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Home My WebLink About1983-09-12 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUPHORTTY Minutes of the Regular Meeting September 12, 1983 fhe Reading Housing Authority met in regular session on Monday, September 12, 1983 at 7:30 P.M. at 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading, Massachusetts. The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Mr. Dempster. Those members also present were Mr. Westra, Mr. Rand,,and Mrs. Swain. Mrs. Pierce, the Y`xecutive Director, was also present. A motion was made by Mr. Westra and seconded by Mr. Rand, and unanimously: VOTED: To accept the Secretary's Report for the meeting held August 8, 1983, copies of which had previously been mailed to all metdbers. The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Another motion was made by Mr. Rand and seconded by Mr. Westra, and unanimously: VOTED: To approve and pay checks and bills for 667-0 in the amount of $11,0811, —and to ratify the signing of checks for the Section 8 Program in the amount of $1,517.74, and for the 689 Program in the amount of $993.95 The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Mrs. Pierce reported to the members that the balance in the BayBank Middlesex Checking Account for 667-0 was $74.83 as of August 31, 1983- As of the date of this meeting, this account showed a deficit balance of $765.57• The balance in Massachusetts Municipal Depository Trust savings account was $25,320.68 plus interest. It was also reported that all rents for the month of September had been col- lected, totalling $8,659.50• This was the first month to reflect the recent Rent Reviews, but since tenenats had not received their annual increase in Social Security, there was little change in the amount collected, as expected. Upon a motion made by Mr. Rand and seconded by Mr. Westra, it was unanimously: VOTED: To withdraw $1,000 from the M.M.D.T. Savings Account to cover this month's bills, and to accept the Financial Report as read. The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect, and a check from the M.M.D.T. account was drawn and signed. A letter was read to the Board from the Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts concerning the classification rate for Housing Authorities for Workmen's Compensation Insurance. Mr. Rand had sent them a letter questioning the high rate, and lumping administrative personnel in with maintenance help. It explained that at one time, there were different classifications for various positions within an Authority, but it was learned that the premiums paid were not sufficient to cover Housing Authority losses which were 125% of the total losses to total premiums ratio. Therefore, it was determined that a separate classification should be established for housing authorities, and that the classification should include all employees with no exception. Although this system does not seem fair in the case of Reading, where we have never had a claim, they explained that the rate is determined solely by the loss experience of the housing authorities in the State of Massachusetts. The Board was satisfied that they had an explanation on this matter in writing. 1 1. At this point, Mr. White entered the meeting, completing the Board's attendance. Mrs. Pierce told the members about a problem that the tenant in Bldg. #36, Apt. #4, had with insects in her kitchen. The Authority had paid for an Exterminator to come in and he identified them as "weevils" and after she cleared her cabinets of every- thing, he sprayed all corners and crevices to kill any eggs that may still be around. The tenant now has submitted a bill in the amount of $66.64 for payment of her losses for food that was thrown away. The Board discussed this matter at length, and came to the conclusion that there was no evidence to substantiate the fact that these weevils had not been brought in with her foodstuffs, as she was a fairly new tenant; and no other tenant in the Building had this. problem, nor did the tenant who had lived in her apartment for the past 15 years prior to her. It was also felt that to pay these damages, would set a precedent for any number of claims in the future. Mrs. Pierce was asked to send a letter to the `tenant putting the burden of proof on her that the Authority was to blame for the problem. Under old business, Mr. Westra asked if anything further had been done about the smoke detector problem, and Mrs. Pierce said she had been in touch with Mr. Roland Barrett of Simplex after last month's meeting, and conveyed the Board's strong feelings about solving the problem. She said he called back to say that they would remove the current detectors and have them desensitized and replaced at no cost to the Authority, but to date nothing further has been done. The Board felt that this committment on their part should be put in writing with a copy to the Reading Fire Chief, and request that they advise us of their plan for this work immediately. The next item under "Old Business" was the follow -up on the Authority's low rating of "Poor" resulting from this year's Management Checklist. Mrs. Pierce said she had not put a letter together for Mr. Dempster's approval as yet due to an excep- tionally busy month with Rent Reviews, vacation time, etc. However, she would get something together shortly, but knew that E.O.C.D. did not have a replacement for Dean Hobbs as yet, and there would certainly be a delay on their part for the on -site visit requested. On the expansion of the office space, Mrs. Pierce advised the members that E.O.C.D. had approved the Contract with Stephen Bell, Architect, and he would be putting together his preliminary plans for the Board's approval shortly. John Walker, Architect on the 689 Program had reported that he was still await- ing an appointment with E.O.C.D. to review his revised plans for the rehabilitation of the house at 74 Bancroft Avenue. There being no further business to come before the meeting, and upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Dempster declared the meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. Respectively submitted, jr Janet Pierce, Executive Director s� and Secretary I f I READING HOUSING AUTHORITY CHECKS & BILLS Sept. 12, 1983 - 667-C u,,eck No. Account Date of Inv. 3327 James L. Muise (ratify only - already signed) 9/2/83 3328 Janet Pierce of of it 9/2/83 3329 James L. Muise 9/9/83 3330 James L. Muise 9/16/83 3331 James L. Muise 9/23/83 3332 James L. Muise 9/30/83 3333 Patricia Renzello 9/15/83 3334 Patricia Renzello 9/30/83 3335- - - PE3SW#%. -P3aat Goord.- (deferred.- comp. - plan) VOID -V*83- 3336 BayBank Middlesex (Fed. Inc. Tax Withheld) 8/31/83 3337 Commonwealth of Mass. (Mass. Inc. Tax Withheld) 8/31/83 3338 Town of Reading Contributory Retirement Fund 8/31/83 3339 Commonwealth of Massachusetts (State Health Ins.) 8/31/83 3340 New England Telephone 8/13/83 3341 Reading Municipal Light Dept. (ratify only) 8/22/83 3342 Sears, Roebuck & Co. (lawn mower parts) 7/14/83 3343 Corroon & Blk. of Mass. (Property Ins. Renewal) 667 -1 8/21/83 3344 All Electric Supply Corp. 8/25/83 3345 Johnson Farm Supply 8/25/83 3346 Richard D. Avery, Electrician 8/19 -29 -30/83 3347 Simplex Time Recorder Co. (payment on Contract) 8/30/83 3348 Joseph Young Co. (parts for plumbing) 8/31/83 3349 Bill's Lock & Key 8/22/83 3350 Comm. of Mass. - Group Ins. Comm. (qtrly. RHA payment) 8/10/83 3351 Corroon & Blk. - (Property Ins. 667 -2) 8/21/83 3352 Avon Supply Co., Inc. 8/29/83 3353 Petty Cash (reimburse petty cash) 9/12/83 3354 Reading Disposal Inc. 9/7/83 3355 3127 124 4 PEBSCO /MA. Flan Coord. (Deferred Comp. -JP & JLM) 9/30/83 Section 8 Program RHA 667 -C (reimbursement for Adm. Exp. - Sept.) Project 689 -1 S. M. Hodson (oil fill -up) - 74 Bancroft Ave. 9/2/83 9/12/83 425.00 $10,796.61 1,392-71 993.95 CHECKS & BILLS Page 2 667 -C 3356 Joseph Boncorddo - (tenant assistance - 36 - 1) 3357 Modern Exterminating Co. (insect problem 36 -1) 3358 Richard S. Fenton (Acct. svcs. - July & Aug. - all Programs) Section 8 3173 Richard S. Fenton (Acct. - April thru June) 1 Bal. Brt. Fwd. $10,796.61 20.00 15.00 2,50.00 $ 11,081.61 $1,392.74 125.00 i.si7.-2 y