Willington Housing Authority
MINUTES
July 13, 2015
60 Old Farms Road – Senior Center
Willington, CT
PRESENT – Chairman Robert Campbell, Vice Chairman Wilbur Gangaway, Secretary Don Berg, Treasurer Claudia D'Agata, Member Laurel Millix, and Housing Consultant David Berto.
1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m.
2. Present to speak – No member of the public present to speak.
3. Old Business – Button Hill senior housing project.
D. Berto reported on the recent meeting with the Department of Housing regarding stalled progress. He said the DOH agreed to produce a revised terms agreement by the Tuesday following that meeting – which would allow the WHA put together a closing check list and allow a closing by August 13 and get construction started – but three weeks later, the DOH had not produced that document. R. Campbell said he emailed the DOH four days after the deadline for the document and did not receive a response. He said he will send another email and if there's no response, he may contact the DOH Deputy Commissioner Nick Lundgren and request a meeting.
D. Berto reported that Federal Home Loan Bank stated last week that the WHA cannot request further extensions beyond September 30, 2015 or WHA will forfeit its funding. This information was forwarded to the DOH and D. Berto asked what information they needed to move the process forward. He said DOH requested a new budget because the state is giving the Button Hill senior housing project $2 million in home funds and $1,350,000 in flex dollars – so the budget needs to split these funds. D. Berto said he prepared and forwarded that budget to DOH.
D. Berto said that in order to revise the budget as DOH requested, he had to review the rents because 13 of the 24 units are funded from home funds and 11 from flex funds, and the 13 under the home funds have lower rent limits.
R. Campbell said the home funds don't need to go to bonding; they are already in an account. He said he asked the DOH at the recent meeting if the home funds can be closed on now – which would allow construction to begin – and close on the flex funds later.
D. Berto said the FHLB could agree to closing if the WHA has two-thirds of the money (from the DOH) and a plan in place for the rest of the funds. R. Campbell asked D. Berto to contact the DOH and inform them the WHA intends to close as soon as possible on the home funds. D. Berto said his concern is that it is the DOH's responsibility to complete the closing check list items and the DOH has not been working at a reasonable pace. R. Campbell said that it might be necessary to meet with the Deputy Commissioner to make sure this work is done quickly.
D. Berto said that for the flex funds, the DOH has to go to the Bond Commission. He said he is waiting for confirmation that the DOH did submit this for July 31.
D. Berto reported that a final set of construction plans is being completed to give to contractors Zlotnick Construction, so they can do final pricing. He said that before construction begins, there will be more design discussions.
There was discussion about funding for solar. D. Berto said the project is going to be priced at base price, as well as an alternate for the photovoltaics, and an alternate for the generators. Funds from the DOH for the photovoltaics part of the project would have to be separate from the main project.
There was discussion about how electric usage will be metered. With solar, the practice is one meter for the whole building, versus a meter for each unit. However, D. Berto said state law requires measuring the electric usage of each tenant. D. Berto said D. Berg researched a device that would attach to the main meter and break out individual usage. This would allow management to address any excessive use by a particular tenant.
D. Berg said he spoke with a contact at the electric company who said it is OK to install one meter, but he will request that information in writing to pass on to the DOH. D. Berto said the question of one meter versus individual meters is important because it affects costs and the WHA needs to be able to accurately model the project's operating costs.
D. Berto reported the town is still reviewing the building permit application.
C. D'Agata gave D. Berto bank statements.
W. Gangaway reported that during a meeting with Stewart Cobb and Tom Snyder, concerns were raised about the width of doorways and whether there was enough turning radius for a stretcher. D. Berto said the doors comply with codes concerning access by wheelchair. R. Campbell asked if Cobb and Snyder could provide a model of what's needed to the architect for review.
C. D'Agata asked if an updated copy of the plans could be made available for the public; she said she's had inquiries about the layout of the units. She also asked if there's a general data sheet she could give people making inquiries. People also are asking about what the median income levels are for the units. D. Berto said the limits are between $30,650 to $52,650 ($61,250 for two people) – anyone under the higher number will qualify – and there are 5 units that won't have any income restrictions.
D. Berto left the meeting.
4. New Business – W. Gangaway said that at the meeting with Stewart Cobb and Tom Snyder he was told the current plan for numbering theh units is for even numbers on the right side of the street. And apartments will be A, B and C on the upper level; D, E and F on the lower level. He said this still needs to be cleared with the town's zoning department and the post office.
R. Campbell reported the Board of Selectmen has established new policies for payment of recording secretaries.
5. Correspondence – C. D'Agata said she received a bill from Rabbit (insurance).
6. Approval of Minutes – L. Millix moved to approve the June 8, 2015 minutes, W. Gangaway seconded the motion. D. Berg abstained because he wasn't present at the meeting. All other members voted in favor.
7. Treasurer's Report – C. D'Agata submitted the report.
8. Adjourn – The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
[46 minute meeting]
Respectfully submitted by Recording Secretary Brenda Sullivan. Please note that minutes are posted prior to being officially approved – changes/corrections are indicated in the subsequent month’s meeting minutes.
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