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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-11-18 - Minutes - ArchiveMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF • THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS The Housing Authority of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas met in Regular Session at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2003 in the City Administration Building, Room 326, Fayetteville, AR. Pat Watson, Vice Chairperson, called the meeting to order at approximately 8:00 a.m. Mr. Garton was recognized as being absent. Commissioners Present: Randy Coleman, Pat Watson, Nancy Bolin, Janet Richardson Commissioners Absent: Gary Garton Others Present: Fredia Sawin, Laura Higgins (Fay. Housing Auth.), Emily Williams (Fay. Schools), Hugh Earnest (City of Fayetteville, Don Marr (Fay. City Councilman), Red Starr and James Waddell Minutes of the Previous Meetin¢ The minutes of the October 21, 2003 regular meeting were approved by motion from Ms. Bolin, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously. Financial Statement The October 2003 Financial Statement was reviewed and approved by motion from Ms. Richardson, seconded by Ms. Bolin and carried unanimously. Executive Director's Report The contents of the Executive Director's was reviewed by Ms. Sawin and discussed between the commissioners. Open Discussion Don Marr, Fayetteville City Councilman was recognized by the board. Mr. Marr came in as a representative of a board that reviews placement of commissioners. Mr. Marr outlined some of the responsibilities of the board members in choosing a new commissioner and asked that they make sure their process is fair and balanced. The information given by Mr. Marr was dually noted by the commissioners and all efforts will be made to make sure the steps taken in the placement of the new board member are done responsibly and correctly. 0 Mr. James Waddell who does some contracting work for the Fayetteville Housing eAuthority felt the board may have some questions about his pricing. The board referred his request to management. Ms. Red Star brought up her desire to continue her art work with the residents of Hillcrest Towers as a possible employee of the Fayetteville Housing Authority. The board referred her request to management. Old Business . The minutes of the September 17, 2003 regular meeting were approved by motion from Mr. Coleman, seconded by Ms. Richardson and carried unanimously. The Financial Statement for September 2003 was reviewed and approved by motion from Ms. Bolin, seconded by Mr. Coleman and carried unanimously. Ms. Richardson updated everyone on the physical needs assessment of public housing. Ms. Richardson contacted the HUD office and talked with John Woolley who questioned the reasons for desiring this assessment. Usually assessments are only done for troubled housing agencies. Ms. Richardson stated that Mr. Woolley was not extremely helpful in their quest for firms who might be able to contract this out. Mr. Woolley advised Ms. Sawin that they should use the firm who handles our capitol grants. Ms. Bolin disagreed and felt that we needed to have other independent bids. Ms. Bolin requested that Ms. Sawin supply the names of three different companies and a proposal written by the next meeting in December. Mr. Hugh Earnest of the City of Fayetteville agreed to assist Ms. Sawin and draw up a Request for Proposals to present at the next meeting. Questions on the office equipment inventory were tabled until the December 2003 regular meeting due to the absence of Mr. Garton. Ms. Bolin gave her ideas on the selection process of the board member and suggested they stay in line with what the City of Fayetteville does. Ms. Bolin stated that even though we are an independent commission, we are still a part of the city. Ms. Bolin passed out information on the rules and procedures of the nominating process for citizen committees and other information from the HUD handbooks including an application form. Ms. Bolin asked if we should change to these guidelines or continue as we are. Ms. Richardson said we are open to change but we need to just be careful and not violate any state law. Ms. Bolin recommended that the board advertise over the next 30 days. Ms. Bolin will do the advertising and contact the city clerk. She will draft a letter to be mailed out to each resident residing in public housing at this time. The Fayetteville Housing Authority will mail out the letters. The annual meeting to review the slate of officers for 2004 was scheduled for January 6, 2004. 0 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVz4LLE, ARKANSAS ATTEST: Secretary • RESOLUTION NO. 694 RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISED PUBLIC HOUSING POLICY WHEREAS, the present Statement of Policies governing Admission to and Continued Occupancy of Low -Rent Public Housing in Fayetteville, Arkansas needs to be updated to reflect changes in regulations, WHEREAS, the attached Amendment to the Fayetteville Housing Authority Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy has been revised to include the Community Service requirements, BE IT RESOLVED by the Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Fayetteville, Arkansas that the attached Public Housing Policy Amendment be adopted. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 19 +0- DAY OF_A)b Uemft 2003. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS •CHAIRPERSON ATTEST: 0 0 • Revise the Fayetteville Housing Authority Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (A.C.O. P.). Page 5 of the definition terms to include Community Service definition as follow, Community Service is defined as the performance of voluntary work or duties that are a public benefit and that serve to improve the quality of life, enhance resident self-sufficiency, or increase resident self -responsibility in the community. Revise Section XVIII. Determination of Rent, Re -Examination of income and Family circumstances. 10. Community service refer to Section XXXIV Revise Section XXIV. Community Service Requirement. Under Section 12 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended by that Quality • Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (the Reform Act), every nonexempt resident of public housing must fulfill a community service requirement. The community service requirement applies to all adult residents of public housing except exempt individuals. To fulfill the community service requirement nonexempt adult residents must spend and average of 8 hours a month doing one or a combination of the following: 1. Engaging in community services activities. 