March 19, 2026 Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was convened at 5:41 pm March 19, 2026.
Location: NHA EnVision Center, 30 Day Street, Norwalk, CT
Present:
Brenda Penn-Williams, Chair
Liza Bermudez-Montgomery, Vice Chair
John Church, Treasurer
Isaac Walcott, Commissioner
Absent:
Teneshia Jacobs, Commissioner
Staff Attending at Start of Meeting:
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Nicole Ruffin, HR Generalist
Donna Lattarulo, Outside General Council, Lattarulo Law Firm, LLC
Public Attending:
Beverly Cooper, BRC Consulting
Harold Cooper, BRC Consulting
Roll Call:
At 5:41pm, Chair Brenda Penn-Williams opened the meeting.
Chair Penn Williams recognized Commissioners Isaac Walcott, Liza Bermudez-Montgomery and John Church as present and acknowledged the presence of a quorum.
At 5:42pm Commissioner Church Moved to enter Executive Session to discuss an employment matter. The Commissioners invited Nicole Ruffin and general counsel Donnal Lattarulo to join the Executive Session along with consultants Beverly Cooper and Harold Cooper.
Motion seconded by Treasurer Commissioner Walcott.
At 7:49pm Commissioner Church made a Motion to exit the executive Session
Chair Penn-Williams seconded the motion
All in favor. Motion carried
No votes were taken based on the discussions in Executive Session
Chair Penn-Williams announced a brief recess.
At 8:00pm Chair Penn-Williams called the meeting back to order
Present:
Brenda Penn-Williams, Chair
Liza Bermudez-Montgomery, Vice Chair
John Church, Treasurer
Isaac Walcott, Commissioner
Absent:
Teneshia Jacobs, Commissioner
Staff Attending Meeting:
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Alison Mukhtar, Director of Operation
Anna Keegan, Director of Policy, and MTW
Sherreida Reid
Charmaine Davis-Ford
Michael Fisher
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Linda Rolle, Director of Grants and Development
Wendy Gerbier Director of Learning Centers
Jeff Oduro, Director of IT
Connie Hewitt Director of Human Resources
Donna Lattarulo, Outside General Council, Lattarulo Law Firm, LLC
Public Attending:
Beverly Cooper, BRC Consulting
Harold Cooper, BRC Consulting
Commissioner Church Moved to table all non-urgent items Commissioner Walcott Seconded the Motion
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez -Montgomery
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
All in favor, Motion carried.
22-34 Chair Penn-Williams moved to approve:
a. Federal Operating Budget FYE March 2027 All statutory and regulatory requirements met:
1. The PHA has enough operating reserves to meet the working capital needs of its developments.
2. Proposed budget expenditures are necessary to meet the efficient and economical operation of housing for serving low-income residents.
3. The budget indicates a source of funds adequate to cover proposed expenditure.
4. The PHA will comply with the wage requirement under 24 CFR 968.110.
5. The PHA will comply with requirements for access to records and audits under 24 CFR 38.110(i).
Commissioner Church seconded the motion.
Michael Fisher reviewed the key elements of the budget related to income and expenses and the items above and answered questions from the board.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
All if Favor. Motion carried.
22-35 Commissioner Church moved to approve:
Hiring freeze except for those hires who have accepted offers (Quality Control Specialist and Executive Assistance)
Chair Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
Commissioner Church further explained that the freeze is to review the agency's hiring processes.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
All if Favor. Motion carried.
22-36 Commissioner Church moved to approve:
b. Write-offs vacated accounts fiscal year ending 3/31/2026 total:
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
Michael Fisher reviewed the need for write-offs and amounts for federal public housing and Colonial Village. There were no write-offs for School Street.
• Federal - $48,208.16
• Colonial Village - $64,706.75
Charmaine Davis Ford answered questions about the impact of the moratorium on the write-offs and questions about rent collection efforts.
Attorney Lattarulo answered questions about the procedural challenges in court caused by the moratorium that impact the write-offs.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
All if Favor. Motion carried.
22-37 Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery moved to approve:
c. School Street Budget
Commissioner Church seconded the motion.
Michael Fisher reviewed the School Street Budget and Management Plan including both the recommended rent increase of 5%.
Charmaine Davis Ford answered questions about the impact of the moratorium on the write-offs and questions about rent collection efforts.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Treasurer Church
Commissioner Walcott
All if Favor. Motion carried.
The remainder of items on the agenda were tabled based upon an earlier motion.
22-38 Treasurer Church moved to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
All if favor. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:32pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director