May 8, 2025
MINUTES OF A MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners convened at 5:40pm May 8, 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
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Jeff Oduro, Director of IT
Sherreida Reid, Partnership Manager
Donna Lattarulo, Outside General Council, Lattarulo Law Firm, LLC
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 as present and acknowledged the presence of a quorum. She noted Vice Chair Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery was not expected at tonight's meeting.
Report of the Secretary:
1. Mr. Bovilsky noted that the Norwalk Housing Foundation Annual Meeting would be presented at the end of this meeting during which time Linda Rolle will highlight recent donations and Foundations initiatives.
2. In late April, Anna Keegan represented Norwalk Housing at the 2025 MTW Conference in Arlington Virginia. Sponsored by the National Moving to Work (MTW) Collaborative, the conference featured Ms. Keegan on two panels, one as a panelist and a second as moderator. The sessions focused on Norwalk Housing's MTW initiatives related to landlord incentives.
3. Major Projects include:
• Union Negotiations begin on May 9. Negotiations were delayed due to a change in the union's external representative.
• Raised community gardens installed at Ludlow Village and Leroy Downs have been well received by residents.
• We are making progress with the software switch to PHA WEB.
• Closing of the new Meadow Gardens is approaching fast.
• A search for a New / Temporary Office which will be discussed in the Executive Session
• RFP for Strategic Planning Consultant almost complete.
4. Upcoming events include:
• June 12 @5:30pm Annual Board Meeting
• July 10 @ 5:30pm Regular Board Meeting
• July 31@ 6:00pm Scholarship Ceremony
New Business:
Mr. Bovilsky invited Lisa Endo to present the sources and uses supporting the upcoming Meadow Gardens project. Ms. Endo explained that this vote was to formally authorized Adam Bovilsky and herself to execute loan documents as they relate to the development and management of Meadow Gardens.
She then requested that Commissioners authorize four (4) resolutions pertaining to the project's development and financing.
Regarding:
a. Meadow Gardens development and financing authorizations:
40-35 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
1) Tax Credit Equity, Grant Rebate Contributions, and Development Resolution
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-36 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
2) Resolution to execute Department of Housing (DOH) Financial Assistance
Chair Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-37 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
3) Resolution to execute Bonds
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-38 Commissioner Penn-Williams move to approve:
4) Construction Loan Resolution
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Adam Bovilsky then turned the meeting over to Greg Lickwola to present staff recommendations for the architect to replace windows at Irving Freeze. Mr. Lickwola stated that two bids were received. He recommended, because of qualifications and price, that The Archidesign Group, LLC, be awarded this contract for window replacements in the amount of $25,700. Greg Lickwola noted that this would be funded by the Norwalk Housing capital fund.
40-39 Commissioner Church moved to approve:
b. Archidesign as the architect for Irving Freese window replacement.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Because of Anna Keegan's time constraints, Mr. Bovislky requested that the meeting be moved to the addendum. Ms. Keegan took the floor to present the 30 Chestnut Street Tenant Selection Plan and the 30 Chestnut Street Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP)- Multifamily Housing. Ms. Keegan said that as part of the 30 Chestnut Street subsidy application process HUD requires these documents.
40-40 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
f. 30 Chestnut Street Tenant Selection Plan and the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP)- Multifamily Housing.
Commissioner Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky introduced Kras Carlucci who requested that the Commissioners adopt the annual Colonial Village rent increase effective August 1, 2025 as approved by our contract administrator, Navigate Affordable Housing. Ms. Carlucci noted that a notice of this rent increase would be mailed to all Colonial Village residents. Staff also pointed out that the increase would not impact the tenants' share of the rent, but only increase the subsidy that the NHA receives.
40-41 Treasurer Church moved to approve:
g. 2025 Colonial Village rent increase
Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Commissioners returned to the regular meeting agenda.
40-42 Treasurer Church moved to approve:
c. April 10, 2025 Minutes
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
40-43 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
d. April 29, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky introduced Charmaine Davis-Ford to present finance reports for February and March 2025. Ms. Davis-Ford noted that during the transition to PHA Web, the finance department was conducting a parallel reconciliation of accounts every month both with HAB and PHA Web systems ensuring accuracy and consistency during the migration process. The following were presented in her report:
• Colonial Village income and operating expenses
• Consolidated Federal Project Income and operating expenses
• Section 8 income and operating expenses
• February 2025 accounts receivable collection rates
• Tenant vacated balances
• March and April 2025 monthly bills
Mr. Bovilsky noted that Commissioners had not formally approved April department reports, he was therefore requesting a vote to approve April and May department reports.
40-44 Treasurer Church moved to approve:
April and May Department reports
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky requested that Linda Rolle, Lisa Endo, Kras Carlucci and Charmaine Davis-Ford stay for the Executive session. The remainder of the staff was excused from the meeting.
At 6:45pm
40-45 Treasurer Church moved to adjourn to the Executive Session to discuss a real estate matter.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
Commissioners adjourned to the Executive Session.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
At 7:03pm
Chair Penn-Williams moved to exit the Executive Session.
Commissioner Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
Mr. Bovilsky noted that during the Executive Session no vote was taken.
At 7:04pm
Commissioner Walcott moved to adjourn the meeting.
Treasurer Church seconded the motion.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director