2. Participation in an economic Self-sufficiency program a. An economic self-sufficiency program is defined as any program designed to encourage, assist, train, or facilitate the economic independence of HUD - assisted families or to provide work for such families. Exemptions to the requirement to perform community service include adult family members in any of the following categories. 1. Elderly persons (62 years old). 2. Individuals who are blind or disabled, as defined under the law, and who . certify that they are, as a result of their blindness or disability, unable to comply with the requirement. 0 3. Primary caretakers of blind or disabled individuals. 4. Individuals who are engaged in work activities, which include; a. Unsubsidized employment of at least 20 hours a week b. Subsidized private -sector employment of at least 20 hours a week. c. Subsidized public -sector employment of at least 20 hours a week. d. Work experience (including work associated with refurbishing publicly assisted Housing) if sufficient private -sector employment is not available. e. On-the-job training f. Job search and job readiness assistance. • g. Community service programs. h. Vocational educational training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual). i. Job skills training directly related to employment. j. Education directly related to employment (if the individual has not received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate). k. Satisfactory attendance at a secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalency. 1. The provision of a child care services to an individual participating in a community service program. 5. Individuals exempted from work activities by a state program funded under the Social Security Act or by any other state welfare program 6. Individuals receiving assistance who have not been found to be in noncompliance with state of TANF requirements. 0 Noncompliance • Violation of the community service requirement is grounds for non renewal of the lease at the end of the 12 -month lease term. If the PHA determines that a family member has failed to fulfill the community service requirement, the PHA must notify the tenant. The notice must briefly describe the noncompliance, state that the PHA will not renew the tenant's lease at the end of 12 -month lease term unless. a. The tenant and any noncompliant family members enter into written agreement with the PHA to cure the noncompliance and do, in fact, cure the noncompliance. b. The family provides written assurance satisfactory to the PHA that the the noncompliant family member no longer resides in the unit. Tenant may request a grievance hearing on the PHA's determination and may exercise any available judicial remedy to seek redress for nonrenewable of the lease because of the determination. Change now Section XXXN. Additional HA policies & charges to Section XXXV. • 0 • Name Address [ ] Temporary [ ] Permanent Expiration date —/—/. Pursuant to 24 CFR 960.603 — 960.611. this exemption is granted for the following reason(s): (Check that which is documented) [ ] Individual is 62 years of age or older; [ ] Individual is blind or disabled, as defined under section 216[i][1] or 1614 of the Social Security Act, and is unable to comply with this section, or is a primary caretaker of such individual, as evidenced in the participant file; [ ] Individual is engaged in a work activity as defined in section 407[d] • of the Social Security Act; [ ] Individual meets the requirements for being exempted from having to engage in a work activity under the State program funded under part A of title 1V of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of the State in which the public housing agency is located, including a State -administered welfare -to -work program (as evidenced in file from DHS); [ ] Individual is in a family receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, or under any other welfare program of the State in which the public housing agency is located including a State -administered welfare -to -work program, and has not been found by the State or other administering entity to be in noncompliance with such program. FHA will re -verify exemption status annually except in the case of an individual who Is 62 years of age or older. Exemption Approved: Signature of Certifying Official Date • RESOLUTION NO. 695 RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISED PUBLIC HOUSING LEASE WHEREAS, the present Public Housing Lease Agreement needs to be updated to reflect changes in regulations, WHEREAS, the attached Addendum to the Fayetteville Housing Authority's Lease Agreement revises the Tenant Obligations to include the Community Service requirements. BE IT RESOLVED by the Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Fayetteville, Arkansas that the attached Lease Addendum for the Public Housing be adopted. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS IDAY OF /JO.VeM &A 2003. • ATTEST: welwalikR 0 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS VCIR—PERSON • HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE DWELLING LEASE ADDENDUM (8) Tenant's Obligations: Tenant shall be obligated for; AA To ensue that all members of the family who are subject to the Community Service requirement and complying with community service requirement, or the noncompliant member is no longer residing in the unit. (1) Community service requires that each non-exempt adult resident shall contribute 8 hours per month of community service (not including Political activities), or participate in an economic self-sufficiency program for 8 hours per month. a) Exemption is provided subject to specific requirements as described in the PHA's Admissions and Continued Occupancy policy, upon verification. b) Tenant must immediately notify the PHA of any changes that affects a household member's exemption from the community service requirement, specifically if the household member no is longer meets the exemption requirements. E (2) Noncompliance: The PHA shall determine annually if non-exempt adult residents are in compliance. This lease shall not be renewed or extended unless the head of household and the noncompliant adult, before the lease expiration date, enter into an agreement to make up the hours within the next twelve (12) month period. IN WITNESS WHERE OF THE parties have executed this addendum to the lease agreement this of 20 Resident HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE by