HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-03-12 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
Minutes of the Regular Meeting - March 12, 1984
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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.
A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mrs. Swain, and unanimously:
VOTED: To approve and pay checks and bills for 667-0 in the amount of $20,701.52
and to ratify and approve checks for the Section 8 Program in the amount of $1,$11.36.
A list of these checks is attached hereto and made a part of these Minutes.
It was noted that over $3,000 of the total checks were for the Energy Cooserva-
tion expenses for which $4,000 had been deposited into the 667-0 account in December,
and that the list also included the large Workmen's Compensation Insurance payment due.
The Vice - 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 $922.91 as of February 28, 1984. As of the date of
this meeting, after payment of the above checks due at this time, this account showed
a deficit amount of $11,166.17. The balance in the M.M.D.T. savings account s
$20,450.89 plus interest. All rents for the month of March had been paid, to ling
$8,865•
Noting that approximately $2,000 would be forthcoming from the Section 8'Program
during the month for reimbursement of administrative expenses, a motion was made by
Mr. Rand and seconded by Mr. White, and unanimously:
VOTED: To withdraw $10,000 from the M.M.D.T. account for deposit into e
667-0 checking account to cover the above checks, and to approve the Financial Report.
The Vice - Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Mrs. Pierce also reported that a check in the amount of $2,160.00 had been re-
�lived from E.O.C.D. for the Chapter 707 Program. Inasmuch as the Annual Contributions
rontract (ACC) hadn't been received and approved, Mrs. Pierce questioned the receipt
of the money from their Accounting Department. They advised her that the ACC forms
were in the process of being revised but that it was all right to begin advertis ng
for applicants, and set up the books, etc. Accordingly, ads were put in the papers
for an opening of March 14th for applications. At this time, a motion was made by
Mr. White and seconded by Mrs. Swain, and unanimously:
VOTED: To open a BayBank Middlesex Checking Account for the Chapter 7017
Program with the $2,160.00.
The Vice -Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect'.
Mrs. Pierce then asked all members to sign the necessary forms to open this
account for which any two of the five Board members and Mrs. Pierce would be alllowed
to sign.
Mrs. Pierce read a letter from E.O.C.D. in which they announced the availability
of funding for various State Programs, and were accepting Proposals before Aprili th.
Mrs. Pierce reminded the members that last September, the Board co- signed a Memoian-
dum of Agreement with the Selectmen and E.O.C.D. in order that the Town could re eive
funding under the 805 Water Systems grant. This Agreement requires that the Houising
Authority affirmatively apply for State Chapter 705 scattered -site family housi
units under the next funding round. Mrs. Pierce said that there was the possib lity
of purchasing a six -unit piece of property from one of the landlords in the To F,
and perhaps this could be the basis for an application of acquisition with rehabilita-
on under this Program. She said that E.O.C.D. was holding a workshop in Framing -
on March 14th which she planned to attend, and hopefully she would obtain more
information at that time. The Board agreed to take this matter up at a Special.
Meeting the following week on March 19th, to discuss this in more detail, and when
the Chairman would also be available.
2.
Mrs. Pierce brought the Board up to date on the use of the Energy Conservation
funds for Project 667-C, in the amount of $4,000. At this point everything has been
(mpleted except for the installation of the water restrictors in faucets and showers.
wermo-Guard of Stoneham is planning to do this shortly, for $500.
Briefly, the money was spent to replace incandescent light fixtures with low -
energy flourescent fixtures in all emergency halls and the corridors, upstairs and
downstairs, in all buildings. These fixtures cost approximately $2,500 and are
being installed on a daily basis by Jim Muise. Mr. Rand had been an advisor to',
Mrs. Pierce 'and Mr. Muise on this Project, and it was his feeling that the best
use of the money could be put into reducing the lighting costs, inasmuch as the bulbs
burn 24 hours a day.
Home Energy Planners of Jamaica Plain have installed insulation wraps on
9 hot water tanks in the Project, and have provided a wrap kit for a 10th tank
which is soon to be replaced. They also have installed door sweeps and weather-
stripping on all main doors to the 10 buildings.
A Report which was due into E.O.C.D. outling the use of the funds was subF-
mitted as requested by the deadline of February 29, 1984.
Prior to the meeting, Mr. Dempster had asked Mrs. Pierce to give information
to the members concerning the Annual Mass. NAHRO Conference on Cape Cod in May.
He felt that Authorites have an opportunity at this meeting, to learn a great deal
in management,through the various workshops available during the 3-day weekend. He
has attended himself in the past as a representative of the $ank for which he works.
