Town Council Votes in Favor of $21,500 in Community Grants

Many University Park community groups might be surprised when they receive a check or lack there of from the town council this year.

Councilwoman Margaret Mallino (Ward 1) said that after a council vote earlier this year, it was decided that only $30,000 could be allotted for community grants. In the last few years, many times the council was able to grant the full amount requested from various community groups, making the total more than $50,000.

In addition to this change, the council also voted to create an application system to request grants.  Her suggestion was to only offer a total of $21,500 to groups now and to allow groups to apply again for the remaining $8,500 in February.

The funds would be split as such:

• Active Cultures- $500
• College Park Fire Dept. - $5,000
• University Park Civic Association – $5,000
• University Park Elementary School – $10,000
• University Park Historical Preservation Society – $500
• University Park Women's Club– $500

 " It's the first year we're doing a grant application process," Councilwoman Jacqueline O. Bradley Chacon (Ward 7) said. "We're in the evolutionary stage of what criteria should be."

Bradley Chacon said what is being grant is still fairly generous.

"We're hoping to make it a positive experience, and that everyone gets something because they have valuable programs for the community," she added.

However, everyone didn't get money this year, including the Lewisdale-University Park Boys and Girls Club.

Todd Betke and Alex Heitkemper, of the LUP, came out to argue why their group should receive some grant money even though they missed the deadline by 12 hours.

"The original deadline was June 30," Betke said, "and we learned the deadline had been moved to the end of August."

But council had change the deadline to Aug. 30, rather than Aug. 31, which was when LUP turned in their application.

Councilman Len Carey (Ward 4) amendment Mallino's original motion to include all $30,000 now, giving more money to each group and including LUP.

• Active Cultures - $750
• College Park Fire Department - $3,000
• LUP - $3,000
• UPCA – $7,000
• UPES - $11,000
• UPHPA –  $4,250
• UPWC – $1,000

Carey said his amendment would give each group 80 percent of what they requested, but give the historical society 100 percent of their request since they would be planning the town's 75th anniversary in 2011.

However, Councilwoman Susan E. McPherson (Ward 3) and Councilman Mickey Lucas (Ward 2) were concerned with Carey's amendment.

"We should abide by rules, or else why else do we have them," McPherson said. She said council voted on the process and then to ignore the rules is pointless.

"We're not Santa Claus, we can't give money away just to be good guys," Lucas added. "When we came into office, I said there wouldn't be tax raises. We are looking at no tax increases for a five-year period. "

He said in order to stay in budget and to be fair, the council should vote with Mallino's proposal.

Carey said that the $30,000 is funding council already budgeted for the fiscal year.

"The first proposal we'd give $21,500 now, and the remainder in February," he said.

University Park was losing a librarian and arts program due to the county's cuts to the school's budget. The school would receive $10,000 to help fund those positions.

Active Cultures, is a theater group from University Park, that asked for funding for the first time this year.

Council voted against Carey's amendment 4 to 2, with Carey and Bradley-Chacon voting in favor of the amendment.

Mallino's proposal then passes 6 to 0, with one councilmember absent to vote.

Mallino suggests that instead of keeping the remaining $8,500, she would give that amount to Mayor John Tabori to disperse to groups as he deems fit, for various town events and programs. Meaning groups, like LUP, can now petition the mayor for funding for their programs and events like the town's annual run the Azalea Classic can also receive some funding at a later date.