Utica City Officials Discuss Split Of CDBG Funds For Senior Centers

The split of federal Community Development Block Grant monies allocated to the city of Utica is being criticized, in particular by one of the agencies that receives funding.

In years past, the available dollars had been split evenly between the senior, senior/community centers, according to Barb Mickler, who oversees the West Side Senior and Community Center.

City officials say the federal grant dollars are decreasing and they are doing the best they can. But, questions have been raised about why each of three does not get an equal share.

As the city recently decided how that CDBG money would be split - West Utica received $12,000, while North Utica and the Parkway each received about $20,000) Mayor Rob Palmieri and councilman Joe Marino joined WIBX First News with Keeler in the Morning to explain the allocation to each.

Among the factors they considered, they said, are the number of members enrolled at each, and the total budget for each.