Housing Authority Board of Commissioners

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 The Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Michigan City, Indiana held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held at the Michigan City Housing Authority, 621 East Michigan Boulevard, Michigan City, Indiana 46360. Commissioners who attended the meeting included Chairperson Carla Mock, Vice Chairperson Eddie Wilson, Commissioner Yolanda Thomas-Davis, Commissioner William Fine, and Commissioner Lester Norvell. Commissioner Colleen Babb did not attend this Board meeting. Housing Authority Attorney Michelle Bazin-Johnson attended this meeting. ALCO Representative Andre Steele and Common Council Tim Bietry attended this meeting. Housing Authority personnel who attended the Board meeting included Executive Director Lenda Wilson and Executive Secretary Robin Fly. WELCOME NEW COMMISSIONER: Chairperson Mock welcomed Mr. Lester Norvell as the newly-appointed commissioner of the Housing Authority. Mr. Norvell stated that he worked on the police department for 20 years, worked for the federal bureau of prison for 10 years and has been working for the county for 13 years. Chairperson Mock informed Commissioner Norvell about the roster with commissioners’ emails, phone numbers and addresses and referred him to Executive Director Wilson for any questions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chairperson Mock called for approval of minutes dated January 21, 2014. Vice Chairperson Wilson motioned approval of the minutes as presented to the Board. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. CARRIED APPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT REPORTS: Chairperson Mock called for approval of the management reports as presented to the Board. In reference to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher report, Vice Chairperson Wilson asked about 371 vouchers not leased up due to funding shortfall. Executive Director Wilson informed the Board that the Housing Authority is attempting to return 23 vouchers with HUD’s approval to remain a small housing authority in order to avoid change in HUD regulations. With no further questions, Commissioner Davis motioned approval of the management reports as presented to the Board, and Commissioner Fine seconded the motion. CARRIED  2 Chairperson Mock asked for approval to authorize Executive Director Wilson to ask permission from HUD to return 23 Section 8 housing choice vouchers. Vice Chairperson Wilson motioned approval to authorize the Executive Director to obtain permission from HUD to return Section 8 housing choice vouchers to retain the status of a small housing authority. Commissioner Fine seconded the motion. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2014-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) TO RETURN 23 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS AS A SMALL HOUSING AUTHORITY. The resolution was approved by Vice Chairperson Eddie Wilson and seconded by Commissioner William Fine. AYES NAYS Carla Mock Eddie Wilson Yolanda Thomas-Davis William Fine Lester Norvell Commissioner Colleen Babb did not attend this Board meeting. CARRIED COMMITTEE REPORTS: OLD BUSINESS: 530 Miller Street Attorney Bazin-Johnson asked that the Board address the matter with the 530 Miller Street property. Vice Chairperson Wilson suggested that the Board table this matter. Attorney Bazin- Johnson said that the Board made the commitment to reply with an answer regarding purchase of property by December 2013 Board meeting. She advised that the asset committee meet on this issue. Chairperson Mock suggested that the committee also follow up with correspondence stating that the Board has to complete its follow up investigation before making a decision. NEW BUSINESS: PHAS Score Chairperson Mock called for discussion of the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) score. Executive Director Wilson informed the Board that PHAS is HUD’s assessment of the  3 Housing Authority based upon a scale of poor to outstanding. She said that the Housing Authority received a score of 82 out of 100. She said that the Housing Authority received its lowest score in property (physical) upkeep due to lack of funding, and a low score in capital fund due to its occupancy rate. Vice Chairperson Wilson said a score of 82 is higher than last year’s score of 77. SEMAP Score Executive Director Wilson explained to the Board that the Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) score is a self-assessment regarding program management of the Housing Authority’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. She said that the Housing Authority is considered a high performer with a score of 96. Resolution 2014-12 Chairperson Mock called for approval of Resolution Number 2014-12 requesting that HUD convert a Turnkey III homeownership unit to low-rent public housing unit. Executive Director Wilson said that the property is 505 Lincoln Avenue, the last unit under 19-4 program for close out of that development. With no further discussion Vice Chairperson Wilson motioned to approve Resolution Number 2014-12, and Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2014-12 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO HUD REQUESTING THAT ONE