HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF MANSFIELD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Housing Authority Office
May 15, 2008
8:00 a.m.
Attendance: Mr. Long, Chairperson; Mr. Simonsen, Vice Chairperson; Mr. Eddy, Secretary and Treasurer; Ms Hall, Assistant Treasurer; Ms Christison-Lagay Commissioner; and Ms Fields, Executive Director.
The meeting was called to order at 8:20 a.m. by the Chairperson.
A motion was made by Ms Hall and seconded by Mr. Simonsen to accept the minutes of the April 17, 2008, Regular Meeting. Motion approved unanimously.
Ms Fields received a letter from HUD acknowledging the request for increased funding due to the high cost and large number of portable voucher being held by the Mansfield Housing Authority. HUD approved an additional $21,612.00. Ms Fields is still waiting for approval of the request for additional funds due to the reduction in 2008 funding based on HUD rebenchmarking.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None
REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR
Bills
A motion was made by Mr. Eddy and the Finance Advisory Committee recommends acceptance the April 2008 Bills. Motion approved unanimously.
Financial Reports –A (General)
A motion was made by Mr. Eddy and the Finance Advisory Committee recommends acceptance of the March 2008 Financial Reports. Motion approved unanimously.
Financial Report-B (Section 8 Statistical Report)
A motion was made by Mr. Eddy and the Finance Advisory Committee recommends the March 2008 Section 8 Statistical Report. Motion approved unanimously.
Mr. Eddy formally requested that shrubs be planted in front of his window and “suckers” on a tree stump be removed to keep individuals from walking right up next to the building which is directly in front of his window. Ms Fields agreed. It was also discuss and agreed that Ms Fields will send out a reminder memo to all residents that no trees are to be cut or bushes trimmed that belong to the Housing Authority.
Mr. Eddy had a request from a resident, who has been here for 20 years, to repaint her apartment. Ms Fields agreed to do so with the tenant being responsibility for moving all furniture and removing all items off the walls. Ms Fields will send out a memo to residents stating that the Housing Authority will repaint units no more frequently than every five (5) years.
Mr Eddy spoke with the Mayor, Betsy Paterson, at the last town meeting regarding the status of his reappointment by the Committee on Committee to serve as a Commissioner of the Housing Authority of the Town of Mansfield. The Mayor will look into it. Mr. Long will send another letter requesting the reappointment and include a request to reappoint Ms Hall, whose term ends on October 31, 2008, to another term.
Report of the Financial Advisory Committee
Mr. Simonsen reported that the Committee is still working on the Section 8 funding and expenses based on the differences between the federal fiscal year and the Housing Authority’s fiscal year. The analysis began at the last meeting and will be ongoing at the meeting next month. Spreadsheets are being created to look forward as well as look at the number of vouchers that can be supported with the available funding today and in the future.
Eviction of Unit 102
Interrogatories were received and completed. Unit 101 gave notice and will be leaving as of May 10, 2008. In a second attempt to accommodate Unit 102, an offer to move to Unit 101, a south facing unit, was made through the Housing Authority’s attorney on May 6, 2008. Acceptance of the offer must be received no later than 5:00 pm on May 14, 2008. If the offer is not accepted, eviction will proceed.
Signage at Wright’s Village
New signage for resident parking has been purchased and is the process of being installed. The visitor parking sign will also be reinstalled. Ms Fields will contact Public Works and find out who manufactures the signage for the town office buildings and order signage for the Mansfield Housing Authority and Wright’s Village.
NEW BUSINESS
Water Bills
Ms Fields received the water bill from the Town of Mansfield for Holinko Estates and Wright’s Village. There were large increases. Holinko Estates went from $2,080 for 2006 to $15,340 for 2007 and Wright’s Village went from $4,600 for 2006 to $6,900 for 2007. Ms Fields has contacted Ms Trahan, Controller for the Town of Mansfield, who will provide back up to these increases. Ms Fields will send a letter to Ms Trahan that the water invoices will not be paid until back up is received per the Board request.
Willimantic Port Outs
Willimantic Housing Authority (“WHA”) is the only housing authority with whom we have participants that are not being absorbed. An issue arose when WHA called on, April 23, 2008, to say that one of our participants wanted to move to Norwich. WHA stated that we may not want to allow the move because the participant owed money due to unreported income. WHA had estimated that the participant owed $6,840 due dating back to 2006. This was the first notification that this housing authority had received. We were told that the WHA had already signed a repayment agreement with the participant on April 3, 2008.
The issue is being pursued with HUD at the Hartford office.
OTHER BUSINESS
None
ADJOURNMENT
The Chairperson declared the meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
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Dexter Eddy, Secretary
Approved:
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Richard Long, Chairperson