Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 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, December 11, 2019. I. Roll Call Chairman Bergren called the meeting to order at 5:01 PM and the following answered present: Charlie Magnan Wilma Sullivan Alan Bergren Alice Cunningham and Marion Rucker were excused. Also present were Jeffrey S. Arn, Executive Director, and Joanne M. Drag, Deputy Executive Director/Finance Director. II. Minutes A. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Magnan seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on November 13, 2019. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. Community Comment / Public Comment – None. B. FY 2019 Audit report prepared by Marcum LLP. C. Financial Review – Teresa Ewald, Fenton Ewald & Associates, attended the meeting and reviewed the FY 2019 audit report with the Board and answered questions. D. Letter dated December 5, 2019 from David Holmes, Partner, Capital Studio Architects regarding a proposal for the Rosewood Manor Ductless Split Heating / Cooling Project – Phase III. A resolution regarding this proposal is on the Board’s agenda. E. Memo dated December 5, 2019 from Jeffrey Arn, Executive Director, regarding the Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP). A resolution regarding approval of the ACOP is on the Board’s agenda. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 11, 2019 page 2 F. Letter from Ms. Charlie Magnan requesting an extension of time to move a shed off Authority property and onto her property. Ms. Magnan addressed the Board regarding her request. Ms. Magnan’s property abuts an area of Authority’s property that is not developed and does not have any impact the Authority or its operations. The Board agreed to allow Ms. Magnan to move the shed onto her property at her convenience. Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Magnan seconded the motion to receive Communications B. through F. above. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Magnan seconded the motion to approve the bills for November 2019. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Arn noted that the Authority had 22 vacancies as of December 2, 2019. In addition, there are 4 units at Schwartz Manor and 1 unit at Rosewood Manor that are not being leased as those units are part of the Schwartz Manor rehabilitation project and 1 unit at Eastwood Court that is part of the agreement with Reliance Health. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Arn reviewed the same with the Board. The Eastwood Court project is substantially complete. Punch list items will be completed in the spring. The closing for the Schwartz Manor substantial rehabilitation project with the State of Connecticut Department of Housing has been finalized. This project has an expected construction start date of December 12, 2019. PAC Group is the construction manager for this project. The Authority was also awarded a predevelopment grant for Sunset Park. The request for an extension of time to expend the grant funds in order to submit a SSHP application was denied by the Department of Housing. PAC Group has been selected the construction manager for this project. It is anticipated that a SSHP grant application will be submitted for renovations to Sunset Park if there is a funding round. Phase III of the Rosewood Manor Ductless Split heating and cooling project with electrical upgrades is anticipated to be bid in January 2020. The Window Replacement Project at Oakwood Knoll began on July 15th and was complete on December 10th. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Reports - As of December 1, 2019, the total portfolio was 503 Housing Choice Vouchers. E. Procurement Log – Mr. Arn noted that there were no items on the Procurement Log. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 11, 2019 page 3 F. Other Items – Mr. Arn requested permission to attend the New England Regional Council of NAHRO’s 2020 Mid-Winter Conference and Exhibition to be held February 3rd through February 5th at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center, Uncasville, CT and the Nan McKay Housing Conference to be held February 13th and 14th at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, San Diego, CA. Ms. Magnan moved and Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion for the Executive Director to attend both conferences. Motion carried unanimously Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Magnan seconded the motion to receive items B. through F. above. Motion carried unanimously. V. Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business to discuss. VI. New Business A. Ms. Magnan moved to adopt Resolution R-19-12-1505 to apply for City of Norwich Community Development Block Grant funding for Program Year 46 for the installation of additional ductless split heating and cooling systems and electrical system upgrades at Rosewood Manor (Phase III), 335 Hamilton Avenue, Norwich, CT. Ms. Sullivan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Magnan, Sullivan, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-19-12-1506 to accept a proposal from Capital Studio Architects for the Rosewood Manor Ductless Split Heating/Cooling Project–Phase III. Ms. Magnan seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Magnan, Sullivan, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 11, 2019 page 4 C. Ms. Sullivan moved to adopt Resolution R-19-12-1507 to accept the revised Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) for the Public Housing Program. Ms. Magnan seconded the motion. Mr. Bergren directed the Executive Director and staff to incorporate into the ACOP any changes in layout or format as deemed appropriate. Roll call vote: Ayes – Magnan, Sullivan, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. D. Commission Members E. Other – None. VII. Executive Session No Executive Session was held. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan moved and Ms. Magnan seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM. Respectfully submitted, Jeffrey S. Arn Executive Director Minutes approved on January 8, 2020 Alan H. Bergren Chairman