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Home My WebLink About2022-11-10-LHA-minLEXINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING – NOVEMBER 10, 2022 MINUTES 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nicholas Santosuosso at 8:50 AM MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT Nicholas Santosuosso Richard F. Perry Caileen Foley Melinda Walker Weidong Wang Mark McCullough Kathy Kilroy Maureen Rynn 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of October 6, 2022 Upon motion by Maureen Rynn and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 6, 2022, all members having received copies. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting of October 28, 2022 These have been tabled for next month. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Weidong Wang stated he heard from residents who would like to see another Chinese speaking staff hired for the office, if possible. 4. FINANCIALS A.) Approval of Bills and Checks paid in October 2022 Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Maureen Rynn, the Board voted to accept the Bills and Checks as presented for October 2022. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn 2 B.) Financial Report Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to accept the September 2022 Financials. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn 5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Caileen reported the following: • Caileen told the Board how grateful she is to be back in Lexington. She thanked the Board for working so quickly to reinstate her and to her staff for welcoming her back. • Countryside Village bathroom and closet project is moving on schedule. Anticipated to finish in the next 6 weeks. There is a running punch list with items to be addressed. • Vynebrooke Village ModPHASE project will have a resident relocation information session on 11/16 and a pre-con meeting on 11/17. Anticipated construction start will be March 2023. • Julie Johnston continues to work part time in the office and is doing a good job • The resident newsletter will resume for the Jan/Feb publication • The LHA is working on updating resident contact information to set up a reverse 911 call/text/email system • The AUP is in the board packet, the LHA did well. • The Section 8 program transitioned to Chelsea for 11/2. It went smoothly, they will pay 12/1 HAP and run the 1099’s. • Marcum will be in the office next week conducting the Federal Single Audit. 6. OLD BUSINESS A) Reinstatement of Executive Director Caileen informed the Board that she corresponded by email with DHCD and HUD regarding her reinstatement and they did not have any issues with the terms of reinstatement. This correspondence is on file it the office. It is acceptable for the Board to approve the reinstatement per the terms of Caileen’s current contract which expires June 30, 2026. 3 Caileen also spoke with Jonathan Driscoll regarding the current search, and he stated it was within the rights of the LHA and the Board to pull the advertisement and not proceed. The Board discussed ensuring this situation is formally concluded by requesting an invoice from Driscoll & Driscoll with services rendered and dissolving the Sub- Committee. Upon a motion by Maureen Rynn and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to reinstate Caileen B. Foley as the Executive Director as of Monday, October 31, 2022. The reinstatement is per the terms of her original contract with effective dates of March 2022 through June 30, 2026. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn Upon a motion by Maureen Rynn and seconded by Melinda Walker, the Board voted to formalize the termination of services with Driscoll & Driscoll and request an invoice with services rendered and the closing of the search. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn Upon a motion by Maureen Rynn and seconded by Melinda Walker, the Board voted to dissolve the Executive Director search Sub-Committee. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn B) Resident Services Coordinator – Renewal The Lexington Housing Authority was awarded an RSC grant with the Acton and Bedford Housing Authorities a year ago. Recently DHCD has released a renewal application procedure that includes an increased grant award for RSC salary. The Bedford HA has chosen not to participate, so the renewal application is with Acton. Caileen told the Board that Acton HA has found a part-time social worker who speaks Mandarin. 4 Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to approve the renewal application for Resident Service Coordinator funding. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn 7. NEW BUSINESS A) Owned Unit Rent Determination Policy Caileen and the Board had a discussion regarding the independently owned units within the LHA portfolio that are not tied to any State, Federal or Local subsidy program. Caileen explained that these residents have not had a rent increase or any substantial change to their housing since the beginning of their tenancy. Caileen is trying to find a way to increase the rents in accordance with the FMR’s while also taking into account their household income. The Board tasked Caileen with editing the policy for more clarity as well as finding out other programmatic impacts this may have. The Board agrees this program should be looked at and evaluated. B) Contract for Financial Assistance (CFA) Amendment #15 DHCD has issued three new Contracts for Financial Assistance. These CFA’s must be executed before funding can be released to the housing authority and work can begin. Upon a motion by Maureen Rynn and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to approve CFA Amendment #15 in the amount of $2,826,231.00 with extended contract dates of service from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2025.The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Maureen Rynn, the Board voted to approve CFA 4001 ARPA Formula Funding Award in the amount of $189,781.00. The roll call vote was as follows: 5 YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to approve CFA 4050 ARPA Targeted Award in the amount of $302,500.00. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn C) Trash Removal Contract The LHA currently contracts with JRM for its trash removal services at Countryside, Greeley and Vynebrooke. JRM was bought out by Republic Services, and recently they have not been performing per the terms of the contract. Trash has not been picked up and they are non-responsive. Caileen solicited three quotes for new trash removal services and the lowest and most responsive quote was from Waste Innovations, Inc with a monthly fee of $2030. Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to approve the contract with Waste Innovations for trash removal services at Greeley Village, Vynebrooke Village and Countryside Village at a rate of $2030/month for a 5-year term. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn 8. DISCUSSION A) Potential affordable housing creation opportunities Caileen informed the Board of her intent to restart the federal public housing repositioning conversation as well as a new state repositioning effort relating to the 705 6 program. The LHA has one 705 house located at 96 Wood Street. Caileen will investigate it and report back to the Board. 9. ADJOURMENT Upon a motion by Melinda Walker and seconded by Mark McCullough, the Board voted to adjourn at 10:14AM. The roll call vote was as follows: YEAS NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT Nicholas Santosuosso NONE NONE Richard F. Perry Melinda Walker Mark McCullough Maureen Rynn A true copy attest……………………… CAILEEN B. FOLEY, SECRETARY