HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-14 Housing Authority Minutes Town of Reading
rP.�,
TOWN CLERK
RECEIVED
Meeting Minutes P �.�,,' ! N,G, MA.
•!"�' 21210CT -5 PM 3: 51
Board - committee - Commission - Council:
Housing Authority
Date: 2020-09-14 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,
Members - Not Present:
Diane Cohen
Others Present:
Julie M. Johnston, Secretary/Executive Director,Executive Director; Kathryn
Gallant, Finalist for Executive Director position; Cheryl West, RHA Tenant;
Norma McSheehy, RHA Tenant; Doris Doucette, RHA Tenant; Susan Isbell,
RHA Tenant; Patty Munn, RHA Tenant; Robert Levy, RHA Tenant
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Julie M. Johnston, Secretary/Executive Director
Topics of Discussion:
READING HOUSINGAUTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING September 14, 2020
A regular business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday,
September 14, 2020 at the office of the Reading Housing Authority, Reading, MA.
Chairman, Richard Robbins, called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Richard Robbins, Timothy Kelley, Charlie Adams, Marie Hanson
Members Absent: Diane Cohen
Others Present: Julie M. Johnston, Executive Director, Kathryn Gallant, Finalist for
Executive Director position, Cheryl West, RHA Tenant; Norma McSheehy, RHA
Tenant; Doris Doucette, RHA Tenant; Susan Isbell, RHA Tenant; Patty Munn, RHA
Tenant; Robert Levy, RHA Tenant
Executive Director Contract Move Marie Hanson Second Timothy Kelley
Vote 4-0
21-024 VOTED: To allow RHA Chair, Richard Robbins, to begin negotiations with
Kathryn Gallant to enter into a one-year contract for the position of Executive Director
of the Reading Housing Authority effective on or about October 15, 2020 at a salary of
$84,010 with a thirty-five hour work week, subject to DHCD approval and favorable
CORI check.
Minutes Move Timothy Kelley Second Marie Hanson Vote 4-0
Page 1 1
21-025 VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Regular Business
Meeting of August 3, 2020, as presented.
Finances Move Marie Hanson Second Timothy Kelley Vote 4-0
21-026 VOTED: To approve the check-roll/bill-roll for August 2020 Accounts Payable
Checks numbered 8345 through 8379, as presented.
Finances Move Timothy Kelley Second Marie Hanson Vote 4-0
21-027 VOTED: To approve the Payroll Register for August 2020, as presented.
Finances Move Marie Hanson Second Timothy Kelley Vote 4-0
21-028 VOTED: To approve the Section 8 Voucher Program wire transfer for
September 2020 in the amount of$141,864.86, as presented.
Section 8 Utility Allowance Schedule Move Timothy Kelley Second Marie
Hanson Vote 4-0
21-029 VOTED: To approve the Section 8 Program's Summary Allowance for Tenant
Furnished Utilities and Other Services prepared by Happy Software, Inc., effective for
the December 1, 2020 Section 8 rent recertifications, as presented.
Lanuuaae Access Plan Move Marie Hanson Second Timothy Kelley Vote
4-0
21-030 VOTED: To approve the revised RHA Language Access Plan effective August
1, 2020, as presented.
Contract Award: Move Timothy Kelley Second Charlie Adams Vote
4-0
21-031 VOTED: To award the contract for Exterior Renovations at Main Street &
Summer Avenue to Eagle Eyes Contractor, Inc., of Saugus, Massachusetts, in the
amount of $69,400.00, and to appoint RHA Executive Director as Contract Officer and
RHA Chair as Alternate Contract Officer.
Commercial Real Estate Loan: Move Timothy Kelley Second Charlie Adams
Vote 4-0
21-032 VOTED: To authorize RHA Executive Director to sign the Commitment Letter
dated 09/10/2020 from Reading Cooperative Bank for the Commercial Real Estate
Loan for RHA property located at 503, 505, 507 Summer Avenue, Reading, MA, in the
amount of$300,000 as presented.
Personnel Matters:
RHA Selection Committee explained that the process and procedures they followed for
the new Executive Hire position were in accordance with DHCD Public Housing Notice
2017-21. Vice-Chair, Timothy Kelley, commended the Selection Committee, Executive
Director and Consultant for the work they have done in this endeavor. On the
recommendation of the RHA Selection Committee, the Board met with finalist, Kathryn
A. Gallant, for an interview in open session. Chair, Richard Robbins, introduced the
Members of the Board to Ms. Gallant. Ms. Gallant shared her housing knowledge,
experience, and vision for the RHA. Six (6) RHA residents were in attendance and
were afforded time to ask questions directly to Ms. Gallant. A motion was presented
and unanimously voted allowing the Chair to enter into contract negotiations with Ms.
Kathryn Gallant for the position of Reading Housing Authority Executive Director.
Director's Report/Program Updates:
Page 1 2
COVID-19: On 08/04 we were informed that one family member tested positive at 705
housing.
Vacancy Report: RHA Owned: 1 unit at ORSH
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Update: Executive Director submitted
CARES Act funding request for Extraordinary Circumstances that would result in
additional housing assistance payment funding.
August 2020: 107 Vouchers Leased; September 2020: 107 Vouchers Leased
Maintenance Work Orders August 2020:
Total Count: 83 Completed: 72 Incomplete: 11 (Routine Work Orders)
Emergencies: 6 Backups/Clogs, 1 Entry guard System; 1 Lockout; 1 water leak, 1 A/C
not working.
Reportina Requirements: A list of reporting submittals for DHCD, HUD, Town & RHA
website presented.
Correspondence: Inquiry to purchase Main & Summer properties.
Auaust Activities: A list of RHA meetings and events in August was presented.
Policies and Contracts: Utility Allowance Schedule and Language Access Plan were
reviewed by Board.
RHA Owned: Upon reviewing the bids for the Main/Summer Building Exterior Project
and recommendation of architect, Andrew Brockway, AIA, the Board voted
unanimously to award the contract to Eagle Eyes Contractor, Inc., the apparent
responsible low bidder. Upon review of the Commitment Letter from Reading
Cooperative Bank and further discussion, the Board voted unanimously to authorize
Executive Director to sign said Commitment Letter.
Other Business: Executive Director, Julie Johnston, gave formal written notice of her
intent to retire effective 10/31/2020 which was accepted by the Chair.
NEXT BOARD MEETINGS: October 5, 2020; November 2, 2020
21-033 VOTED TO ADJOURN: 7:09 P.M. Move Timothy Kelley Second Marie
Hanson Vote 4-0
Respectfully submitted,
Julie M. Johnston
Secretary/Executive Director
Page 1 3