February 19, 2026 Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was convened at 5:35 pm February 19, 2026.
Location: Zoom Video Conference
Present:
Brenda Penn-Williams, Chair
Isaac Walcott, Commissioner
Liza Bermudez-Montgomery, Vice Chair (Arrived 5:40pm).
Teneshia Jacobs, Commissioner
Absent:
John Church, Treasurer
Staff Attending:
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Alison Mukhtar, Director of Operation
Anna Keegan, Director of Policy, and MTW
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Lisa Endo, Director of Development
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:
Richard Larsen, CPA (Novogradac & Company LLC).
Roll Call:
At 5:35 pm, Chair Brenda Penn-Williams opened the meeting.
Chair Penn Williams recognized Commissioner Isaac Walcott and Commissioner Taneshia Jacobs as present and acknowledged the presence of a quorum.
Report of the Secretary:
1. Mr. Bovilsky reported on former Government Shutdown & Shortfall.
Congress passed and the President signed the THUD Budget. Mr. Bovilsky reviewed the budget by program. Despite HUD's Sec. 8 estimated proration factor at 99%, which would be very good, it may not be enough to get us out of shortfall. At least 800 agencies including NHA have been in shortfall for section 8 due to lack of HUD funding and HUD is suggesting they may all remain in shortfall the coming year.
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery joined the meeting
2. Upcoming Event on 02/27 at The Main Library located on Belden Avenue Norwalk Black History Month event on Great Black Poets 5:00pm - 7:00 pm.
Featuring CT Poet Laureat Antoinette Brim-Bell.
NHA students will present their work amongst the professional artist.
Upcoming events/ Board meeting
02/27/2026@ 5:00pm Black History Month Event@ The Main Library 03/06/2026@ 6:30 pm Mayor's Ball at Sera fresca at the IC 03/19/2026@ 5:30 pm Regular Board Meeting
04/09/2026@ 5:30pm Regular Board Meeting 05/14, 2026@ 5:30 pm Regular Board Meeting
Chair Brenda Penn-Williams then proceeded with Old Business.
Old Business:
22-15 Commissioner Issac Walcott Moved to adopt:
a. Learning center van camera use policy
Commissioner Jacobs Seconded the motion
Mr. Bovilsky explained that following an incident on one of our vans, the staff recommend that cameras be placed in the Learning center vans. The cameras will show activity outside and inside the van and staff to investigate any reported issues involving staff or students.
The cameras will not be monitored in live time (although they have that functionality). And parents will not be given access to the videos.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams,
Vice Chair Bermudez -Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
22-16 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
b. purchase of cameras including installation
Seconded by Vice Chair Bermudez -Montgomery
Mr. Bovilsky explained that the service also requires a monthly fee.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All if Favor. Motion carried.
New Business:
22-17 Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery moved to approve:
a. Agreement with MDRC for the Direct Rental Assistance experiment
Seconded by Commissioner Taneshia Jacobs
Mr. Bovilsky reminded the Commissioners that this is a privately funded pilot program that NHA would like to embark on along with New Haven Housing Authority and the State of Connecticut Department of Housing. The implementation study will research outcomes from providing rental assistance directly to a tenant rather than to the landlord as is standard for Section 8. DRA removes NHA's relationship with the landlord which may create efficiencies for NHA and give greater choice and agency for the tenants. In addition to funding for the program and research, private funders are also providing the NHA with a $25,000 stipend to cover our administrative costs. This pilot will work with 10 families who volunteer for the pilot from our Section 8 waiting list who will remain eligible for a Section 8 voucher in approximately 2 years at the conclusion of the experiment.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All if Favor. Motion carried.
Addendum
22-18 Commissioner Bermudez- Montgomery moved to adopt:
a. ORA Policy
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion
Anna Keegan reviewed the ORA (Direct Rental Assistance) policy in depth which is very similar to our Administrative Plan for Section 8 except for the subsidy going to the tenant, removing the relationship between NHA and the landlord and the funding coming from private entities and not HUD.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All if Favor. Motion carried.
b. Review of MOR Audit Report
Alison Mukhtar reviewed the Colonial Village MOR {Management Occupancy Review) audit. HUD's contractor, Navigate Affordable Housing partners conducted an oversight and compliance review for Colonial Village. Ms. Mukhtar reviewed each finding with the Commission.
NHA received a score of 78 out of 100, this is a satisfactory rating and one point higher than the last MOR of Colonial Village. There MOR found minor deficiencies some of which had been in place for decades and never identified by the MOR previously (like signage) ..
The findings were primarily related to documentation, often related to the format used rather than the substance of what was in the files.
Nan McKay had been contracted to review our files quarterly and had not found any of these errors, including reviews of identical files. All issues were disputed and corrective actions were addressed in a timely matter.
Commissioner Penn-Williams commented on the pipes bursting all over Norwalk and wanted to know about a plan for Colonial Village's pipes. She also requested a larger sign for Colonial Village.
Mr. Bovilsky responded that work will not be able to be completed on the CV insulation issue until springtime. Mr. Bovilsky will work on getting a bigger sign for Colonial Village.
22-19 Commissioner Walcott Moved to select:
c. Audit firm
Seconded by Chair Penn-Williams
Mr. Bovilsky presented on behalf of Ms. Davis-Ford who is on leave. Mr. Bovilsky reviewed the staff memo and recommended Novogradac who is both rated highest by staff and was the lowest cost bid received.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Issac Walcott
Commissioner Tenisha Jacobs
All in favor. Motion carried.
22-20 Commissioner Brenda Penn moved to select:
d. Villa Giselle as contractor for internal office renovations.
Commissioner Issac Walcott seconded the motion.
