Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 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, April 11, 2018. 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. Election of Officers Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion that, in accordance with the amended by-laws of the Norwich Housing Authority, the following Commissioners be elected as officers of the Authority for a one year period, or until their successors are elected and qualified: Paul R. Gauthier, Chairman Wilma Sullivan, Vice-Chairman Marion G. Rucker, Assistant Treasurer Alice Cunningham, Resident Commissioner Chairman Baillargeon asked if there were any other nominations. There were no other nominations. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Baillargeon announced his retirement from the Board to be effective April 12, 2018. Chairman Gauthier and the Board members thanked Mr. Baillargeon for his twenty-two years of service to the Norwich Housing Authority and its staff and residents. Mr. Gauthier noted that Mr. Baillargeon served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the past seventeen years. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – April 11, 2018 page 2 III. Minutes A. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the special meeting held on March 12, 2018. Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the special meeting held on March 28, 2018. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Communications A. Section 8 Management Assessment Program (“SEMAP”) Certification form HUD-52648 for fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. Mr. Baillargeon moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the certification. Motion carried unanimously. B. Application to Authorize Lowering Eligibility Age in State Elderly Developments to Fifty-Five (55). Mr. Whitty noted that the waiver has been granted for the past twenty- one years and covers the period July 1 through June 30. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the application. Motion carried unanimously. C. Certification to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing – Exhibit–10.5 to be submitted with the State-Sponsored Housing Portfolio application for Schwartz Manor. Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the certification. Motion carried unanimously. D. 2018 State Income Limits for admission and continued occupancy and E. 2018 Federal Income Limits for admission and continued occupancy. Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Baillargeon seconded the motion to receive these communications. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Baillargeon moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to suspend the rules to receive the Move Out Notification form. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Whitty reviewed the Move Out Notification form with the Board noting that the form was expanded to include a reason why the resident was moving. Mr. Rucker moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the revised form. Motion carried unanimously. V. Committee Reports A. The Homeownership Committee did not meet. B. Rent Review Committee did not meet. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – April 11, 2018 page 3 VI. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Mr. Baillargeon moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to approve the bills for March, 2018. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 40 vacancies as of April 2, 2018 and 10 units were in the process of being leased. Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Baillargeon seconded the motion to receive the April 2, 2018 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 Hillside Terrace Roof Replacement project will restart this month, weather permitting. Twenty- four (24) roofs have been completed by JJS Universal Construction Company. There are an additional thirty-five (35) roofs to be completed. The Rosewood Manor Ductless Splits heating and cooling project started April 2, 2018 and will be completed in June. Barry Associates has completed five (5) units. 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 and was awarded a grant for Eastwood Court. A meeting was held at CHFA on February 8, 2018 regarding the Eastwood Court grant and the 2018 application for funding for Schwartz Manor. The application for Schwartz Manor is due April 26, 2018. The scope of Schwartz Manor project has been greatly reduced due to funding constraints. 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 and the Board. Ms. Cunningham moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Reports - As of April 1, 2018, the total portfolio was 507 Housing Choice Vouchers. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. E. Other Items – Mr. Whitty informed the Board that Karen Caulfield, Federal Resident Services Coordinator, would be retiring on June 27, 2018. VII. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – April 11, 2018 page 4 VIII. New Business A. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1409 certifying the Section 8 Management Assessment Program for March 31, 2018. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1410 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, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Mr. Baillargeon moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1411 to file a grant application with the State of Connecticut Department of Housing relative to Schwartz Manor. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. D. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1412 certifying to a Fair Housing Action Plan for Schwartz Manor. Mr. Baillargeon seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – April 11, 2018 page 5 E. Mr. Baillargeon moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1413 to establish the 2018 State Income Limits for admission and continued occupancy and F. Resolution R-18-04-1414 to establish the 2018 Federal Income Limits for admission and continued occupancy. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. G. Mr. Baillargeon moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1415 regarding authorization for the Executive Director to attend a NERC/NAHRO conference in June. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to change the order of the agenda to take up item IX. Executive Session next. Motion carried unanimously. IX. Executive Session Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Baillargeon seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session at 5:15 PM to discuss a personnel matter and union negotiations. Motion carried unanimously. The Board exited Executive Session at 5:35 PM. Chairman Gauthier noted that no votes were taken in Executive Session. Chairman Gauthier resumed the agenda order. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – April 11, 2018 page 6 H. Mr. Baillargeon moved to adopt Resolution R-18-04-1416 relative to an increase in compensation for the position of Modernization Coordinator / Housing Inspector. Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Baillargeon, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. I. Commission Members – There was no comment. J. Community Portion of Meeting – There was no comment. K. Other – None. X. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Baillargeon moved and Ms. Sullivan 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 May 9, 2018 Paul R. Gauthier Chairman