Fitchburg Housing Authority
Regular MeetingFitchburg, MA · March 22, 2023
Minutes
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Fitchburg Housing Authority May 01 2023 3:13 pm
Minutes of FHA Regular Board Meeting, March 22, 2023
C. J. Durkin Community Room, Fitchburg, MA
A Regular Meeting of the Fitchburg Housing Authority was called to order by Chair, Linda Byrne
at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in the C. J. Durkin Community Room at 50 Day Street
in the City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Present: Absent:
FHA Board Members: FHA Board Members: None
Linda Byrne, Chair
Adam Goodwin, Vice Chair
David Rousseau, Treasurer
David Basilio, Assistant Treasurer
Thomas Hughes, Member
FHA Staff:
Douglas M. Bushman, Executive Director, FHA Board Secretary
Andrew Skoog, Deputy Director
Kim Hergert, Director of Finance/HR
Yoko Ishii, Executive Assistant / Bookkeeper
Roberta Kozak, Director of Leased Housing
Genesis Ruiz, Director of Housing
Norma Letamendi, Director of Elderly Housing.
Marc Cunningham, Elderly Maintenance Foreman
Marci (Marshal) Haneisen, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator
Sue Honeycutt, CPA, Fenton, Ewald and Associates PC
FHA Tenants:
None
Quorum: Yes (Quorum Requirement: Three FHA Board Members)
1. Motion to Open Meeting
Chair, Linda Byrne opened the meeting at 8:30am
Move: Thomas Hughes Second: David Basilio All in favor
2. Motion to Open Public Comments.
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: Thomas Hughes All in favor
No public attended. Douglas Bushman, Executive Director, remarked about recent judgmental change about rules of
public forum, which anyone can speak anything and not limit the length of the time.
3. Motion to Approve Minutes of Regular Session Meeting held on February 21, 2023
Move: David Rousseau Second: Adam Goodwin All in favor
4. Motion to Approve Minutes of Executive Session Meeting held on February 21, 2023
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: Thomas Hughes All in favor
5. Motion to Approve FHA Payables for February -March FY 23 (Attachment A)
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Rousseau All in favor
The Executive Director stated this month was a difficult month, Boiler Failures, Elevator, generator failure, boiler
FIS Project and Fire Alarm issues.
6. New FHA Employees
The Executive Director introduced two new employees.
1) Tamara Castro, Assistant Housing Manager-Family
2) Marci (Marshal) Haneisen, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator (HUD) will work for FSS program.
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
7. Motion to Approve FY2023 Budget & Related Documents (Attachment B)
Move: David Rousseau Second: David Basilio All in favor
Sue Honeycutt, CPA, Fenton, Ewald and Associates PC, explained the details of the Budget line items.
The Board discussed the Budget. The Executive Director stated that he will send a letter to DHCD for Budget
increase.
8. Review of Reasonable Accommodation Policy & Personnel Policy -Still on hold.
9. Audit & Management Reviews
The Executive Director stated the upcoming DHCD’s Performance Management Review will be held on April 27,
2023.
10. Motion to Approve HI-LAPP funding Request for Milk Street (Attachment C & D)
Move: Thomas Hughes Second: Adam Goodwin All in favor
The Executive Director explained that there was a budget shortfall in the Milk Street HUD conversion project. Upon
the DHCD suggestion, the FHA will apply for the HI-LAPP funding to close the gap.
11. Evictions
Andrew Skoog, Deputy Director, reported that the FHA served 32 eviction notices and 1 forced eviction after
judgement in FY23. In FY22, a total of 84 eviction notices and 5 forced evictions. The Deputy Director answered the
Chair’s question regarding the 30-Day Notice. Also, he answered the question from David Basilio, Assistant
Treasurer, about the cost of the evictions.
12. Vacancy & HAFIS Report (Attachment D)
The Deputy Director briefly updated the Vacancy Report.
13. Union Negotiation
The Board Discussed the union negotiation issues.
14. New Maintenance Staff
The Executive Director stated that two maintenance staff will be hired by the end of March.
15. Two Conventions in April
1) 2023 MassNAHRO spring Conference on April 2-4th
2) PHA-Web User Conference on April 17-19th
16. Resident Services
1) Fitchburg Families First Event on March 11, 2023
The Executive Director explained the ABLE program at the event.
2) The new Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator will start FSS program.
3) Spanish American Project Bread at Daniels Heights.
17. Construction Update
(1) FISH 097076
Motion to Approve Certificate for Partial Release of Retainage CO#4 (Attachment E)
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
(2) FISH097127 AUI
The Executive Director and The Board discussed the layout in the AUI project and code.
The Board Discussed about that Board Meeting date and it will be on Wed., April 26 at 8:30am at Daniels Heights.
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
18. Motion to Enter to Executive Session (10:07am)
Move: David Rousseau Second: Thomas Hughes All in favor
19. Motion to close Executive Session & Adjourn the Regular Board Meeting (10:20am)
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
Agenda
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Fitchburg Housing Authority
Mar 17 2023 1:51 pm
Notice of FHA Regular Board Meeting
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Chapter 30A, Sections 18 through 25 of the General Laws that a
Regular Meeting of the FHA will be held at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023, via actual
participation. The meeting will be held at the C. J. Durkin Community Room, 50 Day Street, in the City of
Fitchburg, Massachusetts. FHA tenants and the public are invited to attend.
A. Agenda Items & Motions
1. Motion to Open Meeting (Quorum Requirement: Three FHA Board Members)
2. Motion for Public Comment
3. Motion to Approve Minutes of the FHA Regular Board Meeting Held on February 21st, 2023.
4. Motion to Approve Minutes of the FHA Executive Meeting Held on February 21st, 2023.
5. Review of Executive Director’s Reports, Attachments and Supplemental Reports
6. Motion to Approve Payables for February-March 2023
7. Motion to Approve FY2023 Budget & Related Documents
8. Motion to Approve Milk Street DHCD HILAPP Funding Application
9. Motion to Approve Partial Release of Retainage to Diversified Construction $5,373.60
10. Motion to Adjourn
B. Executive Session
This Motion is made pursuant to M.G.L. c30A Section 21 (a)(6) for the following reason: 2. To conduct strategy
sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or
contract negotiations with nonunion personnel; 3. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or
litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body
and the chair so declares; 4. To discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices, or strategies with respect
thereto; 5. To investigate charges of criminal misconduct or to consider the filing of criminal complaints; 6. To
consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may have
a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body; Per the General Laws a public body may meet in
executive session provided that: 1. The body has first convened in an open session; 2. A majority of members of the
body have voted to go into executive session and the vote of each member is recorded by roll call and entered into
the minutes; 3. Before the executive session, the chair shall state the purpose for the executive session, stating all
subjects that may be revealed without compromising the purpose for which the executive session was called. 4. The
chair shall announce publicly whether the open session will reconvene at the conclusion of the executive session; and
records of the executive session shall be maintained pursuant to MGL.
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
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