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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-29 - 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, June 29, 2004, in the City Administration Building, Room l 11, Fayetteville, AR. Janet Richardson, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at approximately 8:00 a.m. Commissioners Present: Janet Richardson, Nancy Bolin, and Dusti Miller Commissioners Absent: None Others Present: Fredia Sawin, Laura Higgins (Fay. Housing Auth.) Kim Gross & Guests (Seven Hills Shelter), Hugh Earnest and Councilman Rhodes (City of Fay.), Arlene Woodward & Amanda Jordan (SE Residents), and Charlie Morasch (NW AR Times) Ms. Bolin requested that the agenda be amended as follows: Take off Item "A" under "Old Business" due to Mr. Coleman's resignation and add "Recruiting Recommendations and Jackson, MS Training" under "New Business". This • change to the agenda was approved by Ms. Richardson, Chairperson and all board members agreed. Consent Agenda Ms. Bolin motioned to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Ms. Miller and carried unanimously. Old Business A. Introduction of a Resolution to Adopt Public Housing and Section 8 Preferences - removed from agenda and will be reviewed at a later time. B. Resolution Approving Execution of Contract for Consulting Services for a Management Needs Assessment -Ms. Sawin reviewed status of bids and that she was waiting for an outside panel to be assembled per the last board meeting. Due to time constraints on the bids, motion was made by Ms. Richardson to accept the bid as reviewed by the Housing Authority, seconded by Ms. Miller and carried with two "Aye" votes and one "Nay" vote cast by Ms. Bolin. 0 New Business • A. Announcement-Resignation/Recruiting Recommendations -Ms. Richardson formally announced the resignation of Commissioner Gary Garton and Commissioner Randy Coleman. It was agreed that the old applications completed by individuals within the past year would be reviewed and contacted to see if they would still be interested in serving. An ad for the vacancies is also being posted through the City starting July 1, 2004. It was decided by Ms. Richardson and Ms. Bolin to conduct interviews for the applicants on July 12`h and July 13,h, 2004 after 5:00 p.m. Due to the time constraints it was agreed that the board should waive the usual 30 day time frame for accepting applications and will only accept through to July 10, 2004. B. NAHRO Training/Jackson, MS -Ms. Richardson reviewed the function of NAHRO and its relationship to the Housing Authority. Ms. Bolin advised that she had received a recommendation from Jesse Westover at HUD for her to attend this training meeting with the Housing Authority's Mod. Coordinator. Ms. Richardson did confine this information and then made a motion to approve Ms. Bolin's trip to Jackson, Ms. Bolin seconded and carried unanimously. C. Discussion -Sell of Land Parcel -Due to a conflict of interest felt by Ms. Bolin she wished to be excused from the meeting prior to this discussion. Therefore, agenda was changed to reflect discussion of Item D prior to Item C. • D. Approval of Agency Annual and Five Year Plan -Ms. Sawin explained that the plan had now been put through all of the phases as required by HUD and now only need to be approved by the board. Once the board approved a copy will be sent to the City for their review and then remitted to HUD by July 18, 2004. Ms. Richardson motioned to accept the Agency Annual and Five Year Plan, seconded by Ms. Bolin and carried unanimously. C. Discussion -Sell of Land Parcel -After Ms. Bolin excused herself from the meeting this item was discussed. Kim Gross made her proposal of interest in using the land for transitional housing for single parents and some disabled individuals. Residents of the area made comments to their opposition and presented a written document with signatures of other residents in the vicinity. Ms. Richardson decided before any further discussion can be made that Seven Hills needs to present the board with a written proposal. Ms. Gross agreed to do so and would make sure it was received by Ms. Richardson before the next regular meeting scheduled for July 20, 2004. D. Executive Director's Report -Ms. Sawin briefly outlined the highlights of her Executive Director's Report. No questions were asked from the board members. There being no further business, meeting was adjourned. Cl M • • CI THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS ATTEST: R • FAYETTEVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY #1 North School Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72701-5928 PH: (479)521-3850 FAX: (479)442-6771 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT June 18, 2004 1. The Lewis Plaza Community Center is open for the use of the Computer Learning Lab on Monday and Thursday weekly from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The University of Arkansas has furnished a work study student that is responsible for overseeing the activities during these time periods. She has anywhere from 10 to 15 people coming in daily aging from 5years to adult. Kyra McCown the Public Housing Director conducted a weeks worth of activities for the young children from June 7th to June 11th. The Activities included a presentation from the Fayetteville Police Department's Canine unit on drug awareness and how the canine unit works. Finger printing and ID's were drawn up for • the children by the Fayetteville Police Department and given to their parents for safe keeping in case of a lost or stolen child. The Fayetteville Public Library held a story book reading time and there was also a story book reading time with Grandma (This was Kyra's elderly mother). The Razorback athletes came down for an autograph signing session on Thursday, June 10th, 2004. The last day (June 11th) was set aside for eating hot dogs and chips. 2. The Hillcrest Towers Community Center has been running smoothly. They are having pot lucks, bingo, breakfast, coffee and doughnuts. This week was the Fathers Day Dinner and gift giving contest. Once per month they hold a birthday party for all those tenants whose birthday was during the month. The COA employee/representative has been conducting all the activities and has lots of craft projects planned for this summer. 