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March 11, 2021 Board of Commissioner's Meeting Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk was held at 6:07 PM Thursday March 11, 2021.

LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference 

PRESENT:

Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chairman
Sheri Brown, Treasurer
Rahoul Dupervil, Commissioner

ABSENT:

Brenda Penn-Williams, Vice Chair
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Commissioner

STAFF ATTENDING:

Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Paul Modugno, Acting Director of Finance
Kras Carlucci, Director of Operations
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Christian Hill, Director of Grants and Development
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Donna Lattarulo, Legal Counsel

OTHER ATTENDEES:

Nichole Jefferson, Human Services Council
Jodie Elizabeth Jeffrey, Brooks Jeffrey Marketing

Meeting began at 6:07 PM.

Adam Bovilsky opened the meeting via Zoom video and recognized the following present - Chairman Ingraham, Treasurer Sheri Brown, and Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil. Chairman Ingraham acknowledged the existence of a quorum.

Report of the Secretary:

A moment of silence was held for the recent passing of former Norwalk Housing Executive Director Curtis O. Law, and for the loss of Keith Williams - husband of NHA Vice Chair Brenda Penn-Williams, Dominick Lattarulo - father of NHA Legal Counsel Donna Lattarulo, John Ruffin - father NHA Director of Human Resources Nicole Ruffin, and Dimitri Kristoff - father of NHA Deputy Director Kras Carlucci.

Mr. Bovilsky presented the following updates:

  • Receipt of CHFA grant in the amount of $4,340 to provide COVID19 related aid in Norwalk Housing State projects of School Street and Ludlow Commons.
  • Donations from February 25th Fairfield County Community Foundations Giving Day increased from $500 in 2020 to $2,000 in 2021.
  • Norwalk Housing Foundation logos created by Brooks Jeffreys, noting input from Staff and NHF scholarship committee favoring option 2b.
  • COVID 19 vaccination registration and private clinics made available to all Learning Center and Maintenance Staff and Ludlow Commons and Ludlow Village residents.
  • Receipt of 2021 HUD approved Capital fund allocation.
  • Monthly report of Soundview Landing Workforce hiring noting given the lack of local minority owned businesses and local talent available for this type of construction DIMEO is meeting Section 3 hiring goals.
  • Colonial Village Phase One hiring report. Thanks to outreach from Mark Haynes of Haynes Construction and Lisa Roger of Norwalk Housing eight qualified Norwalk Housing residents were hired. Several local small businesses were selected to fulfill construction needs. Commissioner Brown noted this reflected concentrated community outreach.
  • Kras Carlucci's promotion to Deputy Director and hiring of Christian Hill as Director of Grants and Development and Leroy Fender as Director of Maintenance.
  • Upcoming Board meetings scheduled April 8th and May 13th will be held in a virtual format.

Mr. Bovilsky introduced Jodie Elizabeth Jeffrey of Brooks Jeffrey. Ms. Jeffrey presented the responsive design of upcoming new website homepage adaptable to PC, Tablet and Smartphone. Commissioner Dupervil suggested the addition of a Contact Us tab. Ms. Jeffrey stated that as the site is in the design stage this can easily be included. She noted Brooks Jeffrey is now integrating ADA site accessibility features and will soon ask NHA staff for content for each department.

At 6:48 PM Ms. Jeffrey left the meeting.

At 6:50 PM Nichole Jefferson of Health and Human Services Council left the meeting.

New Business:

Adam Bovilsky introduced Paul Modugno to answer questions regarding the Norwalk Housing Operating Budget FYE March 31, 2022.

Paul stated after meeting all statutory and regulatory requirements:

  1. The PHA has enough operating reserves to meet the working capital needs of its developments.
  2. Proposed budget expenditures are necessary to meet the efficient and economical operation of housing for serving low-income residents.
  3. The budget indicates a source of funds adequate to cover proposed expenditure
  4. The PHA will comply with the wage rate requirement under 24 CFR 968.110
  5. The PHA will comply with requirements for access to records and audits under 24 CFR 38.110(i)

Paul also stated the attached budget anticipates adding $71,001 to the Norwalk Housing Authority reserves FYE 3/31/22.

17- 49 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

a. Federal Operating Budget FYE March 2022

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

Ayes

Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

17-50 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

b. Write-offs of vacated account for FYE 3/31/21

Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.

Paul Modugno stated this $45,743 write-off consists of debt the Housing Authority deems unable to recapture.

Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

17-51 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

c. Commissioners and Staff to attend PHADA's Virtual 2021 Annual Conference and Exhibition May 17-18 at no cost to members.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

Ayes

Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

Mr. Bovilsky stated he strongly supports staff educational initiatives and introduced the following for approval:

17-52 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

d. Nicole Ruffin tuition assistance for one class towards a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration at the University of Phoenix, April 6 - May 17, 2021 at a cost of $2,094.

Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.

Ayes

Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

17-53 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

e. Tianna Brown tuition reimbursement for two classes towards a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership at Quinnipiac University, Hamden CT Fall Semester 2020, and January Semester 2021 at a cost of $5,368.

Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.

Ayes

Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

17-54 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

f. Wendy Gerbier's tuition assistance for two classes towards a Master of Business Administration Degree at Iona College, New Rochelle, NY Spring Semester 2021at a cost of $7,533.

Ayes

Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

At 7:05 PM Commissioner Dupervil left the meeting.

Because this created a lack of quorum Chairman Ingraham suggested the following be tabled until the next meeting:

g. Section 8 and FSS reporting

h. January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes

i. Department Reports

At 7:09 PM meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director/ Secretary