The Regular meeting of the LHA was held on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012 at 4:30 PM at the Curtis.
- The meeting was called to order by Chairman T. Sorrentino at 4:34 PM.
- Roll Call: Present – Tess Sorrentino, Chairman
Catherine May, Vice Chairman/State Appointee
Marge Pero/Member
Diana Kirby, Member
Martha Joyner, Exec. Dir.
Absent – Jan Ward
Others Present: None
No requests for agenda. Curtis tenants hosted a Thanksgiving meal for tenants, LHA received a holiday donation from Knights of Columbus, and Family Flowers donated time and greens for the Curtis porch boxes. Thank you to all!
b. Minutes- Nov. Regular meeting.
C. May made the motion to accept the minutes, M. Pero seconded. Three members voted in favor, D. Kirby abstained (was not in attendance at Nov. meeting). Minutes will be forwarded to the town web site.
c. Accounts Payable/Nov.
Accounts payable for Nov. were approved. As of today the 4001 balance is approximately $ 17,000.00, no transfer from 689 MMA to 4001, and porch fund as of 11/30/12 is
$ 2667.42. GIC Health Ins. was paid $8179.98, Sullivan Ins. (property) was paid $11,123.96 – rate set was an increase of approximately $600/yr, water/sewer to Town of Lenox was
$ 8025.76 with $10,000 paid on account previously. In January Berkshire Cty. Retirement must be paid $ 10,931.00 (half year assessment). C. May asked if it would make sense to speak with Selectmen about Curtis Associates contract, M. Pero concerned about possible legal ramifications. T. Sorrentino suggested asking Atty. P. M. LaFore to write a letter to Selectmen to advocate for LHA cause. Invite Ed Lane and Dave Roche to our Jan. meeting.
d. Request for BCHC Community Service – hallways Curtis
Request for painting Curtis hallways was approved, work almost complete.
As of 12/1/12 Curtis 1 – will be leased 12/15/12, TT 1 – previous tenant smoker will be leased 1/1/13, families –2 (3 bed).
TT has been completed; new smoke detectors were installed in each front/back upstairs and downstairs hallways. Smoke detector batteries were replaced and new plug-in/battery backup CO detectors were installed in each apartment.
The TT community building boiler replacement has been completed, all invoices will be submitted to DHCD, and emergency funds will be allocated from CPS.
Exec. Dir. will be setting up a fire safety /vile of life talk for any/all tenants with Lenox Fire and Ambulance Dept.
Update on 12/3, 4 Mass NAHRO Fall Conference – Exec. Dir.
Lenox Housing Authority Exec. Dir. requested and was approved for a scholarship from Mass NAHRO in order to attend this very important conference. Tom Connelly had stated that authorities are at a true crossroad in the history of local public housing. Never before have local housing officials been so challenged, individually and collectively in serving their
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communities and low-income residents. In order to respond appropriately to the future changes, members need to come together to discuss, debate, and decide what initiatives will work best. Local control, performance assessment, increased capacity, regional services, increased collaboration and retention of local expertise are the goals. The state sees us as a liability – in fact we are a beacon of hope and an asset to our communities where everyone knows our name! LHA’s are currently overburdened, overworked, and our capacity is taxed, everyday operational resources are limited. The Gov. has just made emergency cuts to the budget – things are not getting any easier only tougher to survive.
It appears that housing authorities will not be eliminated but staff will be moved into a new quasi public entity under 121B under a uniformed management system. Boards may be the same just a different infrastructure. Salaries, benefits, and retirement remain a concern. Exec. Dir titles have gone from site managers to site directors. The majority of current Exec. Dir are a wealth of knowledge and are legacy employees with strong ties to each of their communities. The bill that the Gov. files in Jan. is the key. Mass NAHRO has hired a professional agency to compile a response. LHA’s should be receiving a copy of this within 2 weeks.
Board vote for possible by-law amendment was postponed again. J. Ward would like the board to consider whether or not she should resign from board. Chairman T. Sorrentino stated that it should be her decision not the board. She will speak with J. Ward and follow-up at Jan. meeting.
State Family Homelessness System assistance request – tabled until Jan. meeting.
- T. Sorrentino adjourned the meeting at 5:45 PM. All members in attendance voted in favor. Next scheduled meeting should be Jan.1 – must be rescheduled . All in attendance agreed to Jan. 8 meeting.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Joyner, Secretary/Executive Director
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