The regular meeting of the LHA was held Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2009 at 3:00 PM at Curtis.
1. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nasman at 3:05 PM.
2. Roll Call: Present– Cindy Nasman, Chairman
Marge Pero, Member
Catherine May, State Appointee
Martha Joyner, Ex. Dir. Others – Tenants
Absent – Midge Sandlin, Vice Chairman
R. Kirby, Treasurer
3. Agenda:
a. Tenant Forum
The topic for the WMEDA meeting on 3/18 was Smoke Free Housing. Lenox and Stockbridge Ex. Dir. encouraged other authorities to implement this policy. TT tenants anxious about start date for site work. Ex. Dir. reported that until funding is assured, this job continues to be on hold.
Tenant from Curtis commented that winter conditions were terrible and now the sand needs to be cleaned up.
b. Minutes/Mar. meeting
Cindy made the motion to approve March minutes, Catherine seconded and all in attendance voted in favor.
c. Accounts Payable/Mar.
Feb. accounts reconciliation – earned subsidy of $18,180.00 under subsidized $8,180.00, the 4001 balance is approximately $26,476.00,
$ 5120.75 will be transferred from 689 MMA to 4001, Curtis Shop monthly rental of $ 495.00 was received. It appears that S. Barry is going to lower rents for Shop #4 from $1000 to $675 and Shop # 10 from $ $450 to $ 300 or $ 330. A rental application from Flowers by Tabitha for Shop # 10 was received. Marge made the motion to approve this application with the stipulation that S. Barry make it clear to the applicant that water is not available in that shop and trash is shop owners responsibility.
C. May seconded and all in attendance voted in favor.
Ex. Dir. will communicate our concerns to S. Barry. The board discussed the possibility of Rep. Pignatelli and Sen. B. Downing communicating our concern about reduced rents for this space to S. Barry. LHA received notice that the Village Pharmacy will be vacating the office space approximately 5/1. Ex. Dir. will contact some realtors for any rental interest. DLI rates for maintenance jobs have increased by $ 1.32 and
$ 1.13/hr. This will cost the LHA an additional $ 9,555.00 a year.
Ex. Dir. has contacted our Asset Mg. to request extra funding to cover this added expense.
d. Federal Stimulus update
Amy Schectman has reported that the federal stimulus money has been explicitly available only for federally-supported units.
e. Project updates
Advertising dates for the 705 roof will be coordinated asap as long as funding is in place. Three Curtis brick walk bids were received – Wall Const. at $ 22,866, D.F. Landscaping at $ 16,000, and Lenox Const. at
$ 13,500. C. May made the motion to award the bid to Lenox Const.
M. Pero seconded and all in attendance voted in favor. Ex. Dir. has submitted an emergency funding request to DHCD to cover needed renovations to the Curtis laundry room floor – no response yet. Ex. Dir. is waiting for the exact dimensions and easement for the Church St. work requested in 3/16 letter to town. The CPS inventory was completed 3/10, the CPS inspection will be done 4/28.
f. CFA extensions/Low Flush Toilet CFA
M. Pero made the motion to approve the date extension from 6/30/09 to 6/30/10 for Work Plans # 1009-TT site, # 1007-689 baths, and # 1005-roof. C. May seconded and all in attendance voted in favor. The LHA received an award of $26,959 for the procurement and installation of 60 low flow toilets for the Curtis. A separate CFA in the amount of $7200 for the cost to install these toilets was received. C. May made the motion to approve the $7200 award. M. Pero seconded and all in attendance voted in favor.
g. Bi-Annual Rent Policy
M. Pero made the motion to approve this policy effective for 4/1/09 recertifications. C. May seconded and all in attendance voted in favor.
h. Vacancies
TT/2- should be rented by May 1, Curtis/0, Family/0.
i. Aff. Housing
No report
j. CPC update 3/23 meeting
The LHA presence at each meeting made an impression.
The Curtis porch funding was approved to be presented to town meeting.
k. Board Officers job descriptions/Mission statement
Job descriptions were from 1964 by-laws – the following questions were raised: How can by-laws be amended, has any other authority revised/what is involved, can state appointee hold another office? The board will investigate further. The wording of the mission statement was discussed at length. All in attendance agreed to table to next meeting.
l. New Business
All members discussed whether or not the lower area of Curtis porch should be painted – no decision made. Members will recognize R. Kirby’s many years of service at his last meeting on 5/5 at Turnure Terrace.
m. HCEC meeting
The LHA was the host agency for the regional meeting on 4/6 for the Housing Consumer Education Centers presented by DHCD and Berkshire Housing Dev. Corp.
n. Ex. Dir. vacation time will be 4/9 to 4/21.
4. C. Nasman adjourned the meeting at 5:50 PM, all in attendance voted in
in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Joyner, Secretary to the Board
Executive Director
| 
