Housing Authority Regular Meeting February 19, 2015
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 19, 2015
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
The regular monthly meeting of the Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury, Connecticut was held on February 8, 2015 at the Virginia Connolly Residence at 1600 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron Zappile Vice Chairman at 6:05 P.M. Also in attendance were Commissioners Woody Eddins, Cheryl Cook, Oliver Dickens, Executive Director Ed LaMontagne and Housing Administrator Christine Winters. Commissioner Kay Coffey was excused.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
There was no one present at the public audience.
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Minutes of the January 8, 2015 meeting were reviewed by the Board. No changes were indicated. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Commissioner Cook and seconded by Commissioner Eddins. Motion carried.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN LIAISON REPORT
Board of Selectman Liaison Cheryl Cook provided an update on the senior center project. She also stated that there will be two public hearings, one with regard to the First Selectman’s salary and the second with regard to the Simsbury form of government.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Program Updates
Executive Director LaMontagne spoke about having to deal with a succession of snowstorms during the latter part of January and the first two weeks of February. The town has done an excellent job of clearing the roads and parking lots and the Housing Authority maintenance staff has done an excellent job of clearing the sidewalks. To date we have expensed $440.00 for ice melt.
Mahoney and Sabol have completed the FY 13-14 audit. A summary of the audit results were distributed to Commissioners as well as a hard copy of the audit.
A workers comp claim has been filed for an employee in the Food Services Department. The employee fell on the ice on January 18th when reporting for duty. She reported to the New England Urgent Care where she was diagnosed with a broken coccyx. As of this date she remains out of work.
The work has been completed on Apartment 31 at the Dr. Owen L. Murphy Apartments. Total cost of the renovation was $9,645.00 of which $8,105.93 was covered by insurance.
The Town of Simsbury has selected L. Wagner and Associates to provide professional and technical services for our 2015 CDBG application.
New housekeepers began their responsibilities of cleaning VCR on Monday, February 2nd. Their schedule has changed from mornings to afternoons so the offices can be cleaned in the afternoon once the office closes.
The heat pumps in two of the Murphy Apartments were in major need of repair and after numerous attempts to repair them it was recommended that we replace the units. An estimate of $9,829.12 was received from Beacon Mechanical to replace both units. It was recommended that we get two more estimates.
Resident electric bills increased on January 1st and many residents have had substantial changes ranging from $8.00 per month to $80.00 a month. CL&P was contacted to determine what, if any, cost savings measures can be made to assist residents.
The Simsbury Housing Authority will once again be hosting a Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on Wednesday, March 18th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Virginia Connolly Residence.
Financial Update
Executive Director LaMontagne presented a detailed financial report for the month of December and January as well as Year to Date. Overall, revenues are down, but expenditures are under budget.
He stated because this month’s meeting was later than usual there will not be a financial report available for the March meeting. Rather, he will prepare a budget projection report for the months from March 2015 to June 2015.
Executive Director LaMontagne also reviewed an up to date copy of the Repair, Maintenance and Replacement Reserves.
He answered questions presented by the Board on specific items.
Correspondence
A letter was received from Tim Pusch of Brooks, Todd & McNeil regarding the recent Anthem Data Breach. Tim also attached a letter from the President of Anthem with answers to frequently asked questions. Currently, the Simsbury Housing Authority has ConnectiCare as its health care program provider.
A letter was received from Tim Patterson at Edward Jones indicating that our Simple IRA Employee Plan has been transferred to Peter Mowry at the Edward Jones office located at 714 Hopmeadow Street. To date the transition has been a smooth one.
A memorandum was received from Tom Roy, Town of Simsbury Director of Public Works indicating that they have locked in fuel prices for the period of September 1, 2015 through August 2016. The price for #2 Fuel Oil will be $2.50 per gallon. We currently pay $3.17 per gallon.
Housing Administrator Winters reported on several changes to the current marketing plan. The Housing Authority will be placing a 1/8 ad in the 2015/16 Membership Directory. The Housing Authority will be hosting a Chamber Business After Hours on March 18th and will be having a booth at the Rotary Club River Run event on April 26th.
RENTAL UPDATE
Housing Administrator Winters reported that presently there are three vacancies at Virginia Connolly and that she has three prospective tenants who have submitted applications. Two residents are slated to move out of VCR at the end of the month. Both are in long term rehab.
There are currently two vacancies at the Dr. Owen L. Murphy Apartments, however there are seventeen individuals on the waiting list and they are being contacted.
OWEN MURPHY APARTMENTS
A resident meeting was scheduled for the month of January but was postponed due to inclement weather. A February meeting was scheduled but was cancelled, again, due to inclement weather. A meeting is being scheduled for March.
VIRGINIA CONNOLLY RESIDENCE
A Residents Meeting was held on February 5th. No issues were reported by residents at that time.
The dishwasher in the kitchen has been in need of major repairs over the past few weeks. To date $2,000 has been expensed for the repairs and there is still a major repair to be completed. Because the dishwasher is over twenty five years old it was recommended that a price for a new one be obtained.
Executive Director LaMontagne stated that the assisted living service provided by Utopia was running smoothly. However, due to the departure of their LPN they are in the process of hiring a new one.
The monthly programs for residents continue to be plentiful and of a wide variety. Special events are also planned on a monthly basis.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business conducted at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
The Simsbury Housing Authority will once again be applying for a Small Cities Grant to have a new roof put on the Virginia Connolly Residence and to have the roadways throughout the complex repaved with accessibility improvements. Because this is what was applied for last year, and not approved, there is a minimal amount of financial outlay. Efforts will be made to "beef up" this year’s application.
A request was made by the Town of Simsbury Town Planner to have the Simsbury Housing Authority "certify" residents who would be moving into eighteen workforce housing apartments in a new development that will be built in the south end of town. The attorney for the developer was contacted to receive further information. The apartments are expected to be built starting in the summer of 2015 and completed in 2.5 years.
A proposed policy for Inclement Weather was distributed. After discussion it was decided that the policy needed revision and it will be reviewed at the March Board meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion to enter Executive Session was made by Commissioner Eddins and seconded by Commissioner Dickins. Housing Administrator Winters was excused.
A motion to return to the regular meeting was made by Commissioner Eddins and seconded by Commissioner Cook.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner Eddins and seconded by Commissioner Cook. Motion carried. Chairman Zappile adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
Submitted by,
E. J. LaMontagne
Edward J. LaMontagne
Executive Director