 Call to order the virtual public meeting of the Anken Housing Authority of March 23rd 2021. It is now 704 Thanks, everybody for coming a Roll call Fiorilla Here Go in you're on you to win. I did that to help here Brian yeah And Gar saw Gar someone here Great, okay Thanks, everybody appointments. Do we have any local tenant organizations like to speak tonight? Pam house of Pam house of president wins launch hours. I don't have anything to say right at the moment But I do have a couple of questions on things coming up on the agenda that I'd like to speak at Okay, cool. Thanks, Pam. Okay anybody else Okay general public John Ward You said you had a question for us Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is John Ward. I live in Winslow Towers I have been in contact with the Department of Housing and Community Development in regards to the Tenant board member appointment that is to be conducted by the town on select board Can you hear me? Yeah, we can As it turns out the information that that I've got Indicates that the housing America Arlington Housing Authority is to submit three to five candidates To the select board No, and it still is to be determined by the Arlington Housing Authority as to how we conduct the Selection of the candidates that the housing authority presents to the board and Since we have Soon to be I'm not sure how the progress is going with the monotony manners tenants association but with if we have since we have five tenants associations it makes sense that There is at least one Individual from each one of those organizations that is presented to the town select board What has to be decided by the Arlington Housing Authority here is how that process Selecting a candidate from each group is determined And what we need to do is my my recommendation of course is that we incorporate the Arlington League of Women's Voters To help us make sure that it's a democratic process as opposed to a strictly bureaucratic process And I um would like to know We have 14 weeks Meeting right now I if you want to see it We have 14 weeks Yeah, sorry, that was um jack cooper from the state 14 weeks until that until that decision Excuse me until it has to be presented And as miss bresson Just mentioned mr. Jackie cooper from the massachusetts union of public housing tenants association Is a person who could certainly do a lot to help out miss miss pardia And and the Arlington Housing Authority in furthering this process And I look forward to hearing somebody making some kind of a comment as to how they plan to proceed with this because it is becoming more and more time sensitive and needs to be dealt with That's that that's the the one issue the last issue of course is that The the housing authority has updated some of its information on the website It has now at least incorporated the names of and officers for all the tenants associations, which is a real plus They haven't incorporated the Contact information for any of those people And that's not a plus There's no way for the I mean There's no way that anybody really knows how to get in touch with the members of the of the tenants associations And I can speak only for winslow towers But I don't see any information posted anywhere as to how we get in touch with those people if there's an issue That kind of information needs to be updated and it needs to be made current Where it's a step in the right direction As far as getting that information more current But it's incomplete which is Really not the way to go And I would appreciate somebody commenting on that. Thank you. I'm finished Thank you And Nick, can I just comment on that? Go ahead, John Ed uh John I I believe you're Probably misread or um I just slightly confused on the process for the tenant um representative It's it's it's spelled out in detail on the The D.h.c. public housing notices And I can get you a copy of that, but The way it reads is that they want the tenants associations to submit names to the board of select men Nothing to do with the the housing authority, but the only thing we're supposed to do is notify the tenants association um When a vacancy is going to come up so they can compare the names uh the tenants associations themselves to the um The board of select men the housing authority is not in the really in the process as far as Um, set in the ground rules or who's going to be selected or anything like that Except for the tenants Mr. Griffin, you're right about that. Um, what I'm trying to incorporate here is the notion that Freedom the tenants associations are responsible for submitting Of the names we have we yet potentially five Um tenants associations Yep, which there's a organization Yep, we have to find a democratic way of all five of those Tennis associations to be able to come up with with candidates. They can't be bureaucratic in other words We can't have the uh the tenants association just arbitrarily picking out people and then tossing them into the Into the pool. Uh, that's not the way that it should work. And that's why I suggest that uh The house the aha administration could be helpful in administering that process amongst the The the tenant presidents for instance and miss medea to find out and Mr. Jackie cooper and there are I have the names of several people from the um Arlington league of women's loaders are more than interested in in helping To participate in making this because this is entirely new. It's a new dynamic and we got to get it right But you are right the housing authority doesn't have anything to do with other than helping administratively for all the tenant association presidents who need a way of communicating with themselves For the residents to become familiar with the processes that they're doing None of that is in place And anything that the administration can do to facilitate that would be a benefit. Thank you John, I just don't want to clarify something. I did pass out email to the four Covenant presidents of the tenants association Uh, the dhc regulations that when they came out So, uh, the that defines the process and their information So all four presidents of the association should have that um If they have questions we can discuss that Um at the president's meeting. It's that's fine um And your second I forget what your second thing was There's the website You're gonna get the contact information for the president's associate There should be some contact information for all the the officers of the tenants association somewhere Uh, currently it's nowhere right John John on that on that note The tenants emails and and contact information is private information that shouldn't be out on the website And that's been requested that way the tenants association should post their Um presidents email in the lobby area and forward it to all the residents when they become the presidents I hope that you're right because I've been here for three and a half years and there's been nothing So, um, I don't know how it exists in in the other three elements And I certainly don't know what's happening with miss bedia and like I say, uh, we we cannot, um ignore monotomy manner in this process because We just can't and it's it it eliminates what I call It's turning this into a bureaucratic, uh, um Boondoggle as opposed to a uh, uh democratic process And that's my concern John what I'll promise you is that Go ahead one minute. Go ahead Thank you. Um, it is true the whole process is isn't um Being thought out One of the problems is there's what 240 different housing authorities in massachusetts And they're organized differently and they have a completely different process for cities as for towns Now I wrote wrote to a ben stone of the at