Sec. 7-608. Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Advisory Board. Duties. Neighborhood revitalization zone grant-in-aid program.
Sec. 7-608. Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Advisory Board. Duties.
Neighborhood revitalization zone grant-in-aid program. (a) There is established
a Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Advisory Board. The board shall consist of the
following voting members: (1) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management;
(2) the President of the Connecticut Institute of Municipal Studies; (3) the chancellor
of the Regional Community-Technical Colleges; (4) the heads of those state agencies
deemed appropriate by the secretary; (5) the chief executive officer of a municipality
in which a neighborhood revitalization zone planning committee, pursuant to this chapter, was established on or before July 1, 1998; and (6) one member of each such neighborhood revitalization zone planning committee appointed by the chief executive officer
based upon recommendations submitted to him by such committee. In a municipality
having more than one neighborhood revitalization zone planning committee, each committee shall submit its recommendations to the chief executive officer and he shall
choose the board member to be appointed from such recommendations. Each member
of the board may designate a person to represent him on said board. The membership
of the board shall be increased on September 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, to reflect
the addition of a municipal chief executive officer and a member of a neighborhood
revitalization zone planning committee having been established in the preceding twelve
months, in a municipality not previously represented on said board. The members of
the board shall serve without compensation.
(b) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall serve as chairman
of the board and shall convene the first meeting of the board not later than September
1, 1998. At the meeting the board shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business.
Subsequent to said meeting or any continuation thereof, the board shall meet on a quarterly basis. The Office of Policy and Management shall provide staff support to the
board.
(c) The board shall promote neighborhood self-sufficiency and economic development and assist neighborhood revitalization zone planning committees in developing
and implementing strategic plans. The board shall make recommendations regarding
the disbursement of moneys in accordance with subsection (d) of this section. The board
may serve as a clearinghouse for information about neighborhood revitalization zones,
including information on (1) linkages with technical experts for the development of
strategic plans, (2) innovative neighborhood success models, and (3) training and mentoring opportunities for members of neighborhood revitalization planning zone committees. The board may also conduct seminars or conferences and establish collaborative
partnerships with public or private entities, including, but not limited to, financial institutions, nonprofit or religious organizations, state and private institutions of higher learning and libraries.
(d) There is created a neighborhood revitalization zone grant-in-aid program to be
administered by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, for the purpose
of providing financial assistance for the benefit of neighborhood revitalization zone
planning committees. Such financial assistance, within available appropriations, shall
be used for activities that promote neighborhood organizational development, economic
development and business planning, specialized curriculum development, leadership
training, the use of technology, property management, landlord-tenant relations, intergovernmental relations and such other activities as the board may deem appropriate.
The secretary shall review recommendations regarding the disbursement of moneys
made by the board and shall make a determination concerning the awarding of such
financial assistance. Upon making a determination, the secretary shall certify to the
State Comptroller the amount payable and the recipient of such grant. Not later than
five business days after such certification, the State Comptroller shall draw his or her
order on the State Treasurer, who shall pay such grant. The secretary shall not certify
a grant in an amount exceeding ten thousand dollars.
(e) The board shall periodically monitor a recipient's use of such grant, to ensure
full compliance with the provisions of this section. Each grant recipient shall, for a
period of two years following receipt of such moneys, maintain all invoices, purchase
orders and other evidence of expenditures related to the use of such grant.
(P.A. 98-223, S. 1, 2; P.A. 07-213, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 98-223 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec.(d) to change "fifteen days" to "five business
days" and make technical changes, effective July 10, 2007.