HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-11 Housing Authority MinutesTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Housing Authority
Date: 2020 05-11 Time: 5:30 PM
Building: Location: Community Room
Reading Housing Authority Administration
Address: 22 Frank Tanner Drive Session: Open Session
Purpose: Board Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Richard Robbins, Timothy Kelley, Marie Hanson, Charles Adams, Diane
Cohen
Members - Not Present:
None
Others Present:
Julie M. Johnston, Secretary/Executive Director
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Julie M. Johnston, Secretary/Executive Director
Tophi of Discussion:
READING HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING May 11 2020
A regular business meting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday,
May 11, 2020- In accordance with Governor Baker's 3/12/2020 Order Suspending
Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A §18, and the Govemor's
3/23/2020 Revised Guidance Order Prohibiting Assemblage of More than Ten People,
this meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was conducted via remote participation
to the greatest extant possible. In person attendance by members of the public is
prohibited, and all efforts will be made to permit public attendance of this meeting via
remote access by telephone (conference call-in). Chair, Richard Robbins, called the
meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Richard Robbins, Timothy Kelley, Marie Hanson, Diane Cohen
Members Absent: Charles Adams
Others Present: Julie M. Johnston, Executive Director
Minutes move Diana Cohen Second Marie Hanson
Vote 4-0
20-081 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business
Meeting of March 2, 2020, as presented.
Finances Move Timothy Kelley Second Diane Cohen Vote 4-0
20482 VOTED: To approve the check-roll/bill-roll for March and April 2020 Accounts
Payable Checks numbered 8144, and 8177 through 8236, as presented.
Finances Move Timothy Kelley Second Marie Hanson Vote
4-0
20-083 VOTED: To approve the Payroll Register for March and April 2020, as
presented.
Finances Move Marie Hanson Second Timothy Kelley
Vote 4-0
20084 VOTED: To approve the Section 8 Voucher Program wire transfer for April in
the amount of $137,588.46 and May in the amount of $150,592.46, as presented.
Finances Move Timothy Kelley Second Diane Cohen Vote 4-0
20-085 VOTED: To certify receipt of FY20 monthly operating statements for all RHA
programs for the nine months ending March 31, 2020,
HUD Published FY 2020 Income Limits Move Timothy Kelley Second
Diane Cohen Vote 4-0
20-086 VOTED: To approve and adopt the HUD published fiscal year 2020 Income Limits by
household size for determining admission to HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program effective
April 1, 2020, as presented.
Dept of Labor Standards Maintenance Waae Rates: Move Marie Hanson Second
Timothy Kelley Vote 4-0
20--087 VOTED: To approve the increase in maintenance salaries in accordance with
Dept of Labor Standards effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021, with
Maintenance Supervisor/General Maintenance at a rate of $30.68 plus $1.50 for
supervisory position per hour, and Maintenance Man II at a rate of $28.64 per hour.
Contract Award- Paving: Move Timothy Kelley Second Diane Cohen Vote 4-0
20-088 VOTED: To award the Contract for FISH Project #246068, Paving at 667-1&2,
to Monarch Pavement of Burlington, MA in the amount of $7,200.00, appointing
Executive Director Julie Johnston as Contract Officer and Chairman Richard Robbins as
Alternate Contract Officer.
_Designer Services for Cost Estimates at Main and Summer Ave:
Move Diane Cohen Second Timothy Kelley
Vote 4-0
20-089 VOTED: To procure designer services to develop an accurate cost estimate for
siding replacement versus patching and painting of existing shingles for RHA Owned
buildings at Main Street and Summer Avenue in accordance with the Scope of Services,
as presented.
Executive Director Contract: Move Timothy Kelley Second Diane Cohen Vote
4-0
20-090 VOTED: To enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for At -Will Employment of
Executive Director between the Reading Housing Authority and Julie M. Johnston as
presented and pending DHCD approval.
*Section 8 Administration Agreement Move Marie Hanson Second Timothy
Kelley Vote 3-0
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20-091 VOTED: To approve and authorize the Executive Director to enter into a
continued Section 8 Housing Voucher Program Administration Agreement with Chelsea
Housing Authority effective September 1, 2020, as presented.
Director's Report/Program Updates:
COVID-19 UPDATE: Director attended Reading Board of Health open session meeting
via remote participation on 4/13/20. Since then, RHA has established a helpful line of
communication on local health matters as it relates to the safe operation of the RHA and
its residents. Director attends weekly conference calls with DHCD and HUD relative to
regulation changes as they occur and provided Board with update on program changes
due to COVID-19. RHA receives support from the community with volunteers providing
grocery shopping assistance to residents. The Reading Women's League has donated
$500 to the RHA to support resident activities that would otherwise be unfunded due to
COVID-19 expenses. RFD has provided 100 face masks. COVID-19 Cases:
Tannerville, 2 confirmed, 1 death; Bancroft Group Home, 1 confirmed. RHA Office and
Community Room remain closed to public. Staff following CDC guidelines at work,
disinfecting common areas of all buildings at Tannerville daily, and only addressing
emergency work orders.
Vacancy Report: Two (2) vacancies at Tannerville; 3 units at ORSH.
Section 8 Housina Choice Voucher Program Update: May 2020 - 105 Total
Vouchers. HUD Rep, Valarie Turner onsite 3/11/20 for 3 -year visit. Quick review shows
no program issues.
Maintenance Work Orders from 07/01/2019 to 04/30/2020: Total Count 690, 684
Completed, 6 Incomplete.
Total Count: 690; Completed: 684, Incomplete: 6. Community Bathroom Renovation
completed. Laundry Room Renovation 05/19-21.
74 Bancroft Street 16891 Lease Renewal and rent increase eff. 04/01/2020, $2930 to
$2976
Annual Audit FYE19: Included in Board Packet. Report on Agreed Upon Procedures &
Financial Statements.
Reporting Reauirements: A list of reporting submittals for HUD, DHCD, Town, RHA
website was presented.
*The status of the administration of the RHA Section 8 Program was the final agenda
item for the meeting. Before any discussion ensued, Diane Cohen recused herself and
left the meeting. The remaining members present for said discussion were Chair,
Richard Robbins; Timothy Kelley and Marie Hanson. Motion 20-091 was presented and
approved with only three (3) members of the RHA Board present to vote.
NEXT BOARD MEETING: June 1, 2020; July 6, 2020; August 3, 2020
20-092 VOTED TO ADJOURN: 6:36 P.M. Move Timothy Kelley Second Marie
Hanson Vote 3-0
Respectfully submitted,
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Julie M. Johnston
Secretary/Executive Director
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