the state housing authority sort of at the top And he gave a tool woman and answered various of my of my questions what In general they want to do is to They couldn't figure out how to have all of the tenants vote Where they're representative so instead they said that each tenant organization many towns only have one Uh could select two or three people Uh to pass on to in this case the select board That I asked them in the case of an or any manner and there are also people who live in condominiums What are they called? I don't know what they're called, but they're off They can individually send in their application Their vita and their letter um that This would not be decided By the select board until it became Law which would be may 15th And after that they have 60 days or something to do it. So this isn't going to happen immediately that according to The regulations that any member who's in place Who has not been Replaced stays there. So fiorella will stay in her position till may 15th Or until they appoint somebody else and she can also apply To be appointed now. I think what john's Issue is that there doesn't seem to be a process by which the individual tenants associations Choose some Or three people to pass on to the select board And I do think that's an issue that we should give more thought We do have a lot of time to do that or at least A week or two to think about that and i'd be glad to go back to ben stone And point out that problem And i'm sorry i didn't pass on the letter i got i i sent it To the town council and i sent it to jack cooper Because i wanted it to be i wanted them to Agree and the the town uh council does But the problem that john has pointed out has not yet been solved Which is how do The two or three tenants you can go i guess to up to three That the each tenant association the four of them because monotony matter doesn't have one So anybody monotony manner can apply um How do they Select their two or three candidates? And I think that that's something we ought to take up at our next meeting and have to be consulted with the state again Because we have to follow state relations Absolutely, and that's what we that's what we have to promise to do john We will follow the state regulations. I will ask john greco to Get an understanding and a reading on that And I will defer to john greco as our attorney Information from the state and we will put apart we will talk about the process Thanks for your cherry you wanted You're on mute cherry. Yes. I know. Thank you. Um First I I would hope that fiorella is reappointed Um, but I will say that I'm wondering how you will get in touch with The monotony manner residents. I do know that the manager there As the emails for almost for a good amount of the folks there who have access But Otherwise, how would you? democratically Get to those people so that they know what's what's happening. I mean Other than knocking on doors or putting a flyer or something Considering that a tenants organization may not be formed by then How will you what is your plan to get in touch with them? We generally you'd say has something to say for real fiorella good Um Good I'm good. Okay. Um, I was uh talking to high rock church today. Um They usually set up right next to the life and skill center along with walking to each house and they have suggested That I joined them during that time to educate people on the concept And I think that that it would be our best option. So right now Makes sense to me What is what what was your plan john Griffin to do that or nick No, I plan would be Sorry next Okay, no, our plan would be uh, usually when we have something like that would deliver flyers to all the houses Uh, and in general kind of probably emails also Yeah, thanks Yeah, okay. I mean you got all of the holiday Meal um, right Cards to everybody So please I think you use some of the maintenance people The manager and they all got delivered So we know So we just have I'd like John Greco to really get an understanding of what the regulations are and then how do we go about communicating it to the next day I speak Who's that Pam? Yeah, go ahead Yep, nick. Um in regards to mr. Ward's comments regarding whistlow towers I would be more than happy to make a copy of the regulations that I received from the office and give them to them And regarding whistlow towers, there will be an independent committee set up of tenants in the building Not me On that so we can go they can go over the um Letters of intent and everything's um, so we can submit the letters to the board of select Again, Pam again, you know, everybody has an interpretation of the regulations. I am going to defer To John Greco. He's our attorney. He has experience in all of this and uh, he has Relationships with the state and I will allow John to I don't know if you want to talk John But I would defer to John Greco on how we go about this and what the process should be It's all kinds of interpretations People who want to turn So I would just like John Greco as our attorney to do the interpretation and we will follow the regulation I would be more than happy to copy the farmers to ward True. Thanks. Okay For what it's worth. I I received a copy of those details um, over a month month ago a month and a half ago, so um, I thank Pam for that offer She's got a good idea about setting up a committee and that's an important idea And I think that is the kind of process that I'm speaking to for all of the the uh tenants organizations that we have And of course, then there's the question of how do we set up a committee? Who how do we arrange that? And um, it's it's a process. It's a dynamic that's in development And uh, we all have to be patient and it's in the interest of the being democratic And making this right Sure, and that's what we'll that's what we will do John. So Anybody else on this topic? Great. Okay. Um Hold on. Elizabeth, you have something to bring up Hi, thank you. I have um Two quick questions. Well two questions one. It has to do with cpa money, which I see which is on the agenda for later So I'm happy to save that if that would be the preference Or ask Um, I do want to say I was looking for the january 2021 minutes and I didn't find them on the website So it would be great if those could be posted. So my two questions are um I remember at the january meeting that there was going to be an immediate survey audit of the windows at monotony manner And I was wondering what the results were of those of that audit No, uh, Elizabeth. I didn't get misinterpreted. Um And the the word I don't even think it was called an audit or I think it was called uh We're gonna go down and take a look at uh racial cravatas Windows and which our maintenance department did would have to look at uh look at the windows It was a morse You were going to go down and do an audit of because there were so many tenants who are who were talking about the same issue that there was um a commitment to do I have this in quotes immediate Survey audit of the windows At monotony manner for people who were complaining No, no the I think yeah, I think what we talked about when you you asked about how we do the windows I said you'd have to do like a planning grant and a study of the windows That would that would be the first thing we would have to do Obviously a window down there window project down the monotony manner would be in the millions of dollars So usually when you have a project that you do start out with a study And they get a Possibly some types of windows that you would install down there and they would go ahead and get cost And after that point they would um we have to see with a thing or If you know, you never know with