April 10, 2025
MINUTES OF A MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners convened at 5:35pm April 10, 2025.
Location: Zoom Video Conference
Present:
Brenda Penn-Williams, Chair
John Church, Treasurer
Isaac Walcott, Commissioner
Teneshia Jacobs, Commissioner
Absent:
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Vice Chair
Staff Attending:
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Alison Mukhtar, Director of Operation
Anna Keegan, Director of Policy and MTW
Charmaine Davis-Ford, Director of Finance
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Lisa Endo, Director of Development
Linda Rolle, Director of Grants
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Ann Keegan, Director of Policy and MTW
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Sherreida Reid, Partnership Manager
Donna Lattarulo, Outside General Council, Lattarulo Law Firm, LLC
Attorney Keisha Palmer, NHA Bond Counsel, Robinson and Cole
Roll Call:
At 5:35pm, Chair Penn-Williams opened the meeting. Chair Penn-Williams recognized Treasurer John Church, Commissioner Isaac Walcott, and Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs acknowledged the presence of a quorum. She noted Vice Chair Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery was not expected at tonight's meeting.
Due to Attorney Palmer's time constraints discussion of New Business item d. was taken out of order.
d. $2,000,000 loan to Sound Communities
Attorney Palmer and Commissioners discussed M & T bank's liquidity and asset requirements for the Norwalk Housing Authority and Sound Communities to move forward with financing the Meadows Garden project. Lisa Endo said that for Sound Communities to meet liquidity obligations, a $2,000,000 loan from the Norwalk Housing Authority to Sound Communities would be required. Adam Bovilsky noted that the $5,000,000 M & T asset requirement could be achieved by quitclaiming certain Mutual Housing properties to Sound Communities.
At 7:05pm Attorney Palmer left the meeting.
The meeting resumed its regular order.
Report of the Secretary:
1. Mr. Bovilsky noted that the Norwalk Housing Foundation received a $6,500 donation from the Westport Rotary.
2. March 28 from 5:00-6:30PM in the Norwalk City Hall Community Room, the Learning Center held its Read Con - Superhero literacy event.
3. Major Projects include:
• Union Negotiations (contracts ends 4/1)
• Software switch to PHA
• Demolition of Meadows Garden has been completed.
• April 1st marked the opening of Oak Grove. The development is moving forward with leasing units.
• Finding a New / Temporary Office
• RFP for Strategic Planning Consultant
• 2025 - Strategic Planning and Decentralization
4. Upcoming events include:
• May 8 @5:30pm Regular Board Meeting and Norwalk Housing Foundation Annual meeting
• June 12 @5:30pm Annual Board Meeting
New Business:
This agenda item was taken out of order in response to questions from Commissioners.
Mr. Bovilsky asked Lisa Endo to take the floor. Ms. Endo explained M&T bank's liquidity and asset requirements for the Norwalk Housing Authority and Sound Communities to move forward with their portions of financing the Meadow Gardens project. Lisa Endo said that for Sound Communities to meet liquidity obligations, a $2 million loan from the Norwalk Housing Authority to Sound Communities would be required. She noted that $5 million M&T asset requirement could be achieved by quitclaiming certain Mutual Housing properties to Sound Communities. Commissioners discussed the details of the Norwalk Housing Authority and Sound Communities' ability to meet M&T's requirements.
40-21 Treasurer John Church moved to approve:
d. $2,000,000 loan to Sound Communities
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
At 7:10pm Vice Chair, Bermudez-Montgomery arrived.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
NO Commissioner Jacobs
ABSTAINED Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
Motion carried.
The meeting returned to regular order.
At 7:13pm Commissioner Jacobs left the meeting.
Kras Carlucci requested that Commissioners approve the Ludlow Commons budget July 1, 2025 - June 31, 2026.
40-22 Treasurer John Church moved to approve:
a. The Ludlow Commons budget July 1, 2025 -June 31, 2026.
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
Kras Carlucci requested ratification of Oak Grove utility allowances.
