The Annual meeting of the LHA was held on Tuesday August 7, 2012 at 4:30 PM at the Curtis.
- The meeting was called to order by Chairman T. Sorrentino at 4:30 PM.
- Roll Call: Present – Tess Sorrentino, Chairman
Catherine May, Vice Chairman/State Appointee
Jan Ward, Treasurer
Marge Pero, Member Diana Kirby, Member
Martha Joyner, Exec. Dir.
Absent - None Others Present: D. Roche, G. Federspiel, tenants
- Board Reorganization/welcome Diana Kirby
T. Sorrentino welcomed and wished our new board member Diana Kirby a long and successful term. She has been a longtime resident of Lenox and will be an asset to the authority.
M. Pero made the motion to keep the officers as they are now for the coming year
T. Sorrentino/Chairman, C. May/Vice Chairman/State Appointee, J. Ward/Treasurer,
M. Pero/Member, D. Kirby/Member. D. Kirby seconded and all in attendance voted in favor. A brief discussion was held about the possibility of changing day/time of meeting. This will be discussed further at a future meeting after Exec. Dir. reviews bylaws.
4. T. Sorrentino adjourned the Annual meeting at 4:39PM noting the regular meeting will immediately follow. All in attendance voted in favor.
The Regular meeting of the LHA was held on Tuesday August 7, 2012 at 4:40 PM at the Curtis.
- The meeting was called to order by Chairman T. Sorrentino at 4:40 PM.
- Roll Call: Present – Tess Sorrentino, Chairman
Catherine May, Vice Chairman/State Appointee
Jan Ward/ Treasurer
Marge Pero/Member Diana Kirby/Member
Martha Joyner, Exec. Dir.
Absent – None Others Present: D. Roche, G. Federspiel, tenants
No requests for agenda. Exec. Dir. has inquired about the possibility of the LMHS shop students building flower boxes as a project. Don Fitzgerald will let her know asap.
b. Minutes-July Regular meeting.
M. Pero made the motion to accept the regular minutes, C. May seconded. All in attendance voted in favor. Minutes will be forwarded to the town web site.
c. Accounts Payable/July
Accounts payable for July were approved. As of today the 4001 balance is approximately $ 22,705.00, June accounts reconciliation show LHA is over subsidized by $10,522.00,BCR bill $10,931.00 was paid, transferred $4920.38 from 689 MMA to 4001, new signature cards will be signed at Lenox National Bank and Berkshire Bank as required. C. May made the motion to amend CFA Work Plan 1018 (low flush toilets) by adding an additional $530 for a total of $11,130.00 to cover the disposal costs at WTF as approved. D. Kirby seconded and all in attendance voted in favor.
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- Commission on Public Hsg. Sustainability Update
T. Sorrentino has read through the review. This plan will add levels of management at a great expense to state taxpayers, obviously comes from abuses in Chelsea, tenants will lose their personal contact, local economy will be effected, the bigger authorities would remain unchanged, bigger leaves the opportunity for less accountability, boards will be less involved/less in control. C. May stated regionalization is what the state is pushing for, believes it is more than just Chelsea driving this idea. Exec. Dir. attended the meeting in Franklin on 7/19. Western Mass Exec. Dir. Assoc. has requested a meeting with Mass NAHRO President Rick Leco for more detailed input on how we should proceed and what we should expect. This whole concept directly affects all employees in some
manner. Board members would like to set up a group meeting with all Berkshire Cty. Authorities and Sen. Ben Downing and Rep. Smitty Pignatelli to discuss strategy to avoid regionalization, if not avoidable ideas to help us survive.
e. Update Affordable Housing – E. Jacobson
E. Jacobson gave a lengthy update on Lenox affordable housing progress. Saw Mill Brook was purchased by the town with CPA funds, unable to find a buyer to develop due to economy. Plan is for 40 ownership units with 10%(4) affordable. Lee Bank has funds to assist potential buyers, $10,000 grants, deed restrictions required. The Aff. Hsg. Committee would like to create a list of eligible buyers to utilize when a property becomes available for purchase in the $180,000 range which is considered affordable. Accessory use dwellings can be used as well. Ellen will write up all this information and distribute to anyone interested.
