EAST WINDSOR HOUSING AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING - JUNE 21, 2004
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Karen Boutin.
Commissioners Percoski, LaMay, and Legassie were present
?
ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Boutin read a letter of resignation from Commissioner Carolyn Wichniewicz (copy attached).
MEETING MINUTES OF:
Regular Meeting - May 17, 2004
The minutes of the regular meeting of May 17, 2004 were reviewed by all commissioners present. A motion was made by Commissioner LaMay, seconded by Commissioner Percoski to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of May 17, 2004 as presented.
LaMay/Percoski
Unanimous
Special Meeting - May 19, 2004
The minutes of the special meeting of May 19, 2004 were reviewed by all commissioners present. A motion was made by Commissioner Percoski, seconded by Commissioner LaMay to accept the minutes of the special meeting of May 19, 2004 as presented.
Percoski/LaMay
Unanimous
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments
37G
BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Check Register - May 19 - June 16, 2004
The check register of May 19 - June 16, 2004 was reviewed by all commissioners present and all questions answered. A motion was made by Commissioner Percoski, seconded by Commissioner Legassie to accept the check register of May 19 - June 16, 2004 as presented.
Percoski/ Legassie
Unanimous
REPORTS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Apartments
We currently have four units vacant. Three doubles, one of which is a handicapped unit and one efficiency unit. We have people ready to take occupancy of all units, as soon as they are refurbished.
State Health... Department
We will be receiving a $500.00 fine from the Health Department, drinking water division, for failing to take the proper number of tests. This was the fault of the testing agency and they will be reimbursing us for the fine. Their excuse was that they had new people who were not aware of Connecticut testing procedures.
Pending Eviction
We have started eviction proceedings on one tenant for violation of the drug policy, endangering other tenants and allowing an unauthorized person to reside in their apartment. The matter has been turned over to our attorney.
Building Expansion
We received word from the Town Hall on Friday, June 18th, that the
monies for our building expansion have been released by the state. The process of going out to bid will begin as soon as possible.
Darlene will be taking the second half of Financial Accounting (Managerial Accounting) in September and as the course is only offered on Monday nights it was requested that in the months of September and November the commission meetings be changed to Tuesday evenings. Commissioner Percoski requested that it be any Tuesday other than the 3rd one as that is when she has Garden Club. This wilt be looked into and brought back to the commission at a future meeting.
Due to the fact that we are coming into the summer months and vacation schedules, the commissioners present were asked if there would be any problems with holding our meetings when scheduled during July and August. Commissioner LaMay said that she might have a problem in July due to her working schedule. It was a suggestion of Chairman Boutin that the meetings be planned in a month to month basis in July and August.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
There were no reports of committees.
Due to the fact that Sen. LeBeau and Rep. Graziani were present to speak to the residents about housing issues, Chairman Boutin suggested going out of order to Policies and Procedures.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
There were four (4) new policies to be reviewed:
04-0020 Statements by Employees about Incidents on EWHA Properties
04-0021 Pet Policy
04-0022 Affirmative Action Policy Statement
04-0023 Unregistered-Inoperative Motor Vehicles
The above mentioned four (4) policies were reviewed by all commissioners present and all questions answered.
A motion was made by Commissioner LaMay, seconded by Commissioner Legassie to accept Policy 04-0020 - Statements by Employees about Incidents on EWHA properties.
LaMay/Legassie
Unanimous
A motion was made by Commissioner LaMay, seconded by Commissioner Legassie to accept Policy 04-0022 - Affirmative Action Policy Statement
LaMay/Legassie
Unanimous
A motion was made by Commissioner LaMay, seconded by Commissioner Legassie to accept Policy 04-0023 - Unregistered-Inoperative Motor
Vehicles
LaMay/Legassie
Unanimous
04-0021 had previously been accepted in 1999.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A) Community Hall/Office Expansion
This was already covered in the Report of the Executive Director
B) Update by Sen. LeBeau and Rep. Graziani on Elderly Housing Issues
The meeting was turned over to Sen. LeBeau who spoke at length regarding Elderly Housing issues. Sen. LeBeau spoke about the bills that had been proposed with regard to the needs of the elderly in particular housing. Although the bills proposed failed in the last legislative session, they are not dead and it was a giant leap forward in bringing housing issues as they relate to the elderly and the "younger mentally challenged individuals" housed in elderly complexes. The process of trying to find solutions to the housing issues hasn't stopped and is continuing. The Program Review Committee from the General Assembly will be conducting a study to be presented at the. January session of the General Assembly. Representatives from this committee will be talking to housing authorities throughout the state, not only to the directors but to the residents as well, to determine what steps can be taken to alleviate the problem of the "younger mentally challenged" individuals in elderly housing
and from the information .gathered will produce an active study.
Sen. LeBeau also read a letter from Heather M. Gates, President and CEO of Community Health Resources (copy attached) regarding the services available to the mentally disabled individuals.
The floor was then opened for residents to make comments or ask questions. The mother of one of the "younger mentally challenged" individuals spoke to the gathering at large about the challenges faced by the younger handicapped individuals and the necessity for finding appropriate, affordable housing.
One of the residents also spoke to the fact that although she was in her 50's when she moved in at first she wasn't treated very nicely because of her disability and did not feel that this was right.
4
Chairman Boutin then thanked Sen. LeBeau and Rep. Graziani for coming to the meeting and giving everyone present an update on the housing issues.
A short recess was called by Chairman Boutin and then the meeting resumed in order.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business
EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no Executive Session.
PRESENTATION
Chairman Boutin introduced Det. Matthew Carl of the East Windsor Police Department who spoke to the tenants present regarding safety and security issues. He spoke at length regarding the "Block Watch Program" and how it is beneficial to those living in the type of community that Park Hill is. Det. Carl also spoke about the varying scams that are out there today and warned everyone present not to give out any confidential nature at all over the phone, to be aware of their surroundings and that they should always go out with someone else, never alone, as some of these people out there prey on the elderly. Det. Carl also mentioned the newest safety hazard which has to do with car jacking. A person will unlock their car, put their packages and purse in, start the car, get in and then notice a piece of paper taped to
their back window. They get out of the car to look at the paper and a car-jacker will jump in the car and take off.
Det. Carl also spoke about what to do in the case of an emergency and that the
police Dept. is there for them. He then passed out refrigerator magnets (which had been made by Commissioner Legassie) which had the main number of the Police Department them. He finished up by thanking everyone for their time and attention and by reminding them never to hesitate in contacting the Police Department regarding their safety and security.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner LaMay, seconded by Commissioner Percoski to adjourn the regular meeting of the East Windsor Housing Authority at 8:45 p.m.
LaMay/Percoski
Unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Steven D. Knibloe
Executive Director
Darlene H. Kelly
Recording Secretary
| 
