Meeting Minutes – June 18, 2012

Meeting Minutes – June 18, 2012

REGULAR MEETING OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY

OF THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN

JUNE 18, 2012

The rescheduled monthly meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Middletown was held at the Senior Center Meeting Room, 150 William Street, Middletown, Connecticut on Monday, JUNE 18, 2012.

Treasurer Santacroce called the meeting to order at 5:09 p.m. and called the roll.

PRESENT: Sebastian J. Santacroce, Commissioner; Izzi Greenberg, Commissioner; Senova Stone, Commissioner.

ALSO PRESENT:  William Vasiliou, Secretary; Thomas Guzzi, Financial Manager; John Rumberger, Facilities Manager; John Boccalatte, Esq.

ABSENT: Lee Osborne, Chairman; Evan Noglow, Vice Chairman, (excused absences)

PUBLIC SESSION: None

FOLLOW-UP REPORT: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Due to a lack of quorum, the approval of minutes of the May 14, 2012 and May 17, 2012 meetings was deferred to the July monthly meeting.

APPROVAL OF BILLS: On motion by Commissioner Greenberg, seconded by Commissioner Santacroce; it was unanimously voted to approve the bills as submitted.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Secretary Vasiliou reported on 5/31/2012 A/R which shows increases of $102.42 for Conn 9-2, $510.86 for Conn 9-4 and $6,732.85 for MR. Net decreases of $775.43 for Conn 9-3 and $67.00 for E101 were also noted. There was no change at Conn 9-5.

LEGAL ACTION: Attorney Boccalatte stated his 5/31/2012 report shows 4 summary process actions, 1 wage attachment, 1 State Marshal fee and 1 small claims action started and $313.65 collected on vacted accounts.

FINANCIAL: Mr. Guzzi informed the Board that HUD is withholding FY 2012 opertaing reserves for several housing authorities acorss the country forcing them to use their reserves for operating expenses. NAHRO and PHADA (national organizations) are filing a class action suit against HUD for improper actions on behalf of the affected agencies. He asked the board to authorize MHA’s participation in this litigation and to authorize a disbursement of $2000 to the “Operating Reserves Litigation Fund” to support the litigation. MHA would benefit from any money damages awarded.  

On motion by Commissioner Greenberg, seconded by Commissioner Santcroce; it was unanimously voted to adopt Resolution 2012-10 and waive reading of same.

RESOLUTION # 2012-10
WHEREAS the Middletown Housing Authority (MHA) has not received any subsidy from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the most recent funding year (2012), even though it is entitled to under the operating fund formula, and
WHEREAS the governing boards of NAHRRO and PHADA support litigationa gainst HUD for having withheld subsidy from certain Housing Authorities, and
WHEREAS since only plaintiffs in such a lawsuit can recover money damages, and
WHEREAS our participation requires an expense of $2,000 for an agency with less than 250 public housing units as recommended by legal counsel (Coan & Lyons, Washington, DC) and
WHEREAS a Circular from OMB contains a prohibition against using federal funds to support litigation against the federal government
thereby requiring our utilizing Local Initiative Funds and there is enough funds set aside to make this expenditure, and
WHEREAS such funds shall be administered in a joint NAHRO-PHADA bank account, and
WHEREAS any settlement would in all probability amount of much more than our initial outlay,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Middletown Housing Authority hereby authorizes the disbursement of $2,000 to PHADA, 511 Capital Court, NE., Washington, DC, into the joint NAHRO-PHADA bank account entitled the “Operating Reserves Litigation Fund” to support and challenge the “Operating Reserve Offset” action, also depicted as “Allocation Adjustment.”

SECTION 8: 727 Section 8 units were under lease as of 6/1/2012. Funding levels are at 102.99% of budget. Mr. Vasilious informed the Board that Section 8 will hold a briefing and voucher release on June 19, 2012. Approximately 65 vouchers will be released. He also informed the Board that he is pursuing the possible release of 50 project based vouchers.

He reported that a total of 72 HCV vouchers have been utilized at the Carabetta complexes as of June 2012.

PERSONNEL: NONE

MAINTENANCE: 193 work orders were completed in May. Vacant unit prep continues at the Moderate Rental complex.

MODERNIZATION: Sbona Tower: MHA awaiting final paperwork on roofing project. A summer landscapting project is being done at Sbona Tower. MT: Final paperwork for roofing project has been received. TS: Final paperwork for window replacement project has been received.

MHA is awaiting word on the granting of the CHFA/State of CT Public Housing Revitalization monies.

OLD BUSINESS: NONE

NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Vasiliou introducted Senova Stone to the Board of Commissioners. Senova, a resident of Traverse SQuare, was appointed and sworn in as the new tenant commissioner by Mayor Drew of June 13, 2012 for a term ending March 31, 2017 She replaced Commissioner Lois Carreiro who resigned and moved to Florida in May.

Mr. Vasiliou informed the Board that the fountain at Spear Park will not be operating this summer due to budgetary issues in the city.

He also informed the board that MHA has completed the conversion of units at the Moderate Rental complex. Two (2) bedroom units were converted to one (1) bedroom and one (1) three bedroom unit to better satisfy the current demand for housing. Representatives from CHFA toured the converted units last week and were impressed with the use of the flex space concept. MHA is currently working on a scond conversion of this type.

There being no further business to come before the Commission, on motion by Commissioner Greenberg, seconded by Commissioner Santacroce; it was unanimously voted to adjourn the monthly meeting at 5:50 p.m.
______________________________________
William Vasiliou
Secretary