March 26, 2020 Special Board Meeting Minutes
Meeting of Minutes
The special Meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk was held at 6:00 PM Thursday, March 26, 2020.
Location:
CNI Offices
149 Water Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
PRESENT:
Jeffery A. Ingraham, Chairman
Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director
Location: GoToMeeting Video Conference
Commissioners Attending:
Brenda Penn-Williams, Vice Chair
Sheri Brown, Treasurer, Treasurer
Rahoul Dupervil, Commissioner
Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery, Commissioner
Staff Attending:
Paul Modugno, Acting Director of Finance
Kras Carlucci, Director of Operations
Joe Francis, Acting Director of Maintenance
Greg Lickwola, Construction Manager
Tom Ivers, CNI Director
Wendy Gerbier, Director NHA Learning Center
Nicole Ruffin, Director of Human Resources
Others Attending:
David Lee, Stull & Lee Architects
Thomas Maistros, Stull & Lee Architects
Gregg Burton, Carmody Torrence Sandak Hennessey LLP
Meeting began at 6:11 pm.
Chairman Ingraham opened the meeting.
The following commissioners were present via video Commissioner Dupervil, Vice Chair Brenda Penn-Williams, Treasurer Brown, and Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery. The presence of a quorum was established.
Report of the Secretary:
A moment of silence was held for Thomas Hickey, Director of Finance, who recently passed.
Considering the implications of COVID 19 to NHA operations and residents' safety Mr. Bovilsky stated the all staff had displayed noble performance by making sure developments are sanitized regularly, performing emergency repairs, and maintaining the vital functions of Norwalk Housing Authority.
16-74 Due to presenter's availability Commissioner Penn-Williams moved to change the order of the agenda suggesting item - 5. New Business a., b. and c be presented at the outset of the meeting.
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
a. Colonial Village Expansion
David Lee and Thomas Maistros representing Stull & Lee Architects, presented detailed images representing plans to expand Colonial Village, adding 69 units to the existing 200-unit complex. This presentation included description of overall design, material used, floorplans, maintenance, energy efficiency, green spaces, landscaping, project administration and accountability. Commissioners stated adequate parking was of concern and suggested proposals for additional parking space be presented at the next board meeting.
At 7:00 pm, David Lee and Thomas Maistros closed their presentation and left the video conference At 7:05 pm, Gregg Burton joined the meeting.
16-75 Commissioner Brown moved to accept:
b. New non-profit entity organization and structure with stated revisions:
- Documents will clearly reference acts to be considered breach of duty by Directors
- A quorum will exist with a minimum of two Directors present
- Offices of Chair and Vice Chair may not be the same person
- Bylaws while amended by the Board of Director must be approved by the Norwalk Housing Board of Commissioners as well.
Commissioner Bermúdez Montgomery seconded the motion.
Gregg Burton gave an extensive presentation defining the structure, purpose and organization of this new nonprofit venture. The development and organization of this nonprofit 5013c allows NHA to continue development while leveraging private capital/investor investment.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All in favor. Motion was carried.
Commissioners discussed several options for possible names of the new entity. It was agreed that after a trademark search, if no concerns were flagged by counsel, the entity will be named Sound Communities.
At 8:05 Gregg Burton left the video conference.
16-76 Commissioner Penn-William moved to approve:
c. Selection of Haynes Construction as the General Contractor for the 200-unit Colonial Village Modernization at a negotiated cost of $26,000,000.
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
After careful consideration of both credentials and cost, Greg Lickwola stated that out of 10 responses to the RFQ, Haynes presented itself as the most qualified and lowest bidder.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
16-77 Commissioner Dupervil moved to deny:
d. Offer by Integra Housing to Purchase Colonial Village
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
Mr. Bovilsky stated that if it is the will of the Board to sell Colonial Village, there should be an RFP or RFQ process and the Board should not consider sole vendor offers for projects like this. Mr. Bovilsky stated there was no justification to sell the property. The proposed purchase price and loss of management control of Colonial Village did not represent the stated values of the Board. Additionally, there are already plans underway for the NHA to do its own redevelopment and expansion of the property.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
The meeting them returned to:
Old Business:
16-78 Commissioner Brown moved to accept:
a. Norwalk Housing Personnel Policy
The motion was seconded by Brenda Penn-Williams.
A discussion ensued over whether Commissioners had enough time to discuss this matter.
Ayes
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
NO
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Ingraham
ABSTAINED
Nicole Ruffin stated this was written to include best employment practices
Motion carried.
16-79 Commissioner Penn-Williams move to remove the criminal background check requirement for returning Washington Village residents:
b. Current Washington Village re-occupancy policy stating returning residents are required to complete criminal background checks
Commissioner Dupervil Seconded the Motion
Kras Carlucci stated the current re-occupancy policy was approved in 2016 and as stands, the criminal background check is part of lease compliancy and a HUD requirement.
Ayes
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
Commissioner Dupervil
Commissioner Ingraham
ABSTAINED
Commissioner Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Motion failed.
The meeting returned to New Business:
16-80 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:
e. 2020 Annual Plan
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
Adam Bovilsky noted no Public comments regarding the Annual Plan were submitted.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
16-81 Commissioner Brown move to approve:
g. Selection of Archidesign Group LLC, at a cost of $18,0000, as Architect/Engineer for 16 School Street boiler installation
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
16-82 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:
h. Rider, in the amount of $111,375, to contract, with Stull & Lee Architects for revision of design to include Colonial Village Community and Learning Center.
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
NO
ABSTAINED
Commissioner Penn-Williams
Motion was carried.
16-83 Commissioner Brown moved to approve:
i. Federal Operating Budget FYE March 2020
Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion.
Paul stated the Norwalk Housing Authority will be receiving 92% of the operating subsidy required to fund a well run housing authority.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
16-84 Commissioner Dupervil moved to approve:
j. Write-offs from vacated accounts fiscal year ending 3/31/2020 $ 95,928.03/ Federal - $61,967.90, Colonial Village - $,30,278.88, School Street - $ 3,681.25
Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
Ayes
Commissioner Ingraham
Commissioner Brown
Commissioner Dupervil
Commission Liza Bermúdez-Montgomery
Commissioner Penn-Williams
NO
ABSTAINED
All if favor. Motion was carried.
Commissioner Ingraham moved to go into Executive Session. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion and Commissioners adjourned to the Executive session.
At 9:10 pm Commissioners came out of the Executive Session. Commissioner Brown moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dupervil seconded the motion. All in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 9:12 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Adam Bovilsky
Executive Director/Secretary