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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-10 Reading Housing Authority Minutes=READING HOUSING AUTHORITY MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2000 A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, January 10, 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 Chairman, Mr. Sweet, presiding. Also in attendance were Mr. Allen, Ms. Galvin, Mr. Kelley and Ms. Connors as well as the associate Board Member, Ms. Flammia and the Executive Director, Ms. Plansky. The General Contractor for the Pleasant/Wilson Street property, Harry Nelson, as well as a neighbor representing the neighborhood, Mr. LeBlanc and Mr. Woodman, were also in attendance. Minutes Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of Regular Business Meeting held on December 6, 1999, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Executive Session of the Board Meeting held on December 6, 1999, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of Board Retreat Meeting held on December 9, 1999, as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Finances Upon: a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts Payable Check #5064 -5121; Payroll Check #2413 -2445; Section 8 Certificate Program #5356 -5400 Section 8 Voucher Program #2384 -2414; MRVP - #578 ; as presented. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Minutes 1/10/2000 Page 2 Financial Overview ofAuthority Mr. Allen presented a financial overview of the Authority and what money might be needed within the next five years. The Director presented information from Housing Partners, Inc. who are consultants that would work with small housing authorities to get a Standard and Poor's rating for issuance of bonds. Ms. White from Housing Partners will be meeting with Marc Slotnick from DHCD to pursue this concept. Mr. Slotnick referred Ms. White to the RHA as being a very "entrepreneurial" authority who would do well with the concept. Contract for lVindows Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Construction Contract for Windows at the 667C Development in the amount of $203,600.00 with the Department of Housing and Community Development and Vareika Construction, Inc. of Brockton, M.A. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. 689 Program — 74 Bancroft Avenue The Board is in receipt of a lien of $1948.49 from the Town of Reading for 74 Bancroft Avenue operated by Northeast Residential Services. This lien is for failure to pay the water /sewer bills as required by the lease. The Director contacted the DMH Program Manager, Jane Ryder. She said that the bills have been paid by Department of Revenue to the Town. Unfortunately, the bills are not broken out for each project so the Town does not know where to apportion the money. The Director called Beth Klepeis, Town Accountant, who stated that this was essentially correct and that she would contact Jane Ryder to get the necessary detail so that the payments could be properly credited. Will keep the Board informed. Pleasant and Wilson Streets - Modular Home Harry Nelson informed the Board that Sulfaro Construction was not able to perform and recommended that the Board award the project to Lynch Construction of Reading in the amount of $19,960.00. This cost does not include a fence or dewatering. Mr. Nelson also reviewed the bidding requirements for a modular home to be erected on site. Pleasant and Wilson Streets - Modular Home Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously Minutes 1/10/2000 Page 3 VOTED: To rescind the prior vote accepting the low bid of $7250.00 from Sulfaro Associates to do the site work including all the necessary prep work according to the approved plans and specifications for the Pleasant and Wilson Street lot. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept the bid from Lynch Construction of North Reading in the amount of $9,995.00 to do site prep and grading, as per the approved plans and specifications for the Pleasant and Wilson Street lot. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Kelley and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To accept the bid from Lynch Construction of North Reading in the amount of $9,995.00 to construct the foundation without dewatering and without the temporary fence, as per the approved plans and specifications for the Pleasant and Wilson Street lot. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Bid f or Z Family Home at Pleasani/Wilson Streets The Board reviewed the proposed building design as presented by Mr. Nelson. The Board reviewed the addition of a window in the stairway; the rearrangement of the kitchen on the 3- bedroom unit; the addition of a small bathroom window in each unit. The neighbors asked that the front porch be trimmed attractively with appropriate moldings to make the porch more attractive. Mr. Woodman also wanted to know what color the house would be painted. The Board decided on a medium grey house with white trim and black shutters. The neighbors were satisfied with the color selection. Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to work with the General Contractor to prepare the bid specifications for the construction of a 2- family house for the Pleasant and Wilson Street lot as per the draft plans and specifications presented. The Chairn- AW,�then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Minutes 1/10/2000 Page 4 Personnel The Executive Director reported that the maintenance position has been filled and that the new hire is Dean Dillon, a former Reading resident, who started work as of this date. Five Year Plan The Director reported that the draft as approved at last Board meeting will be distributed for public cominent. HUD keeps changing the requirements for the resident advisory board. As suggested last month by the Board, a 5 member resident advisory board will be is e . Th e irec or recommended t a letter be sent to every person on our programs announcing the board. The final 5 board members will be chosen by lottery selection- IT xecutive Session for the purpose of discussing real estate matters and to return to Regular session at close of Executive Session VOTED: To adjourn to Executive Session at 8:45 P.M. for the purpose of discussing real estate and other pending legal issues and to reconvene in regular session before adjourning, by the following roll call vote: Mr. Kelley — aye Mr. Allen — aye Ms. Galvin — aye Ms. Connors — aye Mr. Sweet — aye The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. The Board returned to regular session at 9:15 P.M. to continue discussion on the listed agenda items. Section 8 Wait Lill Qpenft — Appeal Mass. Law Reform met with the Chairman and Executive Director along with the RHA attorney on the appeal to MCAD of the wait list opening for Section 8. After the meeting, the RHA received a call from Mass. Law Reform that they were not opposed to the issuance of the vouchers. A'rpeeting with all parties was rescheduled for January 18, 2000. The Director also reported, that a legal action agq#Ist an Authority is also reviewed by HUD's Fair Housing and Equal Qpportunity Department. HUD will review the agreement between Mass. Law Reform and the Authority and decide if they have cause to proceed further. Minutes 1/10/2000 Page 5 Report of Programs The financial statements for November 30, 1999 were distributed to the Board for review. The vacancy at the 667, which was taken off line for the auditors is leased with a transfer of one tenant to another unit. That vacant unit is now being refurbished. Transfers can cause other problems for the Authority. Residents see that someone is being transferred and they then want a new apartment — out front, another building, etc. Transfers for good cause must have a substantiated medical reason or other good cause. One residents has been wanting to move from the back to the front with no medical necessity and has been consistently denied. This new move (due to a stroke) of a resident has spurred new activity from this other tenant. DentaUVisioin Coverage for Eligible Employees Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimosly VOTED: To authorize the Executive Director to enroll all eligible employees in a dental/vision plan as approved by DHCD with the payment of 85% to the Authority and the employee share at 15 %. The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. Meeting Schedule JANUARY MEETINGS— 1/18/2000 @ 8 PM — Selectmen: Consent Agreement for 75 Pleasant Street and Comprehensive Permit for 82 Linden Street. COMPREHENSIVE PERMITS — Pleasant and Wilson Street and 82 Linden Street — to be scheduled by the Zoning Board of Appeals. FEBRUARY MEETING — 2/7 /2000 - Regular Board meeting There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:35 P.M. Respoetfuliy submitted, Marg et . Plansky, Secretary And Executive Director