MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY
245 MIDDLE STREET
PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
OCTOBER 10, 2001
4:30 P.M.
The Board of Commissioners of the Portsmouth Housing Authority met in Regular Session on October 10, 2001, at 4:30 P.M., 245 Middle Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The Chairman called the Meeting to order and upon roll call those present and absent were as follows:
PRESENT ABSENT
Commissioner Freedman *Chairman Giambalvo
Commissioner Leith *Commissioner Griffin
Commissioner Pappas
Commissioner Charest
Others in attendance included: Timothy J. Connors, Richard G. Gray, Robert Kulik, Judith P. Bunnell, Debra E. Crapo, Linda A. Smart, Peter Millette, and Rhonda L. Schwarz.
In the absence of Chairman Giambalvo, Commissioner Freedman apprised the Commissioners of Requests for Excused Absences by Chairman Giambalvo and Commissioner Griffin in that personal business prohibited their attendance at the Meeting. Furthermore, Commissioner Freedman advised that Chairman Giambalvo requested that she preside over the Meeting in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair. Said Requests met with unanimous approval.
Commissioner Leith made a motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting, September 12, 2001, as written. Commissioner Pappas seconded the motion and all voted in favor.
Commissioner Freedman provided the Report of the Contracting Officer advising that the contract with Careno Construction, Co., LLC, has been signed for the rehab of twenty-five units in the Gosling Meadows Housing Development. Said work item to involve installation of vinyl siding, new windows, and doors. Rehab of the remaining six buildings to be accomplished Spring 2002 provided approval of additional funding in the Fiscal Year 2001 Capital Budget, noted Commissioner Freedman.
A bid opening has been scheduled for October 25, 2001, for bathroom renovations to all 2-bedroom units in Wamesit Place Housing Development, advised Commissioner Freedman.
In addition, Commissioner Freedman reported that the Chairman has made himself available for numerous meetings with the Executive Director and other Housing Authority staff members regarding ongoing work items and several specific resident issues.
The Report of the Contracting Officer was accepted as presented in a motion by Commissioner Leith, seconded by Commissioner Pappas with all voting in favor.
There was no Travel Request for presentation at this time. Mr. Connors advised the Commissioners of several personnel items for report, receipt of the notice of resignation submitted by Anne Davitt, Receptionist, effective November 2, 2001; notice of resignation by Jayne Grundy, Cook, and the hire of Kathleen Usher to fill said vacant position of Cook, full time, effective September 24, 2001; notice of retirement submitted by Howard Chidester, Van Driver, part time, effective September 24, 2001, and the hire of a replacement Van Driver, part time, Newell Keenan, effective October 4, 2001.
*Excused Absence
Commissioner Leith made a motion to accept said notices of resignation and
retirement, with regret, and requested that letters of appreciation be provided
Mrs. Davitt and Mr. Chidester. Commissioner Charest seconded the motion and all
voted in favor.
Commissioner Leith made a motion of authorization for advertisement of the position of Receptionist, the hire of Kathleen Usher, Cook, effective September 24, 2001, and the hire of Newell Keenan, Van Driver, part time, effective October 4, 2001, and following six months probation Ms. Usher and Mr. Keenan would be evaluated and considered for permanency. Commissioner Pappas seconded the motion and all voted in favor.
Mr. Connors advised the Commissioners that all required paperwork has been put in order and finalized regarding the departure of Geoffrey Crompton, Deputy Director, and preparations are underway by the Search Committee for advertisement of a new position, Director of Administration, that will encompass many duties of the Deputy Director position.
Commissioner Leith made a motion to accept the finalized paperwork regarding Geoffrey Crompton and authorization for advertisement of the position of Director of Administration. Commissioner Pappas seconded the motion and all voted in favor.
Richard G. Gray, Comptroller, reviewed with the Commissioners the Financial Reports, eight months ended August 31, 2001, the Locally Owned Housing, Section 8 Existing Housing, and Managed Properties. Mr. Gray reported that overall they are in good shape.
The Financial Statements were accepted as written and presented in a motion by Commissioner Leith, seconded by Commissioner Charest, with all voting in favor.
Mr. Connors reported that a long-awaited meeting had been held on Monday, September 24, 2001. Said meeting was for the residents of Ledgewood Manor Apartments and approximately one-third of the heads of household were present.
Further, reported Mr. Connors, the Honorable Evelyn Sirrell, Mayor, City of Portsmouth, and City Councilor Laura Pantolakis, along with Anita N. Freedman, Commissioner, Portsmouth Housing Authority, and Cindy Hayden, Community Development Director, City Planning Department, attended. Three representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, David Harrity, Office of the Senior Community Builder/Coordinator, Manchester, Phillip Holmes, Manchester, and Robert Yablonski, Boston, were available to answer questions, advised Mr. Connors. Portsmouth Housing Authority was well represented, eight Staff members from various administrative departments voluntarily attended.
In addition, present were four representatives of the owners of Ledgewood Manor and its management agency, Barklay Square Associates, Inc., which chose at this time not to get involved in any dialogue.
Mr. Connors also reported on audit of three managed properties performed by New Hampshire Housing and Finance Authority noting that the Authority is waiting for clarification before final response to said audit.
Following discussion, the Report of the Executive Director was accepted as written and presented in a motion by Commissioner Leith, with Commissioner Pappas seconding the motion and all voting in favor.
