Willington Housing Authority
40 Old Farms Road
July 13, 2009
Meeting Minutes
Members Present:
Robert Campbell
Wilbur Gangaway
Claudia D’Agata
Tyler Millix
Members Absent:
Cindy Wilson
Also Present:
Dave Berto
R. Campbell called the meeting to order at 6:21 PM.
C. D’Agata made a motion to approve the May meeting minutes, W. Gangaway seconded the motion. All members voted in favor.
C. D’Agata presented the treasurers report; she stated that the balance as of 6/08/09 was $2409.09. There were no payroll expenses for June therefore the balance remains $2409.28.
Old Business
Mr. Berto told the board that they need to pass a resolution for DECD in order to put in an application for pre-development funding. Mr. Berto explained that the loan is forgivable if the project is unable to get off the ground. Once the resolution has been passed then a lengthy application must be submitted to DECD explaining the project.
T. Millix made a motion to adapt the resolution Whereas, pursuant to CGS Section 8-410 the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized to extend financial assistance for eligible housing projects; and whereas, it is desirable and in the public interest that the Willington Housing Authority make an application to the State for $250,000 in order to undertake the Willington Senior Cottages and to execute an Assistance Agreement. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Directors
1. That it is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for the state financial assistance imposed by the Connecticut General Statutes.
2. That the filing of an application for State financial assistance by Willington Housing Authority in an amount not to exceed $250,000 is herby approved and that Robert Campbell, Chairman is directed to execute and file such application with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, to provide such additional information, to execute such other documents as may be required, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut for State financial assistance if such an agreement is offered, to execute any amendments, decisions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of Willington Housing Authority.
3. That all previous actions of the Chairman with respect to the Project and hereby ratified.
W. Gangaway seconded the motion, all board members voted in favor of the motion, thus the motion passed.
The board went over items for the pre-development application. R. Campbell said he had received an email from Lou Massari regarding the information he will need to complete the application. He asked Mr. Berto if the Housing Authorities’ attorney needs to speak with the town’s attorney about the information they will be putting in the application. Mr. Berto said he felt that the application was very straight forward and the town attorney should have no problem going over it. R. Campbell asked Mr. Berto to speak with First Selectman Eldredge regarding the application and have him contact the town’s attorney so he can approve the application before it is sent in.
Mr. Berto passed out a project schedule for the Senior Cottages; he stated that the schedule runs from now until February of 2011. R. Campbell stated that he felt this schedule was very aggressive, Mr. Berto agreed, but stated it is based on everything going as planned and getting all monies and approvals in a timely manner.
R. Campbell asked Mr. Berto if they should include in the application that members of the Willington Housing Authority have sat on anther board which successfully completed a HUD 202 project which came in at budget and ahead of schedule. Mr. Berto said that he would include that information in the application.
Mr. Berto passed out the project development budget and financing plan for the 24 units of senior cottages. He stated that the total project should cost $4,000,000 and the pre-development costs will come to $250,000. The board discussed the costs and if they felt they were accurate. They stated that they need to go through the pre-development process and hire a contractor before they can get actual numbers.
R. Campbell handed out a letter to the board that he plans of sending to the First Selectman regarding payment for legal fees as well as bill from their consultant.
R. Campbell told the board that he has not obtained insurance for the board as of yet. He said in the next month he will follow up with getting quotes and obtaining the insurance. The board discussed how they will pay for the yearly insurance bill. They discussed using grant money or asking for town funding. Mr. Berto said he would speak with First Selectman Eledredge regarding how the town would like to have the insurance paid.
Mr. Berto told the board that he sent a letter to Joe Courtney’s office regarding the application he submitted for funding for the project as he has not heard back yet. He stated that last year applicants did not hear until around December as they have to wait for the State budget to pass.
New Business
R. Campbell stated that there will be no meeting in August.
W. Gangaway asked R. Campbell if he was still leaning towards choosing the second option from the architect’s conceptual plans. He stated that he is concerned with this option as it disrupts the parking spaces at the Senior Center. He stated that if the second plan is the preferred option he will have a hard time approving it. W. Gangaway stated they already need to add additional handicapped spaces at the Senior Center to bring the parking lot up to code. R. Campbell stated that he feels that option two works best for emergency vehicle traffic. W. Gangaway went on to explain that seniors currently walk through the parking area for exercise and he feels that other seniors will be driving through too quickly for walkers to be safe.
Mr. Berto stated that once the board begins working with the architect the conceptual plans will be reworked to meet the needs of both the cottages and the center. W. Gangaway stated that the Senior Center has been meeting with an architect as well to discuss possibly enlarging the center or creating more parking spaces. R. Campbell discussed the importance of the two projects working together.
R. Campbell told the board that if any decisions need to be made in the month of August he will call all board members and send out an email as well.
Correspondence:
- Conn-NAHRO letter RE: 11th annual convention and exhibition
- TD BankNorth RE: loan information
- Letter from First Selectman Eledredge to Larry Wagner RE: being awarded the Center School water project
W. Gangaway made a motion to adjourn at 7:10 PM. C. D’Agata seconded the motion.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa McDonough
Recording Clerk
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