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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-01 EHA MINUTESI. CALL TO ORDER ENGLEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Regular Meeting June 1, 2005 The Regular Meeting of the Englewood Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was called to order at 4:38 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at 3460 South Sherman Street, Suite 101, Englewood, Colorado, 80113, by Chairperson Norleen Norden. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Also Present: III. STUDY SESSION Nothing presented. IV. MINUTES Norleen Norden, Chair Shelley Thompson, Vice Chair Charles Carter, Commissioner Rodger Hara, Commissioner Ernie Arterburn, Alternate Commissioner Beverly Bradshaw, Ex Officio Angela Hardin, Commissioner Dawn Shepherd, Executive Director Jo Hamit, Administrative Manager Delicia Olguin, Section 8 Administrator Elaine Hults, Simon Center Resident A. Regular Meeting held May 4, 2005 . EHA BOC Regular Meeting 06-01-05 MOTION COMMISSIONER HARA MOVED TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENGLEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD MAY 4, 2005 AS WRITTEN. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. Ayes: Nays: Abstained: Absent: Carter, Hara, Thompson None Norden Hardin The Chairperson declared the motion carried. V. PRESCHEDULED VISITORS Elaine Hults, who is a resident of Simon Center was present to address the Board. She stated that she is very aware of what cost factors are in this day and age. She said that she lives at Simon Center and her apartment was completed renovated when she moved in and it is beautiful. However, she believes that there is something wrong with her refrigerator. It is making a clanking sound, and the ice cubes are not freezing properly. She has suggested that it be fixed now, while it is under warranty, rather than later. EID Shepherd said that the maintenance staff has looked at the refrigerator and cannot find anything wrong. Ms. Hults stated that she believes they do not know what to look for. She said she has been asking about it since the second week in December. EID Shepherd said she has heard about it for the first time today, and will look into it. Chairperson Norden assured Ms. Hults that staff will take care of the situation. Ms. Hults also stated that she currently is writing a column for a small paper, and is always looking for new material. If an issue comes up that involves the housing authority, she would like to come to another meeting and write something for the paper. Chairperson Norden said that would be fine. Ms. Hults thanked the Board. VI. DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Narrative Commissioner Thompson commended EID Shepherd and Chairperson Norden on the City Council presentation on May 16. B. Financial Reports EID Shepherd said she was excited about the new format for the financial statements. There was general agreement among the Board that they are very pleased with the new format. Commissioner Bradshaw inquired why the "profit/loss" for the Office Building 2 EHA BOC Regular Meeting 06-01-05 was a negative figure, and why the budgeted revenues were higher than the actual revenues. EID Shepherd said she would check with F/S/M Sherman, but she believes that at the end of the year, the fund will cash-flow. C. Program Reports EID Shepherd said she wanted to disclose that Loren Shepherd, her ex-spouse, is renting an apartment at the Normandy Apartments. She said that he is paying the same rent as everyone else in that sized unit. She said there are several staff members who are renting units in agency-owned properties, and wanted to make sure the Board was aware of this and to determine if there are any concerns about conflicts of interest. EID Shepherd said one of the units is in a serious state of disrepair, and the employee has been asked to vacate the unit by August 31. There was a general consensus that staff be permitted to rent units from the agency as long as other individuals and families have an equal opportunity to rent th~ same units and they pay the .same rent and all ar~ held to the i-arne . standards: EID Shepherd said that next month, the program reports should reflect that the number of vouchers was reduced by nine families through attrition and terminations, and staff did not have to randomly cut families off the program. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS, MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS A. Approval of Resolution No. 7, Amending Section 8 Administrative Plan EID Shepherd reviewed each proposed change. She stated that the first change requires participants to report all changes in family composition within ten days of the change, and is intended to clarify current practices and procedures. The second change proposes to restrict bedroom size for parents and children of the same sex where the child is under six years of age and to permit the living room to be used as a bedroom. The changes are intended as cost-saving measures. S/8/ A Olguin stated that Aurora, Denver and Adams County have implemented similar changes. The third and final proposed change further clarifies the definition of "family" in an effort to discourage fraudulent efforts to add persons to households who are not family members. MOTION COMMISSIONER HARA MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 7, WITH THE PROVISO THAT STAFF MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ENFORCEMENT AND THE EFFECTIVENESS AS COST-CUTTING MEASURES OF THE STATED CHANGES OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. COMMISSIONER CARTER SECONDED THE MOTION. 