Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 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, September 13, 2017. 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 A. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on August 9, 2017. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. Schedule B - FY 2018 HUD Fair Market Rents effective October 2, 2017. Mr. Whitty noted that the Fair Market Rents (“FMR”) had increased. The increase will affect the calculations for the Federal Public Housing Flat Rents and the Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the reports. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Committee Reports A. The Homeownership Committee did not meet. B. Rent Review Committee did not meet. Mr. Whitty informed the Board that he was compiling a listing of rents by bedroom size in the Norwich area. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – September 13, 2017 page 2 V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to approve the bills for August, 2017. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 26 vacancies as of September 1, 2017 of which 10 were State Elderly units. He observed that the State Elderly vacancies will continue to be difficult to fill due to the discontinuance of the State Elderly Rental Assistance Program funding. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the August 1, 2017 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 Oakwood Knoll Roof Replacement Project is complete. The contract for the Hillside Terrace Roof Replacement project was signed on August 28, 2017. Work is scheduled to start on September 18, 2017 weather permitting. The Authority will be entering into a contract with the City of Norwich Community Development Office for funding next year for the ductless split heating and cooling system for sixteen units at Rosewood Manor. This project will be bid in January or February 2018 and is currently being designed. The Authority received an Assistance Agreement from the State of Connecticut Department of Housing for planning preconstruction capital improvements at its state elderly developments. The Authority applied again on April 26, 2017 for two separate grants for interior and exterior renovations at Eastwood Court and Schwartz Manor. The Authority was also awarded a predevelopment grant for Sunset Park. Capital Studio Architects is developing plans and specifications for the Sunset Park interior and exterior renovation project and Eagle Environmental has been conducting preliminary testing. Meetings have been held with the Sunset Park residents and a Resident Participation Plan was approved by the residents. Mr. Gauthier moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Reports - As of September 1, 2017, the total portfolio was 497 Housing Choice Vouchers. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. E. Other Items – None. VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. VII. New Business Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to suspend the rules to received Resolution R-17-09-1372 regarding the service contract for the Oakwood Knoll boilers. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – September 13, 2017 page 3 A. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-17-09-1372 to enter into a service contract with Barry Associates for the boilers at Oakwood Knoll. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-17-09-1373 to approve the Federal Flat Rent schedule to be effective October 2, 2017. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Mr. Gauthier moved to adopt Resolution R-17-09-1374 to approve the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Payment Standards effective October 2, 2017. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion to suspend the rules to received Resolution R-17-09-1375 regarding the revised job description for the Executive Director position. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-17-09-1375 to approve the revised job description for the Executive Director position. Mr. Gauthier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier, Baillargeon Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – September 13, 2017 page 4 D. Commission Members – There was no comment. E. Community Portion of Meeting – There was no comment. F. Other – None. VIII. Executive Session No Executive Session was held. IX. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:35 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on October 11, 2017 Hector R. Baillargeon Chairman