The Executive Director reported that while emergency funding from HUD has been secured, it is only a smaller amount that does not cover the full scope of the project. The supplemental appropriation from Congressman Smith is still pending, and a video presentation for all recipients will take place next week to clarify the process. The Executive Director emphasized that the borough of Belmar is listed as the recipient of the grant, which might complicate the distribution of funds to the Housing Authority.

In addition to the funding issues, there was also a brief discussion on the progress of setting up a COVID-19 vaccine clinic within the building. The Executive Director mentioned that visiting nurses would administer the vaccines once a date is confirmed, and a sign-up sheet would be posted on the bulletin board.

Another topic of interest was the potential community engagement initiative proposed by St. Rose, which aims to have students interact with the seniors in the housing building. The Executive Director will follow up to determine the logistics and the level of interest among the residents.

The meeting also touched upon a letter to the editor published in early August that contained several inaccuracies about the Housing Authority’s maintenance priorities. The Executive Director clarified that the issues raised in the letter were either isolated incidents or had been addressed as needed.

Additionally, there was a brief mention of the upcoming San Gennaro Festival, which will take place on Main Street and is expected to be a well-attended event despite being scaled down to a single day.

The public portion of the meeting raised concerns about the stalled project due to the funding delay. Questions were also asked about a proposed crosswalk, which falls under the jurisdiction of the borough. The Mayor and Council are advocating for the crosswalk installation to be expedited, given its current schedule for 2027.