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Home My WebLink About1996-08-05 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY Minutes of the Meeting of August 5, 1996 A regular Board meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, August 5, 1996, at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading, Massachusetts. The acting Chairman, Donald C. Allen, called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.1 Those members present and forming a quorum were: Vice - Chairman and Acting Chairman, Allen, Ms. Galvin, Ms. Connors and Mr. Kelley. Ms. Plansky, the Executive Director, was also in attendance along with the Authority's fee accountant, Teresa Ewald. Later in the meeti the Authority's attorney, Mr. Greco was in attendance. Minutes Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Connors and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 1, 1996, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Connors and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts Payable Chec #2900 -2959; Payroll Check #1073 -1101; Section 8 Certificate Program #3180 -3233; Section Voucher Program #1464 -1480; and Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program #479 -483, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. FY'96 State Budget - Year -ends and FY'97State Budgets Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Connors and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the budgets for FY'96 for all State programs, as presented by Teresa Ewald, the Authority's fee accountant, as follows: Operating Receipts Operating Expenditures Consolidated - 4001 $270,749.00 $ 218,415.00 689 -1 (Bancroft Ave.) 13,924.00 13,924.00 MRVP 1,209.00 613.00 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 Page 2 Minutes 8/5/96 VOTED: To accept the year end financial statements for all State Programs (4001, 689 -1 and MRVP) as presented by the fee accountant, Teresa Ewald and to authorize the Executive Director to sign and forward the copies to the Division of Housing and Community Development for their records. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Banking Services .firF Mr. Allen reported on the responses from area banks and the requirement that the Authority collateralize their money over $100,000.00. As Mr. Allen reported, BayBank and Fleet are the only banks that responded that are currently collateralizing. The fees associated with Fleet were .. much higher than those at BayBank. As Bank of Boston and BayBank have now merged, it is probably best to just stay where we are. Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Galvin and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve the Section 8 Annual Contribution Contract; Project No. MA 075 CE 0013 for a period of 2 years, 8/1/96 through 7/31/98, with no increase in the Program Reserve as there is sufficient program reserve in the RHA account. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Connors and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To enter into a contract between the Reading Housing Authority and the Division of Housing and Community Development to administer the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) when and if the Reading Housing Authority receives an AHVP transfer or makes application to administer this program. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Window revlacpment - 667 D veL ment (Frank D Tanner Drive Senator Tisei requested money in the State's supplemental budget for the RHA in the amount of $175,000.00 (approximately. Although both Senator Tisei and Representative Jones fought hard to get it out of study committee, they were unsuccessful. This appropriation died when the N legislature adjourned on July 31, 1996. The Authority hopes to be able to talk to DHCD and what can be done about getting this approved through modernization funds before the winter begins. m i ' !IVWII Parker Place - The 4 BR unit now empty. We have substantial work to do there; painting, i carpeting; new appliances, etc. We estimate this to cost over $7000 before we are finished. Tannerville - We are in the process of doing rent recertifications before August 31, 1996 for October 1, 1996 increase. Waverly Oaks - New screen doors have been installed at the rear of the buildings for each uni Main & Summer Avenue - All units are currently leased. We have the possibility of another vacancy in 90 days because of over - income and the new HUD regulations in this regard. « :. . . , The Authority's attorney, Mr. Greco, reported that DHCD (formerly EOCD) has approved language different from our negotiated initial draft. Bob Cavicchi from the Boston Gas Company is not pleased with this and has stated that he wants the language as outlined in his 8/5/96 letter approved and signed. Also, the Board authorizied Mr. Sweet to sign and he is currently not available. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was unanimously VOTED: To execute the agreement as proposed by the Division of Housing and Community Development which: 1) omits the work "direct" on page 3, 1 st paragraph; and also 2) to remove the language from page 3, from "GRANTEE shall maintain general liability. to "in the Easement area. "; and 3) to authorize the Vice - Chairman to sign the Easement between the parties in place of the Chairman who is not available at this time. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Page 4 Minutes 8/5/96 The Authority received a letter dated August 5, 1996 from Joseph Delaney of the Reading Department of Public Works stating that the Town would assume the responsibility of installing a grassed -over swale in the area behind building 4 Frank D. Tanner Drive to alleviate the possibility of future flooding and the current water retention problem in that area. The Authority requested that the attorney review the "Right of Entry" and either approve or modify the language so that the Board could settle this matter. There is still the request that a storage shed be constructed for the Authority's use for allowing this temporary easement. Mr. Greco has discussed the addendum to the "Land Use Agreement" with Mr. Dolben's attorney, Mr. Ley. He will work out the details and have a final proposal for the Board at their next meeting. He has also formulated a "waiver" for the affordable purchasers to sign for the reduction in price which waive any claims against the Authority, the Partnership, the Town and/or the developer relative to the pricing of the affordable units. The Executive Director reported on the meeting she had with Bernie O'Shaugnessy and Andrew Zawleski, architect for McNeil Associates. They are looking at the feasibility of building on the site at #36 and how we can work together in a public /private partnership to build an assisted living community at our site. The Board discussed the formation of a sub - committee to study how best to approach and manage such a public /private partnership; the land lease; replacement housing; the formation of a non - profit corporation, etc. The sub - committee consists of. Donald Allen, Mary Connors, the Executive Director and the RHA attorney. 97071, I .f ILI/I u A presentation was made by Mr. Allen to see if the RHA would like to work with him in managing this type of service in this and surrounding communities. The Board asked Mr. Allen to investigate the question of whether the Town's zoning would permit such a use to be conducted on this site; personnel issues; the liability issues for failing to call; not forwarding the "kicked -out" calls, etc., whether we should do this as the RHA or through a non - profit. Mr. Greco felt that Mr. Allen could work with the Authority on this as long as he sought and obtained an opinion from the State Ethics Commission beforehand and that he did not participate in discussion or vote. on any matters that were relative to this endeavor. Mr. Allen will continue his research and will report back to the Board at the next meeting. The Board briefly discussed the proposed fee schedule for accounting services for the Authoril for the next fiscal year. The Board asked that the Executive Director work with Teresa Ewald regarding the additional charge to the RHA -owned account and see if that can be reduced. There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 11:15 PM. The next Board meeting is scheduled for September 9, 1996. Respectfully submitted, Margaret . Plansky, Secretary and Executive Director