HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-05-13 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
Minutes of the Regular Meeting - May 13, 1980
The members of the Reading Housing Authority met in regular session at 22
Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading, Massachusetts on Tuesday, May 13, 1980.
The Chairman did not call the meeting to order until 8:30 P.M. when a quorum
was formed with Mr. Westra and Mr. Ogden present. Mrs. Pierce, the Executive Director
was also present and Mr. Mahlon Crouse, bookkeeper for the Authority also attended.
A motion was made by Mr. Westra and seconded by Mr. Ogden, and unanimously:
VOTED: That the Secretary's Report for the meeting held April 15, 1980 be
accepted as read.
The Chairman, Mr. Dempster, thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in
effect.
A motion was made by Mr. Ogden and seconded by Mr. Westra and unanimouslys
VOTEDs To approve and pay checks and bills, a copy of which is attached
hereto and made a part of these Minutes in the amount of $9,450.23 for 667 -C.
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect, and the
checks were signed.
Mrs. Pierce reported that the balance in the BayBank Middlesex checking
�Wccount as of April 30, 1980 was $888.37. As of the date of this meeting with
payment of the above checks, this account would show a deficit balance of $2,297.86.
The balance in the M.M.D.T. savings account was $20,262.02 plus interest. It was
also reported that all rents had been collected for the month of May, totalling
$6,264.00 for 667 -C.
At this point, a motion was made by Mr. Ogden and seconded by Mr. Westra
and unanimously:
VOTED: To withdraw from the M.M.D.T. account, $3,000 to meet the monthly
expenses and to accept the Financial Report as read.
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Following through on the matter of Mr. Dempster's new position with the Bay -
Bank Middlesex, a letter was read from Chief Counsel Frank Morris of E.O.C.D. in
which he stated that he had examined the "Regulations Prescribing Standards of Con-
duct for Public Officials of Housing Authorities" and could see no conflict problem
in this instant situation. However, he suggested that if we wished further clari-
fication in this matter, to request a confidential opinion from the State Ethics
Commission. Mr. Dempster said he would like the opinion of the Ethics Commission
as municipal accounts such as the Authority's are the responsibility of the Municipal
Department for which he works, and he would like to explain to them his position at
work as it relates to the Authority. Mr. Dempster said he would put together a ]letter
t Mrs. Pierce could send to the Ethics Commission in order to have complete docu-
tation in this matter.
1.
At this point, Mr. White entered the meeting making the number of members
(Wesent four instead of three.
Next on the Agenda was the business of the Annual Budget for 1980 -81. Mrs.
Pierce presented each member with a draft of the proposed budget as prepared by her
and Mr. Crouse.
Although E.O.C.D. now sends the three - category budget figures to use - that is,
total receipts, utility expenditures and non - utility expenses, each account was reviewed
to come up with a realistic figure based on anticipated costs for the coming year.
At this point, Mrs. Pierce brought to the attention of the Board, the new
rules and regulations ready to be put through by E.O.C.D. on rent determination.
One of these new rules is that a tenant must report any increase over 5, of his /her
income to the Authority, and rent must be redetermined accordingly. This presents a
problem, as each year in the past, Mrs. Pierce has taken a Rent Review in April which
reflects the previous year's Social Security increase and the new rent is set as of
July 1st. Now, according to these regulations, the upcoming Social Security increase
of July 1, 1980 should be figured into the new rent. Mrs. Fierce had already taken
the Review and calculated all the rents and now must do this all over again after
July lst. Because a 60 day notice is required to inform tenants of their increase
in rent, the Authority must ask . E.O.0 .D. for a waiver of the new rent from July to
September. it will also mean a large increase for tenants because their redmtermina-
tion will include the 9.9% increase of 1979 and the 14.3% increase coming in July 1980.
This will be difficult to explain to them as many cannot seem to grasp the 2_% of
income concept and only see it in terms of less money for themselves from their
C,,.11ecks.
The Operating Receipts figure given by E.O.C.D. for the Budget was much
lower than the figure anticipated with the above increase in rent and the Board
agreed that the correct figure should be inserted if it is going to show a true
picture of the Authority's 1981 Budget.
Also, the utility figure submitted by E.O.C.D. for the Authority to use in
the Budget was unrealistic based on the useage last year and the estimated increase
for the coming year. The Municipal Light Department in Reading had informed the
members at the recent Town Meeting that they should expect a 2_% increase this
coming year over last year's costs. Inasmuch as the Authority is currently in-
volved in an energy conservation Modernization Project, the Board lowered that
increase to approximately 10%, but the figure was still higher than E.O.C.D.'s
Mrs. Pierce was again told to use the realistic figure in the Budget. All other
line items were in line with the suggested E.O.C.D. figure. Mrs. Pierce and Mr.
Crouse received a 6% increase in salary and Mr. Muise's salary was increased to
conform with the rates set by the Department of Labor and Industries.
Upon a motion made by Mr. Westra and seconded by Mr. White, it was unanimouslys
VOTED: To submit the 1981 Budget figures as determined by the Housing
Authority, to E.O.C.D. with all pertinent supporting data.
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote is effect.
2.
Mrs. Pierce advised the members that the tractor mower had broken down, and
since the fire in the motor last Fall did a lot of damage to it, Jim Muise did not
'pink it was worth putting any more money into. She thought it could be put into
ext year's Budget, but purchased now and make a delayed payment after July lst.
