Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 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 11, 2015. 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 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 special meeting held on February 19, 2015. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. Report from Auditor. Mr. Michael Guyder, Director, Assurance and Accounting Services for Guyder Hurley, P.C., reviewed the Fiscal Year 2014 audit with the Board and answered questions. He discussed the audit process and the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements. Mr. Guyder also spoke of the upcoming changes that will be reflected in future audit reports regarding new GASB 68 pension benefit obligation that will impact the liability section of the balance sheet. B. 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 18 years. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the communication. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Committee Reports A. The Homeownership Committee did not meet. B. The Rent Review Committee did not meet. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 11, 2015 page 2 V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to approve the bills for February, 2015. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Report – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 1 vacancy as of March 1, 2015. This unit have been leased already to a new tenant. Ms. Cunningham moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the March 1, 2015 report. Motion carried unanimously. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Mainville and Mr. Whitty reviewed the same with the Board. Work started on February 23, 2015 on the Westwood Park Electrical Panel Upgrade project and is on- going. This project should be completed by March 20, 2015. Bids were received on January 29, 2015 for the JFK I Roof Replacement Project – Phase III. A contract signing will be held next week and work is scheduled to begin by the middle of April, weather permitting. The fire alarm replacement project at the State Elderly complexes resumed on February 24, 2015. D/E/F Services Group is the contractor on this project. 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. This project was not funded, however, the Authority will apply again with a reduced project scope during the next round of funding. The Authority has received an Assistance Agreement from DOH for planning preconstruction capital improvements at its state elderly developments and a predevelopment planning grant for Sunset Park. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Report - As of March 1, 2015, the total portfolio was 508 Housing Choice Vouchers. Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. E. Other Items – None. VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 11, 2015 page 3 VII. New Business A. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-15-03-1216 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, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-15-03-1217 to authorize the Executive Director to contract with Capital Studio Architects, LLC to provide architectural, engineering and related services relative to a grant from DOH for preconstruction costs to preserve and / or revitalize the Authority’s state financed affordable housing portfolio. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to suspend the rules to consider Resolution R-15-03-1218 to revise the income limits for occupancy eligibility based on the median income figures published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 2015 for the State Elderly, State Moderate and State Affordable projects. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-15-03-1218 to revise income limits for 2015 for the State Elderly, State Moderate and State Affordable projects. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – March 11, 2015 page 4 C. Commission Members - There was no comment. D. Community Portion of the Meeting – There was no comment. E. Other – None. VIII. Executive Session No Executive Session was held. 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 5:40 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on April 8, 2015 Hector R. Baillargeon Chairman