Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 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, March 12, 2014. I. Roll Call Chairman Baillargeon called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and the following answered present: Alice Cunningham Marion Rucker Wilma Sullivan Hector Baillargeon Paul Gauthier was excused. Also present was Charles C. Whitty, Executive Director. II. Minutes Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on February 12, 2014. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. Application to Authorize Lowering Eligibility Age in State Elderly Developments to Fifty-Five (55). Mr. Whitty reviewed the application with the Board and noted that this waiver needs to be approved annually. The Authority has been granted this waiver for the past 17 years. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the application. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to move the agenda order to IV. Committee Reports. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Committee Reports A. The Homeownership Committee did not meet. 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. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 12, 2014 page 2 V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to approve the bills for February, 2014. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Report – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 4 vacancies as of March 3, 2014. These units have been leased already to new tenants. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the March 3, 2014 report. Motion carried unanimously. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Whitty and Mr. Mainville reviewed the same with the Board. The Westwood Park Utility Tunnel Project for A Court started on December 2, 2013 with Barry Associates, Inc. The abatement portion of the project has been completed and the structural repair and electrical work is ongoing. Bids were received on January 29, 2014 for the JFK I Roof Replacement Project – Phase II and a contract with JJS Universal Construction Company was signed on February 27, 2014. Work will start at the end of March, weather permitting. The Authority submitted an application to the City of Norwich Community Development Office for PY 40 funding on March 5, 2014 for the JFK I Roof Replacement project – Phase III. The Eastwood Court roof replacement project is currently being designed by Capital Studio Architects. This project will go out to bid in April 2014. The Authority submitted an application for the State Elderly Electrical and Alarm Upgrade project to the State of Connecticut Department of Housing (“DOH”) on January 9, 2014. The Authority has received an Assistance Agreement from DOH for planning preconstruction capital improvements at its state developments and a predevelopment planning grant for Sunset Park. The Authority is scheduled for a Federal REAC inspection on June 17 and 18, 2014. Ms. Cunningham moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Report - As of March 1, 2014, the total portfolio was 499 Housing Choice Vouchers. Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 12, 2014 page 3 VII. New Business A. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-14-03-1158 to submit an application to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to lower the eligibility age in the State Elderly developments to fifty-five (55) years old. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes –Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to move the agenda order to VIII. Executive Session. Motion carried unanimously. VIII. Executive Session Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session at 5:08 PM to discuss a legal matter. Motion carried unanimously. The Board requested that Mr. Whitty and Miss Drag be present for the Executive Session. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to exit the Executive Session at 5:35 PM. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Baillargeon noted that no votes were taken in Executive Session. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to resume the agenda order. Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-14-03-1159 to enter into a Pre- Determination Conciliation Agreement. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to move the agenda order to III. Communications. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 12, 2014 page 4 Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the following communications: B. Revised / Restated Affirmative Action Policy Statement; C. Revised / Restated Fair Housing Policy Statement; D. Revised / Restated Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) Notice; E. Revised / Restated Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) Grievance Procedure; and F. Revised / Restated Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy. Mr. Whitty reviewed the policies with the Board. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to move the agenda order to VII. New Business. Motion carried unanimously. C. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-14-03-1160 reaffirming / restating the Authority’s Affirmative Action Policy Statement, Fair Housing Policy Statement, Americans with Disabilities Act Notice and Americans with Disabilities Act Grievance Procedure. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. D. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-14-03-1161 reaffirming / restating the Authority’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. E. Commission Members- There was no comment. F. Community Portion of the Meeting – There was no comment. G. Other – There was no comment. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 12, 2014 page 5 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 5:50 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on April 9, 2014 Hector R. Baillargeon Chairman