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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-27 - Minutes -Fayetteville Meeting Minutes BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Housing Authority REGULAR SESSION — FEBRUARY 27, 2025, 5:00 PM Call to Order The Fayetteville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Agenda Session was called to order on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 5pm in -person at the Fayetteville Police Department and via Zoom. Roll Call Commissioners Moore, Humphrey, Cole, and Deutch were present, forming quorum. Commissioner Woods was absent. Also present were Executive Director Tapley, Director of Programs West, Director of Finance Charles Wheeler and members of the public. Approval of the Agenda Unanimously approved as presented. Consent Agenda Unanimously approved as presented. Reports A. FHA Chair Report — Board members have access to a professional email through FHA. B. Staff Reports — HUD was not present due to travel restrictions. Executive Director Tapley gave an overview of property status and financial standings. She explained that some of the units were offline due to extensive rehabilitation needs, focusing on Willow Heights and Lewis Plaza and considering the option of building on Morgan Manor land. She noted that the HUD Field Office representative Tony Landecker has extensive experience with offline units, and that she is already looking at alternative funding options for rehabilitating those units if it is a viable action or alternative measures to increase available affordable housing for the community. She reviewed how applicants are pulled from waitlists. Staff are working with auditors for both the regular and forensic audits. Executive Director Tapley gave updates regarding issues with Arvest Bank, HUD Compliance & Monitoring and how the FHA team is working through items as swiftly as possible but that the FHA will take time to become fully compliant due to years of non-compliance challenges, and the Safety & Security Grant and that the RFP is being worked on and planned to present it to the board at the next board meeting. She mentioned that a retaining wall and fence have been built at Hillcrest Towers to help with erosion which leads to flooding and a potential hazard of tripping or falling, plus it has increased beautification of the property. Tapley also confirmed that the mini split project at Willow Heights was completed. Little Free Libraries will be installed in more areas on the properties. Executive Director Tapley noted ongoing staff trainings that had been Fayetteville Meeting Minutes BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Housing Authority REGULAR SESSION — FEBRUARY 27, 2025, 5:00 PM attended and plans to attend such as Public Housing Training, Procurement, MRI and then the DC NAHRO conference. There was a brief discussion about relationships with governmental officials and the AR NAHRO PHA representatives that attend. VI. Old Business A. FHA Board Procurement Training: There was discussion regarding commissioners that still need to take the training to be HUD compliant. Several options were provided at previous meetings. Commissioner Fundamentals training options will be provided for Commissioner Deutch. VII. New Business A. Resolution 1345: Remove Debra Humphrey as check signer — A motion was made by Commissioner Moore and seconded by Commissioner Cole to approve the resolution to remove Debra Humphrey as a check signer as she was temporary due to no board chair for the FHA. Motion was approved. B. SEMAP 2023-2024: Executive Director Tapley defined the SEMAP and gave an overview of the current, "Troubled," status of the agency. There was discussion regarding the letter, and she explained that she already has a write-up underway. The FHA was designated troubled at 26% because of the disclaimer of opinion of the audit for 10/1/2023- 9/30/2024, which automatically classifies the FHA as troubled. There was a discussion regarding the document list for the corrective action plans for the Compliance Monitoring Review that HUD completed back in June that Tapley created, and she promised to send the list to the board (the list was submitted). Executive Director Tapley reminded the board that the FHA has been non -compliant for 6 years and that it will take a long time to become compliant and that the team is working diligently daily. However, compliance challenges are still coming up, but the team is working through them. There was discussion about providing information and trust with the FHA in regard to letting the FHA team work through the challenges without the board being involved in day-to- day operations and how items are being more thoroughly explained and at any time anyone has questions, to please reach out. C. HUD Updates: Executive Director Tapley explained that HUD was not able to come due to recent governmental issues, but that the agency is operating as normal. She will provide updates as Fayetteville Meeting Minutes BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Housing Authority REGULAR SESSION — FEBRUARY 27, 2025, 5:00 PM necessary if anything affects FHA operations. She explained how funding worked from HUD, government shutdowns and how the funding was appropriated by Congress. She discussed talking to the staff and reassuring them that we are continuing to update as information is received, just focus on what the FHA needs to do in order to serve our community to the fullest extent. There was discussion regarding State officials and the community service requirement that state officials approved last year and how Arkansas is waiting on HUD to approve or deny that requirement of the state and options for community funding and technical assistance. VIII. Final Comments & Announcements The March session is moved up to the 201" due to Spring Break. IX. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm.