SOMERS HOUSING AUTHORITY

63 Battle Street

Wood Crest

Somers, CT 06071

 

 

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING – April 16, 2008

 

The Regular Meeting of the Somers Housing Authority was called to order by Treasurer, Gil Rivard at 7:50 p.m. in the Wood Crest Meeting Room.

 

1.      Roll Call

Commissioners in Attendance:  Brian DuPerre (arrived at 7:55 p.m.), MaryLou Hastings, Gil Rivard, Lois Matczak, Bob Landry and Tony Pellegrino, Hon. David Pinney (Ex Officio)

 

Others in Attendance:  Consultant Harvey Edlestein of Real Estate Diagnostic, Inc., Marie DeMarco, DeMarco Management Company and Joan Jaquith (Recording Secretary.)

 

2.      Reading and Approval of Minutes of the Previous Regular and Any Intervening Meeting

2.1       Lois Matczak MOTIONED to approve the March 26, 2008 Special Meeting minutes as corrected.  Mary Lou Hastings SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED.

 

      The March 26, 2008 Special Meeting minutes were corrected as follows:

Item #6 Unfinished Business – Interview Steno

2nd paragraph - “Motion Passed 6-0” corrected to “Motion Passed.”

 

Item #7 New Business

1st and 2nd bullets - “Motion Passed 6-0” corrected to “Motion Passed.”

 

Last statement on page 3 - “Motion Passed 6-0” corrected to “Motion Passed.”

 

2.2 Gil Rivard MOTIONED to approve the April 10, 2008 Special Meeting minutes as corrected.  Bob Landry SECONDED the motion.  The motion PASSED.

 

The April 10, 2008 Special Meeting minutes were corrected as follows:

Item #2 – Removal/Appointment of Directors for the Somers Housing Authority, Inc. Partnership

3rd paragraph – “There were none” corrected to “Gil Rivard and Bob Landry were appointed as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer of SHA, Inc. respectively.”

 

Item #6 – Status/Review-Legal Fees and Related Expenses

5th paragraph - “Tom Bourke” corrected to “Tom Bourque.”

10th paragraph – Statement corrected to read as follows:  Chairman DuPerre requested that Gil Rivard close the account and recover any of the proceeds used to retain his attorney.  Mr. Rivard deferred until he has conferred with his attorney.

 

  1. Bills and Communication

Harvey Edlestein requested that items 1-3 under New Business be moved to this part of the meeting.  All commissioners agreed to this request.

 

Mr. Edlestein requested that the prepared agendas for SHA meetings be sent to him prior to the meetings so that he may determine if his attendance is required.

Mr. Edlestein reported that all funding for phase 1 of the project in back in place at the original 17.2 million figure.  Mr. Edlestein thanked everyone involved for their efforts.

 

Construction is on schedule and closings with Sun America and Rockville Bank are scheduled.

 

Mr. Edlestein apologized for not being available for the walk-through that was scheduled for April 12th.  Arrangements will be made to conduct a walk-through in the near future.

 

Mr. Edlestein reported that the bids for small city jobs are complete and came within budget.  All contracts are in the process of being completed.  Easement for the water main will start soon.  Mr. Edlestein reported that Sun American requires that all units have dishwashers.

 

Mr. Edlestein stated that the contract for the road construction needs to be authorized by a SHA representative.  This needs to be done this evening.  Chairman DuPerre will sign the contract.

 

Mr. Edlestein stated that he signed and paid $2000.00 for preparation of a more detailed environmental abatement program.  This needed to be done immediately.

 

Several invoices were presented by Mr. Edlestein for immediate payment.  Gil Rivard will issue checks to Mr. Edlestein this evening to pay the invoices presented.

 

DeMarco Management – Status of Financial

Review/Bookkeeping

Marie DeMarco presented her contract to serve as bookkeeper for the SHA project.  The contract will be signed this evening.  An electronic copy will be sent to all SHA Commissioners.

 

Marie DeMarco presented the bookkeeping process and procedures that has been put into place by DeMarco Management Company and distributed a  report for the project. A monthly report and a year-to-date report for tracking monthly expenditures will be prepared and presented to SHA at their monthly meetings. Marie DeMarco explained that there are gaps in the current report because of missing records.  SHA and SHA, Inc. will provide this information. It was noted that the loan payment to Rockville Bank needs to be taken out of the SHA operational budget and not from the development budget.  This adjustment will be made and funds used will be returned to the development account.  DeMarco Management Company will receive all the documentation on all the existing accounts, including the bank statements and check register.  Chairman DuPerre requested the account numbers of all existing accounts.

 

DeMarco Management Company will consolidate all existing accounts appropriately when all account information is received.

 

Once DeMarco Management Company has possession of the checkbook, Marie DeMarco will make deposits and prepare and sign all checks and have them ready to be signed by two SHA Commissioners (Treasurer, Vice Treasurer, Chairman or any other available Commissioner.)

 

Bob Landry MOTIONED to recess the SHA meeting at 8:50 p.m. to convene a short meeting of SHA, Inc. to discuss turning over the SHA, Inc. checkbook to DeMarco Management Company. MOTION SECONDED by Lois Matczak.  The MOTION PASSED.

 

The regular meeting of SHA resumed at 8:56 p.m.

 

SHA, Inc. will hand over the Inc. accounts this evening.  Prepared checks will be available every Friday for payment of invoices due.  A resolution to this effect will be presented at the May 21st meeting.

 

Mr. Edlestein recommended that SHA should begin raising funds for Phase 2 of the development project.

 

DeMarco Management-Status of Property Management

The formal relocation plan is completed and the schedule has been adjusted due to the 90-day notice requirement. Relocation will begin in October 2008. A tenant meeting will be scheduled to explain the process.  The mover will supply boxes and will do the packing.

 

Residents Questions/Concerns – Mary Lou Hastings

Marie DeMarco responded to questions raised by the tenants presented by Mary Lou Hastings.

§         There will be no railings in the hallways but there will be a chair rail.

§         Shades will be used for the windows.

§         Shopping carts will not be allowed.

§         The units will be heated with gas heat.

§         The water will be city water and paid for by the housing authority.

§         There will be a full size stove with a vent over it.

§         Unit numbering was explained.

 

Chairman DuPerre suggested that a “meet and greet” be planned for the commissioners to meet the tenants to discuss and answer questions about the project.  Renderings of the units will be available that show the layout of the units.

 

  1. Report of Executive Director

All the tenant files used by DeMarco Management Company to conduct an electricity analysis have been returned.

 

  1. Report of Committees

SHA, Inc. is a subsidiary of SHA and all insurance documents should reflect that the officers mirror each other.  Attorney Peter Gruen will be notified.

 

  1. Unfinished Business

To date, the Legal Defense Fund has not been closed.  Chairman DuPerre requested again that Mr. Pellegrino close the account.  Mr. Pellegrino agreed to close the account on April 17, 2008.  Mr. Rivard will consult his attorney.

 

7.   New Business

Items 1-4 discussed under Item #3.

§         Tony Pellegrino presented information regarding life insurance that is available to the commissioners at no cost.  Those interested should email their personal information to Tony.

§         Checks were written and signed and given to Mr. Edlestein as requested.

§         Next regular meeting of SHA is scheduled for May 21st.

 

8.      Adjournment

Mary Lou Hasting MOTIONED to adjourn the meeting.  MOTION SECONDED by Lois Matczak.  MOTION PASSED.  The meeting adjourned at 9:46 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Tony Pellegrino

Executive Director                                              

 

Joan Jaquith

Recording Secretary

 

These minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting.

 

Minutes approved at the May 21, 2008 Somers Housing Authority Meeting.  There were no corrections.