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Home My WebLink About2003-01-08 EHA MINUTES• • I. CALL TO ORDER ENGLEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Regular Meeting January 8, 2003 The Regular Meeting of the Englewood Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was called to order at 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, at 3460 South Sherman Street, Suite 101, Englewood, Colorado, 80110, by Chairman Debi Medlock. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: III. STUDY SESSION Nothing presented. IV. MINUTES Debi Medlock, Chair Norleen Norden, Vice Chair Don Bobeda, Commissioner Beverly Bradshaw, Ex Officio Shawn Leonard, Commissioner Ed Sanborn, Commissioner none Cheryl St. Clair, Executive Director Jo Hamit, Administrative Manager Geula Sherman, Financial Services Manager Dallas Hall, Sheridan Housing Authority Board Member A. Regular Meeting held December 11, 2002. MOTION COMMISSIONER SANBORN MOVED TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENGLEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD DECEMBER 11, 2002 AS WRITTEN. COMMISSIONER BOBEDA SECONDED THE MOTION . .. • • EHA BOC Regular Meeting 01-08-03 Ayes: Nays: Bobeda, Leonard, Medlock, Norden, Sanborn None Abstained: None Absent: None The Chairman declared the motion carried. V. PRESCHEDULED VISITORS No prescheduled visitors were on the agenda; however, Dallas Hall, Sheridan City Council Member and Commissioner with the Sheridan Housing Authority was present as a guest. VI. DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Narrative Report 1. Orchard Place: EID St. Clair reported that residents were involved in a number of holiday events in December. The agency's Service Coordinator, Cheri Gaul, has organized a number of activities for residents, including an expanded health class . Staff is preparing for the annual HUD inspection of the property on January 13 by walking through all common areas and advising residents to inform staff of any obvious maintenance issues in the units. 2. Simon Center: Oversized mailboxes were installed in the lobby area prior to the holidays and seemed to have worked successfully for residents receiving their packages during this time . These mailboxes have now been installed in both high-rise buildings. 3. Public Housing Family Duplexes: Nothing new to report . 4. Waiting List: The waiting list for the one-bedroom units is open; all other wait lists are closed . 2 .. • • EHA BOC Regular Meeting 01-08-03 5. Section 8 Existing: A considerable amount ofleasing activity occurred in December for both Englewood and Sheridan programs. A briefing was held during the week of January 6, and new lease-ups continue on a regular basis. 6. Normandy: Leasing activity continues to be slow. Staff has begun offering a $100 deduction off monthly rent to existing tenants for any referrals of new tenants to the building. Staff also expects to implement additional incentives to new tenants. 7. Off-Site properties: Nothing new to report. 8. Administrative: The new payroll system is operating with few problems. Commissioner Medlock suggested that staff be advised to check with their banks to assure that the initial electronic deposit was made. 9. Agency Goals and Strategic Plan: EID St. Clair stated that on January 13 she will be speaking at a workshop sponsored by the Colorado Division of Real Estate regarding how Section 8 vouchers work. B. Financial Reports EID St. Clair stated that the budget is where it should be, with the exception that the Normandy is running a little bit over budget due to excessive vacancies. EID St. Clair distributed a notice from the housing lobbying group, PRADA, indicating that HUD could be funding public housing programs at 70% of last year's operating budget for Federal Fiscal Year 2002. EID St. Clair stated that should this be the case, she will be bringing a budget amendment to the Board within the next several months. Legislation has also been proposed to modify the calculation formula for the Section 8 administrative fees, which could also negatively affect the budget. A. Program Reports Commissioner Bobeda asked how many units were vacant at the Normandy, and EID St. Clair stated that there are currently ten vacant units. Commissioner Sanborn remarked that rents are coming down in the area, and that he has seen some as low as $495 per 3 • • EHA BOC Regular Meeting 01-08-03 month for one-bedroom units. Commissioner Bobeda suggested that staff consider lowering the rents. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS, MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS MOTION COMMISSIONER LEONARD MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 1, SERIES 2003, APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COLORADO INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK SHARING AGENCY FOR WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE. COMMISSIONER BOBEDA SECONDED THE MOTION. Ayes: Nays: Bobeda, Leonard, Medlock, Norden, Sanborn None Abstained: None Absent: None EID St. Clair reviewed the board communication, noting that, for 2003, the agency was required to obtain their own worker's compensation policy. The most favorable rates were obtained from the Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA), and the intergovernmental agreement is required in order to initiate the relationship with CIRSA. AIM Harnit stated the intergovernmental agreement addresses how the organization is set up, what services are offered and outlines the obligations of each party. The Chairman declared the motion carried. VIII. INFORMATION AGENDA EID St. Clair distributed before and after photographs of a residential unit at the Reserve at South Creek showing abatement of a mold problem in the unit. The housing authority has several Section 8 clients who live in the development. Legal action against the management company is being pursued by the resident, who believes that the mold problem has recurred. Staff is currently investigating the situation and will provide progress reports as new developments occur. IX. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. Commissioner's Choice Commissioner Sanborn asked what is happening with the fence around the south patio area. EID St. Clair stated that staff has received two bids and is waiting for one more. Once the bids are received, staff will evaluate them, share the information with the Resident Council 4 • • EHA BOC Regular Meeting 01-08-03 and present viable options. Commissioner Bradshaw suggested that staff look at the fencing the city erected around Kent Village at Hampden and University. Commissioner Sanborn asked if there was any money in the 2003 budget for hallway carpeting, and EID St. Clair replied that an allocation has been made for that purpose. Commissioner Norden asked about the status the housing units that were discussed at the last meeting that the housing authority was considering purchasing. EID St. Clair stated that staff informed the Englewood Housing Development Corporation that EHA was not interested in purchasing the property on East Dartmouth A venue, but that the authority might be interested in any other properties they might have for sale. Staff did submit an offer on the Harvard property, but it was rejected. Commissioner Bobeda provided more details about the workshop sponsored by the Division of Housing of January 13, at which EID St. Clair is speaking on Section 8 vouchers. He said it is a day-long fair housing session for property managers and realtors, including a variety of classes as well as skits provided by actors from a group called Living Voices to provide background on fair housing laws. Commissioner Leonard asked if the housing authority should consider liability forms for mold problems, similar to the forms used for lead-based paint liability. He stated that many insurance companies do not cover remediation or abatement procedures. EID St. Clair stated that staff will investigate the extent of coverage provided to the housing authority through its insurance company and report back to the Board. Commissioner Bobeda stated that he is aware of problems when making water claims, ranging from canceling insurance policies to new owners being unable to obtain insurance. Commissioner Medlock asked the Board to return evaluation reports for the Executive Director to her and she will bring a synopsis to the next meeting. Commissioner Bradshaw asked for a copy of the Executive Director's contract, and she was informed that there is no contract. B. Director's Choice Nothing presented. C. City Council Communication Commissioner Bradshaw stated the as of December 15, the City is $1.4 short in sales tax revenues. The city is looking at major cutbacks in expenses. Commissioner Bradshaw requested a spot on the March agenda for a presentation by the Community Development staff on the independent housing survey recently completed. She also reported that Chipotle will be relocated on the main floor of the Bank One building . 5 • • EHA BOC Regular Meeting 01-08-03 X. EXECUTIVE SESSION Nothing presented. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION COMMISSIONER LEONARD MOVED TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENGLEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD JANUARY 8, 2003 AT 7:10 P.M. COMMISSIONER NORDEN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. 1i)_L ? ':flde;- Deb( Medlock, Chair ~#~ Cheryl St. Clair, Executive Director 6