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Home My WebLink About1999-01-04 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 4,199 A regular business meeting of the Readnig Housing Authority was held on Monday, January 4 1999 at 7:00 P.M. at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the town o Reading, Massachusetts. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. with the Chairman, Mr. Sweet, presiding. Also in attendance were Mr. Allen and Ms. Connors as well as the associat Board Member, Ms. Flammia and the Executive Director, Ms. Plansky. Minutes Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept for the record the minutes of the regular business meeting of December 7 continued until December 14, 1998, as presented. Finances Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve and sign the checkrollfbillroll for the period for Accounts Payable Cher 44447 -4497; Payroll Check #2002 -2034 Section 8 Certificate Program #4751 -4802; Section Voucher Program #2093 -2118; MRVP - #561 & 562; as presented.. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Single Audit Report - Sandra E. Wrona Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept for the record the Single Audit Report for the fiscal year ended June 3 1998 and prepared by Sandra E. Wrona, CPA of East Longmeadow, Massachuset' Distribution to be made as required. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Water Conservation -4001 The bid documents for replacement of toilets and showerheads /faucets at the State• developments has been published today. The schedule is January 12`h - pre -bid meeting at January 251h - bids due. Expected start date is early Spring 1999. Office Addition - Handicapped Access for 667 Development Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to seek approval to use our restricted Page 2 Minutes 1/4/99 account along with private financing and additional grant money from DHCD to provide handicap access to 5% of the 667 units and the authority's office and maintenance space. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Rent Determination regarding Pharmacy Program for 667 Elderly Tenants Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the provision as approved by the Massachusetts Legislature regarding reimbursement for prescription drugs under the Executive Office of Elder Affairs' (EOEA) Senior Pharmacy Program (SPP) for prescriptions up to $750 per year. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Rent Determination for Certain 667 Elderly Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the provision as approved by the Massachusetts Legislature regarding the disregard of wages for the first 20 hours of work at the minimum wage rate, which is $105 per week per employed qualified elderly tenant age 62 or over. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Employment - Program Assistant Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously _VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to proceed with the hiring of a part-time person, 16 hours per week at a rate of $11 -12 /per hour, to assist with the State -aided housing programs and other duties as outlined in the summary sheet for the Program Assistant dated January 4, 1999 and as provided for in the FY '99 State approved budget. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Vacation Leave - Maintenance Staff Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the request for leave without pay except for the accumulated earned time to Robert Howe from February 15, 1999 and return to work on April 19, 1999. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Page 3' Minutes 114199 Opening of State -aided Family (Chapter 705) Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to open the wait list for the State -aided Cha 705 Family Housing Program in accordance with the RHA's administrative plan at 9 AM -2 on Monday, January 24 -28, 1999 and 9 AM - 12 Noon on January 29, 1999, at which time wait list will be closed. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Section 8 Program -Administrative Plan Chan,-es Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To amend the Authority's Section 8 Administrative Plan as follows: "The RHA determined that its jurisdiction is that area within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and administer its own Certificates and Vouchers throughout the same." The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Pleasant & Wilson Street Lot - Report by Vice- Chairman and Executive Director The Authority refiled to ConCom with the same house adding the requested changes from the Conservation Commission hearing. The Commission heard the evidence, found by a vote of 5 -1 in favor of the RHA, and the following conditions will be required: 1. Revise fence line and place a fence along the entire 25 foot offset of bordering natural vegetation (BNV) 2. Plant natural vegetation in swale (not gravel) 3. Add weep holes to foundation with appropriate size; spacing and materials 4. Remove notation on the plans of a "basement" 5. Submit a vegetation plan 6. Install an overflow pipe from rear drywell to storage area 7. Require a "Deed Restriction" re: stormwater storage area and the 25 feet bordering natural vegetation (BNV) 8. Change notation on plans for driveway from "gravel" to "pavers" 9. The order shall include all the standard conditions along with the above - listed conditio and shall be granted under both the State and local ordinances. The draft order should be ready for ConCom meeting on January 13, 1999. Mr.Allen will attend. Plansky will attend the Summit Village condo owners meeting at Joshua Eaton on that same night. Page 4 Minutes 114199 Request for Additional Money for Conservation Commission from GEOD Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the fee to GEOD, as submitted by B. Goba & Associates, for resubmission of the original plans with requested changes to Conservation Commission at a fee of $2,500.00, including two meetings. It is also noted for the record that the Town Manager sent the RHA a letter stating that the Town would be willing to contribute $9,900.00, which is.the low bid for the cost of demolition. Building Move Bid Proposals The Board rejected the proposals for moving the building as non - responsive. We will have to readvertise this when the appeals process has been completed. Mr. Allen left the meeting at this point in the agenda. Assisted Living Facilities Zoning By -law - Marriott Corporation Mr. Sweet reported on the meeting held with Marriott Corporation regarding the required 10% linkage for assisted living facilities under the new Reading Zoning By -law. Representing the .Authority were Mr. Sweet, Mr. Allen and Ms. Plansky; for Marriott Corporation, Mr. Bernardi and Mr. Favoloro, their attorney. At this meeting the parties for Marriott offered $175,000 as cash payment along with additional contributions of architectural and engineering for any facility the RHA might plan to build; some help with meals at out site. The Board was stunned that the offer did not reflect the required 10% linkage; it represented about 1 % of total development cost. Mr. Bernardi explained that there was a threshhold at which point Marriott would abandon the project. At a cost of 10% of development, it would make the project cost prohibitive. Mr. Bernardi showed a cost benefit sheet to Mr. Allen which he stated verified his allegation that there was not that much money in the project. The Board offered several other proposals: 10% of units on -site with RHA owning/operating them; building another structure on that site with the required 10% of units and the RHA would own and operate. The Chairman will request that Mr. Barnes from CPDC attend a future meeting with Marriott. The Chair felt it was in the best interest of the Town not to have the Boards divided on this matter. Page I/ Trash Removal by Town for RHA Properties The Executive Director asked the Board to consider approaching the Town regarding trash pick -up for our developments now that they are picking up at the condominiums. Currently the RHA pays for trash disposal at the 667 ( Tannerville) and 705 -1 (Waverly Oaks) developments. The Board felt that the trash pick -up for Tannerville should probably remain the responsibility of the RHA; the trash pick -up at Waverly Oaks should be the responsibility of the Town. The Board will review this matter and proceed further at the next meeting. Summit VigM - Resale of Affordable Units Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to send all affordable unit owners a letter, submitted and reviewed, regarding the position of the Board relative to the providing the nar of eligible purchasers to the current owners; and the policy regarding the independent sale of garage, if deeded separately, and the integrity of the affordable unit. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Mr. Allen returned to the meeting to continue discussion on the listed agenda items. Personnel An outline for the evaluation process for the Executive Director was discussed. Ms. Galvin develop a form and fax to each of the Board members for their review. The Board will cond the evaluation at the next Board meeting. The Board was given the meeting dates of 'importance for the next month: Conservation Commission - NO1 to be issued 1/14/99 - Town Hall Summit Village Annual Meeting - 1/13/99 -7 PM (a? Joshua Eaton School Legislative Day at State House - 1/27/99 (a� 9 AM Schoolhouse Annual Meeting - 1/27/99 (a, 7PM (a), Meadow Brook Golf Club Next Board meeting scheduled for February 1, 1999 at 7 PM. There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, —h < Margaret . Plansky, Secretary and Executive Director