Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012 The Board of Commissioners (“Board”) of the Norwich Housing Authority (“Authority”) met in regular session at the main office of the Norwich Housing Authority, 10 Westwood Park, Norwich, Connecticut, at 4:30 PM, Wednesday, October 10, 2012. I. Roll Call Chairman Baillargeon called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and the following answered present: Marion Rucker Wilma Sullivan Paul Gauthier Hector Baillargeon Alice Cunningham was excused. Also present was Charles C. Whitty, Executive Director. II. Minutes Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on September 12, 2012. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. State Quarterly reports for September 30, 2012. Mr. Whitty and Miss Drag reviewed the reports with the Board. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the communication. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Committee Reports A. The Homeownership Committee did not meet. Mr. Whitty told the Board that a bankruptcy notice had been filed by the homeowner at 328 Canterbury Turnpike, Norwich. This was the second time that a bankruptcy notice was filed by this homeowner. The first filing for bankruptcy was in 1999. After review by the Authority’s attorney, John Wirzbicki, Brown Jacobson, it was determined that there were two options that the Authority could pursue: wait for the bankruptcy to go forward or take legal action now to regain ownership the property. The consensus of the Board was to wait for the bankruptcy proceeding to go forward. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – October 10, 2012 page 2 B. The Rent Review Committee did not meet. Mr. Whitty stated that because of increased operating costs the Board may have to consider a base rent increase later this year. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to change the agenda order to have New Business be the next agenda item. Motion carried unanimously. VII. New Business A. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-12-10-1076 regarding an agreement with Verizon Wireless for cell phone services. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. Mr. Whitty discussed the current cell phone agreement with Sprint Nextel and noted that the Authority would need to replace the current cell phones because Sprint was cancelling the Nextel service early next year. The decision to changed carriers was based on type of cell phone that Verizon offered and the coverage area. Roll call vote: Ayes – Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-12-10-1077 regarding a conversion of the heating system at Sunset Park from oil to natural gas. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. Mr. Whitty reviewed the proposed plan with the Board. Roll call vote: Ayes - Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Commission Members- There was no comment. D. Other – There was no comment. Chairman Baillageon was excused from the meeting at 4:55 p.m. and Vice-Chairman Gauthier continued the meeting. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to resume the agenda order with the Report of the Executive Director the next agenda item. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – October 10, 2012 page 3 V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to approve the bills for September, 2012. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Report – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority has approximately 8 vacant units. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the November 1, 2012 report. Motion carried unanimously. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Whitty reviewed the same with the Board. The roof replacement and brick repointing at the Oakwood Knoll maintenance buildings is finished. The JFK I Siding Replacement project started on July 9, 2012 and is substantially complete. The City Council approved funding of $60,000.00 through the Community Development Block Grant Program Year 38 to replace roofs at JFK I. This project will be bid early in 2013 and work will commence in the spring. The next round of funding for the State Housing Rehabilitation Preservation Program has not been announced. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Report - As of October 1, 2012, the total portfolio was 498 Housing Choice Vouchers. Mr. Whitty noted that the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list closed on September 14, 2012 and that the staff is currently processing the pre-applications. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. E. Other Items – Mr. Whitty told the Board that the Authority had received a letter from the Charlton, MA Fire Department requesting a waiver from the Authority to use a radio frequency/band that was assigned to Authority. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to approve the waiver. Motion carried unanimously. VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. VIII. Executive Session No executive session was held. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – October 10, 2012 page 4 IX. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on November 14, 2012 Hector R. Baillargeon Chairman