Mrs. Pierce pointed out, however, that there is no money allotted for this in'tho
Rudget, and the cost would be over $_300;' but that she has heard that E.O.C.D. some-
mes allows the cost to be taken from Operating Reserves. At this time, there'
idn't seem to be any interest among those attending, but Mr. Vestra felt that -it
was something that should be discussed before the next Budget is submitted, for
possible inclusion.as a cost for attendance by a member next year.
It was announced that the Board of Assessors had acknowledged the Authors I tyls
request for tax exemption for Project 667-0 in the affirmative for Fiscal Year 1 85.
Mrs. Pierce read a letter from HUD which had just been received in the mail
that day concerning some funding money becoming available for acquisition of units
with 3 or more bedrooms for larger families. They were requesting an informal
determination of the level of interest by a phone call before March 14th. At this
time, the Authority felt that they could not make a commitment on any specific
property on -such short notice, as there are very few multi = bedroom units available
in the Town. However, they asked that Mrs. Pierce telephone HUD the next day,!,to
at least discuss their situation with the Housing Representative named.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, and upon a motion
duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to adjourn, and the Vice - Chairman
thereupon declared said motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 9 :15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Pierce, Executive Director
and Secretary
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*Energy Conservation Project Funds
READING HOUSING AUTHORITY
CHECKS & BILLS
667 -C
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March 12, 1984
,;heck No.
Account Date of Inv.
Amount
3514
Janet Pierce (ratify only)
32/84
514.42
3515
James L. Muise (ratify only)
3/2/84
312.22
3516
James L. Muise (ratify only)
3/9/84
312.22
3517
James L. Muise
3/16/84
312.22
3518
James L. Muise
3/23/84
312.22
3519
James L. Muise
3/30/84
279.03
3520
Patricia Renzello
3/14/84
551.28
3521
Patricia Renzello
3/28/84
519.94
3522
Town of Reading Contributory Retirement Fund
2/29/84
263.40
3523
PEBSSCO /MA. Plan (deferred comp. JLM & JP)
3/30/84
275.00
3524
Baybank Middlesex, N.A. (Fed. Inc. Tax w /H)
2/29/84
434,60
3525
Comm. of Mass. /Dept. of Revenue (Mass. Inc. Tax W/H) 2/29/84
172,31
3526
Comm. of Mass. /Gr. Ins. Comm. (Group Health Ins.)
2/29/84
64.53
3527
Reading Municipal Light Dept.
2/24/84
9,654-59
528
New England Telephone
2/13/84
39.06
9
Qtrly.
Comm. of Mass. /Gr. Ins. Comm. (Gr. Ins. Prem.)
2/21/84
989.00
3530
Johnson Farm Supply (supplies)
2/25/84
11.09
3531
All Electric Supply Corp. (supplies)
2/25/84
36.06
3532
]Kass. Sanitary Supply Co. (supplies)
2/15/84
42.00
3533
Avon Supply Co., Inc. (hot water tank) Bldg. 29
2/15/84
281.00
3534
Business Copy Associates, Inc. (supplies)
2/17/84
80.39
3535
No. American Philips Ser. Lighting Corp. (lights)*
2/22/84
536.36
3536
Old Republic Ins. Co. ( Vorkmen's Comp. -3/1- 6/30/84)2/29/8+
1,143.00
3537
No. American Philips Ser. Lighting Corp. (lights)*
3/1/84
2,000.00
3538
Reading Disposal Inc.
3/3/84
234.00
3539
Richard Scott Fenton, C.P.A.
3/1/84
125.00
Total
$ 19,494.94
(continued)
Section 8 Program
��28
RHA 667-C - Mo. reimbursement - adm. exp.(ratify)
2/15 84
1,571.36
78
Stephen Bell, Architects - (due on Contract)
3/1/84
240.00
1,811.39
3480
RHA 667-C (monthly reimb. - adm. exp.)
3/22/84
2
$3,962.81
*Energy Conservation Project Funds
CHECK LIST
667-C
4Lt No. Account Date of Inv. Am_
,540 Mass. Interlocal Ins. Agency - (entry fee - Workmen's 3/8/84 $124.00
Comp. Ins.)
3541 Home Energy Planners - (weatherstripping/hot water heater- *3/13/84 980.00
insulation)
3542 Home Energy Planners - (add'1 insulation kits - Hot Water *3/13/84 30.00
Heaters)
3543 Petty Cash - RHA 3/12/84 72.
Total $20,701.52
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