As of 8/1/12 Curtis 1, 8/13/12 Curtis 1 more, TT 0, families –1 (3 bed) duplex created from a transfer – still no funding for this rehab and 1 (3 bed) duplex Sept. 1. Exec. Dir. noted that in the past year there have been 22 vacancies, 3 have been total renovations.
- Update on Smoke Free housing
Exec. Dir. attended a meeting with Tri Town Bd. Of Health on 7/12/12 to discuss how to achieve our goal of going completely smoke free. J. Wilucz can come to do a presentation to the board. He suggested a tenant survey. Reminded all in attendance that there is no constitutional right to smoke, current laws and the potential health impact from second hand smoke are on our side. Adele (Health and Wellness) is willing to come to our next meeting to discuss this health issue, and is willing to do smoking cessation programs for our residents. Kim Kelly (BHS) offered to set up a mini health fair to promote cessation products or help us in any way she can.
Future Financial viability of housing authority
T. Sorrentino and M. Pero met 7/31/12 with LHA accountant Sue Honeycutt to discuss the state of our finances and strategize our future in order to remain viable. The LHA cash flow is very bad; the approximate $34,000 rental income can no longer keep up with our operating expenses. Our reserves are way under the required 10%, our truck is very old has needed costly repairs and no money to replace. Licensed contractors must be hired by code for a great deal of the maintenance repairs. Our savings account is down to $7,000 to cover operating budget for this fiscal year – no way to replenish that account.
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As stated above the LHA has experienced 22 vacancies in the past year with no extra funding for necessary rehabs. Air conditioning fees were taken away years ago, little income from residents over 62 who work due to the waiver, no rent reforms, minimum rents are $5.00. At this time, the LHA cannot start eviction process if no funds to follow through with them. The LHA has barely been hanging on for quite some time. The only place to reduce expenses unfortunately affects maintenance. The maintenance mechanic position is the higher expense at approximately $50,000.00/yr. including benefits – this could be eliminated due to the fact that code requires licensed contractors, leaving maintenance laborer and Exec. Dir. to share the added responsibilities. If outside contractors were not needed money could be
saved. This is a gamble but LHA does not have a choice. The board discussed pros/cons of hiring independent subcontractor to oversee maintenance but decided it would not save anything. Tess stated that the board needs to be proactive rather than reactive – a decision needs to be made now to protect the authority rather than waiting until we reach a point of failing. Our residents depend on their housing and it must be saved for their future well being. Any reduction should be discussed, and handled under our attorney’s advice. Therefore the following vote was taken: J. Ward made the motion to eliminate the maintenance mechanic position effective Oct.1, 2012 (FY’13) pending the advice/direction of our attorney. C. May seconded and all members in attendance voted in favor. Exec. Dir. was instructed to contact Atty. LaFore and proceed with process to eliminate this position.
Request for modernization funds to address rehab needs in vacancies
Exec. Dir. emailed LHA Asset Mg. to inquire about the possibility of 705 modernization funds to assist with rehabs of 11 Church St. B 101, B 102 (3 bed apt.). Without extra funding these apts. will continue to remain vacant with no rental income. This building has a newer roof and both apts. have new high efficiency gas boilers. Exec. Dir. received notice that State Inspector D. Balling will be making a site visit on Aug. 27 to assess our funding needs to assure we are included in any future rounds of funding.
Reallocation of CPS funds - $50,000 is currently allocated in FY’13 CPS for the Curtis porch that will not be used. Exec. Dir. has sent a request to Deb Hall for permission to use these funds on updating TT 40 yr. old boilers.
- T. Sorrentino adjourned the meeting at 6:30 PM. All members in attendance voted in favor.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Joyner, Secretary/Executive Director
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