HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-08-06 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING - August 6.2001
A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, August 6,
2001 at 7:00 P.M. at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the town of
Reading, Mass. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. with the Chair, Tim Kelley,
presiding. Those members present and forming a quorum were Don Allen, Mary Connors, Kar
Flammia and John Coote as well as the Secretary/Executive Director, John Hixson. Guests we
Attorney John Greco, Ann Houston of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), and
Virginia Adams of the Reading Historical Commission (RHQ.
Minutes Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -058 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of
2001, as presented.
Finances Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -059 VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroL/billroll for the period for Accounts Pay
Check #6199 -6266; Payroll Check #3252 -3306; Section 8 Voucher Program, 006673- 006729,
MRVP — No check; as presented.
FY 2001 Budget Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -060 VOTED: To approve and authorize the Executive Director to sign the FY 2001 4001
Budget Final Report as submitted.
FY 2001 Budget Move Don Second Karen Vote 5 -0
01 -061 VOTED: To approve and authorize the Executive Director to sign the FY 2001
Budget Final Report as submitted.
FY 2001 Budget Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -062 VOTED: To approve and authorize the Executive Director to sign the FY 2001 MR`
Budget Final Report as submitted.
Section 8 FSS Annual Report Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -063 VOTED: To approve the RHA's FSS Report for FY 2001.
Pleasant/Wilson Loan Modification Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -064 VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to sign documents approving a modificati4
to the Reading Cooperative Bank loan for Pleasant/Wilson extending the time period to convert
a conventional loan, as per the attached.
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Executive Director Contract Approval Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -065 VOTED: To authorize the Chairman to offer up to three (3) weeks vacation in the first
year and to sign the Contract for Employment with Lynn Whyte of Saugus, Massachusetts for' a
one year period at a rate of $50,000 per year, as presented.
Real Estate Matters
a. - Pleasant and Wilson Street — Occupancy has been accomplished. Work on a punch list
continues, with landscaping the major item remaining.
b. — Peter Sanborn Place and Creation of a Non -Profit Organization (NPO)— Jacquie has filed her
HUD 202 application, with response due between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and construction at
least a year beyond that. The other 30 units (20 affordable) could be developed by a NPO.
John arranged to have Ann Houston from MHP meet earlier with Jacquie Carson and him at
Sanborn Place. Ann is recommending formation of an NPO with either a separate or an
overlapping Board of Directors to do the 30 units. She explained why neither RHA or a mirror
Board could do it because of state regulations associated with housing authorities (HA's) as
municipal entities. Chapter 121B provides that HA's may develop housing that is supported only
by 30% of the tenants' income. Chapter 30B has extensive rules on procurement of goods and
services. Chapter 7 includes an elaborate designer selection process. Chapter 149 invokes
prevailing wages and filed sub -bids. There are strict open meeting and ethical statutes. The end
result is a minimum 20% to as much as $60,000 per unit cost penalty to HA's or non - profits that
are deemed to have an "identity of interest ".
An overlapping Board with a minority of RHA members would eliminate these issues, I ut
conflict of interest laws would prevent the joint members from voting on issues of joint intere .
Other members can be found from Town groups with similar interests such as former Selectmen,
members of the Council on Aging, the Town Planner or people from the Housing Partnership. T le
legal work for such an NPO is not great, and John Greco volunteered his services. The next step
will be a joint meeting with the Sanborn/United Church Homes group to discuss the project aid
decide about forming an NPO.
c. - Governor's Drive, Audubon/Pearl and Birch Lane Properties - held by Selectmen for fort er
study of issues raised by neighbors. Test holes done on Governor's Drive, and two buildable lots
are there. The Town Manager still intends to move this effort forward. Two other properties,
Audubon/Pearl and Birch Lane, may also be put forward as sites to move houses for first-time
homebuyers. Each site would be handled individually.
Virginia Adams from RHC spoke about the house at 1375 Main Street that must be mov d
to be saved from demolition after the delay until October expires. The Greek Revival c. 18 C
house is in poor condition, but is a National Register property and worth saving. The site
developers will provide RHC with $20,000 to help move the house or, failing that, for other
historical purposes. Virginia brought pictures and plans for the house. John will contact archite t
Les Brown to look at this house and the other possible acquisition sites on Middlesex and Main,
properties owned by Kevin Fulgoni. After a brief discussion of the properties:
Offer to Kevin Fulgoni. Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -066 VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to offer Kevin Fulgoni $500,000 for the two
multifamily houses at 6 Middlesex and 494 Main contingent on grant and loan financing that would
enable the RHA to acquire and rehab the properties.
Adjourn: Move Don Second Mary Vote 5 -0
01 -067 VOTED: To adjourn. ADJOURN: 10:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
John R. Hixson, Secretary & Executive Director