Fitchburg Housing Authority
Regular MeetingFitchburg, MA · November 16, 2023
Minutes
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Dec 12 2023 2:18 pm
Fitchburg Housing Authority
Draft of Minutes of FHA Regular Board Meeting, November 16, 2023
Canton Valley Community Room, 24 Valley Street, Fitchburg, MA
A Regular Meeting of the Fitchburg Housing Authority was called to order by Chair, Linda Byrne
at 8:30 AM on Thursday, November 16, 2023, in the Canton Valley Community Room at 24 Valley
Street in the City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Present: Absent:
FHA Board Members: FHA Board Members:
Linda Byrne, Chair N/A
Adam Goodwin, Vice Chair
David Rousseau, Treasurer
David Basilio, Assistant Treasurer
Thomas Hughes, Member
FHA Staff:
Douglas M. Bushman, Esq., Executive Director & CPO, FHA Board Secretary
Andrew Skoog, Deputy Director
Kim Hergert, Director of Finance & HR
Yoko Ishii, Executive Clerical Assistant
Genesis Ruiz, Director of Public & Community Housing
Norma Letamendi, Assistant Director of Public & Community Housing
Bruce Budrick, Director of Maintenance & Facilities
Gary Geneau, Foreman, Family Housing Maintenance
Marc Cummingham, Foreman, Elderly Housing Maintenance
Alicia Santucci, Executive Clerical Assistant
FHA Tenants:
Daniels Heights -Janice Spellane
Green Acres- Erma Lydon
Quorum: Yes (Quorum Requirement: Three FHA Board Members)
1. Motion to Open Meeting
Chair, Linda Byrne opened the meeting at 8:30 am
Move: David Rousseau Second: Adam Goodwin All in favor
2. Motion to Open Public Comments.
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
Erma Lydon, Green Acres tenant, complained about her transfer situation to another unit due to the basement
flooding issue, Douglas Bushman, Executive Director, and Andrew Skoog, Deputy Director, answered and will
schedule a follow up meeting after the board meeting. The Board discussed the Green Acres Basement problem.
3. Motion to Approve Minutes of Regular Session Meeting held on October 18, 2023
Move: Thomas Hughes Second: David Basilio All in favor
4. Motion to Approve FHA Payables for October-November FY 23 (Attachment A)
Move: David Basilio Second: David Rousseau All in favor
.
5. Motion to Approve Financials for January-October FY 23 (Attachment B)
Move: Thomas Hughes Second: Adam Goodwin All in favor
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
6. Tenant Account Receivable (TAR) Updates (Attachment C)
The Executive Director updated about the TAR, he will start taking eviction non-payment cases soon. The Board
discussed rent collection, RAFT/SHERA eviction cases.
7. FY2023 Budget Exemption
The Executive Director updated the Budget Exemption to the Board.
8. Review the FHA’s updated Reasonable Accommodation Policy-still reviewing.
9. Motion of Thanks & Appreciation for Secretary Augustus visit on Nov.2. (Attachment D)
The Executive Director stated that FHA staff did a great job. No motion was needed.
10. Evictions and Vacancy (Attachment E)
The Deputy Director updated the eviction cases, total 29cases so far. The FHA served 50 eviction notices and 3 forced
evictions after judgement for the FHA in FY 2023. The Deputy Director also updated the Vacancy rate for November
1st, increasing to 72 units. The Board discussed the vacancy.
11. Union Bargaining Agreement update:
The Executive Director updated that the FHA sent final draft to union rep., anticipated to get back in December to
bring the Board next month.
The FHA had a HUD EPIC Annual Plan and Five-Year Plan Public Review and Hearing.
12. Motion to Approve HUD EPIC Annual & Five-Year Plan (Attachment F)
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: Thomas Hughes All in favor
No public attended and No comments.
13. EOHLC Funding Announcement for Three Construction Projects (Attachment G)
The Executive Director announced that the FHA will be receiving another three construction projects funding:
Rooftop Ventilation at C. J. Durkin, ADA improvements and the removal of asbestos at Elizabeth House (76
Mechanic St). total funding is $193,259.00.
14. Resident Services, Congregates & Supportive Housing
The Executive Director stated that RSC’s team (Marci Haneisen, Director of Resident & Community Services,
Tamara Castro, Assistant Director, and Ann Dumezil, Resident Service Coordinator) was a great job.
Wallace Tower Cultural Event -October 20, 2023. (Attachment H)
Elderly Birthday Party
Flu shot & Covid Clinic-November 8 at Durkin, & November 9 at Wallace Tower
Family Self-Sufficiency Program (HUD)
Motion of Application Approval to Renew Mixed Population Coordinator Grant
(Attachment I)
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
Motion of Application Approval to Renew Resident Service Coordinator Grant
(Attachment J)
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
The Executive Director explained that Mixed Population Grant funding is allocated to RSC at Elderly Housing, and
Resident Service Coordinator grant funding is allocated to both family and elderly housing. FSS funding goes to only
Sec8 resident service coordinator’s job.
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
15. Construction Updates
Project#097124 (CSI Canton Valley)
Motion to Approve Change Order #04 -$71,724.27.
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
Project#097124 (CSI Canton Valley)
Motion to Approve Substantial Completion
Move: Adam Goodwin Second: David Basilio All in favor
Project#097127 (ADA C. J. Durkin)-working congregate unit now, should be closed out this month.
Project#097132 (Wallace Tower, Project) – it is going to be a prequalification bid. Central Registry will be
posted on November 29, and Contractor and Sub bid contractor of qualification due submission via biddocoline is
December 20.
New Business- Project #097165 (Wallace Tower ASHP Project) Change Order #02 (This item
came after the agenda posting period.)
Motion to Approve Project# 097165 Change Order #02 $73,981.73
Move: David Rousseau Second: Thomas Hughes All in favor
16. Project #097153 (Gateway Cities Project-Green Acres)
The FHA Board discussed the issues on architects.
17. Milk Street Construction
The Board discussed finance issues.
18. Introduced new employee.
Kim Hergert, Director of Finance & HR introduced Alicia Santucci, Executive Clerical Assistant for her department.
19. Motion to Adjourn (at 9:42am)
Move: Thomas Hughes Second: Adam Goodwin All in favor
“Teamwork, Excellence and Ability for Your Home and Family”
Agenda
Fitchburg Housing Authority 2:44 pm, Nov 13, 2023
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 Thursday, November 16th, 2023, via actual participation. The meeting
will be held at the Canton Valley Community Room, 24 Valley 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 October 18th, 2023
4. Review of Executive Director’s Reports, Attachments and Supplemental Reports
5. Motion to Approve Payables for October-November 2023
6. Motion to Approve Financials January-October FY2023
7. Motion of Thanks & Appreciation for EOHLC Ed Augustus
8. Motion to Approve HUD EPIC Annual & Five-Year Plans
9. Motion to Approve Mixed Population Grant Renewal
10. Motion to Approve Resident Services Coordinator Grant Renewal
11. Motion to Approve Changer Order #4 FISH #097124 CSI (Canton Valley)
12. Motion to Approve FISH #097124 CSI Project Substantial Completion (Canton Valley)
13. 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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