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May 13, 2021 Board of Commissioner's Meeting Minutes

Minutes of Meeting

The Regular Meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk was held at 6:05 PM Thursday May 13, 2021.

LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference

PRESENT:
Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chair
Sheri Brown, Treasurer
Rahoul Dupervil, Commissioner (Arrived at 6:20)
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Commissioner

ABSENT: Brenda Penn-Williams, Vice Chair

STAFF ATTENDING:
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Paul Modugno, Acting Director of Finance
Anna Keegan, Director of Housing Operations
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Greg Lickwola, Construction Manager
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Donna Lattarulo, Legal Counsel

PUBLIC ATTENDING: Richard Chumney, Norwalk Hour

Meeting began at 6:05 PM.

Chairman Ingraham opened the meeting via Zoom video and recognized the following present - Chairman Ingraham, Treasurer Sheri Brown, and Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery Chairman Ingraham acknowledged the existence of a quorum.

Report of the Secretary:
Mr. Bovilsky presented the following updates:

  • No substantial changes to the DIMEO workforce update.
  • Colonial Village expansion - Co-developer RFP has gone out to bid, the bid meeting was well attended and the process of choosing developer is ongoing. The final choice will soon be brought to the board for approval.
  • COVID 19 - Re-opening the main office to the public and staff return to work plan is in process. Norwalk Housing has  considered a resident COVID vaccination effort, but most recent survey results showed that residents who would like to have the vaccine  already received it. We are  making efforts to increase vaccinations.
  • Sound Communities has officially taken over management of the Mutual Housing Arch Street Property. Greg Lickwola and Tom Ivers are working closely with CHAFA to obtain capital improvement grant funding.
  • Norwalk Housing was awarded CHFA's $25,000 HASIP grant. This grant allowed distribution of COVID 19 supplies to all 16 School Street and Ludlow Commons residents.
  •  The Section 8 waitlist opens at 9:00am May 24 and closes at 5:00pm May 27. Applications will put into a lottery prior to being placed on the Norwalk Housing Section 8 Waiting List.
  • Norwalk Housing welcomes Anna Keegan as its new Director of Housing Operations. With over 8 years' of experience at the City, including work in housing law, civil rights and landlord tenant matters, Anna brings a wealth of knowledge to Norwalk Housing.

Upcoming Board meetings scheduled June 10th and August 12th.

At 6:28
Chairman Ingraham opened the Public Hearing portion of the meeting regarding the Change to the Norwalk Housing Administrative Plan.

At 6:32
As there were no Public Comments Chairman Ingraham moved to close the Public Comment segment. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. All in favor.

New Business:

Adam Bovilsky introduced Paul Modugno to comment on the 2021-2022 Ludlow Commons Management Plan. Paul stated with a minimal rent increase Ludlow Commons will maintain the high quality of services offered to residents.

17- 60 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

a. 2021-2022 Ludlow Commons Management Plan

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried. Motion was carried.

17-61 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

b. One Year extension of contract with the Health and Human Services Council to provide management services for Ludlow Commons residents. 

Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.

Kras Carlucci stated she and more importantly the residents of Ludlow Commons were very pleased with the services provided by Health and Human Services Council.

AYES 
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was carried.

Mr. Bovilsky then asked for a motion to approve the proposed changes to the Norwalk Housing Administrative Plan.

17-62 Chairman Ingraham moved to approve:

c. Norwalk Housing Administrative Plan Change.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

Kras Carlucci explained that this proposed change clarifies our homeless preference by clearly stating 1 of every 4 vouchers issued from the NHA HCV waiting list will be offered to any family that meets HUD's definition of homeless. If there are no homeless families on the NHA waitlist time of NHA the next voucher will be offered in accordance with prioritization established by the Coordinated Access Network (CAN) guidelines.

AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

NO

ABSTAINED

All if favor. Motion was carried.

17-63 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

d. Anna Keegan attendance at a virtual NERC-NAHRO Training - Public Housing Manager (PHM) Certification May 3rd - May 13th at member price of $1399.00.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

NO

ABSTAINED

All if favor. Motion was carried.

17-64 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

e. Anna Keegan and Alison Mukhtar to attend National Center for Housing Management (NCHM)Certified Occupancy Specialist (COSP) virtual training June 21-24 at a cost of $825.00 per person for a total of $1,650.00.

Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.

Mr. Bovilsky stated this is occupancy specialist training focused and is meant to expand skills of Ms. Keegan as she supervises Norwalk Housing Occupancy Specialists and Ms. Mukhtar as she is now certifying residents of the Arch Street property.

AYES 
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

NO

ABSTAINED

All if favor. Motion was carried.

17-65 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

d. Novogradac & Company LLP to provide audit services for the Norwalk Housing Authority from March 2021 - March 2023 at a cost of $35,000, with an option to extend this contract for 2 additional years at a cost of $37,000.

Commissioner Ingraham seconded the motion.

Paul Modugno stated for the last 5 years Novogradac has provided services and was the lowest bidder.

AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

NO

ABSTAINED

All if favor. Motion was carried.

17-66 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

d. Minutes 4/08/2021

Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.

AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

NO

ABSTAINED

All in Favor. Motion was carried.

17-67 Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:

d. April Department Reports.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

Per Commissioner Ingraham's query, Adam described CNI Grant payments to local artist funding the Ryan Park Doors Project, Union benefit payments and Central office COVID 19 updates.

AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

NO

ABSTAINED

All in Favor. Motion was carried.

Commissioner Dupervil moved to adjourn the meeting.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

All in favor.

At 7:28 PM the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director