the lean program and and the things that are going on with it They might decide to include windows Lean on it I don't know you're not doing it yet A lot of times when we do projects here, we've talked even about the windows here They totally discouraged us and they they they felt the windows weren't uh high energies I just agree, but uh, so the process would be you know, be coming up doing this our um When we do all uh, capital improvement plans Is to put some money aside to hire a consultant to go and give us Uh a study of what the windows like now and what it wants to replace them and then we can go from there So that'll that'll be coming up the next few months Okay, the planning Elizabeth I did take a I did take a walk down there and I did meet with for your other And I looked at the apartment in the windows there And you know, I came back and made a recommendation to john that we will take a look at the windows At monotony manner as part of a high priority to go forward try to get funding for okay, so But am I miss remembering because I see that share somebody Also remembers as as an audit. Okay. Well, I'll go back and look. I apologize if I misunderstood I'll move on to the second question which was about the CPA money. Um So I Curiously attended a meeting in January and I think I meet I emailed mr. Griffin twice about this and I haven't heard back So I thought I would bring it up tonight is that The cpa chair eric helmeth presented The fy 22 budget to the select board. This is I'm reading from the email I sent And there was a budget item for the harley the housing authority for 252,000 plus money to replace doors and update several cottages at drake village And then mr. Helmeth mentioned that every year the cpa anticipates $500,000 for Grants just before the housing authority, but that last year they received no grant requests So there was $500,000 that went unused And that this year fy 22 there's approximately $300,000 that hasn't been asked for so that's $800,000 and then I I counter this with all I've been attending now for months six months And I keep hearing people talk about the windows and the doors at monotony manner and that there's no money And I'm wondering how what am I misunderstanding it? There must be something I'm misunderstanding that this money that you're leaving at the on the table Instead of using it to help the monotony manner residents So if you could help educate me as to what I'm not understanding sure I think I think you probably It should ask everybody actually meant but I don't believe Eric meant that because that would be illegal to Do that every year the cpa projects are done on a year by year basis So excuse me john before you go further john. Yep. Um, you're not recording the meeting. Oh, thank you Right now I am afraid to hit a button on my phone. I think I'm disconnecting I Think we have ACMI ACMI can you please uh Record the your meeting so you're recording it. So Thank you. Thank you. All right. No on the cpa money. Um, we've put in requests over the years for cpa money and and the town's um Actually been been good to us from what they can cpa money is limited to what they can do I believe what eric if if he did say the housing authority That was probably spoken incorrectly. I'm not saying that eric's been great to us um The town I believe sets five hundred thousand dollars aside probably for housing purpose Not the alton housing authority um So far we've uh, we've received money. We've received two hundred thousand dollars In cpa funds for the windows where we did when we installed no windows up at drake village at the house of building We had two hundred thousand dollars in cpa funds there The window project that we're doing starting here next week Winslow towers, uh, was the year prior to the one you're discussing that we didn't request money is they gave us five hundred thousand dollars at that time And as you know, there's a lot of okay, so they they gave us five hundred thousand dollars for that one. I'm told Because there's so many other projects in the pipeline. We may not be receiving funds the following year um, so we did not We did not put a request in um for any funding for that cpa year since we were Under the assumption that there was going to be some other big requests going on um So we're getting the five hundred that two hundred thousand dollars is already spent. We're getting five hundred thousand dollars uh for this Window project here starting this week the two hundred and fifty Uh, we had put a request in for the exterior work at drake village uh, and we had put in money Due to the timing of the cpa And when the project starts you can't use cpa funds on the project that's already started Uh or before Like the funds we just applied for for fiscal year 2020, which begins july 1st 2021 So our drake village project is starting, I believe possibly even next wednesday They're going to mobilize and start doing the area scraping and painting and fishing fixations and softening of all nine buildings So when we went back to the cpa committee, we told them You know, we understood that Because the uh, the project is starting before july 1st We wouldn't be eligible for cpa money for the exterior part of that project So what I did is I asked the town in the cpa committee that we take Um, the drake village project was broken into eight different components First two were the fake profits the painting and all the railings Uh scraping and painting on the metal the second, um Third part of the project was all new doors The fourth part of the project was the doors with the electric strikes and electric Components so we could use forb systems So due to finance due to the funding mechanisms, we we couldn't when we put the project out the bid We only had enough money to do the exterior Faces and soffit So when cpa granted went back to cpa They granted us two hundred and fifty one thousand dollars, which is basically the cost of the doors That's going to be replaced. So we're building a separate project for that um, and that That's what we'll be using the next group of two hundred fifty one thousand dollars for so we we didn't John can I just make a point? Elizabeth I think elizabeth's point was That she's only impression that the town the cpa has designated five hundred thousand dollars every year for the arlington housing authority for housing for a Correct, that's illegal number one But number two if i'm correct john and correct me if i'm wrong that they've continually given funds to the arlington housing corporation Um, we've received some funds. They've received some funds So it's not like we've been negligent in not applying for this 500 grand every year Uh, we've received a lot of funds over the years, but but it's not you know It's important to understand that that 500 grand is not designated for the arlington housing authority every year Right, and I don't find I don't believe the figure is only five five hundred thousand dollars I believe they have a certain percentage is that yes, they have to Give you a funds for but I believe at times it could be up to a million dollars I mean, we're grateful. I just want to echo what you're saying and we're grateful that they've given us money Um, when you requested it and understanding that one year they kind of implied not to request it but um But um, I think I think I think that's the point that elizabeth is trying to get to Thank you. It's interesting, you know, there's so much that I don't understand. So I really appreciate the context. Um I'm going to try to look for the budget that eric put up because there and and make sure that i'm you know Check myself because there was I remember him talking