Housing Authority

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NORWICH HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024 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, August 14, 2024. I. Roll Call Chairman Bergren called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM and the following answered present: Keith Milton Frances Patterson Mary Ellen Lunt Alan Bergren Benjamin Lathrop was excused. Also present were Jeffrey S. Arn, Executive Director, John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, and Joanne M. Drag, Deputy Executive Director/Finance Director. Mr. Milton moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion to add under VI. New Business B. Resolution R-24-08-1695 to approve a change order for the Dorsey Building Exterior Upgrade Project and C. Resolution R-24-08-1696 to approve a one-time half (.50%) percent wage increase to employees participating in the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Patterson moved and Mr. Milton seconded the motion to add under III. Communications F. Estimate dated August 12, 2024 from 4 You, LLC regarding a change order for the Dorsey Building decks and G. Memo dated August 14, 2024 from Jeffrey Arn, Executive Director, regarding the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Motion carried unanimously. II. Minutes A. Ms. Patterson moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion to adopt the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 10, 2024. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – August 14, 2024 page 2 III. Communications A. Community Comment / Public Comment – None. B. Letter dated August 1, 2024 from Jeffrey Arn, Executive Director to Roseanne Muscarella, City and Town Clerk, City of Norwich, regarding the Regular Monthly Meetings of the Board of Commissioners for Calendar Year 2025. C. Notification of Award dated July 11, 2024 from Alison Dvorak, Executive Director, Senior Resources Agency on Aging, regarding a grant award for the Federal Resident Services Program. Miss Drag reviewed the memo with the Board and the Board expressed its appreciation for the support from Senior Resources for the Resident Services Program. D. Memo dated July 12, 2024 from Eric Bastien, Maintenance Supervisor, to Jeffrey Arn, Executive Director, regarding replacing the dump body on vehicle 77 NO. Mr. Arn reviewed the memo and quotes for replacing the dump body with the Board. Ms. Patterson moved and Mr. Milton seconded the motion to replace the dump body on vehicle 77 NO with NESS Automotive. Motion carried unanimously. E. Memo dated July 23, 2024 from Eric Bastien, Maintenance Supervisor, to Jeffrey Arn, Executive Director, regarding staining the rear decks at Sunset Park. Mr. Arn reviewed the memo and the quotes for staining the new rear decks at Sunset Park with the Board. He noted that all contractors that submitted a proposal are on the Authority’s procurement list. Mr. Milton moved and Ms. Patterson seconded the motion to accept the proposal from BC Industries to stain the rear decks at Sunset Park. Motion carried unanimously. F. Estimate dated August 12, 2024 from 4 You, LLC regarding a change order for the Dorsey Building decks. Mr. Mainville noted that when 4 You started work on the Dorsey Building Exterior project, there was concern regarding the structural integrity of the decks. A structural engineer was brought in to assess the deck structure and it was determined that the decks be removed and replaced. G. Memo dated August 14, 2024 from Jeffrey Arn, Executive Director, regarding the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Mr. Arn reviewed the impact of the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program with the Board. He noted that starting October 1, 2024 employees of the Authority will be required to pay .05 % of their wages into the program. Ms. Patterson moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion to receive Communications B. through G. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – August 14, 2024 page 3 IV. Report of the Executive Director A. Bills – Mr. Milton moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion to approve the bills for July 2024. Motion carried unanimously. B. Vacancy Reports – Mr. Arn noted that the Authority had 16 vacancies as of August 1, 2024 and 12 units were rented in July. There is a waiting list for all properties. C. Modernization Report - John Mainville, Modernization Coordinator, prepared the report. Mr. Arn and Mr. Mainville reviewed the same with the Board. The Sunset Park exterior renovation project started July 24, 2023 and the project is now complete. PAC Group was the Construction Manager for this project. The Rosewood Manor siding and exterior wrapping project–Phase I started in March and is now complete. The Authority submitted the CDBG PY 50 application on February 1st for Phase II of the project and met with the Community Development Advisory Committee (“CDAC”) on March 5th. The CDAC recommended funding Phase II of the project and the City Council approved funding of $219,712.00 at its meeting on June 17th . This project will be bid in January 2025. The contract for the Dorsey Building Exterior Upgrades project was signed on June 20th and this project started July 8th. Construction is on-going. Funding will come from the 2023 and 2024 Federal Capital Fund Program. D. Housing Choice Voucher Portfolio Report - As of August 1, 2024, the total portfolio was 457 Housing Choice Vouchers (“HCV”). The HCV waiting list was open for one week from January 8 through January 12, 2024. Pre-applications were completed on- line. Affordable Housing is the contractor that processed the pre-applications, performed the lottery selections and will maintain the waiting list. Ten (10) applications have been selected from the new waiting list. E. Procurement Log – No items. F. Other items – Funding availability regarding housing for Homeless Veterans. A meeting with the Veterans’ representative to discuss housing options has not been able to be scheduled. Mr. Lathrop is exploring the possibility of modular housing options. Mr. Milton moved and Ms. Patterson seconded the motion to receive items B. through F. above. Motion carried unanimously. V. Unfinished Business No unfinished business. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – August 14, 2024 page 4 VI. New Business A. Ms. Patterson moved to adopt Resolution R-24-08-1694 to enter into a contract with Eastern Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (dba Senior Resources Agency on Aging) for the Federal Resident Services Program for the period October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. Mr. Milton seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Milton, Patterson, Lunt, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. B. Mr. Milton moved to adopt Resolution R-24-08-1695 to approve a change order to replace the decks as part of the Dorsey Building Exterior Upgrade Project. Ms. Patterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Milton, Patterson, Lunt, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. C. Ms. Lunt moved to adopt Resolution R-24-08-1696 to approve a one-time half (.50%) percent wage increase to employees participating in the CT Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Ms. Patterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Ayes – Milton, Patterson, Lunt, Bergren Nays - None Motion carried unanimously. D. Commission Members – None. E. Other - None. VII. Executive Session No Executive Session was held. Minutes of the Norwich Housing Authority – August 14, 2024 page 5 VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Patterson moved and Ms. Lunt seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, Jeffrey S. Arn Executive Director Minutes approved on September 11, 2024 Alan H. Bergren Chairman