Greg Lickwola reviewed the plans for the upcoming renovations to the lower section of the main office. 4 new office spaces will be added in the center and 3 on the side, totaling 7 offices with new walls, flooring, doors, heating, rewiring, carpeting, lighting, plus a coffee station. Greg met with several contractors and compared pricing. Villa Gisselle is the best fit with the lowest bid at $75,000 and have performed competent work in the past.
Adam stated that staff would be displaced during the construction as no one can be downstairs during the demolition.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Motion carried.
22-21-Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery moved to adopt:
e. Move to accept the staff recommendation to rename the property Chestnut and Main:
Commissioner Walcott Seconded the motion
Lisa Endo Reviewed the survey conducted with the tenants to rename the new location and recommendations of the Mutual Housing Advisory Committee.
Commissioners wanted to respect the majority survey results of the Leroy Downs tenants.
NAYS:
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Motion Failed.
22-22. Commissioners Bermudez-Montgomery moved to name the new 79 S. Main Street "Leroy Downs"
Commissioner Penn-Williams Seconded.
Yeas:
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Motion Carried.
22-23 Commissioner Walcott moved to adopt:
f. NAACP Millions Jobs Campaign Pledge as amended
Commissioner Montgomery Seconded the motion.
This campaign seeks to remove obstacles for individuals with criminal records. Mr. Bovilsky explained that the pledge was carefully reviewed and amended by legal counsel. The pledge mostly memorializes the practices already in place at the NHA. Candidates will not be asked about criminal background until after a provisional offer. If candidates have prior experience with the criminal justice system, they will be given an opportunity to explain any mitigating circumstances and an individualized assessment will be completed before any candidate is rejected.
Ayes
Vice Chair Bermudez -Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
Abstain
Chair Penn-Williams
Motion Carried.
22-24 Commissioner Walcott moved to adopt:
g. Personnel Policy on hiring as amended
Commissioner Montgomery Seconded the motion.
Mr. Bovilsky explained that this is the policy that incorporates the Fair Chance Hiring into our own personnel policies.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Teneshia Jacob
Vice Chair Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
22-25 Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery moved to approve:
h. Ludlow Commons management contract extension
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
Krasimira Carlucci explained the need to extend the contract for one year with Human Service Counsel to continue to manage Ludlow Commons congregate senior development.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Teneshia Jacob
Vice Chair-Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
All in favor. Motion carried.
22-26 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve
i. Tuition assistance for Jill Murray
Commissioner Jacobs Seconded the motion.
Wendy Gerbier explained that Ms. Murray is the Literacy Coordinator in the Learning Centers. Ms. Murray is getting straight A's and her coursework is related to her work in the Learning centers.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor, Motion carried
22-27 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve
j. Tuition Assistance for Sheiree Powell
Seconded by Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery
Wendy Gerbier explained that Ms. Powell is the STEM Coordinator in the Learning Centers and is getting straight A's and her coursework is related to her work in the Learning centers.
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Walcott
Commissioner Jacobs
All in favor, Motion carried
22-28- Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery moved to adopt:
k. Minutes of January, 2026
Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs seconded the motion.
Ayes
Commissioner Walcott
Chair Brenda Penn-Williams
Vice Chair-Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs
The minutes were approved without any edits. Motion carried.
22-29: Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
l. Commissioners and staff to attend MTW conference@ Hyatt Regency Capitol in Washington DC
Chair Penn-Williams Seconded the motion.
Mr. Bovilsky explained that the MTW Conference brings together agencies and practitioners from the MTW (Moving to Work) housing industry to share innovations, best practices, and policy updates. Anna Keegan will be a panelist.
Dates April 8-1O, 2026 Cost: $659.50 Per person Hotel costs: $339 per night
Ayes
Commissioner Walcott
Chair Brenda Penn-Williams
Vice Chair-Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs
All if Favor, motion carried.
22-30- Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery moved to approve
m. Department reports.
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
• Admissions/ Operations -January 2025
• Learning Center Report - January 2025
• Modernization (MOD) - January 2025
Maintenance - January 2025Finance Department Charmaine Davis-Ford has been excused due to medical leave (no report will be given).
Wendy Gerbier provided a detailed report on the Learning Centers including a summary of the function and the availability of the learning centers.
• Open year-round Fall after school program/Summer day program four days a week.
• Tutor program
• STEM programs
• Enrichment Programs including:
o Swimming program free instructional beginner training for all ages.
o Music Program with Norwalk Symphony
o Theatre program with MTC.
o Annual Art Showcase @ The Norwalk Art space in January
o Many others
• SEL- Social Emotional Learning
Ayes
Chair Penn-William
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
The motion was carried.
Commissioner Bermudez - Montgomery Motion to enter Executive Session to discuss an employment matter including Commissioners, Executive Director, Adam Bovilsky, Director of Personnel and Labor Relations, Connie Hewitt, General Counsel, Donna Lattarulo.
Motion seconded by Commissioner Walcott
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
The motion was carried.
Executive Session started at 7:28 pm
Commissioner Walcott moved to adjourn the Executive Session
Seconded by Commissioner Jacobs
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Commissioner Teneshia Jacobs
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Liza Bermudez-Montgomery
The motion was carried.
Executive session ended at 7:48 pm
22-31 Commissioner Walcott moved to approve:
n. Proceed with the H1B visa application
Seconded by Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery
Ayes
Chair Penn-Williams
Commissioner Jacobs
Commissioner Walcott
Vice Chair Bermudez-Montgomery
The motion was carried.
Vice Chair Bermudez Montgomery moved to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Walcott seconded the motion.
All if favor. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:09pm
Respectfully submitted,
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director