about it in the january select board meeting at the presentation how surprised he was that last year It's not like designated for it's just sort of like set aside For a ha and you know very informally so that it doesn't violate the rules But I remember him being surprised and then comment and commenting on it Which is why I paid attention because sometimes Select board meetings can be a little dry. So it caught my attention and then There is a you know on the budget request was arlington housing authority zero and so um, I I know that the money cp money is limited to its uses to Exterior but that does include the doors and that would include the doors at monotone manner And and I guess perhaps the windows which are exterior that would really Help the tenants who are having such an issue with the with the drafts and their heating bills that they have to pay um, so I'm going to look at that and I I Um, and I know mr. Metropolis. I believe are you on the cpa? um, yeah on the designations In 2000 2021 did you guys ask of put any grants in? Yes, we did I thought we did right John. We just got it john. You're gonna announce that right? Not this year for the last year for the last year. I wasn't it wasn't last year that was our team Yeah, but did the housing authority put in any grants that's the last cycle No, because we had that was that was the talking about that we didn't put grants in Yeah, and I was wondering why Well, I I think I just kind of explained it a little bit is that when we the year before that we did receive 500 That we haven't received it yet. We were awarded $500,000 And and when they did that they said there probably wouldn't be money there next year because you know, they there's some other big projects Also coming along the pipeline and you know, we work in a community here where You know, there's tons of different excellent organizations that are You know have need access or would like access to that funding also And you know and you try and work i'm sure they have they have A minimum amount of money that they can give out to all the different projects that they want to do Some years they hold off on some things other years they They have a little extra money But we had we had a member rich mario on that committee and he was on everyone's own on same understanding that uh You know that we kind of mentioned to us that there's other projects Possibly coming and that we wouldn't be applying that yet and after he's even $500,000 I mean You you want to be a good community member and not you know playing every time someone you don't get a nickel Yeah, I I was under the impression that they're still holding that money for you guys well I would encourage you to follow up because the impression I had was that they were still holding on to that $500,000 And whatever the $300,000 from this year and so I I guess I would encourage you guys to follow up on that versus just sort of Elizabeth, I promise you I'll I'll call eric tomorrow. I will call eric tomorrow I'll put my email Perfect. Thank you Elizabeth um We we did ask for this year anywhere between 381 thousand dollars and over and a million dollars To complete that project that we wanted to do up at drake village would have been a million dollars A lot a lot of times a lot of the components unless it's exterior And it's x unless it's for specifically preservation They will they cannot they cannot it's not that they don't want to fund it. They cannot fund it And the good example is the 251 thousand we got this year. We wanted The doors replaced in all electronic strike and carb systems put in Into the doors when they when they were installed And the and the response came back they can fund the doors, but since the electronic strikes aren't considered Preservation they couldn't fund it. So I'm happy with the 251 thousand dollars It would be great to have that 800,000 Can I speak thank you Yeah, if I can get the 500,000 dollars, I will get the 500,000 That's that's what I do all what I do all day. Elizabeth is negotiate contracts I'll go get I'll go get half a million bars. Go ahead I think one thing and and john griffin should tell me if i'm wrong, but it's not like you can go home tonight Write out this money and hand it To the committee that in fact you have to have this study done first So all of this other stuff is in the past But you have to have a study In order to document What your needs are am I right john? yes yes, so It's not like we can go swoop in and get this money. We have to do the study first So there's a time there's a process And a timeline And which this can which this has to be done and they do have very strict guidelines like it doesn't have to do with preservation They can't do anything. I understand with the landscaping at all And um, it's a little more complicated than just going to get the money So I suggest we now just move forward What whatever if we can find the funds To do the study of the doors and windows of the not any manner because we need the study Before we can even apply for the money. Do I have that right john? Yes, I just want to add one thing Um, as far as part of the study what they'll do is they'll look at our capital planning system Uh in our capital planning system is every component And in every building of the housing authority so Doors the number of locks on the doors Uh, the number of windows and they have dollar values set with that and they have what they call a facility condition index That they run programs against Based on the age and the condition of each component and they come out with a facility condition index And that's how they set aside the formula funding for all these housing authorities based on the facility condition index so We have about nine hundred thousand dollars in formula funding from the state um, and that's based on What they look at in our computer system as as far as the windows go and they they said it And a functional obsolescence on the windows or on any component that'll tell you, you know, what wouldn't have components to fire Which would move up if if the windows are older the facility condition index for that building or that development Would be increased Nick if you will Keldar, I just saw that you had something I'll call you right after fiorello. Sorry Go ahead and fiorello Um, I just wanted to say how fast this study could happen And if I can be involved in it too, I would love to because I think that if a study were to be done with each building here I just had an emergency last week actually where the toilet just water went everywhere and the um Technician was explaining to me how this happened now last year and now there's maybe a concern that it's going to continue to happen As the toilets were probably put at about the same time and such and it's just about this plastic belt And it really it was terrible. There were just like three inches of water It came down to my kitchen my roof is all wrinkled and patched up And I think that if a study were to be done and everyone could see the space between the door the floor And there's a huge crack and there a door and then the door And then in the windows there's full-on spaces that are just opened up, you know, I think that if a study were to be done Starting maybe a monotony manner mostly where other residences have already received updates and such It should be taken into consideration that I feel like monotony manner has been forgotten in a sense I I have to tell you I disagree with that statement 100 percent Monotony manner actually has probably had the most money spent on it Over the past 10 years than any other building in our property by a launch You know, what was the last update back in 2007 