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Home My WebLink About1997-06-02 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY Minutes of the Meeting of June 2, 1997 A regular Board meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, June 2, 1 at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading, Massachu The acting Chairman, Mr. Allen, called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Those members present and forming a quorum were: Ms. Galvin and Ms. Connors. Ms. Plansky, the Exect 197, Director, was also in attendance along with Teresa Ewald, our fee accountant. Mr. Kelley j�ined the meeting at 7:15 P.M. Minutes Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Galvin and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was unanimous] VOTED: To accept for the record the minutes of the May 12, 1997, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Finances Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Connors and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimousl, VOTED: To approve and sign checkroll/billroll for period: A/P Check # 3434 -3472; Payro Checks #1379 -1416; Landlord Checks #3733 -3790 for Section 8 Certificates ; #1675 -1697 Section 8 Vouchers; and #522 -524 for MRVP, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Galvin and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the renewal of the maintenance contract for the two Xerox machines: at $524 year; the other for $228 year. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. The Executive Director presented the information regarding the Workers Compensation pc The MassNAHRO Workers Compensation Trust has an estimated new premium of $4854 discount of $1213; thus making the payable approximately $3640. The actual cost may be higher due to actual payroll paid. As we have had to hire temporary personnel and have increased our maintenance hours, this will have an upward impact on premium. Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Galvin and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was VOTED: To accept for the record the letter of May 23, 1997 from the Office of the State Auditor regarding the report of the limited scope audit of all Authority programs conducted their office which shows no findings or recommendations.. Page 2 Minutes 6/2/97 The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Accounting Services - Fenton. Ewald and Associates Teresa Ewald, our Account Executive from Fenton, Ewald and Associates, reported on the services her company provides to our authority under the current contract. In reviewing the proposed contract, Ms. Ewald said that there would be a slight reduction of $6 per month in costs for next year due to the low number of MRVP in our program. The Board thanked Ms. Ewald would f6bi her presentation and act on approval of e accounting contract at the next Board meeting. Summit Village - A % fordable Un 411RHA Mr. Dolben requested time to meet with the Board regarding the kitchen cabinets substitution and the related costs. The RHA had.not been given notice that there was to be a substitution and had no opportunity to make another selection. As these cabinets were not acceptable to the RHA as units of equal value, the Authority asked that these costs be waived. Mr. Dolben agreed and we released building #5. After that Mr. Dolben asked that he speak with the Board in this regard. A list of current and prior complaints regarding all "affordable" units was given to Mr. Allen. There has been an ongoing problem with the affordable buyers and the sales office; punch list items have not been done, or if done, are of poor quality and not satisfactory; workmanship is a major problem; parking is a free - for -all; delay in delivery of buildings has had serious financial impact on some buyers (some of whom backed out); communication with sales office, corporate office and maintenance /management. Mr. Dolben was told of the date /time of the Board meeting. He failed to appear at this meeting. Hearing Q&er - Alternate Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Galvin and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To appoint Jacqueline Carson as alternate hearing officer under the Grievance Procedures for the Reading Housing Authority programs. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. The Executive Director reported that she has sent a letter to the Director of DHCD regarding their listing of the "affordable" housing stock in the Town of Reading. The "linkage units" have not been included and should be added to their list. IN 7 689 Program: The insurance coverage for the Bancroft Avenue house is approved and should be about $855 per year for General Liability coverage. Reshingling and painting are on the schedule for completion by late June 1997. Open house should follow shortly thereafter. All Programs: Schoolhouse: 667; 705 -1; 705-2; Summer/Main Street/Summit Village• turned over 2 apartments at Tannerville this last month. The two apartment at Summer Avenue/Main Street have been leased and occupied since last month. We anticipate three turnovers at Tanner Drive for July 1st; as well as one 3BR family unit at 705 -1 (Waverly and one 3BR family unit (which we will acquire this month) at Summit Village. We have 6 workers from the Middlesex House of Correction doing landscaping work at our developments for one week. We are removing a lot of overgrowth; trimming back winter damage; pruning bushes, cleaning up old brush, leaves, etc. Hopefully, we will get them to spread the mulch. Much will still remain to be done. We will look into landscaping/tree rei as well. We have had the hydroseeding done at Waverly Oaks and Summer/Main Street. The Board is scheduled to meet with the Selectmen on Tuesday, June 10th to discuss various housing matters. Also, that night Mary Connors will be up for reappointment. She has agree stand for reappointment. The matters for discussion with the Selectmen will be the house on John Street; the Dolben house on Hopkins Street; the lot at Pleasant and Wilson Street. I ha-, contacted 5 building moving companies. They are extremely difficult to get a hold of and I I faxed 2 of them information. They will be getting back to me with a quote. They will not cc out and look at the property. until we decide if we want to spend the money to move the hous The historical house (32 John Street) needs a lot of work. It would be costly to buy; move an rehab this house. There is technical assistance money through Mass Housing Partnership and CEDAC/Federal money available. Money through MHP or other funds has become extremel competitive. This must be a mission of the Town and RHA in order to make it work. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To amend the RHA's Section 8 Hearing Procedures as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. to Page 4 Minutes 6/2/97 The Chairman noted that the Town will be having a meeting on June 5, 1997 at 7:30 P.M. at the Coolidge Middle School in conjunction with the State Ethics Commission regarding the Conflict of Interest Law. Board members and the Executive Director were requested to make an effort to attend this meeting. J t' t'► ►► The next Board meeting should also be our Annual Meeting after Mary Connors' reappointment and Bob wee as returned. a next meeting is scheduled for July 7, 1997 at 7 P.M. There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Rv Marg K. Plansky, Secretary and Executive Director