FINANCIAL BUSINESS REQUEST (FBR)
Motion/Request:
title
MOTION to approve the following proposed project to be eligible for the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) tax credits:
• Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut to support a full rehabilitation of a single-family split-level home locate at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive, Gales Ferry, CT total cost $182,803.07 with $20,000 requested in accordance Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) eligibility.
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Background:
The State Department of Revenue Services in conjunction with large corporations in the State of Connecticut developed a Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) which provides a tax credit to businesses that make donations to nonprofits for projects approved by their local governments.
Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut, a non-profit organization, is seeking support from the Town of Ledyard to apply for the 2023 Neighborhood Assistance Act Program.
Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut $20,000 (NAA) Funds
The $20,000 (NAA) requested funds will support a full rehabilitation of a single-family spit-level home at 42 Laurel Lead Drive in Gales Ferry. The home was a donation to Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut but will require a full rehabilitation to be habitable. The rehabilitation includes siding, roofing, windows, sheet rock, insulation, kitchen, bath and flooring if needed.
Funding Sources
• NAA Funds Requested $20,000.00
• Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut $15,000.00
• Pfizer Connecticut Labs $2,500.00
• Electric Boat Employees $7,500.00
• Liberty Bank $10,000.00
Total Funding $55,000.00
Total Project Cost $182,803.07
Department Comment/Recommendation:
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Finance Director Comment/Recommendation:
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Mayor Comment/Recommendation:
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Meeting Action Detail:
Town Council Meeting 06/28/2023:
File #: 23 -1726 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: MOTION to approve the following proposed project to be eligible for the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) tax credits:
• Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut to support a full rehabilitation of a single-family split-level home locate at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive, Gales Ferry, CT total cost $182,803.07 with $20,000 requested in accordance Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) eligibility.
Moved: Ingalls Seconded: Ryan
Action: Recommend to Approve
Minute Note:
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Finance Committee Meeting 06/07/2023:
File #: 23 -1726 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: MOTION to approve the following proposed project to be eligible for the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) tax credits:
• Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut to support a full rehabilitation of a single-family split-level home locate at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive, Gales Ferry, CT total cost $182,803.07 with $20,000 requested in accordance Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) eligibility.
Moved: Ingalls Seconded: Ryan
Action: Recommend to Approve
Minute Note:
Moved by Councilor Ingalls, seconded by Councilor Ryan
Discussion: Councilor Saums explained that last year the town approved this project to support a full rehabilitation of a single-family split-level home located at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive, Gales Ferry, for the Non-Profit Organization (Habitat for Humanity) to be eligible to apply for the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. However, he stated because the timing was very close to the deadline the project was not eligible for the application by the time all of the paperwork was completed. He stated the only cost to the town was to publish a Notice in the newspaper and to hold a Public Hearing. Therefore, he stated that he wanted to provide some additional clarification in the language so that people understood that $143,752.08 project was not a cost to the Town.
Councilor Ingalls noted that the Motion stated that the request was “for Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) eligibility”, but that she would entertain a “Friendly Amendment”.
Councilor Saums suggested they add the language “in accordance with” as follows:
“Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut to support a full rehabilitation of a single-family split-level home located at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive, Gales Ferry, CT total cost $143,752.08 with $20,000 requested in accordance with Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) eligibility.”
The Finance Committee agreed to include the language proposed as a “Friendly Amendment”
Ms. Bernadette Drennen, Habitat for Humanity Representative, thanked the Finance Committee for considering Habitat for Humanity’s request this evening to support an initiative to be eligible for the Neighborhood Assistance Act Program. She stated Habitat of Humanity of Eastern Connecticut worked in partnership with families to provide support throughout the home ownership process. She provided some background stating that Habitat for Humanity received of a single-family split-level home at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive in Gales Ferry as a donation, noting that it would require a full rehabilitation to be habitable. She noted the home was approximately 1,000 square feet and had three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. She explained that the home would be rehabbed primarily through donated materials, and funding, with both volunteer and contractor labor, under the supervision of a professional Construction Supervisor. She stated the rehabilitation work would include siding, roofing, windows, sheet rock insulation, kitchen, bath, flooring, and Energy Star appliances. She stated Habitat for Humanity was interested in applying for the NAA Program to support the full rehabilitation of the single-family split-level home at 42 Laurel Leaf Drive in Gales Ferry.
Councilor Saums stated Habitat for Humanity was a great program and he noted that he learned a lot when he volunteered to participate in one of their projects several years ago. He addressed the importance for Habitat for Humanity to keep their work on the Community Resource page on Facebook noting that they would be able to get a lot of volunteers from the social media site. Ms. Drennen stated the Habitat for Humanity projects were a great team building effort.
VOTE: 3 - 0 Approved and so declared