or eight? That was 2007 2008. We've done the sidewalks after that We placed all the sidewalks. We replaced all the exterior lighting a couple we added When there was no tenants association though, I feel like that was maybe fixed more out of what people What the commissioners could have seen from the outside rather than the tenants themselves on the inside Uh, I think that's like a little unfair in a sense because again, we didn't have a tenants association And although I was said that it wasn't encouraged or discouraged the law on Tenants associations does say that the board of commissioners should be encouraging for a tenants association if A residency doesn't have one We would love to have a tenants association down there as a tenant Yeah, I don't think there's ever been Uh a time that we didn't want a tenants association down there. It's just um You know a lot of a lot of the people down there, as you know are working two or three jobs and Uh, they don't have time for with the kids. Well, I mean, I don't want to work I don't want to uh Say that everyone's like that. I have already met some people that would be more than happy to be part of it And it's all like we were talking about before the covid regulations I'll be looking into apps so we can actually use as well. Um But again, all I want to do is definitely work on having a study done at monotony manner for us to really just see because it can't just We don't have to be You know architects or professional construction people to be aware of faults that are in here that could be fixed that are not sustainable fairly It's it's a fair point. So I think you know the What we're trying to get to is get a tenants association down there and we should do an audit on that I came to your house. I saw it came back. It doesn't Well, would that be the same thing as the study to be done on the buildings? Yeah, so we should do should you take a look at we should take a look at the build All right, awesome. Thank you. Do what we do what we can do, right? Okay, and we have to go and get funding We're gonna go get funding And john is very good at going to get money. He's he's raised 30 million dollars a little less 10 15 years Can go figure it out. So kelda you had something to say nice to meet you kelda. I think you were on last last month Yes, hi It's good to see my camera is acting up. Um, so I have three questions actually So a lot of these questions about funding would be like totally easily Answered by residents who have them if the budget was available publicly Um, where can we find the budget because then there wouldn't be confusion or like he said she said about How much cpa money was granted what it was spent on like we could just look it up Where can we find this? Right at the front page of the website the thing that's called the annual plan That's not the full budget. No like the actual budget. Where's the budget the operating budget Operating budget we presented it at the um, november meeting So is it publicly available online like to the anybody that just wants to see What goes in what comes out where the funding comes from? You know state versus federal versus local community block grants like you know specifically just to say Oh, well, will they receive this much money from cpa this year? Like where is all that? Um So we can just look at it black and white black and white Every month I give it to each one of the board members I mean I mean you want to see what we spend monthly is that what you're saying The operating budget is usually yearly, but I mean monthly is okay, too I just it's supposed to be publicly available and I'm wondering where the public um can find it I believe the uh annual plan is really what you're looking at No, no, I've checked that out. That's definitely not it. No I think if you're looking to see what the budget is and how we do against actuals variances and what we receive operational operational budget We review we review every month. So john we have to post it. Let's just post it, right? So So it's not publicly available I don't probably not right now. I don't think you can tell me john. Is it on the website? And john greco should it be on the website? John greco you're on you're immune Nothing nothing prevents it from being on the website. Uh, so that's it's public information essentially and people have a right to see it The question as long as we update it and make sure that it's current Reasonably current so people don't get misled. Uh, there's nothing wrong with putting it on the website Sure, okay Okay, so um, I have two other questions. How many application cycles have has the aha Applied for the cpa money There have been six cycles all together. How many of them? Has the aha submitted an application for any kind of funding? I can't tell you off the top of the head, but off to my head, but I tell you We got $200,000 One year And 500,000 the next 251 so three out of the six we've be funding for I don't know if Applied for the funding, you know that it's different when you're applying for cpa funding You have to have a project That's not going to be starting till Uh, a later fiscal year later in the fiscal year like in july like um So we we don't always something To apply for cpa for Oh also, um, so how come hca the housing corporation can use the money for Rental assistance. I mean, it's my understanding that although obviously There are legal limitations to what it can be used on and a proposal absolutely has to be submitted and voted on To get this money. It's not as simple as just asking for it, obviously, but um, But there are a variety of things. It's not limited to like the exterior buildings For example hca had rental assistance for it's set aside for Helping people with low-income housing and acquiring more low-income housing Has the aha looked into that at all? No, we have What's it gives rental assistance Rental assistance or acquiring more housing or other uses besides uh, like windows and chris Yeah, we actually have I mean we've over the years. I mean you look back on the on Not just the cpa, but if you look back on the community developer block grant fund that was Uh applied for and what we've requested over the years. I think you'll see Both with the CDBG funding and with the capital With the cpa funding is that the majority of that money gone into affordable housing has not come in the direction of housing authority As far as building requesting funding we've met with the develop redevelopment board a number of years ago If you check out there in minutes You'll see we want to start using CDBG funds to purchase one bedroom We didn't end up buying a person to one bedroom condominiums condominiums without from cbg Funding and we did purchase a single family home on the next to eight summer street With cdbg funding so we have received some cdbg funding over the year But I think if you look into the comparison of what our request have been in the CDBG funding You'll find that You know, we'll request 200 000 dollars Some years not get funded at all and you know, it's gone more toward In in a large large amount toward the housing corporation and not to the housing authority the housing That's the community block grants though, right not the um Both if you look at the funding source for both Uh, and what our request have been I'm sure the cpa and cdbg or the planning department could give you our information And it's and it's available Um, but you'll see we've in many many years we've requested funding and not receive funding for years Especially if you look at the old Minutes of the I did yes Right if you look at the selected meaning here kevin grilly Um say at that time I don't believe that the