40-23 Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to ratify:
b. Oak Grove utility allowances
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
Kras Carlucci requested that Commissioner approve the 16 School Street Management Plan noting this plan includes a 5% base rent increase.
40-24 Treasurer Church moved to approve:
c. School Street Management Plan
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky asked the Commissioners to table the next item on the agenda.
40-25 Treasurer Church move to table:
d. Quitclaim of certain Mutual Housing properties to Sound Communities
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Item d. was tabled.
Mr. Bovilsky introduced the next item, a Tenant Privacy Policy, delineating the way Norwalk Housing shares tenant information.
40-26 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
e. Tenant Privacy Policy
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky introduced the next item, which is a formal Remote Work Policy. This policy will set employee remote work parameters.
4-27 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
f. Remote Work Policy
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky introduced the next item: the commissioning of a quilt to be displayed at the new Curtis Law Learning Center. He explained that this project would be organized and led by Lizzy Rockwell, the Artistic Director of Peace by Piece. Ms. Rockwell has designed community quilts for public spaces throughout the City of Norwalk.
40-28 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
g. Commissioning of a quilt for the new Curtis Law Learning Center.
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
Commissioners agreed that the commissioning of this quilt would acknowledge Curtis Law's contributions to Norwalk Housing Learning Centers and benefit residents and students who will participate in its creation.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-29 Treasurer Church move to approve:
h. Commissioners and staff to attend the NAHRO Summer Symposium on July 17-18 to be held at the New York Hilton, Midtown at an early bird registration cost of $645 per person and hotel cost of $329 per night, plus taxes.
Commissioner Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-30 Vice Chair Bermúdez-Montgomery move to approve:
i. Commissioners and staff to attend the NERC-NAHRO conference to be held June 22-24 at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, 310 Mount Washington Hotel Road, Brenton Woods, NH. at a member registration price of $675.00 and room rate of $250.00 per night, plus taxes. A block of rooms is set aside from June 21 - June 25, hotel reservations cutoff date is June 2nd.
Chair Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-31 Treasurer Church moved to approve:
j. Anabell De La Cruz and Jamie Banks attendance at the PHA Web User Conference April 14-16 in Miramar Beach, Florida. Conference registration is $574.00 per person and hotel room rate is $209.00 per night, plus taxes.
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
Motion carried.
40-32 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
k. Minutes of the March 10, 2025 meeting.
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky introduced Charmaine Davis-Ford to present finance reports for December 2024 and January 2025. Ms. Davis-Ford noted that due to the transition to PHA Wed Commissioner would see a change in the reporting format. The following were presented in her report:
• Tenant accounts receivable collection rates
• Tenant vacated balances
• Tenant collection rates - reflecting a reduction in outstanding balances
• Operating statements - noting an increase of 28% in utilities expenses.
• Consolidated Federal Project Income
• Section 8 operating statements
• January and February 2025 monthly bills
Mr. Bovilsky noted that the next item on the agenda was an addendum.
40-33 Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:
m. Learning Center Lead Coordinators Katrina Ellis, Sam Roy, and Sasha James to attend Childhood Conversations Conference Friday May 2, 2025, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, Hartford CT at a cost of $150 per person. Parent Coordinator Josiane Charlot to attend Parenting Conversations Conference Saturday May 3, 2025 at the Hartford Marriott at a cost of $100.
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery
Motion carried.
Bovilsky suggested the Sound Communities Members Meeting on the agenda should be postponed to a later date. Commissioner agreed as the item relating to the Members Meeting had been tabled.
Chair Penn-Williams requested that Commissioner adjourn the meeting to an Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. All staff members except Adam Bovilsky, Kras Carlucci and Nicole Ruffin left the meeting.
40-34 Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to adjourn to an Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
At 8:29pm
Treasurer Church moved to exit the Executive Session.
Vice Chair, Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
At 8:33pm
Commissioners left the Executive Session and voted in favor of adjourning tonight's meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director