Jamestown City Council

The program was funded with $500,000 in American Rescue Plan monies in June 2022.

Department of Development Director Crystal Surdyk said there are changes being made to how the program will operate, “One of which is, we did add some income limits which is 125% of area median income and then we sort of restructured it so there’s still a 10% match requirement for homeowners to apply. It’s up to $2,500 in either direct payment to a contractor or they can pay for it and then get a rebate.”

Surdyk said the Department of Development is taking over administering the program from the Assessor’s Office. She said it will be rolled out once Council signs off on the program structure.

Jamestown City Council

The Council Finance Committee had recommended using an additional $282,856 in American Rescue Plan funds to cover applications to the Senior Citizen Home Improvement Incentive program that weren’t funded initially.

However, the resolution filed under new business would allocate an additional $377,528. The resolution states the funds would come from the ARP’s “Healthy Communities and Neighborhoods fund.” Council member at Large Kim Ecklund had stated that council members did not want money to be allocated away from a Residential Home Improvement Incentive Program that had been funded with $500,000 last June. That program has not been set up yet by the City Assessor’s Office.

Council also will vote to use $900,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for water main replacements and street restoration on Roland Road and Juliet Street. The Department of Public Works and Jamestown Board of Public Utilities recommended the work be done after multiple water main breaks on both streets over the decades.

In addition, Council will vote under new business on a five-year Animal Holding facility contract with Pick of the Litter in Falconer. The staff report said Pick of the Litter was the only entity that submitted a proposal. The contract would pay the agency $2,800 a month for board fees and/or euthanasia for 360 dogs per year. Upon receiving the 361st dog, Pick of the Litter will charge $90 per dog for board fees and/or euthanasia.

The voting session will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the second floor of City Hall.

It is open to the public and members of the public may also participate remotely in the meeting via videoconferencing by requesting a link from City Clerk Jennifer Williams at (716) 483-7612 or clerk@jamestownny.gov in advance of the meeting.

The meeting also will be livestreamed at https://www.jamestownny.gov.

Jamestown City Council

The seven resolutions under new business had been approved by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation, but as all the requests were over $100,000, City Council also must give their approval.

The businesses seeking capital improvements grants from the program include:
– El Greco $198,363
– Dawson Metal $198,363
– Artone LLC $192,794
– International Ordnance $198,363
– National Wire and Metal Technology Incorporated $198,363
– Colecraft Commercial Furnishings $198,363
– and Shawbucks $198,363

Council also will vote under new business on adding $500,000 of American Rescue Plan funds to the Senior Citizen Home Improvement Incentive Program. Mayor Eddie Sundquist had said there had been over $1.8 million in requests for the senior citizen program, which had initially been funded with $500,000 of ARPA funds.

Another item under new business is a resolution to spend $8,000 out of contingency for building roof maintenance at the Fenton History Center.

City Council will hear budget presentations from the Clerk and Treasurer’s Office, Finance, Assessor’s, and Corporation Counsel at a work session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the fourth floor Police Training Room.

The voting session will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor Council Chambers. The meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

The application period closes Monday, August 15th.

The grant program provides financial assistance to eligible senior home owner occupants with home repairs. These repairs are intended for making necessary improvements and to bring the home up to proper housing standards as defined by the current New York State and City of Jamestown Building Code.

Eligible applicants may receive a cash rebate up to $10,000 on various home improvement and renovation. Homeowners who currently receive, or would qualify for, the Aged Exemption are eligible to apply for a dollar-for-dollar rebate for up to $10,000 in documented repairs or improvements.

Homeowners who currently receive, or would qualify for, the Enhanced Exemption or Check Program are eligible for a 90% rebate for up to $10,000 in documented repairs or improvements.

The City will work with the homeowner and contractor to pay the contractor directly after work has been completed on the project, with work subject to inspection. If a 10% match is required, the match can be used as a deposit for the contractor.

Letters from the Mayor’s Office were sent out to every eligible household. Completed application can be submitted online at www.jamestownny.gov, by email to volpel@jamestownny.gov, or by mail to the Assessor’s Office located at 200 E Third Street on the 1st Floor.

Executive Assistant Zach Altschuler addresses City Council on Home Improvement rebate programs (May 16, 2022)

The City is proposing two additional home improvement programs that would be funded with $1 million of American Rescue Plan funds.

Mayoral Executive Assistant Zach Altschuler presented a proposal to City Council members Monday night on two programs that he says could be implemented quickly and ran out of the Assessor’s Office.

Altschuler said the Senior Citizen Home Improvement Incentive Program would target homeowners who are currently receiving or would qualify for the Aged Exemption, “That is you own or live in your home, and live in your home, excuse me, for more than one year and your total income including social security is less than or equal to $22,000 for County tax or $19,000 for City and School tax. This would be up to $10,000 in documented repairs and improvements. And that would receive a dollar for dollar rebate check.”

Altschuler said those who receive or qualify for Enhanced STAR could receive a rebate check for 90% of the total cost up to $10,000 in documented repairs or improvements. He added that homeowners must acquire all necessary permits to be eligible.

Altschuler said the second proposed rebate program is a Residential Home Improvement Incentive Program, “That is for all other homeowners and landlords with properties that contain three or less units. And we’ve included a chart which is just a suggested rebate amount, based on the amount of improvements here. This would be for city-wide residents. We’ve heard from council members that they would like to see some programs that everyone can access.”

Altschuler added that homeowners may qualify for the existing Property Tax Abatement exemption. Each home improvement proposal would be funded with $500,000 of ARP monies.

Council members requested additional guidelines for applying to the program, especially for funding for landlords. Discussion on the programs is expected to continue at a future council work session.