0 • PAGE 2 3. Public Housing has 9 vacancies, 2 at Morgan Manor, 1 at Lewis Plaza, 4 at Willow Heights and 2 at Hillcrest Towers. The Section 8 Program has 432 Vouchers under lease with approximately 5 Vouchers searching for units to rent. The Section 8 Director will be doing a contact this month of about 50 applicants. 4. Three of the Housing Authority Staff and two commissioners attended the Southwest NAHRO meeting (June 13th through June 16th). The Section 8 Director (Laura Higgins) and the Section 8 Inspector (Lexy Myer) attended a NAN MCKAY training session on Housing Quality Standards in Oklahoma City, OK during the week of June 7th. The FSS Coordinator (Jan Simco) and I attended the Housing Coalition meeting for June and have filed an intent to apply letter for the Housing Coalition Continuum of Care Grant under the Shelter plus Care project where we will be partnering with Ozark Guidance to provide Rental Assistance Vouchers to Disabled Homeless individuals. r1 LJ 5. The Office renovation is complete. The Dixon Contractor has scheduled a thorough cleaning of the office. They will be doing a final punch list for the completion of the plumbing at Morgan Manor and Willow Heights the week of June 21st thru June 25th. After this is complete we will be finished with this year's project. 6. The draft of the Physical Needs Assessment was received and reviewed by the Housing Authority Staff (Myself, Larry Gorski (MOD Coordinator) and Mike Atwell (Maintenance Foreman). It was mailed back to NFC with the needed changes addressed along with the tenant surveys which NFC had asked for the Housing Authority to send out. We should be receiving the final copy of this assessment anytime. 0 rr�Y•��I•yrc•���car���� • RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTION OF CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR A MANAGEMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC HOUSING WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Housing Authority has solicited Request for Proposals and received six competitive bids from which Management Resource Group, Inc. was chosen by the process of evaluation based upon the criteria set out in the invitations. WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has approved the proposal for the Management Needs Assessment as presented by Management Resource Group, Inc. in the amount of $6,900.00. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE FAYETTEVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY that the Executive Director is authorized to execute a contract for services with Management Resource Group, Inc. in accordance with HUD guidelines and budgeted amount. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS DAY OF 2004 • THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS ATTEST 0 • Fayetteville Housing Authority #1 North School Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72701 Phone: 479-521-3850 Fax: 479-442-6771 June 14, 2004 PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT The Fayetteville Housing Authority Board of Directors will be attending Commissioner Training on Friday, June 18th, 2004 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Washington County Health Department (3720 N. Wimberly Dr., Fayetteville, AR). Mr. Keith Vire will be the officiator for this training. There will be no agenda. • This training is used to educate new Board Members as to the role of a commissioner. If you have any questions, pertaining to this training, please feel free to call Fredia Sawin at 479-521-3850. Thank you �I 0 June 15, 2004 Board of Commissioners Fayetteville Housing Authority Fayetteville, Arkansas Dear Fellow Commissioners, I hereby resign from the Board of the Fayetteville Housing Authority effective immediately. Sincerely, • • • Randy Coleman P.O. Box 9435 Fayetteville, AR 72701 6/25/2004 Janet Richardson, Chairman Board of Commissioner Fayetteville Housing Authority #1 North School Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72701 Dear, Chairman Richardson, Please accept this letter as a formal notice of my resignation, effective immediately. Being one of very few African-Americans to have served on the Fayetteville Housing Authority Board since it was established, it was certainly an honor and a privilege to dedicate myself in serving the housing community. I was truly blessed to be part of the positive changes ranging from; the creation of the housing community first learning and community center which • emphasis is to assist in educating and to provide resources for our housing recipients' families and children; an effective and involved Tenant Council, and to the development of a Family Self Sufficient Worker which one of the major focus is to assist in transitioning our housing family from our housing programs to the main stream of society. This wasn't an easy decision, because I'm grateful for the rewarding opportunity to have served the community in such a capacity. But after long hours of consideration my decision is now final. But there is certainly much more that can be accomplished. I ask that when considering a new commissioner that diversity and commitment are two elements to consider, because our housing families represent a unique culture of our community, but they are an important part of our community and we should provide the best possible assistants and conditions for them. Again, thank you for the rewarding opportunity. Respectfully, an d��1 y Cole cc: Mayor Dan Coody Frieda Sawin C1 To: The Fayetteville Housing Authority Community. • To have served as a commissioner for the Fayetteville Housing Authority was certainly an honor and privilege. I would like to take this time to sincerely apologize to the Fayetteville Housing Authority and the community for the circumstances that resulted in violating the Freedom of Information Act. The decisions that were made were inadvertent and unfortunate, and certainly were not intended to jeopardize the mission and goals of the Housing Authority. Going forward, I strongly encourage training for Fayetteville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and other volunteer board members to implement Freedom of Information training sessions to their members. Prior FOI training might have alleviated the current legal circumstances. Again, my apology to the community. Respectfully, Randy Coleman •