Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 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, May 9, 2018. I. Roll Call Chairman Gauthier called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and the following answered present: Alan Bergren Alice Cunningham Marion Rucker Wilma Sullivan Paul Gauthier Also present was Charles C. Whitty, Executive Director. Chairman Gauthier announced that the vacancy on the Board, created by Hector Baillargeon’s resignation, had been filled by the City Manager. He welcomed Alan Bergren as the newly appointed Commissioner to the Board. Election of Officers Ms. Sullivan moved that, in accordance with the amended by-laws of the Norwich Housing Authority, the following Commissioner be elected as an officer of the Authority for a one year period, or until a successor is elected and qualified: Alan H. Bergren, Assistant Secretary Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. II. Minutes A. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on April 11, 2018. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. Revised Federal Resident Services Coordinator job description. Mr. Whitty noted that the job description has been updated to reflect the current duties of the position. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the job description. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – May 9, 2018 page 2 B. State Quarterly reports for quarter ending March 31, 2018. Mr. Whitty and Miss Drag reviewed the reports with the Board. Mr. Bergren moved and Ms. Cunningham 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. V. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to approve the bills for April 2018. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Whitty noted that the Authority had 36 vacancies as of May 1, 2018 and 11 units were in the process of being leased. Mr. Bergren moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the May 1, 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 restarted in April. Thirty-five (35) of the fifty-nine (59) roofs have been completed by JJS Universal Construction Company. The Rosewood Manor Ductless Splits heating and cooling project started April 2, 2018 and will be completed in May. 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 was submitted on April 27, 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. Mr. Bergren moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Reports - As of May 1, 2018, the total portfolio was 504 Housing Choice Vouchers. Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Rucker seconded the motion to receive the report. Motion carried unanimously. E. Other Items – None. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – May 9, 2018 page 3 VI. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. VII. New Business A. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-18-05-1417 to approve the revised job description for the Federal Resident Services Coordinator. Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Bergren, Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-18-05-1418 to approve a change order to install ten (10) additional ductless split heating and cooling units at Rosewood Manor. Mr. Rucker seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Bergren, Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Ms. Cunningham moved to adopt Resolution R-18-05-1419 to enter into an agreement with TALX Corporation, a provider of Equifax Verification Services (“EVS”) which operates the Work Number service. Mr. Bergren seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Bergren, Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, 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. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – May 9, 2018 page 4 IX. Executive Session Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session at 5:10 PM to discuss a personnel matter and union negotiations. Motion carried unanimously. The Board requested that Mr. Whitty be present for the Executive Session. The Board exited Executive Session at 5:25 PM. Chairman Gauthier noted that no votes were taken in Executive Session. Chairman Gauthier resumed the agenda order. D. Mr. Bergren moved to adopt Resolution R-18-05-1420 to authorize the Executive Director to execute a one year roll over collective bargaining agreement with UE Local 222, CILU #37 for the period April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Bergren, Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Bergren moved and Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion to suspend the rules to add two resolutions to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-18-05-1421 to authorize the Executive Director to enter into all required agreements for the Authority to participate in the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s 2018 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Bergren, Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – May 9, 2018 page 5 Mr. Bergren moved to adopt Resolution R-18-05-1422 to amend the existing employment agreement between the Authority and Mr. Whitty to provide and pay for the full cost of post-employment medical and life insurance benefits through the City of Norwich. Ms. Cunningham seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Bergren, Cunningham, Rucker, Sullivan, Gauthier Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. E. Commission Members – There was no comment. F. Community Portion of Meeting – There was no comment. G. Other – None. Mr. Whitty thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as its Executive Director for the past 18 years. He expressed confidence in the Board’s decision to hire Jeffrey Arn as its next Executive Director. Mr. Whitty complimented the work of the Authority’s staff. Their caring and the extra steps that they take on a daily basis has improved the quality of life for many residents of the Authority. Ms. Sullivan noted on behalf of the Board that it has been an honor to work with him. X. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan moved and Mr. Bergren seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Charles C. Whitty Executive Director Minutes approved on June 13, 2018 Paul R. Gauthier Chairman