Several prices on various machines were obtained from Johnson's Hardware of Reading,
Larkin Iawnmower of North Reading, and Larry's Lawnmower in Woburn which ranged in
price between $1,400 and $1,900. Jim Muise had seen one at Sears Roebuck which he
thought was well made and sturdy and was the type he preferred with the front end
motor. It was currently on sale at a price of $970 from $1,358.
After some discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Ogden and seconded by Mr.
White and unanimously:
VOTED: To purchase the Sears lawn tractor at the cost of $970 immediately
and charge it as an emergency expenditure from the Operating Reserve account in
this current Budget year.
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said vote in effect, and
Mrs. Pierce was asked to write to E.O.C.D. advising them of this action.
Concerning the future administration of the Authority's Section 8 Program,
Mrs. Pierce presented to the Board a resume submitted by Patricia Renzello of
Melrose who currently is in charge of Melrose's Program. She is interested in
making a change in her job because of personnel changes in Melrose. The Board
was impressed with her excellent qualifications for the position and asked that
Mrs. Pierce arrange a special meeting to interview her.
At this time Mr. Westra had to leave. It was already 10 P.M. and the matter
the Affirmative Action Plan had not yet been discussed. Mr. Dempster said that
this could be put on the Agenda for the special meeting and a date was set for
May 21, 1980.
Mrs. Pierce read a letter from Mr. Tavit Sm ith, Program Director of
E.M.A.R.C. (East Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens) concerning the
possibility of the Authority's participation in the State Chapter 689 Program,
for the handicapped. Mr. Smith would like an opportunity to attend a meeting
with the Board to discuss this matter, and Mrs. Pierce was asked to contact him
and arrange an appointment for a future meeting.
On the lawsuit of Carol Wood, Mrs. Pierce read a copy of a letter which
the Authority's attorney, Mr. Wagner wrote to Atty. Manoff advising him of the
unwillingness of the Housing Authority to make tenant files available to him.
He requested that Mr. Manoff file a Motion to Compel Production of these documents.
Mr. White thought that Mrs. Pierce should find out what the charges were to date
from Mr. Latham's Office in order to pay the bill from this year's Section 8 Budget.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, and upon a
motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously voted to adjourn, and the
Chairman adjou=ed the meeting at 10:30 P.M.
Respectfull submitted,
i
taw Janet Pierce, Executive Director
and Secretary
3•
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a+Xti
TOWN OF READING
To Town Clerk
16 Lowell Street
Reading, Ma., 01867
19 ?`
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 39, of the General Laws as amended
a meeting of
will be held
on the following date /s
for the purpose of
Posted
(Location)
Time:
Time:
READING HOUSING AUTHORITY
CHECKS AND BILLS
Iq
Amount
221.03
221.03
221.03
221.03
197.87
379.14
239.88
200.00
239.50
99.31
23.16
120.17
36.91
441.06
19.50
44.10
214.00
105.90
33.00
3,918.57
140.91
48.47
313.26
58.32
75.00
1,331.00
23.20
150.00
25.00
46.00
42.88
9,450-23
May 12, 1980
No.
Account
Date of Inv.
James L. Muise (ratify only - already signed)
5/2/80
2255
James L. Muise to to of to
5/9/80
2256
to of of
5/16/80
2257
to of It
5/23/80
2258
of to to
5/30/80
2259
Janet Pierce
4/30/80
2260
Mahlon D. Crouse
4/30/80
2261
U. S. Trust Co. (deferred Comp. -JP & JM)
5131/80
2262
BayBank Middlesex (Inc. Tax Withheld)
4/30/80
2263
Comm. of Mass. -Dept. of Revenue (Mass. Tax Withheld)4 /30/80
2264
Comm. of Mass. -Group Ins. Comm. (JLM)
5131/80
2265
Town of Reading Contributory Retirement Fund
4/30/80
2266
New England Telephone
4/16/80
2267
Star Sales & Dist. Corp. (replament tools from
4/3/80
burglary)
2268
Avon Supply Co. (heating element -hot water tank)
4/9/80
Bldg. 14
400)
John A. DeLong (plumbing repairs - Bldg.37 -6)
4/14/80
2270
HOTPOINT, Inc. (new refrigerator - Bldg. 37 -3)
4/16/80
2271
Somerset Supply Co. (faucet spouts)
4/2/80
2272
Joseph H. Young Co. (Kohler plumbing parts)
4/2/80
2273
Reading Municipal Light Dept.
4/23/80
2274
Johnson Farm Supply
4/25/80
2275
Reading Lumber Company (wood for repairs to Rec.Bldg)4 /30/80
2276
Comm. of Mass. - Group Ins. Comm. (Ruth. reimbursement
Group Health Ins. - JM)
5/12/80
2277
All Electric Co. (misc. bulbs)
4/24/80
2278
John A. Delong (cleared stoppage in main drain
5/2/80
Bldg. 37)
2279
McNelly & Parker Ins. - (Workmen's Comp. Ins.).
5/2/80
2280
James L. Muise (overtime for April)
4/30/80
2281
Reading Disposal, Inc.
4/30/80
2282
V. Canelas Co., Inc.
4/30/80
2283
Little's Business Svc. - (Copying forms and supply
5/5/80
of letterhead)
Petty Cash
5/7/80
Iq
Amount
221.03
221.03
221.03
221.03
197.87
379.14
239.88
200.00
239.50
99.31
23.16
120.17
36.91
441.06
19.50
44.10
214.00
105.90
33.00
3,918.57
140.91
48.47
313.26
58.32
75.00
1,331.00
23.20
150.00
25.00
46.00
42.88
9,450-23