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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-08-LEXHAB-minLexington Housing Assistance Board Monthly Board Meeting Minutes February 8, 2023– 4-6 pm – Conducted in the Hudson Room, Cary Hall Call to Order A meeting of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) was called to order at 4:0 4pm. LexHAB members present were Bob Burbidge, Les Savage, Tara Mizrahi, Gerry Howell, Henry Liu, Jonathan Silverstein, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB Executive Director), Pearlene Varjabedean (LexHAB Housing Director), and Regina Brown (LexHAB Financial Administrator). Guests: Eric Brown, Ingrid Klimoff, Kathryn Roy Minutes review of December 2022, Meeting A motion was made and seconded to approve January 11, 2023 meeting minutes. All approved. Chair Update: • What counts as a quorum? We are now a board of 7 members so a quorum is 4. • What is the plan on vacancies? Board seems to feel that we should bring on people as soon as possible- do not need to wait til June but do need to go through Select Board approval process Executive Director Report: • Closed on 9 Kimball • Search on for new property with $400,000 that we hope will be approved. Need to think about how we will fund the remainder. • Marketing/PR—LexHAB in the news • Dana Home Report – submitted Jan; new request March 1st- bathroom accessibility is a priority for units for seniors to make more units age-friendly. • Community Endowment grant – in Marc- maybe we can use for the Legacy initiative Also capacity building grants in October—cannot apply for both. • CPC – Rehab funds and new acquisition funds. Do we need to do a new presentation? • $5,000 for Bill Kennedy funds – Thank yous will go out soon. • 2023 Budget pulling together. 2024 budget will be a more formal process with more Board involvement. Henry, Tara and Gerry will help with this. • Bob will meet with Regina to go through preservation spreadsheet to pass the torch. • Sustainability—hitting snags/Gretchen Reisig is volunteering to help heard the cats related to the LEAN and MassSaves program • Sarah and some others have met with 4 individuals that are interested in the Board • Sarah found out that the capacity grant she applied for she was not eligible for until LexHAB is a non-profit. • Citrix Cloud computing system—trying it out. Regina approves. • Digitizing files—future project. Housing Director Report: • Pet Policy – Clarification to our existing policy changing language from “pet” to “animal” and adding a new form to have a step where the tenant needs to request permission before getting an assistance animal. Board agreed with the clarifications and added step. • Remaining Members of a Household—LexHAB counsel requests adding this language to our lease. Board had a lot of questions- would like to see it line up with our overhousing policy that we already have Financial Update: • Gerry and Regina went through the Annual financial statements for 2022. Thank you Gerry and Regina. Motion made to accept report. Seconded. Agreed. Assistant Treasurer: • Henry Liu approved as Assistant Treasurer. Henry will be added as a signatory on all accounts. Property Search and Development: • Getting pricing on asbestos removal. One price at $5200. Still waiting to hear from Minuteman Tech about collaboration. Sustainability, Preservation and Maintenance • Hit some snags – maybe a smaller, more detailed conversation. Need feedback on landlord/tenant agreement that ABCD has proposed. Energy assessment and retrofit work is a priority. • 9 Kimball—ABCD requires a tenant in place before starting energy audit work but we want to do the work before we get a tenant. Trying to work through that. Human Resources Making a motion to enter into an agreement with Ann L Silverman consulting to review salaries, benefits, possible short-term changes in responsibilities related to LexHAB staff. Tara knows Ann in the affordable housing world – strongly recommends proceeding with Ann’s scope. Unanimous approval. Tara will reach out. LexHAB Transition Haven’t heard anything on committee assignments. Sarah, Tara and Pearlene meeting ahead of MOU meeting with the Town. What would a financial transition look like? Capacity Building MBTA Rezoning Another public meeting tonight. Small discussion New Business Legacy Initiative – work on a mailing. Les, Bob B and Sarah to meet. Motion to Adjourn Open Session at 5:37 pm The Chair moved to adjourn the Open Session and go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation as an Open Meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the LexHAB and to discuss tenant matters and to discuss real estate matters that if considered in Open Session might adversely affect privacy rights of individuals or LexHAB’s negotiating position. The motion was seconded. The motion was approved by roll call vote. The next meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, 2023 @ 4:00pm in person at the Hudson Room in the Cary Memorial Building.