April 7, 2022 Minutes
Minutes of Meeting
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was held at 5:30pm April 07, 2022.
LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference
PRESENT: Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chair
Brenda Penn-Williams, Vice Chair (Arrived 5:45pm)
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Treasurer
Rahoul Dupervil, Commissioner
Angela Wasunna, Commissioner
STAFF ATTENDING: Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Paul Modugno, Acting Director of Finance
Anna Keegan, Director of Housing Operations
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Donna Lattarulo, Legal Counsel
Meeting began at 5:38pm
Chairman Ingraham opened the meeting via Zoom and recognized the following present - Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil, Treasurer Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, and Commissioner Angela Wasunna. Adam Bovilsky noted Vice Chair Brenda Penn-Williams was expected any moment. Chairman Ingraham acknowledged the existence of a quorum and turned the meeting over to Adam Bovilsky.
Report of the Secretary:
• Mr. Bovilsky stated the Norwalk Housing Learning Centers have received the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) ARP ESSER Enhancement grant. This one-time grant of $387, 000 is associated with COVID 19 education relief funding and was written by Wendy Gerbier the Director of Norwalk Housing Learning Centers.
• Mr. Bovilsky introduced Joseph Cardone as the new Norwalk Housing Director of Finance. Adam stated Mr. Cardone brings 30 years of accounting, finance, and operations experience in both the Public and Non-profit sector to the Norwalk Housing Authority. Mr. Cardone most recently served as Vice President of Operations for Haskins Laboratories. He has served on the Board of the Bridgeport Discovery Museum for several years.
• Mr. Bovilsky stated a new Project Manager has been hired and will begin May 2, 2022.
• Mr. Bovilsky noted the beginning of new partnership with a local non-profit agency - Filling in the Blanks. The mission of this organization is to reduce childhood hunger. In conjunction with Roodner Court Learning Center Filling in the Blanks is currently distributing food to thirteen families identified as in need of food assistance. The scope of food assistance will be expanded.
• Norwalk Housing and the Open Door Shelter are attempting to partner with Norwalk Hospital / Nuvance Health developing the property located at 370 West Avenue, the old YMCA. This land is currently owned by Nuvance Health (the parent organization to the Hospital) with small pieces owned by the State of CT and a parking area owned by the City of Norwalk. Norwalk Housing presented the development concept and sketches including plans for 132 mixed income housing units, office, and retail space to Norwalk Hospital. The next step is submitting a proposal to Nuvance Health. Though this partnership remains in the discussion stage, Mr. Bovilsky stated he felt it important for Commissioners to be aware of this potential opportunity.
• COVID 19 -All front-line Operations and Administrative staff have returned to office full-time. In order to reduce density Managers and other back-office staff are in the office 50% of the work week and 50% from home.
• Colonial Village Modernization is moving ahead as planned. Construction phases have been reduced from 18 to 14. This provides a cost savings. This modernization is now in Phase 7.
• The next board meeting will be held May 12th at 5:30pm. The Norwalk Housing Annual Meeting is scheduled June 9 at 5:30pm
At 5:45pm Commissioner Penn-Williams joined the meeting.
Old Business:
Mr. Bovilsky turned the floor over to Deputy Director Kras Carlucci. As HUD has recently designated the Norwalk Housing Authority as Moving to Work Agency, Ms. Carlucci recommended utilization of Nan McKay Associates to be "on call" consultants as needed only, to assist with MTW technical compliance. Ms. Carlucci also stated Nan McKay maintains a depth of MTW experience and is the lowest cost provider.
18-22 Commissioner Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:
a. Contract with Nan McKay to provide 40 hours of technical assistance at the rate of $150 per hour.
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil seconded the motion.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Angela Wasunna
All in favor. Motion was carried.
New Business:
Before asking for a vote adopting the Moving to Work (MTW) Annual Contribution Contract (ACC), Chairman Ingraham asked for a review of MTW ACC. He then turned the floor over to Mr. Bovilsky. Mr. Bovilsky presented a similar PowerPoint from the last meeting which explained MTW is a demonstration program for public housing authorities that provides them the opportunity to locally design strategies that use Federal dollars more efficiently, help residents find employment, supports family self-sufficiency, and provides additional housing choice. If approved by Commissioners, Norwalk Housing will be engaged in "MTW Landlord Incentives Cohort" formerly known as Cohort #4 which deals specifically with Section 8 Landlord incentives. The benefits to the Norwalk Housing Authority for being classified as a MTW agency include funding fungibility and operational flexibility provided by HUD programmatic waivers. He emphasized that the funding flexibility can bring additional funding to the agency through underutilized HCV. Commissioners stressed the desire to serve as many families as possible. Mr. Bovilsky explained that this program would help Section 8 tenants to be able to rent in higher opportunity neighborhoods, which is one of MTW Cohorts major goals.
18-23 Adam Bovilsky requested a vote to approve:
a. Adoption of the Moving to Work(MTW) Annual Contribution Contract (ACC) and on behalf of Norwalk Housing Authority authorize Chairman Ingraham and Mr. Bovilsky to sign the resolution adopting MTW ACC Cohort #4.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Angela Wasunna
All in favor. Motion was carried.
18-24 Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:
b. Minutes of the March 10,2022 meeting.
Commissioner Wasunna seconded the motion.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Angela Wasunna
All in favor. Motion was carried.
18-25 Commissioner Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to accept:
c. Department Reports
Commissioner Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
With no discussion Commissioners voted:
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Angela Wasunna
All in favor. Motion was carried.
Commissioner Dupervil made a motion to add an item to the Executive Session.
Commissioner Penn-Williams seconded the motion
During discussion, for procedural reasons, Commissioner Dupervil was asked to clarify the purpose of adjourning into Executive Session.
Excluding Adam Bovilsky, Anna Keegan and Kras Carlucci, Norwalk Housing staff were excused from the meeting and left.
Commissioner Dupervil clarified his motion stating its purpose was to discuss matters related to the pre-termination notice received by Mr. Dupervil , both a board member and tenant.
There was no Second to Mr. Dupervil's clarified motion.
At 6:42pm
18-26 Commissioner Penn-Williams moved to add Mr. Dupervil's pre-termination notice to the Executive Session for discussion.
Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery seconded the motion
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Angela Wasunna
All in favor. Commissioners moved into Executive Session.
At 7:18pm
18-27 Commissioner Dupervil moved to exit the Executive Session.
Commissioner Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
All in favor. Motion was carried.
Commissioners returned from the Executive Session.
18-28 Commissioner Ingraham moved that staff proceed with its actions relative to tenant Dupervil, and if there is a ruling against Mr. Dupervil, that the matter be brought back to the board before its Execution. Also encouraging the administration to work with him from a time perspective in getting the specific documents.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Wasunna
NO
Commissioner Penn-Williams
ABSTAINED
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Angela Wasunna made of motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
All in favor. The meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director