Board of Estimate & Contract:
RESOLVED, that an Ordinance adopted by the City Council on January 14, 2026, and signed by the Mayor on January 15, 2026, authorizing the Mayor to Accept Grant Funds from the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency $233,193.00 for a Three-Year Period and to Continue Funding Grant-Funded Budget Specialist I Position - (for the Period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, currently included in the City’s 2026 Annual Estimates (Budget) under Budget Expenditure Code A8020.101. Said grant funds shall be used exclusively to support the continued funding of the position of Budget Specialist I (Grant Funded) within the Department of Planning and Community Development, including salary and allowable administrative costs, as permitted by HUD regulations. The City of Mount Vernon shall continue to provide fringe benefits for the Budget Specialist I position as a partial match to the grant funding, in an estimated amount of $167,898.96 over the three-year grant period, to be paid from budget code ranges 9010 through 9070, subject to annual budget appropriations); be, and the same is hereby approved.
City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE MOUNT
VERNON URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY IN THE
AMOUNT OF $233,193.00 FOR A THREE-YEAR
PERIOD AND TO CONTINUE FUNDING A
GRANT-FUNDED BUDGET SPECIALIST I POSITION
Whereas, in correspondence dated December 30, 2025, the Commissioner of the Department of Planning & Community Development formally requested authorization for the Mayor to accept grant funds from the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency in the total amount of $233,193.00 for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon receives federal housing and community development funds administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Continuum of Care (CoC), and HOME-ARP programs; and
Whereas, the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency administers said HUD grant programs on behalf of the City of Mount Vernon; and
Whereas, the Department of Planning and Community Development requires administrative and fiscal oversight capacity to properly manage, monitor, and report on said grant programs and to prepare for required annual audits; and
Whereas, HUD grant funds administered through the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency provide administrative funding for the position of Budget Specialist I (Grant Funded) at an annual rate of $77,731.00 for a three-year period; and
Whereas, the total grant funding to be accepted for said position equals Two Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-Three Dollars ($233,193.00) for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028; and
Whereas, the position of Budget Specialist I (Grant Funded) is currently included in the City’s 2026 Annual Estimates (Budget) under Budget Expenditure Code A8020.101; and
Whereas, in alignment with prior grant awards, the City of Mount Vernon provides fringe benefits as a partial match to the grant funding and proposes to continue providing such fringe benefits in support of the Budget Specialist I position; and
Whereas, the City’s financial commitment for fringe benefits associated with said position is estimated to be $167,898.96 over the three-year grant period, under budget code ranges 9010 through 9070; and
Whereas, the Budget Specialist I reports to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Community Development and assists in monitoring yearly grant funds, preparing financial documentation, and supporting annual audits; and
Whereas, the Budget Specialist I currently manages grant funding totaling approximately $1.1 million under the Continuum of Care program, serving sixty-nine (69) households, including families and individuals in need of housing assistance with rents not exceeding thirty percent (30%) of gross monthly income; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that acceptance of said grant funds and continuation of the Budget Specialist I position serve the best interests of the City of Mount Vernon and ensure continued compliance with federal grant requirements;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON:
Section 1. Authorization to Accept Grant Funds. The Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon is hereby authorized to accept grant funds from the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency in the total amount of $233,193.00 for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Section 2. Purpose of Grant Funds. Said grant funds shall be used exclusively to support the continued funding of the position of Budget Specialist I (Grant Funded) within the Department of Planning and Community Development, including salary and allowable administrative costs, as permitted by HUD regulations.
Section 3. City Match - Fringe Benefits. The City of Mount Vernon shall continue to provide fringe benefits for the Budget Specialist I position as a partial match to the grant funding, in an estimated amount of $167,898.96 over the three-year grant period, to be paid from budget code ranges 9010 through 9070, subject to annual budget appropriations.
Section 4. Budgetary Authorization. The Comptroller is hereby authorized to make all necessary budgetary entries and adjustments to effectuate the intent of this Ordinance, consistent with the adopted annual budgets and applicable financial controls.
Section 5. Administration. The Department of Planning and Community Development is authorized to administer the grant funds in coordination with the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency and to take all actions necessary to ensure compliance with HUD grant requirements.
Section 6. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part directly involved.
Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate & Contract.