Rehabilitation Review Committee

MINUTES OF THE REHAB REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 10, 2009 8:45 AM Members Present: Chairman Rodney Bowie, Jim Troeger, Joe East, and Susan Goldman Others Present: Jennifer Gottlieb, Wayne Sharkey, and Linda Lee Smith Chairman Rodney Bowie called the meeting to order at 8:46 a.m. Motion was made by Joe East to accept the minutes of the March 19, 2009 meeting. Susan Goldman seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Old Business Halfway/Boarding Houses A copy of the Norwich Fire Dept. definitions of Rooming & Lodging Houses and Residential Board and Care information was handed out. Jim Troeger said that his policy was slightly different. The Rehab Review Committee were hoping to look at the definitions used by the Fire and Building Departments to formulate one guideline for boarding houses, which would encompass fire code as well as building requirements. Jim Troeger stated that zoning should also be brought in on this. After much discussion it was decided to leave the program as it is presently that someone with halfway house could go through as an owner investor. Current zoning codes limit the number of these properties anyway and any property going through as a halfway house would have to be legal and comply with zoning, fire, housing codes for occupancy limitations. The committee can revisit this at a later date. New Business Wayne Sharkey brought the committee up to date on the ongoing Lead Grant. There are some changes to the program due to the fact this lead grant is funded under the Recovery Act and recently HUD has notified this office that all work will be subject t Davis Bacon wage rates. When the grant was written and the benchmarks determined this was not the case. Under the CDBG guidelines Davis Bacon wage rates need to be used with properties over 8 units. Guidance came out about a week ago stating for the Lead Program that even single units would have to institute Davis Bacon wage rates. Certain program components such as benchmarks will have to be adjusted if this rule stands. Wayne Sharkey stated that they would have to redo the benchmarks in half in terms of units produced and the awards given out would have to double. If the Rehab Specialist had known that they would have had to use Davis Bacon they wouldn’t have stated a $9,000 per unit cost. HUD is willing to work with the office to make the program work if the rule stands. HUD will be flexible about an amendment, if it is needed. The Office will get further guidance from HUD this week. If lead funds are used on the same project as a CDBG rehab project, the entire project would be Davis Bacon. Davis Bacon requires more administration reporting such as certified payrolls for which there currently is no category for lead supervisors. Small contractors will be disadvantaged in the new scheme. Wayne Sharkey said that he would keep the committee updated on the Davis Bacon rulings. All projects listed as RLP were given rehab funds and qualify for lead funds and have met all taxes paid, meeting income requirements and they all are recommended for approval. Joe East made a motion seconded by Jim Troeger to approve the following applications for the maximum lead funding as follows: RLP 0710 $18,000 RLP 0712 $36,000 RLP 0803 $54,000 RLP 0805 $ 9,000 RLP 0806 $ 9,000 RLP 0807 $18,000 RLP 0809 $ 9,000 RLP 0810 $ 9,000 Motion carried unanimously. On RLP 0811 they will receive Rehab funding only not lead funding because they didn’t turn in the new portion of the lead application. The other 2 units are only approved for $9,000 each because with the Lead Program both units have to qualify income wise whereas with the Rehab Program when it is a 2 family only 1 unit has to qualify and then the entire building qualifies. The committee will award funding because they are eligible that doesn’t necessarily mean they can do the work. Motion was made by Rodney Bowie and seconded by Jim Troeger to approve applications as listed below: #4 RLP 0811 for $30,000 for rehab #5 RLP 0812 for $25,225 for rehab and $9,000 for lead #6 RLP 0813 for $30,000 for rehab and $9,000 for lead Motion carried unanimously. Motion was made by Jim Troeger seconded by Rodney Bowie to de- obligate funds previously assigned to RP 0808 $40,000. Motion carried unanimously. It was the homeowner’s decision to withdraw from the program because the homeowners would have needed to come up with additional funds. Adjournment Motion was made by Jim Troeger to adjourn. Joe East seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The Rehab Review Committee meeting adjourned at 9:44 a.m.