The following Resolution was introduced by Commissioner Freedman, read in full and considered:
RESOLUTION NO. 1158
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
Whereas, Federal Regulations require the Portsmouth Housing Authority to develop and implement an Annual Plan; and
Whereas, the Board of Commissioners have reviewed the Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2002 and find it addresses the needs of residents and participants;
Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved, That the Portsmouth Housing Authority Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2002 is hereby approved and Housing Authority staff are authorized and directed to submit it to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Commissioner Leith, moved that the foregoing Resolution be adopted as introduced and read, which motion was seconded by Commissioner Charest and upon roll call the "Ayes" and "Nays" were as followed:
AYES NAYS
Commissioner Freedman None
Commissioner Leith
Commissioner Pappas
Commissioner Charest
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said Resolution adopted.
The following Resolution was introduced by Commissioner Freedman, read in full and considered:
RESOLUTION NO. 1159
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
Whereas Federal regulations require the Housing Authority to create, determine and implement "payment standards" that are the maximum rents upon which it will base its landlord payments under the Section 8 Existing Program; and
Whereas the Portsmouth Housing Authority Board of Commissioners having carefully reviewed previously, the analysis performed by the Housing Authority, such analysis taking into account the new Fair Market Rents for the Portsmouth-Rochester area, the maximum level allowed by HUD (110% of fair market rents), and the present Exception Rents applicable to Portsmouth, only;
Now, Therefore Be it Resolved, that the Portsmouth Housing Authority Board of Commissioners adopts the following Schedule of Rents as its Payment Standard for the Section 8 Existing Program:
0 Bedroom $ 587.00
1 Bedroom $ 704.00
2 Bedrooms $ 904.00
3 Bedrooms $1,161.00
4 Bedrooms $1,422.00
Commissioner Charest, moved that the foregoing Resolution be adopted as introduced and read, which motion was seconded by Commissioner Leith and upon roll call the "Ayes" and "Nays" were as followed:
AYES NAYS
Commissioner Freedman None
Commissioner Leith
Commissioner Pappas
Commissioner Charest
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said Resolution adopted.
The following Resolution was introduced by Commissioner Freedman, read in full and considered:
RESOLUTION NO. 1160
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY HEREBY APPROVE AND ADOPT THE SECTION 8 EXISTING - HOUSING ALLOWANCES, HUD FORM 52667, UTILITY ALLOWANCES SHOWN EFFECTIVE 11/01/01 AND PAYMENT STANDARDS SHOWN EFFECTIVE 11/01/01.
Commissioner Charest, moved that the foregoing Resolution be adopted as introduced and read, which motion was seconded by Commissioner Leith and upon roll call the "Ayes" and "Nays" were as followed:
AYES NAYS
Commissioner Freedman None
Commissioner Leith
Commissioner Pappas
Commissioner Charest
The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said Resolution adopted.
The Report of the Marketing and Leasing Department Manager was accepted as written in a motion by Commissioner Charest, seconded by Commissioner Leith and all voting in favor.
Peter Millette, Director, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, reported that over four hundred people attended the Annual RSVP Luncheon and thanked Commissioner Freedman for introducing certain visitors to the Luncheon.
Commissioner Charest made a motion to accept the Report of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program as written, Commissioner Pappas seconded the motion and all voted in favor.
Judith P. Bunnell, Director, Community Services Program, distributed informational copies of the Transportation Mission Statement prepared for the Senior Transportation Program.
Mrs. Bunnell advised the Commissioners that arrangements have been completed for a Open House for the Seacoast Office of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind and that invitations were mailed October 2, 2001.
Commissioner Pappas made a motion to accept the Report of the Community Services Program as written, with Commissioner Leith seconding the motion, and all voting in favor.
Mr. Connors reviewed with the Commissioners the Report of the Nutrition Program. Lisa Brennan, Director, Nutrition Program, following a long and difficult search, has found a volunteer for delivery of meals to clients residing in the Margeson Apartments building, noted Mr. Connors.
The Report of the Nutrition Program was accepted as written in a motion by Commissioner Leith, seconded by Commissioner Pappas and all voted in favor.
Robert Kulik, Rent Collector/Resident Liaison, reviewed with the Commissioners the Accounts Receivable month ended September 30, 2001, Gosling Meadows and Wamesit Place Housing Developments, stating that several of the larger outstanding amounts have been collected.
Following a brief discussion, the Reports of the Accounts Receivable, month ended September 30, 2001, Gosling Meadows and Wamesit Place Housing Developments, were accepted as written in a motion by Commissioner Leith, seconded by Commissioner Charest and all voted in favor.
Discussion ensued relevant to the status of current eviction proceedings to which, Mr. Connors reported meeting with a new attorney to handle evictions of residents for nonpayment of rental fees and/or cause.
Mr. Connors expressed gratitude to Commissioner Pappas for allowing the Housing Authority use of the meeting hall at St. Nicholas Church for a briefing with residents of the Ledgewood Manor housing development. Mary Pappas was a most gracious hostess and a tremendous amount of help in setting up the hall, advised Mr. Connors, our thanks to both Commissioner and Mrs. Pappas.
There being no further business proper to come before the Board of Commissioners, a motion was made and duly seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 5:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Timothy J. Connors
Secretary
____________________________
Accepted by: Saverio M. Giambalvo
Chairman
____________________________
Date