The Sloatsburg Village Board met Tuesday evening and the main matters of discussion were a public hearing on Community Development Block Grants and a well-attended workshop on finding funding for gear replacement for the Sloatsburg Fire Department.

In the first order of business, the board passed two resolutions related to the 2012 fire district, approving contracts for both the Ramapo Fire Protection District II and the Johnsontown Road Fire District. Additionally, a resolution was adopted to accept Sloatsburg resident Joseph Stella as a new member of the Fire Department.

Chair of the Sloatsburg Community Development Committee Adrienne Fuchs advised the board not to request any new community development funding as her committee is currently engaged in completing a large block grant for Sloatsburg income eligible residents to help offset sewer hookup costs. The Sloatsburg committee interacts with the Rockland County Office of Community Development, which obtains federal and state grants to provide affordable housing and other programs for income eligible residents. Joe Abate is director of the county agency.

Mayor Carl Wright opened the board meeting up for a public hearing and Fuchs took the floor to present an update on her committee’s activities, which include two primary Sloatsburg assistance programs at this time — one for emergency repair funds, open year round to eligible residents, and the current block grant program that will provide sewer hookup assistance to Sloatsburg residents.

“We’re waiting for a couple piecess of information to put the rest of the program together,” said Fuchs. She said the committee is in the process of preparing a letter and brochure on the grant program that will be mailed to all residents. The open hearing explored a possible public workshop on the assistance grants, as well as a number of additional ways to get the grant information out to Sloatsburg residents. Following is a recap of the sewer assistance program.

Sloatsburg Community Development Sewer Hookup Assistance Grants:

• Will provide funds to income eligible Sloatsburg residents to offset sewer hookup costs
• Must qualify for a grant before incurring any sewer hookup costs
• Must go through application process that includes substantiating income
• Application process will involve a home inspection (Sloatsburg Building Inspector will not do inspections)
• Community Development Committee encourages residents to call into Village Hall and put name on application list
• Mailing will include a letter and brochure outlining the grant program to Sloatsburg residents
• Date of available funds is not yet set

The second part of the Village Board meeting was a workshop devoted to exploring gear replacement for the Sloatsburg Fire Department. Look for complete coverage on the Fire Department funding workshop later this week.

Update on Event Dates: The board also set dates for two popular Sloatsburg events. The D.A.R.E. Spaghetti Dinner will be held Saturday, March 3, 2012 and the Easter Egg Hunt at St. Mary’s Villa is scheduled for Sunday, April 8, 2012.

For information on Community Development Block Grants for Sloatsburg residents, call the Sloatsburg Village Hall offices at 845/753-2727.