Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 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, February 13, 2013. I. Roll Call Chairman Baillargeon called the meeting to order at 4:32 PM and the following answered present: Wilma Sullivan Paul Gauthier Hector Baillargeon Also present was Charles C. Whitty, Executive Director. II. Minutes A. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on January 23, 2013. Motion carried unanimously. Marion Rucker joined the meeting at 4:37 PM. Alice Cunningham joined the meeting at 4:42 PM. III. Communications A. Recommendation from David Holmes, Capital Studio Architects, regarding the JFK I Roof Replacement Project. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the communication. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to suspend the rules to add to the agenda a letter from David Holmes, Capital Studio Architects, regarding the Sunset Park Heating System Replacement Project. Motion carried unanimously. B. Recommendation from David Holmes, Capital Studio Architects, regarding the Sunset Park Heating System Replacement Project. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the communication. Motion carried unanimously. C. Letter dated January 30, 2013 from Alexandra Gregory, Office Services Coordinator, Housing Authority Insurance Group regarding membership agreements. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the communication. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – February 13, 2013 page 2 IV. Committee Reports A. The Homeownership Committee did not meet. Mr. Whitty notified the Board that there is a foreclosure pending at 61 Cranberry Pond Road, Norwich, CT. 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. V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to approve the bills for January 2013. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Report – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 6 vacancies as of February 1, 2013. These units have been leased already to new tenants. Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the February 1, 2013 report. Motion carried unanimously. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Whitty reviewed the same with the Board. The City Council approved funding of $60,000.00 through the Community Development Block Grant Program Year 38 to replace roofs at JFK I. Bids for this project were received on January 23, 2013. A Board resolution regarding the roof replacement project is on tonight’s agenda. Work will commence in the spring. Bids were received on February 5, 2013 for the Sunset Park heating system replacement project. A Board resolution regarding this project is also on tonight’s agenda. Work will start late spring. The next round of funding for the State Housing Rehabilitation Preservation Program has not been announced. Mr. Gauthier moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Report - As of February 1, 2013, the total portfolio was 499 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. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – February 13, 2013 page 3 VII. New Business A. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-13-02-1092 to award the John F. Kennedy Heights I Roof Replacement Project to J.J.S. Universal Construction Company, 63 Airport Road, Dudley, MA for an amount not to exceed $62,150.00. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to amend Resolution R- 13-02-1093 to add the contractor’s name and the amount of the award. Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-13-02-1093 as amended to award the Sunset Park Heating System Replacement Project to Barry Associates, 17 Halls Mill Road, Preston, CT for an amount not to exceed $241,805.00. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes –Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-13-02-1094 to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for Employee Assistance Program Services with Behavioral Health Connecticut, LLC d/b/a Solutions EAP. Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes –Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – February 13, 2013 page 4 D. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-13-02-1095 to reexecute a membership agreement with Housing Authority Risk Retention Group (“HARRG”) and E. Resolution R-13-02-1096 to reexecute a membership agreement with Housing Authority Property Insurance (“HAPI”). Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes –Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. F. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-13-02-1097 regarding a pay increase for nonunion employees effective April 1, 2013. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes –Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to amend Resolution R-13- 02-1098 regarding a salary increase for the Deputy Executive Director / Finance Director and to amend Resolution R-13-02-1099 regarding a salary increase for the Executive Director. Motion carried unanimously. G. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-13-02-1098 as amended regarding a salary increase for the Deputy Executive Director / Finance Director and H. Resolution R-13- 02-1099 as amended regarding a salary increase for the Executive Director. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes –Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. I. Commission Members – The Chairman and the Board commended the Maintenance staff for their outstanding snow removal efforts during and after the February 8th blizzard. J. Community Portion of the Meeting – There was no comment. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – February 13, 2013 page 5 K. Other – There was no comment. VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. VIII. Executive Session Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session at 5:15 p.m. to discuss a legal matter. Motion carried unanimously. The Board requested that Mr. Whitty and Miss Drag be present. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion that the Board go back into regular session at 5:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. The Chairman stated that no votes were taken in Executive Session. IX. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Rucker moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on March 13, 2013 Hector R. Baillargeon Chairman