MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The Board of Commissioners of the Portsmouth Housing Authority met in Regular Session on March 13, 2002, 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

Chairman Giambalvo * Commissioner Pappas

Commissioner Griffin * Commissioner Charest

Commissioner Freedman

Commissioner Leith

Others in attendance included: Timothy J. Connors, Debra E. Crapo, Robert Kulik, Peter Millette, Judith P. Bunnell, Linda A. Smart, and Rhonda L. Schwarz.

Chairman Giambalvo apprised the Commissioners of Requests for Excused Absences by Commissioner Pappas and Commissioner Charest in that personal business prohibited their attendance at the Meeting. Said Requests met with unanimous approval.

Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting, February 13, 2002, and Special Meeting, February 25, 2002, as written. Commissioner Leith seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

Chairman Giambalvo reported that contract work being performed by the Careno Construction Co., LLC, for the rehab of bathrooms in thirty-four units at the Wamesit Place Housing Development started the week of March 4, 2002. The contractor expects to complete three to five units per week.

Exterior improvements throughout the Gosling Meadows Housing Development continue to progress well, advised Chairman Giambalvo, and the Development looks like a different neighborhood.

The Chairman also reported that he has made himself available for numerous meetings with the executive director and other authority staff members regarding ongoing work items and resident issues.

The Report of the Contracting Officer was accepted as presented in a motion by Commissioner Griffin, seconded by Commissioner Freedman, and all voted in favor.

There were no Travel Requests for presentation at this time. Mr. Connors advised that there was an Extended Annual Leave Request in excess of two weeks with the employee having adequate Leave to her credit.

Commissioner Freedman made a motion to approve the Extended Leave Request for Pauline Ford. Commissioner Leith seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

There were no Financial Reports for review at this time. Mr. Connors reported that solicitation of bids for the contract of pavement improvements, Margeson Apartments, resulted in submission of six proposals. A good response compared to the last pavement improvement job, advised Mr. Connors. Low bidder for said work item was Bayside Paving, Greenland, New Hampshire.

*Excused Absence

As we would like to get the aforementioned work item underway within the next month, added Mr. Connors, it would be practical to draw funds from reserves and when Capitol funds are received, replace funds drawn from reserves.

Following discussion of a funding transfer, Commissioner Leith made a motion to award the Pavement Improvements contract to Bayside Paving and to draw funds from reserves and replace with Capitol funds, when received. Commissioner Freedman seconded the motion, and all voted in favor.

An update was provided by Mr. Connors regarding HUD reporting to which he advised the Commissioners of confirmation that Maria Cimino of The Schiff Group would be in town for three days the week of March 24, 2002, to get PHA started with Fiscal Year 2002 reporting as well as review policies, etc.

Mr. Connors reported on progress of the Section 8 Existing Program and advised that efforts are underway to increase the voucher payment standard up to 120 percent of the Fair Market Rent (FMR). Said increase, Mr. Connors noted, would be a ten percent increase for landlord payments under said Program.

Discussion ensued regarding the "1895" building (also known as the Cottage Hospital). Mr. Connors advised the Commissioners that all paperwork and applications have been submitted to New Hampshire Housing and Finance Authority (NHHFA) and officials from NHHFA state they like the idea, but must service family housing first, then senior housing. Furthermore, advised Mr. Connors, we have received the support of U.S. Senator Judd Gregg and U.S. Congressman John Sununu.

The Report of the Executive Director was accepted as written and presented in a motion by Commissioner Freedman, with Commissioner Leith seconding the motion, and all voting in favor.

The following Resolution was introduced by Chairman Giambalvo, read in full and considered:

RESOLUTION NO. 1168

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 4/01/02 AND PAYMENT STANDARDS SHOWN EFFECTIVE 11/01/01.

Commissioner Leith, moved that the foregoing Resolution be adopted as introduced and read, which motion was seconded by Commissioner Freedman and upon roll call the "Ayes" and "Nays" were as followed:

AYES NAYS

Chairman Giambalvo None

Commissioner Griffin

Commissioner Freedman

Commissioner Leith

The Chairman thereupon declared said motion carried and said Resolution adopted.

