M I N U T E S
Members Present: Paul Carr (Co-chair), Marya Gilborn (Co-chair), Raffi Babakhanian, Joan Edwards, Billy Fields, Steve Hemraj, David Klotz, Guadalupe Dominguez Plummer (ex-officio), John Schoepp, Terry Troia
Members Absent: Matt Baney, Marcelo Maia, Stella Safo, MD
Staff Present: Michael Navejas, Doienne Saab, Johanna Acosta, PhD, Adrianna Eppinger-Meiering, Scott Spiegler, Abraham Omeyoma (DOHMH); Arya Shahi, Gemma Ashby-Barclay (Public Health Solutions)
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes
Ms. Gilborn and Mr. Carr opened the meeting, followed by a roll call and a moment of silence. The minutes of the May 12, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: GY 2024 Carryover Plan
Ms. Gilborn explained that carryover funds must be directed to “program services” benefiting people with HIV, serves as one-time enhancements late in the fiscal year (typically Sept/Oct), and must be fully spent by end of grant year (February 28, 2026) to avoid a penalty. Ms. Eppinger-Meiering explained that the $1.37 available for carryover is broken down into $699,727 in Base and $674,209 in MAI. MAI funds must be expended in one of the four MAI-funded categories. Based on an analysis by the Recipient, the proposal is to use all Base carryover for Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) in both NYC and Tri-County, and to use all MAI funds for ADAP. ADAP would also be available to absorb any funds that FNS programs are unable to expend by the end of the grant year. The FNS funds would be used to enhance food-based services (congregate meals, home-delivered meals, vouchers, and pantry bags): $592,077 in NYC, $107,650 in TC. It was noted that this is the smallest carryover since before the COVID pandemic.
In response to questions, it was noted that Housing was included in the 2023 carryover plan, but programs were not able to spend the funds, as one-time enhancements are not workable for those programs. Also, Housing will receive a permanent enhancement as per the Council’s GY 2025 spending plan, as well as EHE grant funds.
A motion was made, seconded and approved 8Y-0N to accept the GY 2024 carryover plan as presented.
Mr. Fields congratulated the Recipient staff on their work to maximize expenditures.
In response to a question from Mr. Schoepp, the Recipient staff affirmed that the EHE work plan still includes support for client advisory boards at RWPA agencies.
Mr. Klotz explained that at the July 14th PSRA meeting, the committee will develop a spending request for the application with a maximum 5% increase. He also noted that there has been no news from HRSA since the second partial award was received, but that the total for the current year should be in the same ballpark as GY 2024. The proposed GY 2026 federal budget now being considered by Congress includes drastic cuts, including elimination of RW Part F, HOPWA and MAI.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