housing authority should be seated to develop block grant funds There seems to be yeah, uh a ridge there between the housing authority and uh Our difference of opinion a lot of times. Yeah, I wish I would stand in the way of funding but I have seen that yeah Nick can I make a point John could you explain uh for the participants on here? What's the difference between the allington housing authority and the howling allington housing corporation? Sure We know that Explain how explain how each one is made up. I mean We're essentially a state organization. They're not for profit corporation. Yes the housing The housing authorities was voted on by town meeting of state law 121 b was Uh was formed back in 1940s And in 1948 town meeting voted to create the out and housing authority as a positive and insoluble age So it's totally separate from the town And kind of in between The housing corporation of allington was formed by Uh Actually three people uh was bob murray Rich murray's brother who's who's now east. He was the executive director of the family housing authority Alla mclendon in the town of allington planning department and um and charlie lions and we When they created the housing corporation, I actually had a meeting with uh, Alan mclendon and Chai lions and we talked to him about why don't you do the development work through the housing authority and they and they said They they don't have an interest in it because of all the regulations that the housing authority has to go through Uh, and so they created the nonprofit house corporation allington specifically to develop new affordable housing not low income public housing But affordable housing and and over the years The housing authority obviously has changed 2004 Whether they've changed laws and regulations actually oversight from the housing community development has greatly So a lot of times now We handle low income and elderly disabled residents Uh, we haven't been affordable developers although some housing authorities are switching uh They're modeled to an affordable housing mixed income development um But most of the time when a house does that it's pretty much dissolving the housing authority as a public agency And and making it straight out affordable house now affordable housing will You know, um, I'll give you a good example When they do build a new development they can project-based section 8 vouchers into those developments. So when they're going for fun They already have a set project-based Set income stream already built into that project that will be guaranteed by the federal government Alton housing authority right now as we stand we cannot use a voucher in our buildings in any in any public housing authority they have A few pilot programs many years ago, but uh, we're not allowed to funding a voucher in within our housing authority building Because each program in our building chapter 200, you know, they call That's the family development. That's it's operated little differently than the elderly buildings, which is the 667 buildings Which is operated different in the 689 and each one of these programs have different funding mechanisms and different rules and regulations of who's in them how they get funded So We're very restrictive on Restricted to on that on the same thing as far as developing goes Whenever a housing authority has a development They still have to go out and go through the public bidding process And that's something the nonprofits don't And the public bidding process actually increases the cost quite a bit I know I know the the concept is to get a fair and better Value for your dollar when you do all in public bidding, but sometimes you know, the all the developers would rather go A non-profit route where they have project-based sectionary vouchers Uh Providing them some continued uh resources And that's about the difference of them Brian The thing I wanted to bring out is the difference that the only the only good housing authority This in essence a state agency Our rent is based on That the tenants income roughly a third but roughly a third give or take a couple points Roughly a third of your income is paid for your housing In in the Allington housing corp that buys houses and makes them into multi-families and that sort of stuff You know their rent is not based on your income So their rent can be anywhere go ahead John anywhere from where to what? Well, they start out differently first of all we our apartments here there's no like A rent or will we say oh our one bedrooms is seven hundred dollars a month you know average In our buildings, I believe it's for an L in the L. D. Billing. It might be about five hundred dollars a month in that range off the top of the head where when you go to a An affordable housing development those units are usually set based on the area median income and So if they have an apartment a one-bedroom apartment say the Again, it depends what type of financing you put into a development like that if you're using home funds You can set it at one price at one income Rent level it might be eleven hundred dollars If they have a section eight voucher voucher holder that's there They might be getting eighteen hundred dollars a month for that particular unit. So it Their rents can vary Development to development they're building the from unit to unit Our events are all based off the income. So if You know the family development pays 27 percent of the income toward rent. I mean minus We also give them a you know a five hundred dollar Heat heat allowance so If you know right out The dollars is ejected from the calculation to help cover the cost of heat Right Elizabeth I got an answer back from Eric and I asked him the question was It was five hundred thousand k allocated to ahs that we did not use ah sorry. I went to like the high school. Sorry Hi nick it will not be accurate to say there is annual funding that's ppa reserve specifically a ha We we have to Sorry, we have to spend at least 10 percent of cpa revenues each year on the housing category Well, we can instead reserve that 10 percent for future housing projects But we can award that funding to any eligible organization cpa has funded both the aha and housing core of allington for housing The 10 percent minimum varies from year to year, but in recent years, this has been roughly 200 k However, the cpa committee has made an informal practice of spending or reserving a minimum of 500 k per year But that is informal and up to our discretion One restriction to be aware of is that state law prohibits cpa funding from being used for capital improvements To an affordable housing property unless that property was acquired or created cpa funds This means we usually can't use cpa for many things that would benefit residents For aha, we are limited to funding projects to preserve the building itself such as windows roof work and other building envelope repair And he's attaching the cpa Thank you, Eric. So again But thank you. Sorry. There's an echo Did that answer your question a little bit and did that tell you that we're not leaving money on the table and we're working closely Again That's that's as excellent as We're gonna go on you please Thank you, that's it's very helpful. It tells me though that there is 10 percent there is money that they are They set aside for housing in general, right? So that is a bucket for And he said average was about 200 days the last couple years Grabbed from and it can be used for doors and windows. So I I would love to put that together with the complaints from a not any manner residents and see there be like this union of those You know things make absolute make absolute sense elizabeth But again, it's