Board Meeting Minutes October 12, 2023
Minutes of Meeting
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was held at 5:31 PM October 12, 2023.
LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference
PRESENT: Brenda Penn-Williams, Chair
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Vice Chair (joined at 5:48PM)
Isaac Walcott, Treasurer
John Church, Commissioner
Teneshia Jacobs, Commissioner
STAFF ATTENDING: Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Charmaine Davis-Ford, Director of Finance
Lisa Endo, VP of Development
Anna Keegan, Director of Policy
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Linda Rolle, Director of Grants and Development
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Leroy Fendor, Director of Maintenance
Alison Muhtar, Director of Housing Operations
Irvin Clemons, Director of IT
Donna Lattarulo, General Council
Roll Call:
At 5:31PM, Chair Penn-Williams convened the meeting, recognizing the attendance of Treasurer Walcott and Commissioner Church and confirming the establishment of a quorum. It was noted that Commissioner Jacobs joined the meeting at 5:34PM and that Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery was expected to arrive shortly.
Report of the Secretary:
Mr. Bovilsky presented the following progress updates:
a. Staff and Commissioner training within the last two months along with feedback from both Chair Penn-Williams and Treasurer Walcott.
b. Details of a successful meeting with Mutual Housing residents. The integration of Mutual Housing with Norwalk Housing Sound Communities is moving forward.
c. Sound Communities successfully closed Oak Grove financing and work has begun on this 69-unit mixed income development.
d. Soundview Landing received LEED-ND Certification. This marks a significant achievement as Soundview Landing is the first mixed income development in the state of Connecticut to receive such certification.
e. Managers have discussed the impact of a possible Federal Government shutdown on Norwalk Housing operations. Referencing actions taken in 2013, NHA is prepared if this should happen in November 2023.
f. Norwalk Housing Learning Centers sponsored a successful Hispanic Heritage Event.
g. Upcoming events include NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on October 13th and upcoming board meetings November 9th and December 14th at 5:30PM.
New Business:
Mr. Bovilsky noted that the Board had approved Norwalk Housing to bid on a potential new headquarters property which is located at 43-53 Water Street. But the Board had not technically voted for the purchase of the property. Mr. Bovilsky asked for the Boards approval to purchase this property pending required environmental studies to be completed by the City of Norwalk.
20-04 Treasurer Walcott made a motion to approve:
a. The purchase of the property located at 43-53 Water Street for an amount up to and including $2,200,000.00.
Commissioner Church seconded the motion.
AYES
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All in favor. Motion was carried.
20-05 Commissioner Church moved to approve:
b. Commissioners and Staff to attend PHADA 2024 Commissioners Conference, January 7-1, 2024, to be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, 1 Marketplace, San Diego, CA at an Early Bird Special registration price of $495 and a room rate of $245 per night plus taxes and fees.
Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion.
AYES
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All in Favor. Motion was carried.
20-06 Commissioner Church moved to approve:
c. Minutes of the September 14th meeting.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
AYES
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Church
ABSTAINED Chair Penn-Williams Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in Favor. Motion was carried.
Mr. Bovilsky ceded the floor over to Charmaine Davis-Ford for the presentation of the monthly finance reports. Ms. Davis-Ford stated tonight's presentation focused again on accounts receivables, offering a more detailed examination of NHA efforts to increase receivables and pinpointing areas that require additional attention. Collection efforts were continuing, working with each family individually . Ms. Davis-Ford reviewed the revenue and expenses.
Before approving the Department Reports, Commissioners and Staff held a brief discussion regarding animal ownership on NHA properties. Kras Carlucci explained that recent preterm letters were an attempt to gain identification documents for unauthorized pets. She also stated considering the increase in animals on NHA properties it may be necessary to revise NHA policies regarding dog ownership.
20-07
Commissioner Church moved to approve:
d. Department Reports
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Chair Penn-Williams requested that, in addition to the regular financial reporting each month, an additional department be required to deliver an in-depth report to the Commissioners.
AYES
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All in Favor. Motion was carried.
Mr. Bovilsky then turned to the addendum asking Alison Mukhtar to introduce the vote for approval of the January 11, 2024-2026 Designated Housing Plan which identifies how Norwalk Housing sets aside housing for the elderly. This two-year renewal identifying 249 units to be designated as senior housing is submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ms. Mukhtar explained HUD has requested removal of 13 barrier free units from the DHP. Therefore the total number of units included in the DHP will differ from the previous submission.
20-08 Commissioner Church moved to approve:
e. Renewal of the Designated Housing Plan effective January 11, 2024 through January 11, 2026.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
AYES
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All in Favor. Motion was carried.
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery raised a concern about an increase in trash piling up outside dumpsters. Kras Carlucci and Leroy Fendor stated they were aware that this problem had increased over the last two weeks stating continued efforts will be made to both remove trash and monitor proper disposal by residents.
Though not on the agenda, Chair Penn-Williams requested that the Commissioners, Attorney Lattarulo, and Finance Director Charmaine Davis-Ford move into an Executive Session to discuss the Executive Director's Contract. Mr. Bovilsky excused the remaining staff from the meeting.
At 6:30PM
Mr. Bovilsky created a Zoom Breakout room for the Commissioners, Charmaine, and Attorney Lattarulo as they adjourned to the Executive Session
20-08 Commissioner Church made a motion to adjourn to Executive session to discuss the Executive Director's contract. Chair Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
AYES NO ABSTAINED
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All in Favor. Motion was carried.
At 6:54PM
20-09 Commissioner Church made a motion to return to the Regular Meeting.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
AYES NO ABSTAINED
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All if Favor Motion was carried.
Attorney Lattarulo said there were no actions taken during the Executive Session. But Commissioners had agreed to move the upcoming November board meeting from the regularly scheduled November 9th to the 16th.
AT 6:57PM
20-10 Treasurer Walcott moved to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion
AYES
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Church
All in favor. Motion was carried.
The meeting adjourned at 6:57PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director