Council approves grant application for Belknap House sewer repairs

LACONIA — A sewer line which serves Belknap House, a family shelter on Court Street downtown, will soon be repaired, if a grant application approved by the city council is awarded.

The newly-inaugurated councilors moved forward with applying for New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority funding to repair a sewer line for Belknap House during their first regular meeting Monday night.

Community Block Development Grant funds are passed through the city from NH CDFA to organizations in need of monies for various projects. Funds are available to communities — up to $500,000 each for economic development, housing, public facilities projects or emergency funds, and up to $25,000 for a planning study grant.

Approved projects would benefit a majority of low- and moderate-income people. Belknap House is a shelter for families experiencing homelessness, and its 19 beds are typically filled.

The application to NH CDFA is for up to $100,000 in CDBG emergency funds. Of the grant funds, up to $15,000 will be retained by the City of Laconia for administrative and labor compliance costs associated with the project, which will repair the damaged sewer line. Up to $85,000 will be subgranted to Belknap House for emergency repairs or replacement to their sewer line there. 

The city staff report notes the project conforms with the city Housing and Community Development Plan’s goals of promoting activities that protect the health and safety of residents and visitors.

“Recently there was an issue with the sewer line, they unclogged it, but have found issues so it needs to be fixed and it's a lot of money for Belknap House,” CDBG Consultant Donna Lane said.

They’ll put the project out to bid, and it may cost less than $100,000, Lane said. Though Belknap House has a Court Street address, the portion of sewer line subject to the work is located on Pearl Street, according to City Manager Kirk Beattie.

Councilors also approved the associated anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan for the project. The plan outlines finding comparable, suitable housing for persons or businesses displaced or relocated, a standard document submitted alongside CDBG applications, though for this particular project, displacement is not anticipated.

Public hearings on both matters were held ahead of the vote, and Douglas Robinson, a resident of Ward 5, told councilors he’s concerned about monies being passed through the city to Belknap House. 

“I’m speaking tonight as a concerned resident who supports helping the vulnerable families, but also believes strongly in transparency, fiscal responsibility and proper oversight when federal funds are passed for our city,” Robinson read from a prepared statement. “The proposed CDB [sic] for the Belknap House project raises several important points that deserve clear answers for approval.” 

Robinson pointed to the city acting as the applicant for the grant and therefore accepting responsibility for compliance. He was also concerned about the $15,000 city retainer, and the overall potential cost of the sewer fixes.

Belknap House is located in Ward 4.

“As with any passthrough grant, the city should allow for strong subsequent agreement in place. This protects taxpayers by requiring the nonprofit to follow procedural rules, maintain records and accept responsibility for the project’s performance,” Robinson continued. “My goal is not to oppose this project, but to ensure the city and the nonprofit and the families that we serve are all protected by a transparent, well-structured process.”

“As to the physical fix, we’ll have to get bids,” Lane said. “If we get the money and it costs $40,000, then we don’t take it all, and it stays with CDFA CDBG. We just need to have enough in there to be sure that we can afford to do the work.”