sponsored by the borough and assists low- to moderate-income households. Funds may be applied to update or repair major systems including roof, electrical safety upgrades, heating, plumbing, lead paint hazard reduction, weatherization or structural repairs, according to Administrator John Gural. Assistance is provided in the form of an interest-free loan that is not due until the sale of a recipient’s house or transferring of a title.
“This program does not require monthly payments or impact on a recipient’s credit,” Gural said. “We still have funding left available, and the state granted us an extension of six months to spend this money.”
Community Grants, Planning & Housing, LLC, which administers the program, sends a professional inspector to work with program participants, identify needed repairs and monitor construction completion. The maximum allowable income ranges from $46,600 for a one-person household to $87,850 for an eight-person household, according to the borough’s website. Applications are available online or by contacting (609) 664–2781 or maryalice@cgph.net.
In other news:
• Mayor Michelle Arnold announced the newest dates for her Neighborhood Chat initiative, where residents are encouraged to learn about community news and make their voices heard in a non-formal setting. The next session will be at 6 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Evergreen Baptist Church.
• A Front Street property purchased by Habitat for Humanity was demolished in preparation for the building of a new house. Council passed a resolution waiving any construction or permit fees associated with the project so as not to pass on costs to the future homeowners.
• The borough was unable to move forward with a FEMA grant meant to improve drainage in the municipality. The borough, which received the grant after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, had plans to repair the tide gate in the waterfront section of Palmyra, but was forced to stop when it discovered it did not own that piece of land.
