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141 <br /> <br />programs to become more self-sufficient; additional federal <br />funds could be drawn down for day care if a half-time person <br />was employed; and the Department is short ten eligibility <br />worker positions by state standards. <br /> <br /> Responding to questions from Mr. Toscano, Mr. Robert <br />Cox, Director of Social Services, stated that the Community <br />Assessment Program, which serves more people in a central <br />location and requires less staff, is just getting organized <br />and has not been. evalUated as to its effectiveness and some <br />of the children in the Community Attention programs pay a fee <br />if their families can afford to do so. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano questioned whether it would be helpful if the <br />state allowed localities to keep funds they recover as a <br />result of fraud investigations, etc., and Mr. Cox replied <br />that there isa proposal before the General Assembly which <br />would allow !ocalities .to keep a portion of recovered food <br />stamps funds, but the amount which the localities would be <br />allowed to keep would not pay for the staff it would take to <br />recover the funds. <br /> <br /> Ms.~ Daugherty noted that the need for services has <br />escalated in the last five years and that $18 million in <br />medicaid funding has been brought into the community. <br /> <br />REPORT: GAS LINE EXTENSION POLICY AND GAS PURCHASING CONTRACT <br /> <br /> Ms. Judith Mueller, Director of Public Works, presented <br />the gas line extension policy as recommended by the Gas <br />Advisory Committee. The recommended changes would remove the <br />policy from the City Code and make it an administrative <br />policy, would simplify the policy, and would provide greater <br />flexibility. Ms. Mueller requested that Council direct the <br />City Attorney to prepare the necessary ordinance if there is <br />agreement with the proposal. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Mueller <br />stated that the areas targeted for expansion include all of <br />the City and the urban part of Albemarle County designated as <br />a growth area. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Ms. Mueller <br />stated that the gas line extension formula was an outgrowth <br />of an economic model based on private sector formulas. <br /> <br /> Mr. Stanley Balis, the City's gas consultant, <br />explained the impact of deregulation on the City's gas <br />purchases and explained that following a request for <br />proposals, Tenneco was chosen as the City's main gas <br />supplier, noting that the City's main concern is to have a <br />reliable gas.supply at reasonable prices. <br /> <br />~ESOLUTION: INCREASING LOAN LIMITS FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES <br />PARTNERSHIP TO ~75,000 <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix explained that staff feel that the Housing <br />Opportunities Partnership (HOP) Program would work better and <br />serve more people if the loan limit was increased to $75,000 <br />due to the unavailability of houses under that amount. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Huja <br />stated that the increase would not affect income guidelines <br />or eligibility. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards that he understood that with interest rates <br />as low as they currently are people can afford to purchase <br />higher priced homes. <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Daugherty, seconded by Ms. Slaughter, <br />the loan limit for the Housing Opportunities Partnership <br />program was unanimously increased to $75,000. <br /> <br /> <br />