HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-05-03 Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
' MINUTES OF THE Regular BOARD MEETING, May 3. 2010
A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 5:30
P.M at the office of the Reading Housing Authority the town of Reading, Mass. The meeting was called
to order at 5:44 P.M. with the Chair, Karen L. Flammia, presiding. Those members present and forming
a quorum were Timothy Kelley, Kevin Mulvey, Diane Cohen, and Mary Connors well as the
Secretary/Executive Director, Lyn Whyte.
Minutes Move Tim Second Mary Vote 4-0
10 -53 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of April 5 ,
2010, as presented.
Finances Move Tim Second Diane Vote 4-0
10 -54 VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts Payable
Check #2739 -2785 Payroll Summary as presented for April 2010. Section 8 Voucher Program,
#4819 -4911 as presented.
Finances Move Tim Second Diane Vote 5-0
10 -55 VOTED: To certify receipt of monthly operating statements for all RHA programs for the
month end March, 2010 of the current fiscal year.
Approve RFP (Sale of 11 Grand St) Move Mary Second Diane Vote 5 -0
10 -56 VOTED: To approve RFP for sale of 11 Grand Street as presented.
Authorize publication of RFP Move Mary Second Kevin Vote 5 -0
10 -57 VOTED: To authorize Executive Director to post Request for Proposals on 11 Grand Street
in Central Register and newspapers in accordance with M.G. Laws Chapter 30B, Section 16, Real
Property: disposition.
Personnel Matters:
- Karen L. Flammia term will be expiring in June. She has informed Board that she will seek the
opportunity to continue to serve.
- Board Member Kevin Mulvey ran the Boston Marathon in a time of just over four hours.
Congratulations to Kevin on his first and successful Boston Marathon.
Report of Programs:
- Vacancy Report- Mitch Hudzik, State Program Coordinator provided her monthly report. .
- Sec 8 Report- Kathy Rolli, Section 8 Program Director did not provide an official report at this time.
However, we are fully leased at this time. One of our RHAowned Section 8 participants will be
moving from one of our own units in June. We may have to pull from the wait list at that time to
replace that tenant. An official report will be presented at Qtr. End June, 2010..
Resident Service Coordinator- Current Tannerville Newsletter provided.
New Business-
- The Reading Housing Authority received a complete report from Primoris Inc for use with the
implementation of GASB 45 requirements for June 2010 fiscal year end. GASB 45 addresses the
expected future costs of retirement benefits for eligible employees of the RHA. A copy of this report
' will be forwarded to our fee accountants in order to comply with required accounting reporting of this
expenditure in our operating statements for June 2010 year end
The Reading Housing Authority has received official approval from the Reading Conservation Board to
change the existing Order of Conditions to modify the swale area on site at our 41-43 Wilson Street
property. DPW will do the work in late spring or early summer and coordinate schedules with our
maintenance staff.
- Budget preparation for fiscal year 2011 has begun. At this time, RHA intends to proceed using 2010
budget figures. Official guidelines are not expected out until July 2010.
- The Housing Authority was included in all local meetings regarding a recent State of Emergency
affecting the water system in Reading. Communication between all Town of Reading departments was
excellent. The Fire Department made water available to RHA to distribute to our senior residents at
Tannerville. Three deliveries were made to Frank Tanner Drive, which was very much appreciated by
many residents who either don't drive or were unable to find water in local stores.
- The Executive Director informed Board of emergency repairs to three elderly units as a result of water
damage caused by a second floor resident. An insurance claim has been submitted and RHA has
received the official notice to proceed with the necessary repairs. Due to health issues for all three
residents affected by this repair project, they will be relocated to a local hotel during construction.
Once the repairs are completed and all costs have been submitted to our insurance carrier, any
outstanding expenses incurred by the HA may be billed to the resident for tenant payment.
Real Estate Matter:
t - 11 Grand Street update; A certified appraisal was received from Harris Appraisal Services
indicating a value of $235,000 for said property. The low appraisal would further dampen RHA
borrowing power with local banks if we should decide to renovate this property if it were an
option. At this time, the Executive Director did not believe that income versus expenses would
allow us the opportunity to bring the building to code and rent as an affordable unit.
Discussion continued on other potential use of this property. The Executive Director presented a
draft of the RFP and proposed newspaper ad to the Board for review if the property was to be
sold. RHA legal counsel, Brad Latham, drafted the RFP and is similar to the document used for
the disposition of 75 Pleasant Street in 2008. The goal of selling the property would be to attain
the highest amount possible for the location without any restrictions being put on the RHA. The
Board would always have the option to reject any and all bids to sell in case additional
opportunities arose for RHA to utilize the property. If the property was sold, RHA could
potentially use some of the proceeds to update our Summer Main property and then put aside the
remaining monies in a restricted reserve to purchase of affordable property in the future
Another option to tear down the home and hold on to the land was presented by Timothy Kelley.
Long term carrying costs may be minimal; however, demolition of the said property may be
costly. Also, this option would eliminate the availability of funds to update our other RHA -
owned properties.
- The Board did decide at this point to proceed with the potential sale of 11 Grand Street. Motions
were presented and approved. The Director will inform Brad Latham of our plans to post the
RFP. The requirements of a municipal sale would bring us to the end of June before potential
' buyers would submit any bids. The final Board approvals to proceed may not occur until July or
August 2010. In the meantime, the Director plans on getting a quote regarding cost to demolish
the property, various costs to update our Summer/Main property and present those findings at the
June Board meeting for further discussion and planning purposes.
' Board Schedule
June, 2010 BOARD MEETING: 06 /07/2010 @ 5:30 PM
10 -058 TO ADJOURN: 7:00 PM. Move Tim Second Mary Vote 5-0
i y submitted,
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E. Whvte. Secretary & Ez
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