UNIT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S TURNKEY III HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM BE CONVERTED TO CONVENTIONAL LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING. The resolution was approved by Vice Chairperson Eddie Wilson and seconded by Commissioner Yolanda Thomas-Davis. AYES NAYS Carla Mock Eddie Wilson Yolanda Thomas-Davis William Fine Lester Norvell Commissioner Colleen Babb did not attend this Board meeting. CARRIED  4 Approval of Bills Chairperson Mock called for approval of the boiler and machinery annual insurance premium quote. She explained to the Board that the quote of $1,781 is lower in comparison to last year’s quote of $1,986 with a deductible increase from $500 to $1,000. If the Board decides to retain a $500 deductible, the insurance premium quote increases to $2,076 according to Chairperson Mock. In response to Commissioner Fine’s question regarding any financial hardship resulting in the payment of an increased deductible, Executive Director Wilson said the Housing Authority’s boiler and machinery is old but the Housing Authority will pay any premium/deductible as the Board wishes. The Housing Authority has been applying for funding from HUD to replace all the boilers, and according to Executive Director Wilson, the Housing Authority had to replace one Weil-McLain boiler which boiler is now obsolete and it is more difficult to replace parts. Chairperson Mock asked if the Housing Authority had to utilize the insurance policy when the Housing Authority had to replace the boiler. Executive Director Wilson answered in affirmative. After the Board arrived at a consensus through an extensive discussion, Commissioner Fine motioned to approve payment of boiler and machinery annual insurance premium in the amount of $2,076 with $500 deductible. Vice Chairperson Wilson seconded the motion. CARRIED For Your Information Public Comment Adjournment ______________________________________ Carla Mock, MCHA Chairperson ATTEST: ____________________________________________ Lenda Wilson, MCHA Executive Director  RESOLUTION NUMBER: 2014-12 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO HUD REQUESTING THAT ONE UNIT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S TURNKEY III HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM BE CONVERTED TO CONVENTIONAL LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING. WHEREAS, the Department of Housing has completed a review of the Housing Authority’s Turnkey III Homeownership Program, and WHEREAS, it has been determined that this program has not provided financial support to the Authority, in fact, it has been determined that the operation of this program may be partially responsible for the low reserve balances of the Housing Authority, and WHEREAS, it has been determined that the Housing Authority has more of a need for low- income rental properties than homeownership opportunities, and WHEREAS, this Turnkey III Homeownership unit is currently vacant because of lack of interest in some sites by potential Homebuyer, and WHEREAS, efforts have been instituted to fill the vacancy at this location without success, and WHEREAS, although some families do not have homeownership potential, they retain their desire to remain in single family units. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Director is hereby authorized to prepare an application to submit to the HUD Indianapolis Area Office, requesting conversion of 1 unit located at 505 Lincoln Avenue, Michigan City, Indiana of the Housing Authority Turnkey III Homeownership Program to Conventional Low-Rent Public Housing under the Replacement Factor. The resolution was adopted this 18th day of February 2014. Resolution moved by: Vice Chairperson Eddie Wilson Resolution seconded by: Commissioner Yolanda Thomas-Davis ___________________________________________ Chairperson Carla Mock ATTEST  RESOLUTION NUMBER 2014-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) TO RETURN 23 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS AS A SMALL HOUSING AUTHORITY. WHEREAS a housing authority must not exceed a combination of 550 public housing units and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to remain a small housing authority, and WHEREAS the Housing Authority of the City of Michigan City, Indiana has exceeded 550, and WHEREAS, if the Housing Authority maintains the combination of public housing units and housing choice vouchers, the Housing Authority would receive the status of a large housing authority resulting in a change of regulations and policies initiated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and WHEREAS, the Housing Authority does not have sufficient funding, and WHEREAS, the Housing Authority has proposed to return 23 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers upon approval from HUD. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Michigan City, Indiana authorized the Executive Director to request permission from HUD to return of 23 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to retain the status as a small housing authority. Adopted this 18th day of February 2014. Resolution moved by: Vice Chairperson Eddie Wilson Resolution seconded by: Commissioner William Fine ___________________________________________ Carla Mock, MCHA Chairperson ATTEST: