Grants to Help Fund Street Project, New Jail

A street widening program and the new city jail will be the largest recipients of federal block grants under a spending plan approved by the City Council this week.

The disbursement of $8.9 million worth of Community Development Block Grant money was the council’s final major action on the 1996-97 budget. Later votes and discussions may involve proposed minor fees and disbursements.

About $7.5 million of the money designated this week will go to city projects. The largest single chunk of that, $3 million, will be used to acquire property for a widening of Bristol Street, one of the city’s main north-south thoroughfares.

Another $2 million will go for the police jail, now under construction. And about $1.5 million will go to the city’s code enforcement department. The rest will divided among various other projects.

Social services will share the remaining $1.4 million. The biggest award, $400,000, will cover the costs of the city’s Project Pride program to get youths at risk of joining gangs involved in alternative activities such as kayaking.

Five council members approved the disbursements. Councilwoman Lisa Mills abstained because she works for the Orange County Transportation Authority, a grant recipient.

Councilman Ted R. Moreno opposed the spending plan. He objected specifically to a reduction to $250,000 from $1 million in the appropriation to the Delhi Community Center, a private nonprofit organization that provides everything from food distribution to AIDS care.