1984-03-12 Reading Housing Authority Minutes

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READING HOUSING AUTHORITY Minutes of the Regular Meeting - March 12, 1984 (W The Reading Housing Authority met in regular session on Monday, March 12, 1984 at 7:30 P.M. at 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading, Massachusetts. Notice of the meeting had been properly posted in accordance with the By- Lags. The meeting was called to order by the Vice - Chairman, Mr. Westra, in the ab- sence of Mr. Dempster. Those members also present were Mr. Rand, Mr. White and Mrs. Swain, forming a quorum. Mrs. Pierce, the Executive Director, was also present. Before going into the regular order of business, the Board heard from John Walker, Architect on the 689 Project. In attendance also for this portion of the meeting, were Mrs. Lucy Cripps and Ms. Ellen Wolock from EMARC. Mr. Walker first apologised to the Board for the long delay in getting the plans and specifications out for bid. He admittdd that much of the blame was his, since E.O.C.D. was awaiting cost estimates which he had been trying to find time to put together. He stated that his time was being consumed with several other projects - and that he had more or less over - extended himself workwise. Mr. Westra then told Mr. Walker that the Board was less than happy with his per- formance to date, and felt that the enthusiasm he showed when he was hired, seems' to have been lost, and it was for that reason, and the fact that he was a small business- man whom the Authority had hoped would have more time to devote to the project- that was chosen over the other Architects. Mr. White joined the conversation to say that now that the "air was cleared" concerning past problems, he wanted Mr. Walker to give the Board some definite commitments on the schedule from this point to the conclusion of the Project. Mr. Walker said he was presenting to E.O.C.D. very shortly, the cost estimates they had requested and as far as he knew, all the plans were approved. He was in the process of assembling the specifications and hoped to go out to bid for Contractors around the first week in April. Thereafter, he would try to move things along and felt that the house could be ready for occupancy before the end of the summer. The representatives from EMARC interjected at:�this. ,point and skphaiined.thaft siome cif "the`.de1gy had to do with a waiver from the Department of Mental Health which they required for the client set -up in the house. If this had not been granted,', Mr. Walker would have had to revise his plans, so he held up his work.during that; period. This waiver has been approved, however, and the EMARC personnel are work- ing on the selection of tenants at this time. It had also been decided that the swimming pool would remain on the premises, and that EMARC would take the response.= bility for liability. Mr. Westra asked Mr. Walker to stay in touch with Mrs. Pierce and give her regular progress reports. He promised he would, and at this point, he and the OURC representatives left the meeting. Next, a motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mr. Rand, and unanimously: wVOTED: To accept for the record, the Secretary's Report for the Meeting of ary 13, 1984, copies of which had previously been mailed to all members. The Vice - Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. 1.