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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-02-LEXHAB-min LexHAB Board Meeting April 2, 2020- 11 AM—HELD BY Remote Connection Open to Public Minutes of the meeting held virtually due to COVID—19 on April 2, 2020 Members present were Bob Burbidge, Bill Kennedy, Les Savage, Bob Phelan, Gerry Howell, Martha Wood, Henry Liu and Bill Hays. Also present were Pearlene Varjabedian, Housing Manager and Karen Iverson, Financial Administrator, Patricia S. Nelson, counsel to LexHAB and Sue Barry, Selectwoman, Bob Pressman of the Lexington Housing Partnership, Tara Mizrahi of Affirmative Investments. Lexington Resident Anne Engel hart. Absent was Donna Leary. The Chairman, Bob Burbidge presided. Minutes from the February 19, 2020 meeting were reviewed and accepted as amended. All in favor by Roll Call. FINANCIAL REPORT Gerry Howell Reported • Gerry and the Board welcomed Karen Iverson who has agreed to return to LexHAB to provide bookkeeping services.Thank you Karen. • P& L Comparative—Previous Year. Income increased by$30K primarily due to improvements in timely payment of rents. • Balance Sheet—Cash is down primarily due to expenses of Farmview and Grove Street. • Bob Burbidge reviewed income statement — non-capital expenses were less than last year — hoping this will remain. • Discussed focus on completion of and funding for capital projects, emphasis on capital projects for which there is reimbursement and continued focus on reduction in expenses. • Les reported that Patriot Bank is reviewing the property which has been proposed as collateral for loan. • Discussed turning LEHAC funds and responsibilities over to the Lexington Department of Human Services. Motion made to turn LEHAC funds and responsibilities to the Lexington Department of Human Services. Motion approved—Roll Call Motion made to accept Treasurers report. Motion approved. —Roll Call COVID- 19 UPDATE • Bob Burbidge and Pearlene V reviewed LexHAB's response to the Covid — 19 crisis including review of LexHAB's interim rent adjustment process and the Monthly Income reporting Form, which will be used to confirm that Tenants who have been given a reduction in rent report changes in their income in future months. Motion for Board to accept Monthly Income Reporting Form for all interim changes. Motion approved. - Roll Call • Tara Mizrahi will do some research as she heard a bunch of communities using CPA funds to cover rents at this time. • Bob Pressman — Stated we would have to submit a timely grant request to have this available. He recommends the grant for next cycle. This topic is not in the warrant. Suggested we request Takeda Funds to assist. TASK FORCE • Welcome letter still under review by the Task Force. • Gerry Howell will send proposed revisions to be considered. METROWEST CONSORTIUM • Report on regional discussion of need for affordable housing. TOWN OF LEXINGTON • Melissa Interess—Director of Human Services—Town of Lexington • Spoke about Takeda Pharmaceutical donation of $250 K to help families in need during COVID. Human services has created a public application which will get posted. Available to LexHAB tenants. Applications can be obtained from Human Services who will review and make recommendations to the Town Manager. • Discussion of LEHAC funds. Melissa requested that a check be made payable to the Town in order to open the new LEHAC account through the Town. FARMVIEW • Lester Savage gave status report on construction. Electrical and heating are in process and nearing completion. Curb installation scheduled for later in the week. Interior plastering complete. • Bids will go out for landscaping later this month. • Suzie Barry confirmed that construction is continuing in Lexington at this time... • Pearlene V to re schedule meeting with Metro West for Lottery set up HOSMER/LEARY • Lester reviewed - Looking at the possibility of moving Hosmer. Town Meeting Warrant includes funds to study inclusion of Hosmer House in the overall project. • Bob Burbidge — outreach to the neighbors may take place after July 1, pending Town Meeting approval. Bob Pressman—asked Suzie Barry in regards to RFP with Town Manager VINE STREET • Anne Englehart — represents neighborhood on Vine Street. Stated they are all for putting low income homes there. However, neighborhood is concerned with the density on the street, and parking. Concerned with number of units in the project. It was a surprise to the neighborhood to hear 5 to 6 units. • Lester reviewed earlier meetings to discuss the Vine Street project. • Board members assured neighbors of LexHAB's intent to include neighbors in the design process. • Bob Burbidge—reviewed the two Town meeting articles involving LexHAB PARKER MANOR LOAN • Pat N sent Karen(Accounting) a Parker Manor billing statement indicating we still have a $3K plus balance. Back in 2015 we made a lump sum payment of$14-$15 K • Pat Nelson requested Karen to forward info on the lump sum payment to make sure we got the credit. DANA HOME FOUNDATION • Pat N — reported on Dana Home Foundation awards process. Award letters are scheduled to be sent in May. COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT- LEXINGTON • Martha Wood reported that the decision on LexHAB's application for a grant would be sometime in May. MISCELLANEOUS • Viewed Minuteman High School Video draft of LexHAB organization and properties. ROLL Call-Adjourn Meeting EXECUTIVE SESSION The chairman then proposed that the Board go into executive session to consider tenant matters, stating that Consideration of same in open session could have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position Of a semipublic Body, namely LexHAB, and might also affect adversely the privacy rights of tenants and that the Board not return to open session at the end except to adjourn.