West Texas project, homeless navigation center in line for Rescue Plan dollars dailyrepublic.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyrepublic.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Fairfield council OKs $10M in federal Covid funds for broadband
FAIRFIELD City Council members had their own ideas Tuesday on how the city should spend $16.46 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for Covid-19 economic relief.
Those ideas did not entirely match the recommendations of the staff, but the biggest chunk – $10 million – was approved.
Councilwoman Doriss Panduro said she believes the city should work with the school districts to fund a tutoring center to help students who have fallen behind because of the pandemic.
She also supports using part of the funding for rental assistance, acknowledging there are other groups out there doing that work, including Catholic Charities, which is working with the county.
Fairfield council moves forward on possible pay hike for its members
It would be the first pay hike for the council members since 1988.
City Manager Stefan Chatwin also noted that the elected city clerk and city treasurer have not had their salaries increased since 1988, either.
The vote was 5-2 with Vice Mayor Rick Vaccaro and Councilwoman Pam Bertani dissenting.
The council was given three options to consider.
• Increase salary from $500 per month to $600 per month based on population. The option follows state code.
• Increase salary from $500 per month to $600 per month, with a 5% annual increase for each calendar year dating back to 1989. This increase would equate to $1,300 per month.
Fairfield, Mission Samoa ink homeless-to-work pact dailyrepublic.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyrepublic.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Fairfield City Council has pledged to half the homeless population by 2026. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)
Fairfield targets 50% cut in chronic homeless in next 5 years
FAIRFIELD The Fairfield City Council aspires to cut in half by 2026 the number of chronic homeless residents identified in the 2017 point in time count.
That would reduce the number of chronic homeless in the city to about 139 over the next five years, according to information provided in a Monday night special meeting.
However, Councilman Chuck Timm said he believes the number is misleading, and probably underestimates the actual count.
He said he also believes the city needs to focus on homeless-related crimes, which he said are going up, and dealing with those individuals who refuse to be helped.