The regular meeting of the LHA was held Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 at 3:00 PM at the Curtis.
1. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nasman at 3:15 PM.
2. Roll Call: Present– Cindy Nasman, Chairman
Midge Sandlin, Vice Chairman
Richard Kirby, Treasurer
Marge Pero, Member
Cathy May, State Appointee
Martha Joyner, Ex. Dir. Others – Tenants
Absent – None
3. Agenda:
a. Tenant Forum
Ex. Dir. from Lee, Stockbridge, and Lenox met with members of Tri-Town Health to discuss the progress of smoke-free facilities (Stockbridge/Lenox). Suggestions for next steps in process for promoting this with other authorities were also discussed. A follow-up meeting will be held on 2/24. A tenant stated that she had been harassed by other tenants claiming her dog had been barking while she was away from her apartment. She also wanted to state that the Ex. Dir. tried to help her with this barking issue and did not in any way have anything to do with her leaving.
b. Minutes/Jan. meeting
Minutes from this meeting were approved.
c. Accounts Payable/Jan.
Dec. accounts reconciliation – earned subsidy of $8236.00, the 4001 balance is approximately $30,000, $ 2069.87 was transferred from 689 MMA to 4001, $150.00 in donations to Curtis porch fund were received and have been deposited to the CD.
Midge approved the Quarterly Operating Statements for the 4001, 689, and the Modernization Cost Reports as of Dec. 31, 2008 as presented. Dick seconded and all in attendance voted in favor.
d. Biennial rent recertification approved
On 1/27/09 DHCD sent approval for the LHA waiver request of 760 CMR 6.04(4) for the upcoming (4/1/09) rent recalculations as part of a new DHCD initiative. Tenants will be given all the required notifications and will have to sign a “Bi-Annual rent Recertification Lease Amendment”.
There is a possibility that a policy will have to be made due to the fact that this is a waiver from the regulation. Ex. Dir. is waiting for a reply from LHA Asset manager.
e. FY’09 Budgets
FY’09 Budgets have been approved.
f. Ex. Dir. contract
Ex. Dir. contract was approved for a term of three years beginning 10/1/08.
g. Vacancies
TT/1 – will be leased up within a couple of days, Curtis/1 – will be leased as of Mar. 1, Family/1. Midge reported Ken Singer at BCARC is not interested in renting a three bedroom unit from us. Board members suggested the church bulletins, the Lenox senior paper, and the Selectmen’s meeting as possible places to advertise for applicants.
h. Aff. Housing
No report available. Midge will forward information to the board for the next meeting.
i. CPC interview
Our Curtis porch application interview on 1/26/09 went well.
Ex. Dir./Board members will attend follow-up meetings and the public hearing. Board discussed other fund raising possibilities - rocking chairs, a collection of Lenox post cards, and promoting public awareness of our need for donations through The Berkshire Eagle and The Berkshire Record. Cindy is waiting for a reply from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission contact regarding CDBG funding and also a representative from Berkshire Taconic Fund.
j. Town of Lenox report letter
The 2008 town report letter written by the Ex. Dir. was reviewed. It was approved for submittal as edited.
k. TT site work
DHCD has given their approval to bid this project with conditions. The approval contained several errors including the wrong project manager,
wrong architect, and a Central Register notice for Monson. Ex. Dir. will have these items corrected.
l. DTA & DHCD Merger
We have been informed that the Governor is seeking an Article 87 reorganization that would merge the troubled DTA with DHCD as of 7/1/09. This proposal is the latest new strategy to address homelessness. This requires legislative approval.
l. New Business/ Misc. Correspondence
The Berkshire Cty. Retirement board meeting will be held on 2/26/09.
4. C. Nasman adjourned the meeting at 4:45 PM and all in attendance voted in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Joyner, Secretary to the Board
Executive Director
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