Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 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, August 12, 2015. I. Roll Call Chairman Baillargeon called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and the following answered present: Alice Cunningham 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 July 8, 2015. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. State Quarterly reports for June 30, 2015. Mr. Whitty reviewed the reports with the Board. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to receive the reports. Motion carried unanimously. B. Letter dated July 15, 2015 from Robert Giuditta, Interim Director, Master Insurance Program, Department of Administrative Services, State of Connecticut regarding the DAS Master Insurance Program participation agreement. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier 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. Commissioner Marion Rucker joined the meeting at 4:45 p.m. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – August 12, 2015 page 2 V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to approve the bills for July, 2015. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 7 vacancies as of August 1, 2015. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the August 1, 2015 report. Motion carried unanimously. C. Modernization Reports - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the reports. Mr. Whitty and Mr. Mainville reviewed the same with the Board. 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. It is anticipated that the same will be completed by the end of August. The Westwood Park main office building roofing project is currently out to bid with a bid opening date of August 27, 2015. 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. Mr. Gauthier moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Reports - As of August 1, 2015 the total portfolio was 500 Housing Choice Vouchers. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to receive the reports. Motion carried unanimously. E. Other Items – None. VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. VII. New Business A. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1234 to enter into a participation agreement with the State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services for the Master Insurance Program for July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016. 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 – August 12, 2015 page 3 B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1235 to enter into a contract with Capital Studio Architects to develop plans and bid documents for painting and other upgrades at Schwartz Manor. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1236 to enter into a contract to replace the fire alarm panels at Westwood Park. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. D. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1237 to consider and take action to recommend to the City Manager that Marion Rucker be reappointed to the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. E. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1238 to enter into a contract with Eastern Connecticut Area Agency on Aging for the Federal Resident Services Coordinator Program. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – August 12, 2015 page 4 F. Commission Members - There was no comment. G. Community Portion of the Meeting – There was no comment. H. Other – None. VIII. Executive Session Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion that the Board enter into Executive Session at 5:05 PM to discuss a legal matter. The Board requested that Mr. Whitty, Attorney Kimberly McGee, Brown Jacobson, and Joanne M. Drag, Deputy Executive Director/Finance Director be present. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to exit the Executive Session at 5:48 PM. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Baillargeon noted that no votes were taken in Executive Session. Mr. Rucker moved to suspend the rules to add to the agenda Resolution R-15-08-1239 to adopt Happy Software’s recommended utility allowance schedule for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program to be effective October 1, 2015 and Resolution R-15- 08-1240 to approve a settlement agreement and authorize the Executive Director to execute the same on behalf of the Norwich Housing Authority. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1239 to adopt Happy Software’s recommended utility allowance schedule for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program to be effective October 1, 2015. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-15-08-1240 to approve a settlement agreement and authorize the Executive Director to execute the same on behalf of the Norwich Housing Authority. 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 – August 12, 2015 page 5 IX. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on September 9, 2015 Hector R. Baillargeon Chairman