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 MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014 The Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Michigan City, Indiana held a regular board meeting on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. The meetings were held at the Michigan City Housing Authority, 621 East Michigan Boulevard, Michigan City, Indiana 46360. Commissioners who attended the meetings included Chairperson Eddie Wilson, Vice Chairperson Virginia Keating, Commissioner Yolanda Thomas-Davis, Commissioner William Fine, Commissioner Colleen Babb and Commissioner Lester Norvell. Commissioner Carla Mock did not attend this meeting. Housing Authority Attorney Michelle Bazin-Johnson attended this meeting. Public in attendance included Common Counsel Housing Authority Liaison Tim Bietry and ALCO Representative Andre Steele. Housing Authority personnel who attended the meeting included Interim Executive Director Norma Thomas and Recording Secretary Robin Fly. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chairperson Wilson called for approval of minutes dated September 15, 2014. Commissioner Fine motioned approval of the minutes as presented to the Board. Commissioner Norvell seconded the motion. CARRIED APPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT REPORTS: Chairperson Wilson called for approval of the management reports as presented to the Board. He stated that due to unexpected circumstances, the maintenance report month ending September 30, 2014 is not included in the reports for review and approval by the Board. Commissioner Davis asked if situation involving noise disturbance on 11th Street had been resolved. Interim Executive Director Thomas stated that the incident has been resolved. With no further questions, Commissioner Davis motioned approval of management reports as presented. Commissioner Babb seconded the motion. CARRIED COMMITTEE REPORTS: OLD BUSINESS: Chairperson Wilson called for discussion of any old business. He informed the Board that on October 14, 2014 the rent policy went into effect after the 45-day review with no complaints or concerns from the residents and public.  2 NEW BUSINESS: Family Self-Sufficiency Grant Resolution Number 2015-01 Chairperson Wilson called for the approval of the family self-sufficiency (FSS) grant resolution number 2015-01. He informed the Board that a grant application must be submitted to HUD on an annual basis and that the grant consists of FSS Coordinator Samara McNeal’s salary in the amount of $42,528 for fiscal year 2014. With no further discussion, Commissioner Fine motioned approval of the FSS Grant Resolution Number 2015-01. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2015-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA TO APPROVE FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 PUBLIC HOUSING FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY (FSS) GRANT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD). The resolution was approved by Commissioner William Fine and seconded by Commissioner Yolanda Thomas-Davis. AYES NAYS Eddie Wilson Virginia Keating Yolanda Thomas-Davis William Fine Colleen Babb Lester Norvell CARRIED Commissioner Carla Mock did not attend this meeting for the vote. SEMAP Certification Chairperson Wilson called for the approval of the Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) certification for the Michigan City Housing Authority. Interim Executive Director Thomas explained to the Board that the SEMAP certification is a Section 8 tool to enable HUD to assess the status of the program. She said that completion of certification is pending due to changes, and that the certification is not due until November 30, 2014. Chairperson Wilson stated that next Board meeting is scheduled for November 17, 2014. He tabled approval of SEMAP certification until the next meeting. TABLED  3 Write Offs Chairperson Wilson called for approval of write offs. Interim Executive Director Thomas informed the Board that write offs are past due accounts that the Housing Authority has had difficulty collecting amounts for pay off of those accounts, and that the fee accountant has suggested write off of past due accounts for the Housing Authority accounting books. Attorney Bazin-Johnson stated that if a final judgment exists for a past due account, that account may be written off. She stated however, that if a final judgment is pending a past due account, write off of that account must remain pending until final judgment and damages is resolved. With no further discussion, Vice Chairperson Keating motioned approval of public housing write offs with a total of $8,621.85. Commissioner Babb seconded the motion. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2015-02 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA TO WRITE OFF PUBLIC HOUSING LOW RENT ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $8,621.85. The resolution was approved by Vice Chairperson Virginia Keating and seconded by Commissioner Colleen Babb. AYES NAYS Eddie Wilson Virginia Keating Yolanda Thomas-Davis William Fine Colleen Babb Lester Norvell Commissioner Carla Mock did not attend this meeting for the vote. CARRIED Approval of Bills Public Comment  4 Adjournment With no further business to present before the Board for discussion or approval, Chairperson Wilson called for motion of adjournment. Vice Chairperson Keating motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. ______________________________________ Eddie Wilson, Chairperson ATTEST: __________________________________________ Norma Thomas, Interim Executive Director  RESOLUTION NUMBER 2015-01 RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA TO APPROVE FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 PUBLIC HOUSING FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY (FSS) GRANT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD). WHEREAS, last year the Housing Authority of the City of Michigan City, Indiana applied to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for funding for Public Housing family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Coordinator and received the funding, and WHEREAS, the continuance of the FSS Coordinator is dependent on the yearly renewal process of submitting an application to HUD in request for funding of the FSS coordinator position, and WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners understood the need for a family self-sufficiency coordinator to continue to assist families in gaining economic independence and becoming self- sufficient. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners authorized approval for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Public Housing FSS Grant submission to HUD. Adopted this 20th day of October 2014. Resolution moved by: Commissioner William Fine Resolution seconded by: Commissioner Yolanda Thomas-Davis ___________________________________________ Eddie Wilson, MCHA Chairperson ATTEST:  RESOLUTION NUMBER 2015-02 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA TO WRITE OFF PUBLIC HOUSING LOW RENT ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $8,621.85. WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Michigan City, Indiana annually writes off past due accounts for residents who have vacated, abandoned or died leaving a remaining balance due, and WHEREAS, such accounts were sent to the collection agency in an attempt to obtain past due monies, and will remain at the collection agency even when the accounts have been written off by the Housing Authority, and WHEREAS, this attached list of tenants with overdue accounts will be kept on the Housing Authority’s records, and WHEREAS, it is understood that when a tenant with an overdue account returns to apply for housing, the tenant is required to first pay off any overdue accounts. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Board of Commissioners authorized the write-off of low rent account receivables totaling $8,621.85. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that low rent accounts receivables are written off to prevent negative effects revealed on the Housing Authority operating subsidy in order to obtain full subsidy amount approved. Adopted this 20th day of October 2014. Resolution moved by: Vice Chairperson Virginia Keating Resolution seconded by: Commissioner Colleen Babb __________________________________________ Eddie Wilson, MCHA Chairperson ATTEST: