Town Of Babylon To Host Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday

BABYLON, NY — The Town of Babylon will hold a virtual public hearing Tuesday morning to discuss the Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Action Plan and to inform residents of available funding applications. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and the link will be on the home page of the Town of Babylon website.

Officials scheduled the hearing, coordinated by the town's Department of Community Development, to gather citizen input on development of this plan, for Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Grant (HOME). In addition, the Fiscal Year 2020 performance under these programs will be discussed.

In a message on the town website, officials addressed some of the rumors regarding the meeting circulating on social media.

There has recently been incorrect information circulating on social media about the purpose of this public hearing - The Town of Babylon Community Development Program receives funding from the federal government every year, through the CDBG Program, administered by HUD. These funds are used for infrastructure improvements throughout the Town, to renovate existing homes to be resold to qualified residents, and to run programs such as the first-time homebuyer down payment assistance program. As a recipient of federal grant funds, the Town of Babylon is required by HUD to prepare a Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. That plan calls for public comment and participation from residents regarding what the Town priorities should be for this funding. This public hearing is NOT about “low-income housing,” but rather federal programs such as “first-time homebuyer down payment assistance” and public infrastructure improvements. This public hearing does NOT involve a proposal to build any specific housing anywhere in the Town. This public hearing does NOT involve building low-income housing in Babylon Village. This public hearing is held every year as required by HUD, in order for the Town receives it’s share of federal funding to assist in infrastructure improvements homebuyer programs throughout the Town. For an example of how this federal grant funding has been spent in the past, please view the 2020 Action Plan here, and scroll to pages 104-108.

During the virtual public hearing, participants are encouraged to document their comments to the best of their ability, and to provide a copy of their comments in writing.

All interested agencies and organizations can submit applications for construction
related projects and public service available for the FY 2021 funding period and must be returned by Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Applications can be found at the Town of Babylon website, www.townofbabylon.com, can be e-mailed, send request to cdpinfo@townofbabylon.com or can be picked up at the east side of Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York 11757.

Anybody interested in submitting comments should e-mail their comments to cdpinfo@townofbabylon.com or mail them to Town of Babylon Department of Community Development at 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, NY 11757. Residents who wish to speak at the public hearing can visit townofbabylon.com and click on the "How Do I…." link, and then "Participate in a Public Hearing" to sign up.