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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-14-LEXHAB-minLexington Housing Assistance Board Annual Meeting Agenda/ Monthly Board Meeting Minutes June 14– 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 4:08 pm. LexHAB members present were Bob Burbidge, Les Savage, Tara Mizrahi, Henry Liu, Russ Tanner, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB Executive Director), Pearlene Varjabedian (LexHAB Housing Director) and Regina Brown (LexHAB Finance Director). Minutes review of Meeting Minutes A motion was made and seconded to approve May 10, 2023 meeting minutes. All approved. Bob Phelan has resigned as of a few weeks ago but still needs to resign formally, which he is aware of. He has made it clear that he is willing to help in whatever way he can. Executive Director Report: • $625,000 award from the Town ARPA for purchase of 93 Woburn – covers the entire amount—great result. B/c we are not using CPA money we will not be able to tap into the CPA funds. Maybe we can raise this with the Trust Fund when they are ready. • Dana Home Request – $25,000 awarded which is less than in the past • Community Endowment grant –Sarah met to discuss $10,000 for capacity building – they were supportive, application is in the fall. • CEC- $25,000- $50,000 request for a strategic decarbonization plan- submitted—still in the running • Fall Home/Art exhibition with LexArt and a Housing Roundtable as well- in November. • Next meeting need to take a photo for annual report • June 20th – Housing Summit- 5pm – If interested but need to avoid a quorum- zoom meeting • Human Services—looking to partner with Metro Housing Boston on financial counseling/financial coaching • June 26th Hearing date with the State legislature for transition • Annual review with Pearlene- need to do one for Sarah • Regina is new Finance Director- need some more signers on accounts now. Regina/Henry will work on. • Looking for other ways to make the meeting more succinct- some ideas thought through. Possibly do a one pager status report in global way (“dashboard”)- vacancies, late payments, legal action (no names or addresses) but # of units; trim back items; report that gets sent ahead becomes part of the consent agenda. We can work on different ideas Housing Director Report • Sustainability—Muzzey and Emerson weatherization happening. • Housing fair/roundtable- Oct 25th 5:30- 8 • Renewals- 17 so far this month • Annual Monitoring Report—almost wrapped up • Inspections- Pearlene has increased visits and John has been doing more landscaping work • 2 new 2 bedroom units available – will use Ready Renter waitlist and possible Town Employee program . • By next month, would like to have a transfer policy in place. Can we establish a committee to go over the transfer? • New Lottery for Fall of 2023 for SHI units—discussion with Metro West of which units will be part of the process. • Pearlene- going on all inspections; recommending annual landscaping should be part of LexHAB responsibility not tenant; noticing fire pits, trampolines, gym sets • 2 2-bedroom units are becoming available. Locke and Garfield. • Discussion on Town Employee Program preference- discussion of changing. Discussion for later when group has more info from discussion with the Town on MOU • Motion made to clarify minimum rent policy to add that it is also applicable at renewals to the applicable rents then in effect. Vote made- all in favor • Tara will work with Pearlene on analyzing current rents and utility allowances for the future Treasurer Report • Repairs and Maintenance – largest line item and we need assistance on reviewing costs. Maybe Eric has some thoughts. • Set a date to work on 2024 budget. Henry, Tara, Regina, Sarah to work on. Sarah may try to get Martha Sadler to help. • Do we want to do something more with our cash? Board had an idea to have about $1MM of cash. • Need to drill down on increase costs—like insurance • Kimball Rd will need about $150,000 for repairs Sustainability- Regina • Working on lots of upgrades that will be covered under rebate program. Significant benefits to us and they continue to look at other projects for us • Solar- SunBug came back by far the best and most responsive Property Purchase • Official Vote- To purchase 93 Woburn Street for $625,000. Unanimous • Would like to do a formal ribbon cutting Easement • Official Vote- That we grant an easement to 18 Philip Road over our property at 16 Philip Rd as approved by the Selectboard with documents as reviewed and approved by Jonathan Silverstein. Unanimously approved. Legacy Campaign • Met with all potentials, one might be in the right price range for us. The rest were too expensive. Property visit June 21st Human Resources • Need to do a review for Sarah. Pearlene complete. • Bob doing some research into PEO/ASO type options for us that might have better health plans for employees. Bob asked how ICRA is working for current employees. Need to do more research but the hope is that this makes things easier to manage LexHAB. LexHAB Transition • Our bill has a hearing date- June 26th at 10am- will work on presentation—should be panel of three—LexHab, Jim Malloy, Staff, Select Board • Meeting with the Town on parameters on the MOU —Tara, Russ, Sarah, Gretchen (volunteer) and Jonathan continuing meetings, making progress, group will come back to the Board when then have some more concrete questions to share for discussion • What are the timing requirements for the rest of the process. Sarah will check in with Jonathan on this The next meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 2023 @ 4:00pm in person at the Hudson Room in the Cary Memorial Building. Motion to Adjourn Open Session at 5:45 pm The Chair moved to adjourn the Open Session and go into Executive Session to discuss strategy strategies in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel and with respect to discuss lease or value of real property that to discuss in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. The motion was seconded. The motion was approved by roll call vote.