Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022 The Board of Commissioners (“Board”) of the Norwich Housing Authority (“Authority”) met in regular session at the Westwood Park Community Room, 10 Westwood Park, Norwich, Connecticut, at 4:30 PM, Wednesday, December 14, 2022. I. Roll Call Chairman Bergren called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and the following answered present: Kenneth Scandariato Benjamin Lathrop Mary Ellen Lunt Frances Patterson Alan Bergren Also present were Jeffrey S. Arn, Executive Director, John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator and Joanne M. Drag, Deputy Executive Director/Finance Director. II. Minutes A. Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Patterson seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on November 9, 2022. Motion carried unanimously. III. Communications A. Community Comment / Public Comment – None. B. Presentation by Jason Geel, Maletta and Company, regarding the FY 2022 (April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022) Audit Report. Mr. Geel reviewed the audit report with the Board and answered questions. He noted that the Authority was a financially stable organization. C. State Elderly, State Moderate and State Affordable Management Plans for Fiscal Year 2024 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024). Miss Drag reviewed the management plans with the Board. D. Letter dated November 17, 2022 from David Holmes, Partner, Capital Studio Architects, LLC regarding a proposal for Building and Site Renovations at Westwood Park and Dorsey Building. Mr. Mainville reviewed the proposal with the Board and noted that this project will be funded from the 2023 Federal Capital Fund Program. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 14, 2022 page 2 Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion to receive Communications B. through D. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Ms. Patterson moved and Mr. Scandariato seconded the motion to approve the bills for November 2022. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Arn noted that the Authority had 26 vacancies as of December 1, 2022 and 7 units were leased in November. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Arn and Mr. Mainville reviewed the same with the Board. Renovation work at 29 Quarto Road, which had been damaged by fire, is on-going. The exterior work has been completed. The interior work–electrical, insulation, sheetrock–has started. A contract signing took place on August 22, 2022 with JLY Construction Managers for the Dorsey Building Elevator Upgrade Project. A Notice to Proceed will be executed once the lead time items arrive. An anticipated start date for this project is February 2023 and will be funded from the 2022 Federal Capital Fund Program. The State of Connecticut Bond Commission approved funding for the Sunset Park renovation project at its meeting held on December 8, 2022. The contracts and agreements related to this project with the State and CHFA will be executed within the next few months. PAC Group is the Construction Manager for the Sunset Park project. The Rosewood Manor Roof/Gutter replacement project – Phase II will be out to bid on January 17, 2023 with a bid opening scheduled for February 2, 2023. Capital Studio Architects is working on plans and specs for this project and will be putting together cost proposals for the Rosewood Manor siding and exterior wrapping project and the building and site renovations to Westwood Park and Dorsey Building project. Mr. Mainville noted that he had obtained quotes for the emergency repair of the main sewer lines that had collapsed at Oakwood Knoll. Norwich Public Utilities will be repairing the manhole. It is imperative that this work be completed as soon as possible. Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Patterson seconded the motion to suspend the rules and to authorize the emergency repair work be completed by the contractor who submitted the lowest responsible quote. The emergency repair project will be paid from the 2022 Federal Capital Fund Program. Motion carried unanimously. D. Section 8 Voucher Portfolio Reports - As of December 1, 2022, the total portfolio was 488 Housing Choice Vouchers. E. Procurement Log – There are no new contracts on the procurement log for last month. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 14, 2022 page 3 F. Other items – Mr. Arn noted that the Assistant Property Manager position had recently been filled. He distributed the upcoming 2023 Mid-Winter NERC/NAHRO Conference schedule to the Board. The conference will be held at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville. He asked the Board if it would consider approving his attendance and hotel expense for the conference. Ms. Patterson moved and Mr. Scandariato seconded the motion to approve attendance at the conference and conference hotel expense for the Executive Director. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Patterson seconded the motion to receive items B. through F. above. Motion carried unanimously. V. Unfinished Business None. VI. New Business A. Mr. Scandariato moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1632 to amend the Norwich Housing Authority’s Personnel Policies regarding Article 10 – Holidays. Ms. Patterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Mr. Scandariato moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1633 to apply to the City of Norwich, Community Development Block Grant funding for Program Year 49 for siding replacement and exterior trim wrapping at Rosewood Manor, 335 Hamilton Avenue, Norwich. Ms. Patterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 14, 2022 page 4 C. Ms. Patterson moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1634 to approve the State Elderly Management Plan – Schwartz Manor for Fiscal Year 2024 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024). Mr. Scandariato seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. D. Mr. Scandariato moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1635 to approve the State Elderly Management Plan – Eastwood Court for Fiscal Year 2024 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024). Ms. Lunt seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. E. Mr. Scandariato moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1636 to approve the State Elderly Management Plan – Rosewood Manor for Fiscal Year 2024 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024). Ms. Patterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. F. Mr. Scandariato moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1637 to approve the State Moderate Management Plan – Melrose Park, Sunset Park, John F. Kennedy Heights I, Hillside Terrace for Fiscal Year 2024 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024). Ms. Patterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 14, 2022 page 5 G. Ms. Lunt moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1638 to approve the State Affordable Management Plan – John F. Kennedy Heights II for Fiscal Year 2024 (April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024). Mr. Scandariato seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. H. Mr. Scandariato moved to adopt Resolution R-22-12-1639 to accept a proposal from Capital Studio Architects for the Building and Site Renovations to Westwood Park and Dorsey Building. Ms. Lunt seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Scandariato, Lathrop, Lunt, Patterson, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. I. Commission Members – None. J. Other – None. VII. Executive Session A. Executive Director Performance Evaluation Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session at 6:12 PM to discuss the Executive Director performance evaluation. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Patterson seconded the motion to exit the Executive Session at 6:28 PM. Motion carried unanimously. The Chairman noted that no votes were taken in Executive Session. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – December 14, 2022 page 6 VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Scandariato moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:29 PM. Respectfully submitted, Jeffrey S. Arn Executive Director Minutes approved on January 11, 2023 Alan H. Bergren Chairman