Council approves HUD CDBG action plan, awards demolition contract for Lower Greenmont parcels
July 02, 2025 | Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown City Council on July 1 approved the city’s fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan and voted to award a separate demolition contract for three properties in the Lower Greenmont neighborhood.
The CDBG resolution, presented by grant writer Robin Hess, authorizes the city to submit the HUD FY2025 Annual Action Plan and continues the city’s use of CDBG funds for low- and moderate-income neighborhood projects. The council then awarded bid call 2025-16 for asbestos sampling, demolition, and land restoration at 570 and 635 Pennsylvania Avenue and 637 Brockway Avenue to Reclaim Company LLC for $60,500, the lowest responsible bid, with staff saying the work is tentatively to be completed by Aug. 22.
The action matters because the CDBG and the demolition are linked to the city’s broader Lower Greenmont revitalization strategy. Hess said new nonprofit applicants received funding this year and named programs that will be funded from the plan, including Meals on Wheels, Legal Aid of West Virginia (rental legal assistance), and HealthRite (prescription assistance). She told council that CDBG administrative funds can reimburse limited city program costs such as an intern and consultant fees. Hess also warned that CDBG disbursements have been delayed in recent years and that federal funds are often not received until October despite being effective July 1.
During discussion, councilors asked how CDBG dollars would support Lower Greenmont. Hess said funds will support land-reuse efforts, property acquisition and demolition tied to prior congressional directed spending, sidewalk and green-space improvements, and tear-downs needed for a new entryway and park space. She said this CDBG round includes an allocation for sidewalks and “walkability” projects in low- and moderate-income areas; she cited roughly $83,000 in this year’s plan for that purpose. Councilors also connected these CDBG allocations to a previously secured congressional directed spending package of about $2,000,000, describing the awards as complementary phases of the Greenmont work.
On the demolition bid, Director Ricky Yeager told council staff received four qualified bids and recommended awarding the contract to Reclaim Company LLC for $60,500 as the lowest responsible bidder. Yeager said the bid packet sets a tentative completion date of Aug. 22. After brief questions from council, the motion to award passed on a roll call vote.
The CDBG resolution was approved by vote; one councilor announced an abstention before the roll call, citing a potential conflict (“my wife works at ASAP”) and the council record shows the abstention was entered prior to the vote. Council members approved the demolition bid in a separate vote.
City staff and councilors said further administrative steps remain: Hess noted that documents will need to reflect the newly seated mayor’s name on federal forms and that federal versus city signatory roles differ (Hud-funded forms often require city manager signatures). Staff also said they will coordinate with the city manager and grant consultants to finalize agreements and contract documents.
Council materials and staff comments tied the CDBG allocations directly to Lower Greenmont demolition and sidewalk work and indicated demolition and subsequent site work are intended to feed into a publicly accessible green space and entry improvements. The council did not adopt additional zoning or land-use regulations in the meeting; rather, it approved the funding plan and the demolition contract that will enable next steps.
Councilors and staff said they will provide copies of the CDBG plan to council members for reference and indicated follow-up reporting and administrative signatures will occur in the coming weeks.
(Ending) The approved CDBG Annual Action Plan and the demolition contract are scheduled to move forward administratively; council requested documents and timelines from staff and will receive further updates as implementation progresses.
The CDBG resolution, presented by grant writer Robin Hess, authorizes the city to submit the HUD FY2025 Annual Action Plan and continues the city’s use of CDBG funds for low- and moderate-income neighborhood projects. The council then awarded bid call 2025-16 for asbestos sampling, demolition, and land restoration at 570 and 635 Pennsylvania Avenue and 637 Brockway Avenue to Reclaim Company LLC for $60,500, the lowest responsible bid, with staff saying the work is tentatively to be completed by Aug. 22.
The action matters because the CDBG and the demolition are linked to the city’s broader Lower Greenmont revitalization strategy. Hess said new nonprofit applicants received funding this year and named programs that will be funded from the plan, including Meals on Wheels, Legal Aid of West Virginia (rental legal assistance), and HealthRite (prescription assistance). She told council that CDBG administrative funds can reimburse limited city program costs such as an intern and consultant fees. Hess also warned that CDBG disbursements have been delayed in recent years and that federal funds are often not received until October despite being effective July 1.
During discussion, councilors asked how CDBG dollars would support Lower Greenmont. Hess said funds will support land-reuse efforts, property acquisition and demolition tied to prior congressional directed spending, sidewalk and green-space improvements, and tear-downs needed for a new entryway and park space. She said this CDBG round includes an allocation for sidewalks and “walkability” projects in low- and moderate-income areas; she cited roughly $83,000 in this year’s plan for that purpose. Councilors also connected these CDBG allocations to a previously secured congressional directed spending package of about $2,000,000, describing the awards as complementary phases of the Greenmont work.
On the demolition bid, Director Ricky Yeager told council staff received four qualified bids and recommended awarding the contract to Reclaim Company LLC for $60,500 as the lowest responsible bidder. Yeager said the bid packet sets a tentative completion date of Aug. 22. After brief questions from council, the motion to award passed on a roll call vote.
The CDBG resolution was approved by vote; one councilor announced an abstention before the roll call, citing a potential conflict (“my wife works at ASAP”) and the council record shows the abstention was entered prior to the vote. Council members approved the demolition bid in a separate vote.
City staff and councilors said further administrative steps remain: Hess noted that documents will need to reflect the newly seated mayor’s name on federal forms and that federal versus city signatory roles differ (Hud-funded forms often require city manager signatures). Staff also said they will coordinate with the city manager and grant consultants to finalize agreements and contract documents.
Council materials and staff comments tied the CDBG allocations directly to Lower Greenmont demolition and sidewalk work and indicated demolition and subsequent site work are intended to feed into a publicly accessible green space and entry improvements. The council did not adopt additional zoning or land-use regulations in the meeting; rather, it approved the funding plan and the demolition contract that will enable next steps.
Councilors and staff said they will provide copies of the CDBG plan to council members for reference and indicated follow-up reporting and administrative signatures will occur in the coming weeks.
(Ending) The approved CDBG Annual Action Plan and the demolition contract are scheduled to move forward administratively; council requested documents and timelines from staff and will receive further updates as implementation progresses.
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