HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-03 Housing Authority Minutes REC
IVED
TOWN�CLERK
READING HOUSING AUTHORITY E AD I N G, MA.
MINUTES OF THE Reaulm BOARD MEETING.February 3.2W JUN 1 8 PM 2: 18
A regular business mating of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday,February 3,2014 at 5:30
P.M at the office of the Reading Housing Authority the town of Reading,Mass. The meeting was called to
order at 5:38 P.M.with the Chair,Karen L.Flammia presiding.Those members present and forming a
quorum were Diene Cohen,Kevin Mulvey and Lynn Hodgdon as well av the Secretary/Executive Director,
Lyn Whyte.Timothy J.Kelley was absent.
Minutes Move Diane Second Lynn Vote 4-0
14056 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of January 6,
2014,as presented.
Fins gEg Move Diane Second Lynn Vote 40
14057 VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/bilholl for the period for Accounts Payable Check
#5033-5071 Payroll Summary as presented for January, 2014. Section 8 Voucher Program, #8877-
8960 as presented.
Fineman Move Diane mond, Kevin V t 4-0
14458 VOTED: To certify receipt of monthly operating statements for all RHA programs for the month
end December,2013 of the current fiscal year.
Development of No Smoking Policy Mme Kevin Second Lynn Vote 4-0
14-059 VOTED: To authorize Executive Director to start the process to create a smoke-free environment
at our 667 1-2 elderly complex located on Frank Tanner Drive and known as Tannerville.
110 Gazebo Move Diane Second Kevin ,Vote 4-0
14.060 VOTED: Authorized the Executive Director to inform the owner of 110 Gazebo Circle that the
Reading Housing Authority has reconsidered its vote 14-060 in October 2013 and now supports its option
to execute its right of refusal as it pertains to the resale of this affordable condominium known as Unit 110
and move forward with the purchase of said unit at an affordable cost of$176,000.
Personnel Matters:
- Confirmation of submittal of Board Attendance to DHCD for month of January 2014 was provided to
Board.
Report of Programa:
- Vacancy Report- Mitch Hudzik, State Program Coordinator provided her monthly report. It was a busy
month with tux elderly vacancies at Tannerville and we have two vacancies in our family program. Mitch
is presently in process of finalizing paperwork for eligible applicants to lease as soon as possible. A last
minute refusal of an offer on the family development has extended our days vacant and the search for an
eligible tenant is underway.
- See 8 Report-Report provided by K.Rolli. We currently have 113 vouchers under lease.HUD has
informed us that funding levels should be increasing with January 2014 budget completion and
RHA can begin to reissue vouchers.We plan to issue five vouchers by March and another five by
our fiscal year end with the hope of being fully leased by lune 30,2014.
- Resident Service Coordinator-Current Tannerville Newsletter provided.
- Monthly Work Order/Maintenance Report for month of January, 2014. January was a busy month
with work order requests totaling 63.Three requests that came in the last day of month remain open as
of 1/31/14. Ongoing projects, snowstorms and routine work have kept the maintenance staff quite
busy.
New Business:
- A discussion continued with the Board on the implementation of a No Smoking Policy at our 667 elderly
development. Boyd member, Lynn Hodgdon and Executive Director met with Maurarr Buzby, Public
Health advocate for the Mystic Valley area to discuss the ongoing process of establishing a new policy. She
updated us on how many agencies,both public and private,in our region that are either following up on their
new policies or implementing Crew policies for no smoking and shared information regarding cessation
programs available. A survey was drafted along with an initial letter to residents to start the process upon
RHA Board approval. The survey will be distributed the first weak of February and results will be presented
at our March meeting. A public tenant meeting is scheduled for early March to continue the process of
assisting residents who have questions or seek help to quit smoking.
- Information regarding any request for a Reasonable Accommodation from a participant on one of our
subsidy programs was discussed with the Board Per our legal counsel, Lori McBride, requests for
accommodations become an administrative process only and rise above and beyond existing policies. Details
of an accommodation should not be discussed with a board of my housing authority. Regulations outline a
specific protocol in this regard and need to be adhered to carefully. RHA Board,as always,will support my
actions in this regard.
RHA was informed by DHCD that they have been awarded a$40,200 Sustainability Initiative Award for FY
2014 to replace windows at our family development on Parker/Plessam Street and for the replacement of
interior hall lighting and exterior building lighting throughout our elderly development. Further updates will
be provided when available. Existing contracts will need to be amended at our March 2014 with board vote
when we receive final documentation.
Real Fatah Matter:
Update: I10 Gazebo Circle;RHA attorney, Brad Latham has heard nothing further from the owner of
this affordable unit regarding the potential sale of this unit. At this time, no new dad filings have
occurred locally. Per suggestion of Mr.Latham,the Executive Director asked the Board to reconsider
their decision to opt out of their right of first refusal regarding the resale of this unit. Upon further
discussion, the Board did vote to authorize the ED to inform our legal counsel of the housing
authority's decision to support its option to execute its right of refusal at this time.Every effort will be
made to purchase said unit at an affordable cost of$176,000.
- Update: RHA received notice of a dismissal of a previous complaint to foreclose on an affordable
unit.It appears that all monies owed have been paid and not further action is required.
- New: RHA served with complaint in January 2014 regarding management proceedings for non-
payment of HOA fees for affordable unit #901/ Maynard family. Documentation forwarded to
Latham's office for standard response from RHA. Updates on this action will follow as information
received.
BoardScMrdale
March,2014 BOARD MEETING: 03/03/2014 Q 3:30 PM
14-061 TO ADJOURN: 6:29 PM. Move Kevin Second Diane yyt_ 4-0
Res;pa/�,f((irlyl,,YY�,�submittted,
Lyn E.Iwa I �! 6 A�xautive Director