Hubbard could be model for change

By RAYMOND SMITH Tribune Chronicle
Girard’s future may lie in ... Hubbard?

According to Trumbull County Planning Commission member Alan Knapp, Hubbard’s recent improvements could serve as a model for the city.

Hubbard Mayor Art Magee said the city received some federal grant money, but much of the funding for its city improvements came from a .05 percent income tax increase passed in 2004. The increase generates about $900,000 annually, and the money is being used to pay the debt on $5.2 million in bonds the city obtained for a variety of improvements.

With the new money, Hubbard already has done more than $705,000 worth of street paving and surfacing projects, replaced some sidewalks, purchased a fire truck and other equipment and built a new police station.

‘‘We are in the fourth year in a five-year strategic plan,’’ Hubbard city auditor Michael Villano said. ‘‘The last project to be done with the bond money will be some exterior work on the fire station.”

In addition to the money it received from the income tax increase, Hubbard in 2005 received a $400,000 comprehensive downtown revitalization grant from the federal government for facade improvement.

Downtown businesses also are providing some money to improve their look, with the city providing matching funds of up to $20,000.

Knapp said the fact that Hubbard was doing other major improvements when they applied likely helped them get the CDBG funds.

‘‘I understand that Girard is doing some stormwater improvement projects, so that could help them,’’ he said.

Girard city councilman Thomas Seidler said he would like to see some facade improvements similar to what was done in Hubbard in 2004.

‘‘I’m going to talk to the mayor and our grant writers, CT Consultants, to determine what we must do to start the process,’’ he said.

There were some efforts made in the past, Seidler said, but none was focused on the creation of a formalized multi-year plan for downtown business development.



rsmith@tribune-chronicle.com