3 EHA BOC Regular Meeting 06-01-05 Ayes: Nays: Abstained: Absent: Carter, Hara, Norden, Thompson None None Hardin The Chairperson declared the motion carried. B. Discussion of the Future of the Voucher Program Commissioner Thompson posed the question about whether the cuts for the voucher program will continue or whether the program will stabilize. Commissioner Hara said he believes we will continue to see cuts as the deficit increases and the war continues. Co.mmissio.ner Hara said he .has been liaving discussions w ith other.loct1J housing professionals about organizing a workshop for commissioners on reinventing housing authorities. Topics will include tax credit and tax-exempt bond financing and other creative ideas on becoming more entrepreneurial. He is expecting to schedule the workshop for sometime between the National NARRO Conference in July and the Housing Now Conference in October. Commissioner Hara also said he knows an individual who performs organizational diagnostics to help organizations determine how to achieve their goals. Commissioner Thompson suggested that, given similar cuts for next year, board and staff members may want to look at optional scenarios for the housing programs . EID Shepherd said that in the past, participants w ere given incenti ves for finding lower rent units, and that changes in legislation and regulations over the years has resulted in disincentives for these cost-containment programs . She said that, in the past, public housing was run on a cost basis where rent was based on cost to operate the bhilding. Chairperson Norden suggested that the Board continue to have this conversation every several months. C. Resolution No. 8, Approving the Refinancing of the Normandy Apartments Mortgage Note EID Shepherd said that the negotiated rate for the refinance is very favorable. Chairperson Norden said that Commissioner Bradshaw's idea of writing a letter of thanks to Jerry Gartner on behalf of the Board is a good one. MOTION COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 8, APPROVING THE REFINANCING OF THE NORMANDY APARTMENTS MORTGAGE NOTE WITH THE CHANGED INTEREST RATE OF 5.25%. COMMISSIONER CARTER SECONDED THE MOTION. 4 EHA BOC Regular Meeting 06-01-05 Ayes: Nays: Carter, Hara, Norden, Thompson None Abstained: None Absent: Hardin The Vice Chairperson declared the motion carried. D. Discussion of EHA Communication Plan Commissioner Thompson provided an update on a conversation she had with EID Shepherd and AIM Hamit last month. The discussion centered around a plan for proactive communications. Commissioner Thompson reviewed the proposed plan, noting that in .~ lieu .. ..of hi.ring a,p.ubiic relatioi:ls firm,. specific efforts will be made by the staff; .including _ providing press releases on regular activity to the Englewood Herald and the Englewood Citizen. She said she will also attempt to get some space in the daily newspapers for a variety of purposes, including a news feature on the homeownership program and tax credit project. Staff will also try to get an appointment with the editorial board to discuss the impact of federal funding cuts on the community. Commissioner Hara said he knows several media representatives who might be useful to contact, and he will pass that information on to Commissioner Thompson. EID Shepherd said the market study on the Normandy is expected to be completed later this month, and she hopes there will be some good press coverage of the tax credit project once it is underway. VIII. INFORMATION AGENDA Visuals of the landscaping at the Fox Street duplex and the "Adopt-a-Stop" bus stops and the list of housing authority acronyms were noted. IX. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. Commissioner's Choice Chairperson Norden stated that her term is up at the end of June. She said that she has been on the Board for 20 years and has enjoyed it. She said that, although she is not a resident of Englewood, she would like to serve for one more year, and would like the support of the Board. Following a brief discussion, there was a general consensus to support Chairperson Norden's request. Commissioner Thompson agreed to draft a letter of support to the Mayor. Commissioner Arterburn commended the staff and board for their presentation to the City Council on May 16, and Commissioner Hara concurred. Commissioner Hara also 5 EHA BOC Regular Meeting 06-01-05 mentioned that a basement house on South Logan is for sale, and suggested that staff check to see if it might be a worthwhile purchase for redevelopment. B. Director's Choice Nothing presented. C. City Council Communication Commissioner Bradshaw said that Fratelli's old building on Hampden and Downing will be renovated and will once again be an Italian restaurant. She also mentioned that the city budget continues to have problems. Regarding the city golf course, Commissioner Bradshaw said that the latest proposal may be feasible. The former Denver Seminary property is scheduled for ground-breaking in September. X. EXECUTIVE SESSION Nothing presented. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENGLEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HELD JUNE 1, 2005 AT 6:20 P.M. COMMISSIONER CARTER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. pson, Vice Chair 6