Board Meeting December 19, 2023

Minutes of Meeting

The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners convened at 5:39pm December 19, 2023.

LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference
 
PRESENT: Brenda Penn-Williams, Chair
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Vice Chair
Isaac Walcott, Treasurer
John Church, Commissioner 
 
ABSENT: Teneshia Jacobs, Commissioner
 
STAFF ATTENDING: Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Charmaine Davis-Ford, Director of Finance
Lisa Endo, VP of Development 
Linda Rolle, Director of Grants
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers 
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance                                              Alison Muhtar, Director of Housing Operations
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources

PUBLIC ATTENDING: Donna Lattarulo, General Council  
Arthur Greenblatt, Vesta Inc. 
Adam Palmer, Amenta Emma Architects

Roll Call:

At 5:39pm, Chair Penn-Williams convened the meeting, recognizing the attendance of Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery, Treasurer Walcott, and Commissioner Church while noting the establishment of a quorum. Adam Bovilsky said Commissioner Jacobs would not be attending tonight's meeting. 

Report of the Secretary:

Mr. Bovilsky presented the following updates:

a. On November 21, 2023, with the aid of eighty-three volunteers, support from the Norwalk Police Department and turkey donations from Bridgeport Rescue Mission our non-profit partner, we distributed complete turkey dinners to 380 Norwalk Housing families. 

b. On December 15, 2023, approximately eighty staff attended a team-building event led by a virtual professional team builder. The attendees divided into eight teams, collaborating to tackle diverse challenges that required different skill sets. Feedback from the staff indicated they enjoyed the experiences, fostering collaboration amongst colleagues from different departments who typically do not work together. The event was followed by the staff holiday party.  
   
c. On December 10, 2023, Sound Communities hosted the official Oak Grove ground-breaking ceremony against the backdrop of its active construction site. Joining representatives of several local and state-wide media outlets, the event welcomed 12 distinguished guests, including Susan Bysiewicz, Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut; Selia Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing; Brenda Penn-Williams, Chairwoman of the Norwalk Housing Board of Commissioners; Harry Rilling, Mayor of the City of Norwalk; Bob Duff, CT State Senate Majority Leader; Suzanne Piacentini, Field Officer Director of the Hartford HUD Field Office; Rob Michalik CHFA Director of Government Relations; David McCarthy, President of Heritage Housing; Michael Sulkis, Bankwell First Vice President; and Kevin Hoffman, Vice President of the Hoffman Group. Additionally, fifty other guests were in attendance. 

d. December 15, 2023, Norwalk Mutual Housing received final confirmation of a $500,000 State of CT grant for pre-development planning of properties at 79 South Main Street, Hanford Place, and 25 Leonard Street. 

e. The Norwalk Housing Learning Centers secured a two-year grant from the Department of Education, amounting to $169,400 annually. This covers about 9% of the costs of the Learning Center Program for two years. 

f. January 19, 2024, the Congress Continuing Funding Resolution expires. Norwalk Housing remains vigilant in monitoring the potential impact of a government shutdown on our agency. 

g. Mr. Bovilsky concluded his report with updates on upcoming December and January events, highlighting the change in the regularly scheduled January Board meeting due to the Commissioner Conference in San Diego. 

Old Business: 

Mr. Bovilsky stated that Vesta Inc intends to acquire Monterey Village from PNC Bank. As part of this acquisition, Vesta is seeking the transfer of the HAP subsidy from the 162 NHA project-based units, currently held by PNC bank. 

20-30 - Commissioner Church made a motion to approve:

a. Consent for Monterey Village Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) transfer 

Vice Chair Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion. 

Mr. Greenblatt will attend another meeting to discuss the upcoming Monterey Village modernization. 

AYES     
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Church

All in favor. Motion was carried. 

Mr. Greenblatt left the meeting. 

Mr. Bovilsky turned the meeting over to Adam Palmer and Lisa Endo to present - 

b. Meadow Garden Redesign, materials, project timeline and proposed funding sources. Although item b. did not require a vote, Commissioners suggested presentation of the Redesign to residents.

At 6:40pm 

20-31 - Commissioner Church made of motion to move into the Executive Session for purposes of discussing the Executive Directors contract. 

Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion. 

AYES    
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Church

Attorney Lattarulo and four Commissioners remained in the meeting. Mr. Bovilsky and the remaining staff moved into a ZOOM breakout room. 

At 7:21pm 

20-32 - Commissioner Church made a motion to return to the Regular Session of this meeting.

Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion. 

AYES      
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Church

All in Favor. Motion was carried.

At 7:23pm

Chair Brenda Penn-Williams opened the Public Hearing for Public Comment regarding the Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA) 2024 Annual Plan including changes to the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP) and Administrative Plan. 

At 7:24pm

As there were no public comments Chair Brenda Penn-Williams moved to close the Public Comment portion of the meeting. All Commissioners were in favor.  Staff mentioned that there was only positive feedback at the advocates meeting and the Resident Advisory Board meeting.  

At 7:25pm 

Chair Brenda Penn-Williams opened the Public Hearing for Public Comment regarding the Move to Work (MTW) Supplement - Beginning Fiscal Year 04/01/2024.

At 7:26pm

As there were no public comments Chair Brenda Penn-Williams moved to close the Public Comment portion of the meeting. All Commissioners were in favor.    Staff mentioned that there was only positive feedback at the advocates meeting and the Resident Advisory Board meeting.  

