The City of Warren Redevelopment Authority has a job to do… and its members plan to put together a more clear job description.

The RDA is “charged with the acquisition and sound replanning and redevelopment of properties which have been designated as blighted… The Authority may also acquire non-blighted properties for purposes of redevelopment,” according to its portion of the cityofwarrenpa.gov website.

The members faced a light agenda on Wednesday – two properties that had been on the blighted list – one demolished, the other where significant progress was reportedly being made – and three updates on its facade grant program.

The members also heard an update on the city’s comprehensive plan progress.

“We’re going to be kicking off the public comment portion of the comprehensive plan,” City Planner Vince DeJoy said.

A “city-wide” public meeting will be held to allow residents to “provide input and comment on what they would love to see in the plan,” he said.

After that announcement, DeJoy asked the members what they see as the RDA’s role.

“What is our mission?” he asked. “What kinds of projects?”

“You do have some funds here you could lend… potentially grant… to projects,” he said.

According to the finance report, the RDA had over $600,000.

Authority Chairman Michael Boyd said such a discussion was “long overdue.”

DeJoy recommended that members think about what they see as the group’s role, potentially investigate other RDAs in similar communities, and come back to the October meeting with some ideas.

The members brought up the land bank proposal brought up by the Warren County RDA, then suggested there might be collaboration opportunities with that group.

Also as part of that process, Boyd said he would like to see information prepared to help new members understand the authority and its role.