Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-19 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY Minutes of the Meeting of March 19. 1997 A regular business meeting of the members of the Reading Housing Authority scheduled to conti the discussion on the new contract with the Department of Mental Retardation and the neighb from the 74 Bancroft Avenue, Reading area, was held on Wednesday, March 19, 1997 at 6:30 P at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading, Massachuse The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. with the Chairman, Mr. Sweet, presiding. Th members present and forming a quorum were: Mr. Kelley, Ms. Connors and Mr. Allen. Executive Director, Ms. Plansky, was also in attendance. Representing the Department of Mental Retardation were Amanda Chalmers, Ed Fitzgerald, Claire O'Brien and Nancy Lovetere. Representing the Authority was John L. Greco, our attorney. Managgment Contract for 74 Bancroft Avenue DMR presented the team from Northeast Residential Services, Mandy Chalmers represented to the Board that there were 3 issues: 1) language regarding conduct for staff and clients 2) insurance /indemnification 3) maintenance agreement The Board asked the Executive Director to review the progress to date on the negotiations for the lease at 74 Bancroft Avenue. The Director reported that Deb Grzywacz from DMR central of ice had been at DHCD with the Director of Management, Carole Collins and had called the Autho 'ty. From the discussion, it appeared that all negotiations agreed to or in discussion from the meeting of March 3, 1997 with the Board no longer are effective. Ms. Grzywacz represented that there wc uld be no change to the state model "Management Contract" and the addendum would not be included. There also was some confusion as to the number of clients: DMR wants 4; RHA has a Contract for Financial Assistance for 8 clients. This could have adverse impacts on budgeting and fundi if there is any future change to the administration of this program. 7 Ms: Chalmers represented that she had talked to Ms. Grzywacz after the discussion with Ms. Collins and Ms. Plansky. She believes that DMR will agree to the maintenance language. DMR would prefer this not to be in the body of the document. DMR only operates 4 person programs; do not agree with the 8 person requirement. The language regarding conduct was thought to be discriminatory. Mr. Greco represented that a change could be made so that the language is sirriflar to that required in the other State leases for 667 and 705 programs. Mr. Fitzgerald felt that this would be satisfactory as long as it did not contain any further requirements of the 689 clients than that of the other State programs. Upon a motion duly made by Mr Allen and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize and direct the Executive Director to work with the RHA attorney, Mr. Page 2 Minutes 3/19/97 Greco, to negotiate the term of the lease for the residence at 74 Bancroft Avenue for 5 years with wording that would allow a change of site that is mutually acceptable to the RHA and DMR. If such an arrangement cannot be made, DHCD would stand as the final arbiter of the matter. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Mr Allen and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director and the RHA attorney, with final approval by the Chairman, to formulate and incorporate wording of language similar to that in other State leases for elderly and family housing that states the lessees.responsibility for conduct of staff and clients for this 689 agreement. The Chainnan then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. The Chairman discontinued discussion on the contract to present the changes to the program that is proposed for 74 Bancroft Avenue. There were 3 people from the neighborhood present: Mr. and Mrs. Stafford from 26 Middlesex Avenue; and Barbara Hoyt from 66 Bancroft Avenue. The Chairman reported that the former residents of Bancroft Avenue have moved to Hopkins Street with a new house under EMARC. The proposal is to occupy the house at 74 Bancroft Avenue with 4 clients that are similar in profile but younger than the previous tenants. The Chairman informed the neighbors that the RHA had toured the Hogan Regional Center to view the program. The clients proposed for Bancroft Avenue will generally be in workshops or training programs. Mr. Sweet said that die hoped that the community could find work for these new tenants in the town. DMR stated that they currently operate other such group homes in Lynnfield, Wakefield, Billerica, etc. The clients are familiarized with the neighborhood, the shopping area, and the local library. The.clients pose no risk to the community, children or neighbors. The neighbors were concerned that the house would be kept up. Both the RHA and DMR provided assurances to the neighbors. The question on staffing at the house was raised by the neighbors. DMR responded that there would be 2 staff to each shift; 6 persons each day. The residents and staff would shop for, prepare and eat meals together. DMR has been operating state -run facilities such as this one since 1988 and currently have 32 homes and anticipate growth to 39 homes in the near future. DMR explained that they plan to have an open house shortly after opening for the neighbors and community to introduce the new residents to the Town. At 7:50 P.M. the Board resumed discussion of the agreement with the DMR representatives. 3 3/1 Upon a motion duly made by Mr Allen and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director and the RHA attorney to work out language the Department of Housing and Community Development regarding the liability issues and attending attorney fees. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. The Board was satisfied that the language could be worked out, whether in the body of the agreement or as an amendment, so long as the conditions as voted were met. The Chairman, Mr. Sweet, asked if there were any other issues before the Board. The Chair hearing none, then stated that he personally was very disappointed at the process and asked that the representatives from DMR take his concerns back to the Commissioner or his representative. He stated that he felt that the housing authority had been blindsided by the termination of the EMARC lease and management contract. Comments made by the Town Manager to EMARC at their Hopkins Street Open House iterated the same concerns of the community in this regard. The Chairman hoped that any future negotiations between housing authorities and DMR woul take the authorities into the process from the beginning. Mr. Sweet stated that he felt that bod DMR and EMARC had not dealt fairly with the RHA especially since a new lease for this hoi had been negotiated last July. Mr. Sweet said that he felt that we would be able to deal with e other now; but he definitely wanted to see a programmatic change in the negotiation process. Mr. Sweet hoped that we would'be able to move on from here dealing with each other openly and fairly. Mr. Fitzgerald from DMR said that he felt that the local area office shared some of the blame apologized for not getting the authority and the community involved in the process earlier. H felt that the former tenants needed to find one floor living and the decision had been made on basis. Mr. Fitzgerald promised to share information with the authority on any changes in the future. The Executive Director distributed a letter from Longwood Place in Reading to the Town Cle k . regarding the residency and length of residency for clients/families of the affordable units at Longwood Place. The Chair thanked the Director and expressed his concern that it had taken so, long to receive this information. There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:1 PM. Respectfully submitted, . 7� ``- -� G✓1