not 500k was not allocated to the allington housing authority. Okay That's what I read somewhere from you know, and that's I just want to clarify Again, it was not allocated 500k for the allington housing Okay Back in check Okay I just think there are people who obviously would like to know a lot about housing authority I'm just afraid we have a long business night and maybe there can be a special session for them Some time to learn also. I just want to repeat myself I'd really rather move forward And um, I think john griffin is looking now to get the money To do the study Once the study is done a grant application community. Is that correct john? Yes Yes, so we want to move forward. We don't want to keep talking about what happened last year in the year I agree we should move forward, but I just wanted to clarify Responded right away, and I saw something in that that we're leaving money on the table and I'm not quite sure that's that's correct All right, correct Uh, yeah, I never responded right away, so Stay right Um, I just was gonna say I was gonna second juan's motion. Let's move on here We could talk all day and all night about this stuff But I just want to clarify I want to give you a point. I started in the chat and I tried to chat back, but I couldn't get the thing to work But you know we very rarely leave money on the table and and honestly if there's a project that we identify We always find the money to do it So, you know, obviously it's time perhaps the doors and windows and we can get into my report in the facility Inspection team will help on this, but you know once we typically find and identify things We're pretty successful through john Historically of finding the money to fix these things obviously things take time, but um, but that's all I want to say and I would second the motion But I just wanted to make I just wanted to clarify it and get the facts from So and the facts are there so all I all I all I recommend and suggest is everybody gets here passed before Um, they make accusations or recommendations or I'll Mr. Griffin two times I I sent that email in january. So the only place that I've been able to get my facts is here. Thank you Uh, but you you said that eric you actually said you went to a town meeting Sorry, but they like board meeting got the information from there, right? Right, and then I tried to verify it with mr. Griffin and I haven't heard back since january. So, okay, we'll we'll move on Thanks a little bit Project updates john. Oh, hold on anybody else from general public. We're good Project updates john. Yes Uh, I I worked that out with project updates. Uh, I just wanted to As as one of the things I just wanted to know we um Everyone in in all our elderly buildings have received their first Of the virus it was a I have I can't see how how good our staff Uh and working with the alton board of health the health and uh safety uh Health and human service department for the town of onions and christine borjoin. Oh the toa and um jen mcdad A nice thing here. I just want to read it. It says, uh What she was doing was making notes for me and I actually forwarded her email to each one of the board to have this There's uh approximately 300 people were vaccinated with the first dose All tenants were notified door to door of flyers and by email blast We provide the board of health with resident phone numbers and identified LEP English language proficiency Units we had residents Were contacted by the coa and they had interpreters available in Haitian creole Spanish Cody from and senior services assistant and signing up residents Uh, the best of the vaccine rule has been largely due to the partnership between the town of onions and the board of health council majoring and all the nurses the emt and the fight department and the maintenance men and especially housing authority staff member jack nagel Uh second dose yet to be confirmed, but we look forward to providing residents with that information as soon as we are aware I believe there'll be um We I was talking to christine borjo Yesterday, uh, who's talking to the state uh regarding a second round which should be coming either Next to the week after so I will have more information on that and it'll be admitted the exact same way With the staff, but I just want to tell how great the staff has been doing During this cold thing. Secondly, she wanted me to Website, you know, we're actively working to improve the website We are focused on the first two tabs of the website for general information And then inform the applicants. We are ensuring that information is accurate and up to date As we move forward, we'll be working on tabs for resident information The section eight participants and lair lords The intention is to provide updated handbooks forms contact information for within the county housing authority and resources and programs that And by way of the website is also they also want to provide residents a better understanding of the housing authority operation So, um, that's probably one of the best All right, thank you Yeah, um, I'm wondering, um, I know that the chair was notified weeks ago about the possibly the uh Uh, I can't think of the word about the ability for low-income people to get covid vaccines And I'm wondering why you never put that on your website Uh, I believe the link was sent to you Wouldn't that be something that I mean, I'm not even going to ask that question That should be on your website. Why isn't it? What what should be on our website? Well, nick, you know about this. I'm didn't you tell john She But what are you asking? Well, there was a link I believe sent to you or at least the the statement that there is a Link available for people who are of low income To get their vaccine Maybe it's not immediate, but there is an information about it. Why isn't it on your website? Well, we did sharey when when we got Wonder, I think if that was a link, um That I saw I would have put on the website But what we did is what we get notified with the information from the department of housing community development We got but this was this was told to you. This was sent to nick. Why would you not? You know, I know I'm always This is really something that needed to be on your website. Why would you not put this on a website? Well, shelly, first of all, most of our tenants don't go to our website to information. They go directly to You know that john you've surveyed them Yeah, uh, yes, we have All right, I just want to state that I think that that's really outrageous Well, let me you should put it up on your website tomorrow. No, I'm not putting on the website small listen Okay, john Do you want to listen or not? Okay When we get notice from the state that the vaccine they were available for vaccinations The first thing we did is sent out a nice form letter name and address to every single person showing telling them directions as far as the vaccination and the We did they not they were not eligible They are now they've been for a month for weeks Well, we're not we are not providing the check donations from an ordinary man to show you You don't have to provide them. This just tells people where they can get information about it We'll talk we'll talk we'll talk to Donna. We'll see if we can get it on the Do you get this email or not nick? I believe I got it You did get it. I know you did I know I got it. I know I I know I got it. I might have been I might have not sent it to John Gribb I will take care of it Yeah, I've you know everything everything you've asked me to do sherry. I've probably come through for you So Nick this is a matter of life and death. I understand that sherry and I will get it done I