(A) Title. This section and all ordinances supplemental or amendatory hereto, shall be known as the "Downtown Facade Improvement Program."
(B) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to give downtown building owners incentive to improve their facades in a way that enhances the look of the downtown and maintains reasonable historic consistency in design.
(C) Area covered. All buildings along Main Street between Market Street to the West and Mill Street to the East. All buildings on Walnut Street between Main Street to the South and Second Street to the North.
(D) Funding.
(1) Funding for this program will be on a year by year basis, as funds are available. There is no guarantee of funding each and every year.
(2) Funding of projects will be on a first come first served basis.
(3) Funding will be based on a 20% contribution by the building owner and 80% by the town.
(4) If a project is not funded, because of limited funds, a new application will need to be submitted in future years for consideration.
(E) Eligibility.
(1) Only buildings in the area covered will be eligible.
(2) Only properties in which the property taxes of those applying for funding are current at the time of application and throughout all phases, including payment, of the project will be eligible.
(3) Only those owners that submit complete and comprehensible applications will be eligible,
(F) Design.
(1) Designated architect - The town shall designate the architect to design or approve the design of the project.
(2) The costs of architect services, as long as the owner uses the designated architect, will be covered 100% by program funds.
(3) Owner must follow designated architect's design for any funding of the project to occur.
(G) Oversight. Applications will be accepted and reviewed by the Town Manager. The Town Manager will also review the final request for funding upon completion of the project. The Town Manager will have inspected the completed project and certified that the project is eligible according to division (F)(3).
(H) Forms.
(1) Application. Applications will be available in a form created and maintained by the Clerk Treasurer.
(2) Request for payment. A request for payment form will be available in a form created and maintained by the Clerk Treasurer.
(I) Payment. Payment will occur when the owner submits a request for payment. The request for payment will not be processed or approved until the project is complete.
(J) Contractor. The owner is responsible for selecting, paying, and overseeing the contractor. This section does not create a relationship between the town and owner or contractor. This section does not guarantee payment to the contractor.
(K) Final decision. This section is drafted to meet the intended purpose, if any clarification is needed it will be done by the Town Manager.
(Ord. 9, 2012, passed 9-5-2012)