HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-12-04 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING A UTHORIT Y
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING December 4 2006
A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, December 6, 2 06
at 7:00 P.M at the office of the Reading Housing Authority the town of Reading, Mass. The meeting was
called to order at 7:05 P.M. with the Chair, Diane Cohen, presiding. Those members present and
forming a quorum were John Coote, Tim Kelley, Mary Connors and Karen L. Flammia as well as the
Secretary/Executive Director, Lyn Whyte.
Minutes Move Tim Second Mary Vote 5 -0
02 -338 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of November 6,
2006, as presented.
Finances - Move Tim Second Mary Vote 5 -0
02 -339 VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts Payable Check #x617-
667. Payroll Summary as presented for November, 2006. Section 8 Voucher Program, #924-1019 as
presented.
Finances Move Tim Second Mary Vote 5 -0
02 -340 VOTED: To certify receipt of monthly operating statements for all RHA programs for the month end
October, 2006 of the current fiscal year.
Renewal Accounting Contract Move Tim Second Mary Vote 5 -0
02 -341 VOTED: To approve and authorize Executive Director to sign one year contracts, July 1
2006 through June 30, 2007 with the accounting firm of Fenton, Ewald & Associates per agreements.
Personnel Matters:
- Staff holiday lunch is scheduled for Thursday, December 21 st.
Report of Proerams:
- Vacancy Report-A report was presented for review by Mitch Hudzik, program coordinator. All
elderly units are leased. We have an expected vacate for a first floor unit by December. 31. A new
tenant has been screened and is ready to occupy that said unit. A 2 -BR family unit is vacant. Offer
was made and refused. We are presently screening two additional wait list applicants. Our hope is to
lease by December 15th.
- Sec 8 Report- Although no official report was presented, we expect to have 123 vouchers utilized by
December 15. We also have four more vouchers given out with expected lease ups. At that time, RHA
Section 8 program will be fully leased.
- FSS Report — No official report presented until Qtr. End Dec. 06, however, we are two open spots for
this program and will be meeting with potential clients to enter contract for that program. Once that
occurs, our assigned slots will be filled.
- Resident Service Coordinator- Current Tannerville Newsletter provided. It was noted that the dates
were off this week. The error will be corrected.
New Business:
- A new contract for FY07 accounting services with Fenton, Ewald & Associates was presented for
review and approval. The requested increases adhere to DHCD budget guidelines published for F 07.
- The RHA received official notification of approval of FEMA/MEMA funds for the spring rains. We are
awaiting receipt of funds.
- The Board was extended an invitation to our annual resident Christmas Party on Wednesday, December
20`h at noon.
- All RHA budgets approved at the November Board meeting were submitted to DHCD with their
approval letter received on 11/28/06.
- Discussion took place relative to RHA "capital" expenditures and whether board votes are necessary to
expend specific dollar amounts. Executive Director will provide our policy on procurement for review
at next meeting.
Real Estate Matter:
- Update 75 Pleasant Street: Discussions continued on whether RHA wanted to continue with the
project and deal with the risk of the potential financial impact that delays might have on the
overall agency. Since the November board meeting, the Executive Director met with Reading
Cooperative Bank President Julie Thurlow to discuss the possibility of RHA self - financing this
project. She was provided updated year -end statements for FY06 as well as the most re ent
operating statements for all RHA programs. Upon her review, she informed me that 1 the
Cooperative Bank would be willing to issue a letter of intent supporting us in refinancing ore of
our three family units located at either Summer Ave or Main Street location to close the gap on
the costs of new construction. The question still remains as to whether we want to leverage Other
properties to finance new development when it remains unclear as to these costs. DHCD has
made it difficult to gage where we stand and where we should head. The Board did discuss the
option of selling our property at 75 Pleasant Street and purchasing additional housing else ere
in Town. This option of purchasing existing structures in Town has worked well for this agency
in the past. At this time, the Board shared the consensus that we should attempt one more time to
provide the additional letter of support from our local bank to DHCD and give them a time 11mit
of one week to provide us with a site approval letter in order to proceed with the project. Every
effort will be made to apply whatever pressure we can on DHCD to support our efforts to move
on with this project. If they do not respond, then we will notify all involved parties as to!
unanimous choice to abandon the new construction and proceed with the sale of our exis mg
property. A local real estate broker will be contacted to work with us to acquire existing fw, ily
housing.
Board Schedule
January, 2007 BOARD MEETING: 01/07/2007 @ 7 PM
02 -342 TO ADJOURN: 8:45 PM. Move Tim Second Mary Vote 5 -0
Respe t submitted,
Vn � 4
Lyn E. Whyte, Secretary & xecutive Director