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July 8, 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 6:00 PM Thursday July 8th, 2021.

LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference

PRESENT: Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chair
Sheri Brown, Treasurer
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Commissioner
Rahoul Dupervil, Commissioner

ABSENT: Brenda Penn-Williams, Vice Chair

STAFF ATTENDING: Adam Bovilsky, Executive 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 6:02 PM.

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

Report of the Secretary:

Mr. Bovilsky presented the following updates:

As part of Connecticut's Ready Set Rebuild Program the Colonial Village Learning Center recently received a $19,200 grant, Roodner Court Learning Center received $16,588 from this same program. These funds are made available to licensed Child Care Providers to address operational and program cost increases. As you may recall, one of the reasons we went through the process of licensing our learning centers was to take advantage of funding opportunities.

As part of Norwalk Housing Foundation new fund-raising initiatives Christian Hill secured a two-year $50,000 commitment from Bankwell contributing $25,000 in 2021 and $25,000 in 2022. Mr. Hill will present his fundraising plans and ideas at the next meeting.

RE  Colonial Village expansion - Mr. Bovilsky stated the completion timeline for the current 200-unit renovation was moved to March 2023. He also stated sufficient swing units were now available allowing families to remain on site rather than moving offsite while remaining renovations take place. Temporarily moving within the complex decreases disruption for residents and reduces cost for Norwalk Housing.

RE  Website Launch - Adam stated the new website is up and running. Staff is pleased with the new look and feel. One of the major goals when creating this website was to maintain accessibility for all residents. This means necessary actions have been taken to create a site that is ADA compliant. Various staff are being trained on creation of commonly used forms and input of information such as calendar events, minutes, agendas, and announcements.

RE  Covid19 Update - July 6th Norwalk Housing partnered with the Bridgeport Rescue Mission and the Community Health Center holding onsite vaccinations at Roodner Court. The 2nd vaccination will be given July 27th.

At 6:15 Rahoul Dupervil lost video connection.

RE  Stoves and Frig - Mr. Bovilsky stated currently Norwalk Housing is one of the only HA's in the state of CT that does not provide new residents with stoves and fridges. One of my initial goals when joining the housing authority was to start providing fridges and stoves to tenants. The Finance Department has determined that it is now feasible to provide fridges and stoves considering both the cost of purchasing and maintenance. Sometime within the next few weeks NH will start to provide new stoves and fridge to each family upon moving in.

At 6:19 Commissioner Dupervil resumed his connection.

The Governor has not extended the Covid19 Eviction Moratorium therefore, this month Norwalk Housing will resume Pretermination Notices for non-payment of rent.

Please note upcoming meetings scheduled August 12th, September 9th, and a Public Hearing September 30th.

New Business
17-73 Commissioner Dupervil moved to accept:

a. Memo and recommendation to move ahead with the selection of Heritage Housing as Potential Co-Developer for Expansion of Colonial Village.

Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.

Mr. Bovilsky stated NH received four responses to the Co-Developer RFQ. From those responses a selection committee choose Heritage Housing not only as a qualified developer but because Heritage Housing recognized Norwalk Housing's strong desire to manage the property as soon as possible. If Heritage Housing is approved as a potential Co-Developer Adam Bovilsky and staff, on behalf of The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk and Sound Communities, will enter negotiations with Heritage Housing. If successful, the results of these negotiations will be brought back to the Board for approval. Further discussion of financing vehicles followed.

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

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was unanimous.

b. Selection of Law Firm to provide Legal Services for the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, was moved to the end of the meeting.

17-74 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

c. Commissioners and Staff to attend PHADA 2021 Washington DC Legislative Forum September 12-14 to be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on the Capital at member registration price of $310.00 per person and room rate of $245 plus tax and fees.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

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

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was unanimous.

17-75 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:

d. May 13, and June 10 Minutes

Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.

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

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was unanimous.

17-76 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:

e. Department Reports

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

Adam noted the July Finance report would be submitted at the August meeting.

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

NO

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was unanimous.

Adam Bovilsky presented the Norwalk Housing Return to Work Policy stating this policy was a guide to get everyone back to work in a safe fashion.

17-77 Commissioner Dupervil moved to accept:

f. Norwalk Housing Return to Work Policy as presented with the understanding this policy will be amended from time to time to include most current Norwalk Health Department, CT State and CDC guidelines.

Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.

Attorney Lattarulo stated this document was in line with conventional return to work wisdom which is changing daily.

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

No

ABSTAINED

All in favor. Motion was unanimous.

Attorney Lattarulo left the meeting.

Mr. Bovilsky stated the Norwalk Housing Authority had received two responses to the Legal Service RFP, one from Landlord Law Firm and one from Lattarulo Law Firm. The selection committee agreed that the Norwalk Housing required the more in-depth experience and services provided by Lattarulo Law Firm. Mr. Bovilsky stated he was able to negotiate fees that would be substantially lower and more in line with market competition.

Commissioner Dupervil moved to accept:

b. Selection of Lattarulo Law Firm to provide Legal Services for the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk from June 1, 2021 - May 31, 2024, including two 1-year contract extensions.

Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery

At 7:27PM
Commissioner Brown moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion. All in favor and the meeting adjourned.


Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director