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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMHA 06/01/2022Minutes of the Public Hearing of the Proposed Annual Plan and Regular Meeting of the Mansfield Housing Authority held at 22 Bicentennial Court and via GoToMeeting on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at 7:00 PM The Members of the Mansfield Housing Authority met in Regular Session in person and by video conference at 7:00 PM. The Meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Kevin Doyle at 7:00 PM and upon roll call, those present and absent were as follows: Present: Kevin Doyle Olivier Kozlowski Kenneth Tucker Mary Kate Flynn Absent: William Snyder Also present was the Executive Director, Andrea McDougall, 6 residents and 1 remote caller. A copy of the Notice of Meeting, pursuant to Section 23A of Chapter 39 of the General Laws, with the Certificate as to Service of Notice of Meeting attached thereto was read and ordered spread upon the Minutes of the Meeting and filed for record. NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23A of Chapter 39 of the General Laws that a Meeting of the Mansfield Housing Authority will be held online via GoToMeeting at 7:00 PM on June 1, 2022. CERTIFICATE AS TO NOTICE OF MEETING (Section 23A, Chapter 39, General Laws) I, the undersigned, the duly appointed qualified Executive Director of the Mansfield Housing Authority do hereby certify that on May 26, 2022, 1 caused to be filed, in the manner provided by Section 23A, Chapter 39, General Laws, with the Clerk of the Town of Mansfield, Massachusetts, a Notice of Meeting of which the foregoing is a true and correct copy. IN TESTIMONY HEREOF, I have set my hand this 9'h day of June 2022, Andrea McDougall, cutive Director &Acting Secretary The Chairman referred to Agenda Item #1. Public Hearing on the Mansfield Housina Authority 2023 Annual Plan. The Chairman asked the Executive Director to review the Annual Plan. Ms. McDougall stated that the Housing Authority is required to submit an annual plan to the Department of Community and Housing Development, that consists of the current policies, maintenance, the 2023 budget, the results of the Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) audit of the Housing Authority, and among other things, the Capital Improvement Plan. She explained that the public hearing was scheduled to hear comments from the general public. Commissioner Kozlowski inquired if there had been any changes or revisions suggested by the Local Tenant Organization. The Executive Director informed Mr. Kozlowski and the Board, that the Local Tenant Organization had met on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 and there were no formal comments recorded. Mr. Prestwich, a Bicentennial Court Resident and LTO President, referenced the Capital Improvement Plan and noted that the residents of Cedar Court and Park Street would not benefit from the plan as the bulk of the money is planned for repaving at Bicentennial Court, Mr. Prestwich acknowledged that the Hawthorne Court and Bicentennial were in needs of repair, but he felt the staff parking situation could be addressed by painting parallel lined spots from the visitor parking lot to Route 106. Mr. Prestwich stated he felt that the Capital Improvement Plan should include funding for community beautification at all three sites. He also recommended we tear down and rebuild the Cedar Court site. Mr. Prestwich finished by saying that he felt we should not be spending most of the funding on a parking lot. Ms. McDougall stated that the paving project was initially supposed to be broken down in phases. She explained that the project plan was submitted by the Architect to pave Hawthorne Court and add a small parking area next to the community building but that the DHCD Construction Advisor stated that the plan was not the best use of funding, so he asked the architect to redesign. The plan then evolved into an entire redesign of the Bicentennial parking lot and the repaving of Hawthorne Court which combined what originally was phase 1 and phase 2 of the paving project. Ms. McDougall pointed out that the new design would provide nineteen (19) new parking spots for the community which would equal one,(1) spot per unit. She was able to have the state approve the allocation of funding from phase 1 and phase 2, and she added in the state ARPA funding so that there was money in the plan to fund this large project. Ms. McDougall also added that this plan would include a budget to add new landscaping to Bicentennial Court, which is not a capital improvement the state typically funds. Aside from the paving project, Ms. McDougall stated that the Capital Improvement plan had funding allocated to tree trimming and 2 removal, vacant unit turnover reimbursement, and the replacement of a twenty plus year water heater at the 689 project at 651 S. Main Street. Mr. Kozlowski asked about the referenced ARPA funding. Ms. McDougall said that the ARPA funding was additional funding that state had issued to all Housing Authorities that was equivalent to one year of Capital funding or, in Mansfield's case, $249,000. Ms. McDougall added that the state instructed Housing Authorities to apply ARPA funding