Willington Housing Authority
40 Old Farms Road
January 10, 2011
Meeting Minutes
Members Present:
Robert Campbell
Claudia D’Agata
Don Berg
Wilbur Gangaway
Members Absent:
Laurel Millix
R. Campbell called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM.
The meeting minutes from September were discussed. W. Gangaway said that it is still not clear whether the archeological study needs to be complete before DECD will decide on their grant funding. R. Campbell said that he believes that they can get the funding from DECD and pay for the study with that funding; if significant artifacts are found then at that point they would not be able to continue the project. C. D’Agata made a motion to accept the minutes of September’s meeting. D. Berg seconded the motion. All members voted in favor.
C. D’Agata presented the treasurers report. She stated that the balance as of 9/13/10 was $13207.18. Payroll and payroll taxes were $161.48 for three months and the digital recorder was $46.63. The current balance is $12,999.07.
Correspondence:
1. Robert Campbell’ s certificate of re-appointment to the Housing Authority
Present to speak:
none
Old Business:
Dave Berto was present to share information on the DECD grant application that the Housing Authority had applied for. Mr. Berto told the housing members that in July the DECD contacted him to let him know that they had several questions regarding their grant application. Mr. Berto said that he answered all of the questions that they asked, he stated that they were all related to cost for the architect based on project percentages. The DECD told Mr. Berto that they would review what he gave them. Mr. Berto did not hear back so he called the architect that was reviewing the grant directly and still did not receive any answer. He called the project manager who told him that it would be reviewed soon. The next time Mr. Berto called to check on the application he was
told that the project manager working on their application had been re-assigned and the last time he called he was told that the new project manager is going on vacation and will not be able to look at the application until after she returns.
D. Berg asked if the Housing Authority members could arrange a meeting with the new project manager. Mr. Berto said yes they could but he would like to make contact with her first. R. Campbell asked how long they should give the DECD to get back to them. Mr. Berto said that if they do not have an answer regarding the grant application by the beginning of February then they should request a meeting. D. Berg asked if the old project manager should be included in the meeting. Mr. Berto said yet that would be a good idea. R. Campbell said that he would like to invite Christina Mailhos, Tony Guglielmo and Bryan Hurlburt.
Mr. Berto said that he will follow up next week with DECD project manager when she returns from vacation. He told the members that he will explain to the project manager that he is under pressure from the Housing Authority to have a meeting with the DECD due to not getting a response on their grant application.
Mr. Berto explained to the Housing Authority that DECD is now only funding architect drawings at 40%. He explained that if that is what the DECD is looking for and they notify the Housing Authority he can easily change what he originally submitted to them. C. D’Agata asked if the Housing Authority will be required to pay for the remaining 60%. Mr. Berto said that he did not think so; he stated that he thinks that DECD is currently confusing their regulations with other regulations and it will get worked out.
R. Campbell asked Mr. Berto what other alternative funding sources might be available to the Housing Authority for pre-development if the DECD funding falls through. Mr. Berto said that there is CHIF and LISC funding both are local and like to fund local initiatives. He went on to explain that both of those funding sources require that the loans be paid back with interest. Mr. Berto said that the Housing Authority can choose to begin the design process with the money that the town gave them and go through the procurement process. R. Campbell asked how much money they need to get started. Mr. Berto said that they need at least $40,000 or $50,000. R. Campbell asked what the time line is to pay back the loans. Mr. Berto said they would have about twenty-four
months. R. Campbell asked if they should apply for the CHIF or LISK loan to just get the project off the ground. Mr. Berto reminded the members that if they get the pre-development funding from DECD and then receive additional funding from them they are able to pay back the pre-development funding with the second grant from DECD.
C. D’Agata asked why they can’t just begin using the money the town set aside for them. R. Campbell stated that if they use that money they need to go through the procurement process for everything including people they have already hired such as Mr. Berto, the architect, and engineer. C. D’Agata asked if they can wait another month or two to see if DECD gets back to them. Mr. Berto added that if the Housing Authority gets the first grant from DECD then they are more likely to receive the second round of funding.
R. Campbell stated that the Housing Authority needs to decide what their next step will be if they do not hear back from DECD by the end of February. W. Gangaway stated that he was feeling frustrated that our local Senator and Representative have no influence of the DECD. Mr. Berto suggested contacting Edith Prauge or another influential democrat. He stated that since Dan Malloy took office the democrats have a lot of influence.
W. Gangaway asked about local banks. Mr. Berto said that Rockville Bank sent a letter that was very supportive of the project and they would be willing to lend the Housing Authority money. He stated that the letter that New Alliance Bank sent a letter that was not as supportive.
D. Berg suggested sending an email to the project manager at DECD ccing all of the people they would like to invite to a meeting if they do not receive a response from them. Including Hurlburt, Guglielmo, Prague, and Wyman.
R. Campbell asked if there is a project number he can reference in the email. Mr. Berto said that they would not receive a project number until the grant is approved.
C. D’Agata asked what the date of their original application was. Mr. Berto stated that he mailed it in August of 2009. Mr. Berto went over the issues that DECD had with the application since then; he stated that first the building site was in the wrong color on the map and they were told they could not build there. The town of Willington was able to make changes to the map so the building lot was now in a buildable area. DECD then needed letters of support from local banks; Mr. Berto sent them the letter from Rockville Bank. The last issue has been the cost of the architect and Mr. Berto stated that he has answered all of the questions that DECD had.
C. D’Agata asked if the Willington Housing Authority is the only application that DECD currently has for this type of funding. Mr. Berto said that he believes that they are.
The Housing Authority members went on to discuss what they want to do about the DECD application. C. D’Agata suggested contacting Nancy Wyman as she was involved in the ASHOW housing project and was once a local representative. R. Campbell said he will contact ACCESS Agency to see how to contact Ms. Wyman.
R. Campbell asked Mr. Berto to email the board members when he hears from the new project manager.
New Business
R. Campbell said that he would like to pay Mr. Berto for half of what he has invoiced the Housing Authority. He said he will request that they send a new invoice for half the amount of the original invoice. D. Berg asked if Mr. Berto will get a percentage of the grant funding they receive. R. Campbell said yes he will.
R. Campbell told the Housing Authority Members that the town of Willington is holding a state of the town meeting this coming Wednesday, although it may be postponed due to the impending snow storm. He wanted to make sure all board members knew that they were invited to attend. He said that he will put something together to present at the meeting.
Meeting Dates
The board members looked over the suggested meeting dates; W. Gangaway said that the October meeting date was a holiday. The board said that they will meet the week before on October fifth.
D. Berg made a motion to adjourn at 7:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa McDonough
Recording Clerk
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