HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-04 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING
OF DECEMBER 4, 2000
A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday,
December 4, 2000 at 7:00 P.M. at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive
in the town of Reading, Massachusetts. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.
with the Chair, Mr. Allen, presiding. Those members present and forming a quorum
were Ms. Flammia, Mr. Sweet and Mr. Kelley. Ms. Connors was not able to attend. The
Executive Director, Ms. Plansky, and the Executive Director designee, Mr. Hixson,
were also in attendance.
Minutes
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of
October 13, 2000, as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of
November 6, 2000, as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of
November 16, 2000, as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Finances
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts
Payable Check #5723 -5776; Payroll Check #2881 -2927; Section 8 Certificate Program
#6100 -6119; Section 8 Voucher Program #6120 -6172; as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Page 2
Minutes
12/4/2000
Sin le Audit —Exit Interview biv State Auditors
was conuted on Nvemb The exit interview for the Single Audit for FY Th 0 auditors drecported noo f dings for
2000 at the completion of the on -site audit.
conditions but recommended that the accrual of ear ed time be The written aken port is
employee to bring it back in line with the p P
expected before the end of the year.
New Accounts
When the BankBoston and Fleet merged feted to So Sovereign. We need to transfer this
p
the FSS Escrow account which was trap
account back to Fleet as Sovereign is difficult to deal with. Transferring this month will
give us more interest as Fleets rates are higher.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Mr. Sweet, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To approve and sign the Certification d signature cards to transfer the FSS
Escrow account from Sovereign Bank to Fleet Bank.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Mr. Sweet, it was.
unanimously
VOTED: To approve the electronic filing of the employee tax deposits with a $2 per
transaction charge (estimate 12 per year) with Fleet Bank.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Mass Rental Voucher Program —ACC
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Flammia, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To approve and authorize the Chairman tO sign ffeCtiAve September lt 2000, as
Contract for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher
presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Window Re lacement — MOD Closeout resented to the Board for their
A copy of the budget as amended- with DHCD was p
review. We have not received final approval of this money.
Page 3
Minutes
12/4/2000
82 Linden Street -Bid for Purchase
The advertisement seeking interested and qualified purchasers for the property at 82
Linden Street has been placed in the Daily Times Chronicle and mailed to the owner's
attorney, Mr. Latham. Mr. Greco, the Authority's attorney, is interested in purchasing
the building depending upon favorable financing and Ethics Commission review. Mr.
Allen reported that he had a call from the Town Manager who expressed the concern of
the Board of Selectmen that all units were not affordable. Mr. Allen explained that the
cost to finance the building with 4 units was too high for the Authority. The Town
Manager suggested that the $40,000 payment from Grove Street could be used to offset
the costs. Mr. Allen explained that the house price would have to be reduced
considerably and the $40,000 contribution is on a staggered schedule and would not be
cost effective for the Authority.
PleaseandWilson Street — Modular Home
The anticipated delivery is expected to be the 1 " or 2nd week in January 2001.
Pet Waiver 667 Development
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Ms. Flammia, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To approve and authorize the tenant at #29 -5 to have a cat according to the
Pet Ownership rules as promulgated by DHCD.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Report of Programs
• We have had 2 more apartments at Tannerville which have been vacated during the
month. There is a problem with applicants not being able to accept 2nd floor
apartments. Within the next month there will be outreach sent to various
organizations with the new income guidelines and qualifications for eligibility for
the 667 program We will also have to open our 705 Family housing wait list for 3
and 4 bedroom applicants.
• Board suggested that a new shed be installed at 75 Pleasant Street for tenants'
storage of bikes, barrels, etc. Each tenant should have a separate area in the shed.
• We have 1 apartment at Waverly Oaks, which was scheduled for vacancy on
November 1" but the tenant has not moved — thus delaying the tenant who will
occupy. The tenant that accepted the unit and was not able to move in has declined
accepting the unit as he felt that the authority was "jerking him around ". We have
sent him a letter and left several phone calls in this regard and they have not
answered. We are moving on with tenanting the unit.
• The landscaping has been completed at Tanner Drive and looks great. Recommend
a maintenance program to keep this large expenditure healthy and growing.
Page 4
Minutes
12/4/2000
s the dead
The tree work at Pleasant /Wilson Street wn next to the fence the eastaside of the . This
tree that we promised we would take do
property.
The Reading Housing Authority's Annual Report for 2000 will be written by Ms.
Plansky before her final day of employment.
The one year plan for HUD programs will have to be prepared. As this will set out
the policy of the Board for the upcoming year, the new Executive Director will
formulate this. A suggestion was made to have Diane Cohen help with this.
Personnel
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director per we k plus once a month
Service Coordinator at a rate of $18 per hour for 10 hours p
for an additional 3 hours one time per month for the Sunday brunch.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To sign the Contract for Employment with John R. Hixson of mbridge,
Massachusetts for a one year period at a rate of $47,000 per ear, as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Sweet and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
unanimously
VOTED: The Board of the Reading Housing Authority expresses its grateful
recognition of the outstanding contributions of Margaret Plansky, Executive Director, to
the affordable housing needs of the Town of Reading.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Ms. Plansky expressed her appreciation and thanks to the Board for their constant
support and dedication throughout her 15+ years eDxperience enriching a d
of the staff and the cooperation of the Boa rd has made the
rewarding and has contributed to the growth and development of the Director as well as
the Authority.
Page S
Minutes
12/4/2000
Board Schedule
JANUARY BOARD MEETING: 1/8/2001 @ 7 PM with the, new Executive
Director, Mr. Hixson
Community Preservation Workshop — January 9, 2001— Selectmen sponsored.
There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn
at 9:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mar et K. Plansky, Secret
and Executive Director
