Grant Review Committee

City of Norwalk Ad Hoc Grant Review Meeting Thursday, January 7, 2016 5:00 p.m. – Room 231 Norwalk City Hall 125 East Avenue Norwalk, CT Committee Attendance: Greg Burnett, Richard McQuaid and Anita B. Schmidt Staff Attendance: Robert Barron and Irene Dixon Call to Order: Mr. Burnett called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. and stated that this was an Ad hoc Committee formed to review grant requests from outside agencies for fiscal year 2016-17. Business: The agencies, requests and presentation personnel that appeared before the committee: 1. The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education Presented By: Karen Mellow, Executive Director Program Request: $18,500 2. Elderhouse Presented by: Denise Cesareo, Executive Director Program Request: $15,000 3. Open Door Shelter Presented by: Jeannette Archer-Simons, Executive Director Nathaniel Yordon, Board Member Corky Stewart, President of the Board Program Request: $100,000 4. Domestic Violence Crisis Center Presented by: Rachelle Kucera Mehra, Executive Director Program Request: $17,000 5. Southwest Regional Mental Health Board Presented by: Margaret Watt, Executive Director Lou Schulman, Board Member Program Request: $15,989 6. Family and Children’s Agency Presented by: Christopher Jachino, Director, Community Connections Program Request: $40,000 7. Americares Free Clinic Presented by: Karen Gottlieb, Executive Director Cornelia Brefka, Associate Director Program Request: $33,000 The committee and staff were present for all presentations. Each agency representative was thanked for their time and the conclusion of the presentations the committee began its recommendation deliberations. The Grants Review Committee recommends a $1.2 million budget for Outside Grant Agencies in the upcoming fiscal year 2016-17 to the City of Norwalk’s Board of Estimate and Taxation. This recommendation represents flat funding or a zero percent increase for all funded programs in the city’s current fiscal year 2015-16 budget and no new program funding. The committee also recommends that the name be changed to “Headstart Provider” for the funding recommendation for the Norwalk Housing Authority request. The Grants Review Committee recommends the following outside agency grants for the fiscal year 2016-17: FY16 FY17 FY17 ORGDESC BUDGET REQUEST COMMITTEE AMERICARE FREE CLINIC $ 22,440 $ 33,000 $ 22,440 CARVER-SUMMER CAMPS $ 152,702 $ 160,000 $ 152,702 CARVER-SCHOOL TRANSITION $ 25,000 $ 40,000 $ 25,000 CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF FAIRFIELD $ - $ 5,000 $ - ELDERHOUSE $ 10,374 $ 15,000 $ 10,374 NORWALK SENIOR CENTER $ 355,000 $ 372,750 $ 355,000 NORWALK MENTOR PROGRAM $ - $ 11,510 $ - S MAIN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING $ - $ 35,000 $ - SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS CENTER $ 17,489 $ 18,500 $ 17,489 CONN. COUNSELING CENTER $ 2,186 $ 2,186 $ 2,186 HEADSTART PROVIDER $ 355,000 $ 1,635,813 $ 355,000 MID FAIRFIELD CHILD GUIDANCE $ 25,000 $ 90,000 $ 25,000 EXTENDED DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM $ - $ 100,000 $ - HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL $ 14,210 $ 14,574 $ 14,210 OPEN DOOR SHELTER $ 55,724 $ 100,000 $ 55,724 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER $ 6,012 $ 17,000 $ 6,012 FAMILY & CHILDREN'S AID $ 39,709 $ 40,000 $ 39,709 SW CT MENTAL HEALTH BD $ 15,989 $ 15,989 $ 15,989 SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER $ 20,222 $ 20,740 $ 20,222 CHILDREN'S CONNECTION $ 17,489 $ 17,937 $ 17,489 PERSON TO PERSON $ 25,000 $ 30,000 $ 25,000 $ 1,159,546 $ 2,774,999 $ 1,159,546 The committee is grateful to the non-profit agencies for the essential services that they provide to a variety of individuals and families and is proud to recommend over a million dollars of support to help continue their services in our community. Increases to all agencies or new program requests are not recommended due to the current budget challenge of providing essential city services at a reasonable cost to Norwalk residents. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.