Subject:
Title
Amend sub-award with Fairfax County to return $50,000 of CHO funds for Town CARES use
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
On November 2, 2020, Town Council approved an amendment to the CARES sub-award agreement with Fairfax County to provide $100,000 of Town CARES funds to CHO (Committee for Helping Others) for a Supplemental Basic Needs Services grant, since the Town had no mechanism for this sort of spending. The $100,000 was to be used for direct payments (equal to one month) for housing expenses (i.e., rent or mortgage) and non-municipal utilities (i.e., gas or electricity) for eligible Town of Vienna residents and business workers living within Fairfax County.
The program, despite being carefully crafted and advertised, did not achieve good participation. After three months, the program had distributed only $32,000. The Town’s economic development director and finance director and the county division director of health and human services had many discussions as to why this was the case. This grant was established almost a year into the coronavirus pandemic, due to direction changes mandated by the county (the prime recipient), after months of development. The county had already spent $20 million of its $194 million CARES allocation for community and business support and $26 million for a business-related RISE grant program, of which the Town contributed $1 million for direct support ofTown businesses.
The Town also administered a $49,000 utility relief grant for delinquent water and sewer bills, and the county administered another $34 million specifically targeting rent, mortgage, and utilities assistance. While the need continues, other programs had more resources and publicity and were fulfilling the same needs.
These leftover funds may be used for additional, unfunded eligible Town CARES expenditures, such as supplementing IT hardware and software to support remote broadcasting and teleworking, additional overtime costs to support and enforce social distancing, and purchase of additional special air filters and supplies to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in public buildings. At the end of 2020, Congress extended the CARES spending deadline for another year, allowing the Town more flexibility to address its additional expenditures related to the pandemic. The decision was made to allow CHO to continue to administer another $18,000, for a total expenditure of $50,000 on supplemental basic needs, and to request return of $50,000 to the Town to pay for additional CARES expenditures.
Strategic Plan Initiative: Vienna is a fiscally responsible community.
Departmental Recommendation: Approve Coronovirus Relief Fund Sub-award Amendment No. 3 to return $50,000 to the Town of Vienna to cover other CARES-related expenditures.
Finance Recommendation: Approve Coronovirus Relief Fund Sub-award Amendment No. 3 to return $50,000 to the Town of Vienna to cover other CARES-related expenditures.
Purchasing Recommendation: N/A
Town Attorney Recommendation: Town Council may approve the refund of unallocated and unspent Cares Act funds in its discretion.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council approve Coronovirus Relief Fund Sub-award Amendment No. 3 to return $50,000 to the Town of Vienna to cover additional CARES Act-related expenditures, as presented.
Cost and Financing: $50,000 grant funding
Account Number: N/A
Decision Needed by This date: April 12, 2021
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move to approve Coronovirus Relief Fund Sub-award Amendment No. 3 to return $50,000 to the Town of Vienna to cover additional CARES Act-related expenditures."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council.