The state and the City of Warren appear to be on the same page.
At July's meeting of Warren City Council, a Comprehensive Response Plan was approved and forwarded to the state Department of Community and Economic Development in response to a fiscal monitoring review completed by DCED and issued to the City in May on the $500,000 anchor building grant intended for the renovation of 225-227 Liberty Street.
"The City received notice from DCED yesterday that they accepted our Response Plan as written," Acting City Manager Mary Ann Nau said on Friday in an email to the Times Observer.
In the response, the City outlined a plan including their position on completing the project as well as a plan for restoring the original grant money as well as the revolving loan apparatus that was included in the original proposal.
The city's response states, "In order to accomplish completion of the Anchor Building Project, the City would be committing to substantial additional taxpayer dollars. The City does not find this to be an economically valuable solution to the problem."
Additionally, the city offered to pay itself to replenish the revolving loan account. "The City recognizes and accepts its responsibility to replenish the revolving loan account. Therefore, the City proposes a twenty-year payment period and schedule...Monthly payments shall be in the amount of $3,029.90 which includes principal and interest. The City is prepared to begin making these payments at the start of the City's 2013 fiscal year and contingent upon DCED's acceptance of the Comprehensive Response Plan."
The Times Observer received the fiscal monitoring review last week from Councilman John Lewis. The report indicates that between $7,500 and $12,000 of the $500,000 was paid to the contractor and was the only allowable expense, according to the report.