New Business:

20-33 - Commissioner Church made a motion to approve:
a. Norwalk Housing 2024 Annual Plan to include Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP) and Administrative Plan Changes

Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion.

AYES     
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Church

All in Favor. Motion was carried.

2034 - Treasurer Walcott moved to approve:

b. Move to Work Supplement - Beginning Fiscal Year 04//1/2024

Commissioner Church seconded the motion. 

AYES      
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Church

All in Favor. Motion was carried. 

Mr. Bovilsky asked Lisa Endo to take the floor. Ms. Endo stated original Meadow Gardens tenants who move back to the new development will be placed in units that have project-based Section 8 vouchers to support them. At this time, it is impossible to know the number of tenants who will decide to move back. Staff estimates thirty (30) households will return. To qualify for a loan to build the project, the Housing Authority needs to commit to project-basing thirty (30) vouchers in the new development to be able to guarantee the vouchers, just in the number of residents who return is lower than expected.

2035 - Chair Penn-Williams moved to utilize:

c. 30 Project Basing Vouchers consisting of 12 Tenant Protect Vouchers (TPV) and 18 NHA Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) to support the development of Meadow Gardens. 

Treasure Walcott seconded the motion. 

AYES      
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott
Commissioner Church

All in Favor. Motion was carried. 

At 7:31pm 

Commissioner Church left the meeting.

Kras Carlucci took the floor to recommend a one-year extension of the Human Services Council (HSC) contract which provides services for Ludlow Commons, a Norwalk Housing congregate living community. Ms. Carlucci stated that residents are happy with the services provided by HSC. 

2036 - Treasurer Walcott moved to approve:

d. A one-year contract extension with the Human Services Council to support residents at Ludlow Commons.

Before the vote Commissioners sought clarification on the necessity of issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) when extending the contract for the upcoming year.  Staff confirmed that the current contract has an extension still available.

AYES     
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

All in Favor. Motion was carried. 

Mr. Bovilsky turned the floor over to Greg Lickwola. Mr. Lickwola stated after reviewing three submitted proposals, the Modernization Department is recommending awarding the contract to design the replacement of bathrooms at Main Avenue Apartments and siding/windows and bathroom replacement at 20 West to Archidesign Group LLC for a price of $73,950.00.

2037 - Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:

e. The contract to design the replacement of bathrooms at Main Avenue Apartments and siding/windows and bathroom replacement at 20 West be awarded to Archidesign LLC for a price of $73,950.00. 

Chair Penn-Williams seconded the motion. 

AYES     
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

All in Favor. Motion was carried.

2038 - Treasurer Walcott made a motion to approve: 

f. Wendy Gerbier and Tiana Brown to attend the 2024 National Afterschool (NAA) Convention March 17-20, 2024, in Dallas, Texas at an estimated cost of $4300. 

Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.

AYES    
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

All in favor. Motion was carried.

2039 - Treasurer Walcott moved to approve:

g. Commissioners and Staff to attend NERC NAHRO Mid-Winter Conference at Mohegan Sun Conference Center Feb 4th-7th, 2024 at an early bird registration fee of $675 and hotel price of $179 per night plus taxes and fees.

Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.

AYES    
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

2040- Chair Penn-Williams made a motion to approve:

h. Minutes of the November 16, 2023, meeting.

Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion.

AYES  
Chair Penn-Williams                                                                    Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

Motion was carried. 

At this point in the meeting Adam Bovilsky introduced the Addendum requesting Commissioners approve Anna T. Keegan's attendance at the upcoming 2024 Move to Work (MTW) Conference April 2-4, 2024, to be held at the Washington D. C Hyatt Regency for a registration cost of $499 and corresponding room rate of $269 per night. 

2041- Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:

j. Anna Keegan to attend the Move to Work Conference (MTW) April 2-4, 2024, to be held at the Washington D.C. Hyatt. 

Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion. 

AYES      
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

Mr. Bovilsky introduced Alison Mukhtar to present a more detailed review of the monthly Operations Report. Ms. Mukhtar stated this report includes the description, availability, and utilization of HCV (Section 8) and Specialty Vouchers. In addition, it includes NHA Public Housing unit utilization and recertification. Ms. Mukhtar noted that Colonial Village 2 Bedroom, Public Housing 1,2,3 and 5 bedroom and School Street 2- and 3-bedroom unit waitlists had opened in late October 2023 and closed in December 2023, except for the senior list and 2-bedroom list for Colonial Village. She then described the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program and its potential benefits to Norwalk Housing residents. 

Mr. Bovilsky then ceded the floor to Charmaine Davis-Ford for the presentation of the monthly finance reports. Ms. Davis-Ford focused again on accounts receivables statistics. Offering a more detailed examination of NHA efforts to decrease receivables and pinpointing AMPS that require additional attention. As lowering account receivables is essential to efficiently running an agency these collection efforts are a continued focus of the Norwalk Housing Finance Department. Ms. Davis-Ford also reviewed revenue plus current and projected expenses.

2042 - Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery made a motion to approve:

i. Department Reports

Treasurer Walcott seconded the motion.

AYES    
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery 
Treasurer Walcott

All in Favor. Motion was carried.
 
At 8:23pm

Treasurer Walcott moved to adjourn the meeting.

Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.   

All in favor.  The meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted, 

___________________________
 Adam Bovilsky 
 Executive Director