Last modified: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 1:08 AM EDT Lt. Governor Tim Murray presents a check from the state to Mayor Kevin Dumas and ARA Executive Director Michael Milanoski on the MBTA's southbound platform for the city's planned intermodal transportation center in November. State Sen. James Timilty, State Reps. John Lepper and Betty Poirier, and ARA Chairman Pret Stevenson look on. (File photo by Tom Maguire) City, ARA battle to resume BY GEORGE W. RHODES / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO - A battle over $175,000 in federal grant money, and the larger issue of city priorities on economic development, could flare up again today when a hearing on the matter resumes at city hall. Redevelopment officials plan to show up in force to argue for continued financial support for the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority in what has become a bitter, finger-pointing imbroglio over the best use of the annual Community Development Block Grant. ARA Chairman Pret Stevenson said he along with board members Max Volterra and Don Smyth aim to attend the hearing and plead with councilors to do what they can to restore the funding. Nobody contacted by The Sun Chronicle Monday was sure what action the council can take. It has the power to vote in favor or against the budget, but it hasn't been determined if it can cut money from one area and reallocate it. "We're going to plead our cause," Stevenson said. "There's still a chance they may change their minds." Mayor Kevin Dumas will be at the hearing. He met with Stevenson and Volterra Friday, but nothing was resolved, he said. He said he plans to continue to work with the ARA. The brouhaha began two weeks ago when the director of Community Development, Sal Pina, announced that funding for the ARA will be eliminated for the coming fiscal year which starts in July. The grant is worth $463,000. After mandated amounts are allocated for salaries in the community development office and for disbursements to social service programs, there's $301,000 remaining for economic development. The ARA, which is working on three major economic development projects asked for $175,000 to cover half its salary line item. While the agency has been successful at garnering grants and loans to the tune of $42 million, most of the money is for a transit related downtown revitalization project leaving the ARA without cash to pay for oversight of a project to reuse the Swank Co. building and the construction of the industrial business park. Members of the ARA, Friends of Attleboro Interested in Revitalization and the Chamber of Commerce have banded together against the move to cut ARA funds arguing it signals a dangerous shift from city priorities. Meanwhile Dumas argues that the ARA should be self-supporting and that city needs to embark on smaller short-term projects to boost downtown immediately. In a meeting last week ARA board members lashed out at Dumas' administration for the cut in funding while allegedly trying to claim credit for its projects. Meanwhile the administration slammed ARA executive director Michael Milanoski saying his hard driving efforts have irritated local and state officials forcing administration officials to smooth "ruffled feathers" on several occasions.