May 12 Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Norwalk Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was held at 5:36pm May 12, 2022.
LOCATION: Zoom Video Conference
PRESENT: Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chair
Brenda Penn-Williams, Vice Chair (Arrived 5:40pm)
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Treasurer
Rahoul Dupervil, Commissioner
ABSENT: Angela Wasunna, Commissioner
STAFF ATTENDING: Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Kras Carlucci, Deputy Director
Joe Cardone, Director of Finance
Anna Keegan, Director of Housing Operations
Wendy Gerbier, Director of Learning Centers
Greg Lickwola, Director of Modernization
Lisa Endo, Director of Development Project Manager
Leroy Fender, Director of Maintenance
Donna Lattarulo, Legal Counsel
Meeting began at 5:38pm
Chairman Ingraham opened the meeting via Zoom and recognized Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil and Treasurer Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery as present. Adam Bovilsky noted Vice Chair Brenda Penn-Williams was expected to arrive at any moment and that Commissioner Angela Wasunna would be unable to attend tonight's meeting. Chairman Ingraham acknowledged the existence of a quorum and turned the meeting over to Adam Bovilsky.
Report of the Secretary:
• Mr. Bovilsky introduced Lisa Endo, NHA's new Development Project Manager, who will be leading Sound Communities and managing a pipeline of construction and renovation projects, beginning with the Colonial Village Expansion. In addition to increasing access to affordable and mixed income housing for Norwalk's residents, Sound Communities, Ms. Endo will develop NHA's capacity, sustainability, and impact. Lisa most recently served as Deputy Director at Reinvent South Stockton Coalition, a collective impact project to revitalize a racially segregated area of concentrated poverty in California. Her role included affordable housing policy, fund development, strategic partnerships, resident engagement, and organizational capacity building. Lisa holds a master's degree in Nonprofit Management from The New School and currently lives in Fairfield.
At 5:40 Brenda Penn-Williams arrived
• Mr. Bovilsky stated that while Phase 8 is set to begin, Phase 7 of the Colonial Village Modernization is complete. Residents involved in this Phase 7 are returning to their modernized units. Commissioners were invited to view the upgraded units.
• Mr. Bovilsky stated the Norwalk Housing Annual Meeting is scheduled June 9 at 5:30pm. Because of Moving to Work (MTW) procedural requirements we may find it necessary to schedule a July meeting.
New Business:
Adam Bovilsky turned the meeting over to Joe Cardone to present recommendations for the 16 School Street 2022-2023 Management Plan. Mr. Cardone stated under the proposed plan base rents would remain the same.
18-29 Chairman Ingraham moved to approve:
a. Adoption of the 2022-2023 School Street Management Plan.
Commissioner Lisa Bermúdez-Montgomery seconded the motion
Joe Carbone noted as in past years School Street residents pay the base rent or 30% of their income towards rent, whichever is greater.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor by show hands. Motion was carried.
Joe Carbone also presented the proposed Management Plan and Congregate Services Plan for Ludlow Commons effective July 1, 2022. Mr. Carbone stated Norwalk Housing is requesting an increase of $30 for Congregate Services and $69 to the Management Plan.
18-30 Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:
b. Ludlow Commons Management Plan 2022-2033
Commissioner Ingraham seconded the motion.
During discussion Commissioner Penn-Williams expressed a concern that these rent increases could negatively affect Ludlow Commons residents who live on a fixed income. Joe Cardone stated that due to income levels, only two of the 44 Ludlow Commons residents would be affected by this increase. These two tenants have higher income which is why they will have to pay more under the requested rent increase. He also stated that approving the suggested increase would create a balanced budget, the best way to assure appropriate funding and meet resident needs.
AYES
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
NO
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Motion was carried.
Adam Bovilsky invited Kras Carlucci to take the floor. Ms. Carlucci asked the Commissioners to approve the Norwalk Housing Authority Section Eight (S8) Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) Certification for FYI end 3/31/2022. She stated this certification is utilized by HUD to measure the performance of all Housing Authorities that administer housing choice voucher programs. This performance review is accomplished by a formal self-review of fourteen key indicators established by HUD.
18-31 Commissioner Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to accept:
c. Norwalk Housing SEMAP Certification
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
Responding to a query by Chairman Ingraham, Ms. Carlucci stated HUD randomly audits a Housing Authority to review SEMAP Self Certification benchmarks.
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor by show of hands. Motion was carried.
Mr. Bovilsky invited Wendy Gerbier to take the floor. Ms. Gerbier asked the Commissioners to approve expansion of the Learning Centers summer enrollment to include non-public housing students. This expansion would be contingent upon the receipt of a state expansion grant pending at the state. If awarded, this grant would be in the amount of $75,000 for three individual centers: 20 West, Roodner Court and Colonial Village. Ms. Gerbier stated the Summer Expansion Grant and the recent ARPP funding from the State would provide funding to service the additional students at no cost to the students' families or the NHA.
18-32 Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:
d. Summer opening of Learning Center Enrollment to Non-Public Housing Students
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
Discussion involved the description of services, non-resident enrollment costs, and outreach to local schools and community. Asked about who would be served, staff responded that the students enrolled would have a family income cap to ensure that they are all low-moderate income. The income cap has not been determined yet.
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor by show of hands. Motion was carried.
18-33 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:
e. Commissioners and Staff to attend the Summer NERC-NAHRO Conference to be held June 12-15 at the Equinox Hotel in Manchester Vermont at a member registration cost of price $575 person and Lodging cost of $179 per night plus taxes and fees. Registration Fee includes all session materials and name badge, Sunday -Tuesday receptions, Monday -Wednesday breakfast buffets, Monday and Tuesday Lunch, Monday Dinner.
Commissioner Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in Favor by show of hands. Motion was carried.
18-34 Commissioner Bermúdez-Montgomery moved to approve:
f. Minutes of the April 7 Board Meeting
Commissioner Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
All if favor by show of hands. Motion was carried.
18-35 Commissioner Penn-Williams moved to approve:
g. April Department Reports
Commissioner Bermudez-Montgomery seconded the motion.
Chairman Ingraham requested verification of the Family Night reimbursement process.
AYES Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Rahoul Dupervil
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
All in favor by show of hands. Motion was carried.
At 6:49pm
Commissioner Dupervil moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Penn-Williams seconded the motion.
All in favor. Meeting Adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director