August 12, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes of Meeting
The Regular Meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk was held at 6:00 PM Thursday August 12, 2021.
LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference
PRESENT: Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chair
Sheri Brown, Treasurer
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Commissioner - arrived 6:20pm
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
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Donna Lattarulo, Legal Counsel
Meeting began at 6:09 PM.
Chairman Ingraham opened the meeting via Zoom video and recognized the following present - Treasurer Sheri Brown, Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil. He noted Vice Chair Brenda Penn-Williams would not be attending and that Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery was expected to attend. He then acknowledged the existence of a quorum.
Report of the Secretary:
Mr. Bovilsky presented the following updates:
- DIMEO Section 3 workforce update was accepted.
- RE - Colonial Village Phase 1 major renovations are progressing as planned. Norwalk Housing, with the assistance of Attorney Melanie Rausch is continuing negotiations with Heritage Housing as potential builder of new units comprising Phase 2. Several Norwalk Housing Management and Operations staff are in the process of being trained and certified on the use of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) essential for financing and managing CV Phase Two. This training in addition to Heritage Housing experience will allow Norwalk Housing to be the primary management with oversite or assume primary management as early as possible.
- RE - COVID 19 - The Norwalk Health Department has reported that the Delta variant is now in Norwalk and cases are now trending up. The Health Department expects these number to continue to rise therefore NHA has postponed the September return to work date and is continuing all COVID 19 protocols including social distancing, mask wearing, handwashing and vaccination requirements. For now, vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, family, friends, and colleagues.
- Another COVID 19 vaccine clinic was just conducted at Roodner Court. 18 Norwalk Housing residents participated. This increase in participation from the previous clinic held on July 6th may be due to the virus surge.
- Thanks to Carla Conway - 3 Norwalk Housing college students have received scholarships from the Elizabeth Raymond Ambler trust for a total of $26,000. As part of the college scholarship application development Ms. Conway not only encourages students to apply for Norwalk Housing Foundation Scholarships but also assists in their applications to other college funding sources.
At 6:20pm Commissioner Liza Bermúdez- Montgomery joined the meeting
Old Business:
Leroy Fender took the floor reporting on:
a. Unit Rehab - Mr. Fender stated Colonial Village vacant units located at W. Cedar and Suncrest Road are now being used as swing units during the current modernizations. These units will reflect vacancies until modernization is complete. Two Meadow Gardens units requiring extensive repair have been vacant for 60 plus days. A unit at Roodner Court and John Shostak have been offline for approximately 10 days.
b. 20 W. Plumbing- Damage to 20 W plumbing appears to be a result of improper waste disposal. Clearing the plumbing lines, distributing notices regarding proper waste disposal methods, and disseminating this information by personally knocking on doors reiterating to residents the importance of proper waste disposal techniques seems to have resolved the problem for now.
c. Public Housing Vacancies: The current average unit turn over time is a closely monitored 10 to 14 days. To reduce turn over time Leroy has set up a maintenance team focusing specifically on vacant units.
New Business:
17-78 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:
a. Request Mayor Rilling to Appoint Sheri Brown as the Norwalk Housing Authority representative to the Norwalk Fair Housing Advisory Council.
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
Mr. Bovilsky stated this position is vacant and was previously held by Caesar Ramírez.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
All in favor. Motion was unanimous.
17-79 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:
b. Selection of Russell and Dawson, Inc. Architects, East Hartford CT, for removal and replacement of kitchen and baths at Chapel Street Apartments and removal and replacement of kitchens at Fairfield Avenue and Seaview Apartments.
Chairman Ingraham seconded the motion.
Kras Carlucci took the floor on behalf of Greg Lickwola NHA Director of Modernization. She stated this bid was recommended by Mr. Lickwola noting scoring data reflected Russel and Dawson, Inc. professional qualifications and cost. They are not only the experienced but also submitted the lowest bid.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
All in favor. Motion was unanimous.
c. The meeting progressed to a discussion of Norwalk Housing's application to become designated as a HUD Moving to Work (MTW) agency. Kras Carlucci explained she, Anna Keegan and Alison Mukhtar are developing an application designed for the MTW Cohort 4. They are meeting with landlords and residents to explain the possible use of landlord's incentives which would increase Section 8 applicants' access to neighborhoods of greater opportunity. The Special Board Meeting on September 30th will address the Public Comment portion of this MTW application. Responding to Commissioner questions Ms. Carlucci stated MTV is program for HUD to test initiatives which may eventually become HUD policy. MTW participation allows a HA greater flexibility in meeting HUD reporting requirements. Ms. Carlucci emphasized selection as a MTW agency is conducted by lottery.
Mr. Bovilsky suggested moving to Addendum items. Chairman Ingraham agreed.
Regarding COVID-19 - Adam Bovilsky stated the Norwalk Housing Authority has an obligation to its employees, tenants, and vendors to try and keep them safe. The best way to defend against the Delta Variant of COVID-19 or any variant of the disease is through vaccination by all who are able. Mr. Bovilsky is therefore proposing a Mandatory Vaccine Policy for all NHA employees. He presented a memo supporting vaccination based on data reported by the CDC, Mayo Clinic, New York Times, and data from the City of Norwalk regarding the recent increase in COVID-19 cases. The memo also referred to precedents set by government and for-profit entities that are already requiring vaccination. Mr. Bovilsky proposed two options for the NHA Vaccination policy. (1) Vaccination required except where religious or medical exemptions have been approved or (2) vaccinations strongly recommended with an alternative of weekly testing.
17-80 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:
Addendum:
f. Mandatory COVID Vaccination Policy Option #1 - stating employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1, 2021. Exceptions will be made for religious or health reasons. Exempt employees will be required to obtain COVID-19 testing on a weekly basis.
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
NO Commissioner Ingraham
AYES Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
All in favor. Motion was unanimous.
Adam Bovilsky presented a second Addendum regarding approval of the Norwalk Housing 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). He then offered an overview of the changes, terms, clarifications, and additions to the agreement. Mr. Bovilsky explained that this Tentative Agreement (TA) was approved by the Union's negotiating team, but still required a full Union vote.
17-81 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:
Addendum:
g. Collective Bargaining Agreement changes for 2021-2025.
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
ABSTAINED Commissioner Ingraham
AYES
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
Motion was carried.
Mr. Bovilsky then presented the final addendum which is the selection of a Municipal Agent for the Elderly, a service provider to assist NHA Seniors in accessing all available Norwalk Senior Housing and Community services. Three organizations responded to the City of Norwalk RFP. Mr. Bovilsky was part of the selection committee. Norwalk Housing is recommending that the NHA select the same agency as the City of Norwalk, as has been done in the past, which this year is Family and Children's Services (FCA).
17-82 Commissioner Brown moved to accept:
Addendum:
h. Selection of Family and Children's Agency (FCA) as Municipal Agent for the Elderly.
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
All in favor. Motion was unanimous.
The meeting returned to regular order.
17-83 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:
d. Minutes of the meeting of July 8, 2021
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
All in favor. Motion was unanimous.
17-84 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:
e. Department Reports July 2021
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Sheri Brown
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Dupervil
All in favor. Motion was unanimous.
At 7:20pm
Norwalk Housing Staff not involved in the Norwalk Housing Foundation Meeting left the board meeting.
The Regular Board meeting concluded, and Commissioners began the Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Foundation.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director