WILDWOOD CREST — Tired of leaving grant applications to “the eleventh hour,” Borough Administrator Kevin Yecco said that the municipality was looking to bring a grant consultant in house.
“The largest problem we have encountered to date is that there is no advance direction or suggestions on how to proceed,” Yecco said at an Aug. 8 commissioner’s meeting.
Mark Blauer, who has previously consulted the borough in grant applications, fielded questions and offered his advice during the morning meeting.
“What are the hooks?” asked Mayor Carl Groon.
“Start with the needs of the community and go from there,” Blauer told commissioners. “It puts the cart before the horse to first look at what you are eligible for.”
Blauer, who said he has worked as a grant consultant for Middle Township for 30 years, noted that he wasn’t sure a full time role in Wildwood Crest would be beneficial.
“My role has not been to run up a bill with a lot of consultant work that is not valuable,” Blauer said. “I normally come in as a pinch hitter.”
“If you are looking for someone to oversee the grant process, I can certainly do that, but within limitation,” he said.
Blauer added that once the borough identifies what the goals and needs are he would be able to match projects to them.
“There are definitely things we want done,” said Commissioner Don Cabrera.
Blauer explained that his areas of grant exper-tise include, Small Cities, USDA rural development, Green Acres and housing rehabilitation. He said that he doesn’t do work that is unique for engineers, such as beach protection.
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