to a current capital project so that the funding is expended by the expiration date. Mr. Kozlowski inquired of about the ideal of parking along Bicentennial Court to route #106. Ms. McDougall stated that the Housing Authority does own the roadway to route #106 but that there are private houses and easements already established along the road. Ms. Cornetta, Bicentennial Court resident said that she felt budget should be placed into individual apartment upgrades. Ms. Cornetta also stated that Housing Authority looks sub -par to other Housing Authorities, Ms. McDougall stated that other locations could have different funding or may not be subsidized. Ms. McDougall went on to say that the state currently subsidizes the Mansfield Housing Authority budget and that means that the income the Housing Authority collects does not meet or exceed the Housing Authority's expenses. She continued by saying that if the rents were higher than the expenses the money that was made by the housing authority could be spent on anything the Board of Commissioners decided on. Ms. Gallant, Bicentennial Court resident, brought up cosmetic concerns within her apartment including the flooring and kitchen cabinets. The Chairman stated that the resident should call in a work order to have the maintenance department look at her areas of concern and determine the proper course of action. The Chairman then explained that there were procedures put in place and that the residents must follow the proper procedures before bringing their complaints to the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Kozlowski wanted to ensure that there are numbers that show, over time that there is an increased need for additional parking. Ms. McDougall stated that our current parking is at capacity at Bicentennial Court, the Visitor Parking has been assigned to current residents. Ms. Flynn added that the newly constructed plan has one spot for each resident and that she felt was fair. A Motion was made by Mr. Tucker and seconded by Ms. Flynn to Approve the 2023 Annual Plan. Upon Vote, the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. The Chairman referred to Agenda Item #1, Reorganization of the Board. The Chairman stated that Commissioner William Snyder was unable to make the meeting this evening. A Motion was made by Mr. Tucker and seconded by Ms. Flynn to Table the Reorganization of the Board until September's Regular Monthly Board Meeting. Upon Vote, the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. A Motion was made by Ms. Flynn and seconded by Mr. Tucker to Approve Warrant #409 for the month of May 2022. Upon Vote the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. The Chairman referred to Agenda Item #4. Approval of Minutes of the May 4, 2022, Regular Board Meeting. A Motion was made by Mr. Kozlowski and seconded by Ms. Flynn to approve the Minutes of the May 4, 2022, Regular Board Meeting. Upon Vote the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. A Motion was made by Ms. Flynn and seconded by Mr. Kozlowski to accept the Executive Director's Report. Mr. Kozlowski asked for a status on the siding at Park Court, Ms. McDougall stated that siding had been affected by weather conditions and a temporary repair had been made. The siding has been compromised throughout the years and now needs a complete replacement. The repairs need to be made permanent and that the Housing Authority and RCAT recently brought the matter to the attention of the DHCD to address. 4 Upon Vote, the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. A Motion was made by Ms. Flynn and seconded Mr. Kozlowski to Approve of the Balance Sheets and Financial Reports as of April 30, 2022, as Prepared by the Fee Accountant. The Board of Commissioners reviewed the financial statements provided by the Fee Accountant. Upon Vote, the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. The Chairman referred to Agenda Item #7. Correspondence The Chairman announced the receipt of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding award letter from the Department of Housing and Community Development. The Chairman referred to Agenda Item #8 Questions and Comments. Mr. Doyle, Mr. Kozlowski, and Ms. Flynn all welcomed Kenneth Tucker as a new Board member. Ms. McDougall stated that she had received an email from the Local Tenant Organization wanting to file a formal complaint of the staff parking on the entrance ramp to the Bicentennial Community Building. The Chairman asked if the Executive Director addressed the issue. Ms. McDougall stated that she had met with the staff and determined that there would only be employee parking on one side of the ramp to allow access to building. Ms. McDougall added that the threatening manner in which this email was worded indicated to her that the LTO had no desire to work with the administration and that was disappointing to her. The Chairman suggested that lines be painted on half of the ramp to prevent others from parking there as well. There being no further business to come before the Board, a Motion was made by Mr. Tucker and seconded by Ms. Flynn to Adjourn at 8:01 PM. Upon Vote, the Motion passed by a Vote of 4 to 0. s Approved on September 7, 2022 - Board of Commissioners: iJ