The following Resolution was introduced by Chairman Giambalvo, read in full and considered:

RESOLUTION NO. 1169

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY DO HEREBY APPROVE THE CALCULATION OF THE OPERATING SUBSIDY UNDER THE OPERATING FUND FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2002, FOR THE PORTSMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY'S OWNED RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM

Commissioner Freedman, 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

Chairman Giambalvo None

Commissioner Griffin

Commissioner Freedman

Commissioner Leith

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 Leith, seconded by Commissioner Freedman, and all voted in favor.

Commissioner Freedman made a motion to accept the Report of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program as written, Commissioner Leith seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

Judith P. Bunnell, Director, Community Services Program, distributed February end-of-month totals for the Senior Transportation Program and number of participants of various activities conducted at the Parrott Avenue Center for Seniors.

In addition, Mrs. Bunnell reported on consultation with an advertisement agency concerning corporate advertising on the Senior Transportation Vans. As this was the initial meeting, advised Mrs. Bunnell, she was afforded the opportunity to elaborate on advertising that would be viewed as acceptable for a community service based program.

Commissioner Leith made a motion to accept the Report of the Community Services Program as written, with Commissioner Freedman seconding the motion, and all voting in favor.

On behalf of Lisa Brennan, Director, Nutrition Program, Mr. Connors distributed the Report of the Nutrition Program.

Following review, the Report of the Nutrition Program was accepted as written in a motion by Commissioner Leith, seconded by Commissioner Freedman and all voted in favor.

Robert Kulik, Rent Collector/Resident Liaison, reviewed with the Commissioners the Accounts Receivable month ended February 28, 2002, Gosling Meadows and Wamesit Place Housing Developments, advising that a Court Order against one of the listed individuals has been received and court fees applied to the balance due.

The Reports of the Accounts Receivable, month ended February 28, 2002, Gosling Meadows and Wamesit Place Housing Developments, were accepted as written and presented in a motion by Commissioner Leith, seconded by Commissioner Griffin, and all voted in favor.

Mr. Connors advised the Commissioners of a request by AIDS Seacoast Response to use the Recreation Building in the Gosling Meadows Housing Development. Currently they use a van in said Development from which they conduct screening and testing in addition to answering questions and providing information to the residents of Gosling Meadows.

Following discussion, Commissioner Griffin made a motion authorizing AIDS Seacoast Response to use said Recreation Room with the assistance of Donald W. Sellers, Social Worker, for six months, at which time said request would be reviewed. Commissioner Freedman seconded the motion, and all voted in favor.

Mr. Connors reviewed correspondence from Family Lifeskills Program requesting space for their Program which is in session for six hours per day, four days per week, and runs for three weeks of every month. A brief assessment by Mr. Connors of the various sites revealed that it would not be possible for the Housing Authority to comply with the request of said Program.

Commissioner Griffin made a motion to disapprove the request for space by Family Lifeskills Program, seconded by Commissioner Freedman, and all voted in favor.

Mr. Connors provided each Commissioner with a copy of correspondence dated February 22, 2002, and March 7, 2002, received from Cheryl A. Bushman, Founder, Voices United in Truth, Inc., attached to each letter a copy of Ms. Bushman's business card listing Cheryl A. Bushman, Director, Serenity House.

In addition, each Commissioner was provided a copy of correspondence from Mr. Connors, dated March 11, 2002, to Ms. Bushman. A copy of PHA Section 8 Administrative Plan was included with said correspondence.

Mr. Connors asked Ms. Bushman to review the PHA Section 8 Administrative Plan and, should she have further questions to contact the Housing Authority and a meeting would be set up with Ms. Bushman, Mr. Connors, and another PHA Staff member.

The Commissioners requested that Mr. Connors keep them apprised of any future correspondence or other communications from Ms. Bushman of Serenity House, Voices United in Truth, Inc., and H.O.P.E.Ministries.

Mrs. Bunnell detailed an upcoming meeting with Service Link, an organization geared to networking the many available social service programs.

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 5:25 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________
Timothy J. Connors
Secretary

rls

_____________________________
Accepted by: Saverio M. Giambalvo
Chairman