HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-09 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING A UTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING September 9 2007
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A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, September 9, 2007 at
7:00 P.M at the office of the Reading Housing Authority the town of Reading, Mass. The meeting was balled
to order at 7:02 P.M. with the Chair, Timothy J. Kelley, presiding. Those members present and forming a
quorum were Diane Cohen, Mary Connors and Karen L. Flammia as well as the Secretary/Executive Director,
Lyn Whyte. Board member John Coote did arrive at 8:1 OPM.
Minutes Move Mary Second Karen Vote 4 -0
08 -015 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of August 6,
2007, as presented.
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Finances Move Mary Second Karen Vote 4 -0
08 -016 VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts Payable heck
#1117 -1181 Payroll Summary as presented for August, 2007. Section 8 Voucher Program, # 795-
1885 as presented.
Finances Move Mary Second Karen Vote 4 -0
08 -017 VOTED: To certify receipt of monthly operating statements for all RUA programs for the i
end July, 2007 of the current fiscal year.
Personnel Matters:
- None
Report of Programs:
- Vacancy Report-. Program Coordinator Mitch Hudzik provided a monthly report. There has been an
unusual high turnover at the 667 elderly development of late; however, we have an extensive wait 1 ist in
place. Eligible tenants are being pulled from that wait list to fill vacancies. All family units are filled at this
time. Our family wait list remains open.
- Sec 8 Report- RHA SEMAP report has been filed electronically for HUD review. This report is due every
two years.
- Resident Service Coordinator- Current Tannerville Newsletter provided.
- An updated status report was presented to Board on the existing mortgages for RHA -owned properties for
review. This request had been made at the August meeting.
- At our August meeting, Board Member John Coote requested that RHA look into a blanket policy for
RHA -owned properties. ED spoke with our insurance agent Joseph Carroll in regard to this question. He
informed me that our policies are dwelling fire policies maxed out at three locations per policy. Pricing on
this type of policy is no different that individual home dwelling policies. There is no financial advantage
for a "blanket" policy on all of our RHA -owned units other than having just one bill. Commercial p11ack ies
do have blanket coverage but are at a higher rate than dwelling policies. RHA has seven Merr
Insurance Company policies in place, which cover nineteen units owned. We just recently coordinated
changes which make policy dates on all these properties coincide with our fiscal operating year end.
New Business:
- Discussion continued on the potential conversion of Summer/Main properties to gas. The project is ex ected
to cost approximately $12,000- $14,000. Keyspan will run the lines to the existing buildings and install the
outside meters at no cost to the RHA. Keyspan will provide heating and water units at a cost of $450 per unit
or $2700.00 overall. Work estimates (by plumbers) to connect the service to each unit within each building
is averaging $9120.00 for the entire job. RHA is anticipating some additional expenses to dispose of old
heating equipment and prepare designated area for new equipment to cost approximately $2000. We are
currently expending about $7700 per year to heat and service the present oil heating system. Although) a rent
change will take effect for all tenants in the buildings once the conversion takes place, we still expect a two
to three year payback on this project. ED is presently working with Keyspan to do their end of the work this
fall and giving us until April 08 to complete the conversion. If not, will Keyspan honor the price un�il next
spring? Updates will follow.
A draft of the state Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was presented to RHA for review and comment. DHCD
contractors inspected our 705 family developments and the 689 Bancroft home in the summer and'Lfall of
2006 to assess the building envelopes and interiors of these units for the purpose of budgeting projected
repairs. Capital funding is suppose to be available to all agencies, regardless of their financial standing, to
improve state housing stock. RHA construction advisor, Randy Waters (DHCD) came out on September 5t'
to take a look at the roof at Bancroft Ave and the roadways and sidewalks at our elderly development for
potential approval and funding to address these issues. All documentation that we had relative to these
potential problem areas was provided to Mr. Waters to support our request for financial assistance from the
state to repair the roadways and replace the roof before the winter begins. RHA should have notice from
DHCD by the end of September in this regard.
RHA mandatory two -year state compliance audit is underway. State auditors began their audit of fisca� years
ending 2006 and 2007.on Monday, September 9`h. End date is unknown at this time.
Real Estate Matter:
Update Gazebo Circle unit: No action is being taken by present owner to re -sell at this time.
Update 75 Pleasant Street: Demolition delay expired on 8/17/07. ED will check with bui ding
inspector to see if there is an expiration date on our initial application to demolish. All notes fror i the
August 2, 2007 ZBA hearing was provided to Board Members for their review. During the last month,
all parties to the project have responded to the comments from ZBA. Brad Latham updateq the
response request to date and it will be provided to the ZBA along with the matrix format for requested
waivers. The next meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2007 at 7:00pm at Town Hall. Financially,
the RHA is still questioning our ability to proceed, however, the RHA board concurred that every
effort should be made to push for a bid package to go out with the hope that we will have cost figures
by the end of November on this proposed project. We did discuss the potential financial burden that
delays continue to impose on the overall agency: lack of potential income for FY08, additional
insurance costs, etc. Note; one of the reasons for not proceeding with the conversion 'of heating at
Summer/Main property is due to the impact that the proposed added expense might have or the
overall program at this time.
An additional discussion on this project continued with all board members present. It was suggested
that an alternative plan be put into place to sell, renovate or purchase additional housing stock. Any
and each of these alternative plans are somewhat intertwined, however, the Board concurred that
before the October meeting, efforts will be made to do the following: present a financial cost estimate
to purchase a potential multi - family unit, provide an estimate on the projected re -sale value o our
property and the present market in Reading on multi - family homes for sale. This information w 1 be
presented at the October board meeting.
Board Schedule
October 1, 2007 BOARD MEETING: 09/10/2007 @ 7 PM
08 -018 TO ADJOURN: 8:55 PM. Move John Second Mary Vote 5 -0
Res c lly submitted,
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Lyn E. Whyte, Secretary& Executive Director