City Could Lose Out On $2.4M Grant for Downtown Roads

as well as other city projects failed on Wednesday night. 

While six votes were needed to approve the ordinance, only five people—the council majority—voted in favor. The four council minority members voted "no." 

Completing a plan for the improvements and renovations would put the city in a better position to receive funding to pay for the projects, according to the administration.

"It’s in our best interest to have shovel ready projects," said Councilman-at-Large David Mello on Wednesday, "so that we can get money that is due to us."

Plans to complete designs and engineering costs for renovations to Sinatra Drive and Newark Street—for a total of about $300,000—were also included in the bond ordinance that failed on Wednesday.

By not approving the bond ordinance, Director of Transportation and Parking Ian Sacs said, the city could be at risk of losing out on a $2.4 million grant from the Department of Transportation that has been earmarked to renovate Observer and Newark. 

In order to get that money, a plan needs to be in place and the city has to pay for the engineering costs.  

The DOT will have to have reviewed a plan for those roads by October for the city to get the money, Sacs said Wednesday. To still get the grant, Sacs said, the city will have to "scramble" for alternative.