will get it to John. You should have had it done four weeks ago. I don't I will take I'm not sure I had it four weeks ago sherry, but I I'll I'll take full responsibility You can give me, you know, whatever you like to do sherry. So what I do is what you're responsible for Can we move on? Yeah, yeah, so I'll take care of it I just want to add I spoke with christine bonjono the head of the board of health last night And unsolicited she told me that how good a job john did with the vaccinations and keeping the tenants aware of what was going on That the the low-income residents have the right to get shots as well gar Yeah, she yeah, why don't you call it? I don't have to that's your job Ask her Shelly is Head of the board of health saying we we john did a great job The head of the board of health never checked up on the mice Either so don't tell me about the board of health I would like to move on. We have a lot of importance. We're gonna move on It's gonna fit tenants that we might not get All right, let's go cpa ward john cpa ward As I said, we requested between 381,001 million this time around and we We're receiving 251,000 dollars and that will go to new doors at At we requested three hundred and eighty thousand to a million and we got 250 right? Yes. Yeah, thanks Okay, who got the other Who got the other I have no idea. So we we we requested three almost 400k to a million dollars and got 250 Yeah, perfect. Thank you. I appreciate them working to get us the 250 Absolutely. Yeah, I know they have a lot of projects that they like to fund Any questions on the cpa ward All right capital improvement plan Yeah, we just uh in it. We need to do a revision for the doors I break village cottages and the air air source heat pumps and air conditioning for the windsow towers lobby and office area So i'll need a vote to uh To approve the uh capital improvement plan revision so Allusion Nope Is that in the agenda John? Yes, it is. Yeah, I I'd make a motion to approve the capital improvement plan revision for the doors of drake village and the Oh, it's a second. Do you need uh to add the heat air source heat pumps too? Yes So I'll one motion young greco You're on mute young You're on mute young greco. You're on mute If you can do them separately Nick that would be fine Yeah, if they're separate extended to write them so there's no question in case one gets knocked out forever any reason It's better to do them separately if you'd like Yeah, okay, cool Okay, I move Yeah, I I moved approved the capital improvement plan revision for the doors of drake village I have a second. Do I have a second? Go ahead seconds it. Thanks All in favor Yes Go in Yes Ryan Yes Urella Yes And Nick is yes unanimous And I only went that order because that's the world On the video Okay, and I'd also move to uh Improve the capital improvement plan for the air the heat pumps and air conditioning at winslow towers office and lobby Do I have a second? I second it Okay, Joanne all in favor gar Yes Joanne Yes Ryan Yes Urella Yes And yes unanimous Uh next item on the agenda is to joe s daily memorial vote to approve naming of life and skills billing to joseph s daily license skills center Brian, did you want to? Yep, I do want to speak on that one So uh as we voted as we voted last meeting we formed a subcommittee of myself nick ham hauser and pat delaney I'm sorry not pat um Kathy uh Kathy spencer from great Uh, I've spoken to them all and we all have unanimously voted and agreed and to To propose that we Name the new life and skills building in the manna after daily you would uh As you see in the print we would call the joseph s daily life and skills center So I would make that in a form of emotion Uh, I have a Whoops Go ahead Joanne Go ahead I mean, I think that's a terrific idea to call it that I was just hoping we might have a little shorter name um Maybe we could just call it the joseph s daily Center or community center because it's going to be more than life and skills Not quite what that means, but we're going to have the tenants organization. Hopefully we'll have the crop there Yeah, I don't know Suggestion it just makes it People will go around and talk about The daily community center and not I don't think I I don't think anybody in the committee would have a problem with that john you want to weigh that I mean Yeah, is the reason we call it life and skill No Will be whatever you want to call that building you may call it. I Just on the naming of the joseph s daily um as you know So we'll get in the data with joe as far as them being a veteran of In the town um joseph s daily community center joseph s daily center or If you want to call it it's fine with me, but i'm i'm honored that he That we can do the I think I think the community center sounds Um Fiorilla The life and skill center would be include, you know What would it say creativity critical thinking problem solving decision making the ability to communicate and I think out of all of those the only thing that we really have been there is Maybe ability to communicate with the esl Of course, so I think the community center would be ideal and hopefully it will become a life and skill center But so right now it is a community center That's right So I would I would then put forward a motion that we We named the building an honor joe daily and we called joseph f joseph s daily community center at the monotony The building Cool second All in favor of ryan Yes Dara Yes Go in Yes Fiorilla Yes There's a great tribute to a great man And can I also One more thing nick Yeah And I would recommend that we obviously and john's done this before working on an appropriate plaque and that sort of stuff But perhaps that we can Wait till this crazy virus is over and then perhaps like september hopefully by then And we can have a ceremony and invite the governor and all the all the people and all the eintonians and we can Do some just cause to Good family, we should have a we should have a dedication day, right? Yeah Yeah But I just make a suggestion um The next one is going to take a while and I just have Two short reports one on the karate Potential karate classes And the other is on the tree committee And if we could get those over then we could go on to the is that all right with me? No problem. Yeah Okay, I'll start with the tree committee. Um, I've been attending the tree committee for many years And I live near chestnut manor and I got this idea because some of the residents told me they can't Sit in the benches in july because it's too hot. There's no shade And the tree committee has actually quite a big fund now to increase the tree canopy so a while But they are now willing to and also let me just say minority manor Has a lot of I has a number of very large beautiful trees But they were planted 70 75 years ago And a lot a number significant number have died and they need to be replaced So the tree committee is offering to donate 10 trees small medium and large And to pay for a professional tree expert To put them in the ground There will probably be five or six feet at this point Where they Are going to be located I think should be we could take some advice from the tree committee in terms of Son and soil, but I think the residents should want something to say about this and John Griffin actually called The president of chestnut manor and she said we used to have trees They're too close to the balconies and all the squirrels climbed up and went in the balconies and went in the apartments So I think we need their advice. So That's it and we're going to um send John Griffin is just going to send a note To the head of Department of Public Works to say that We Would like to have these trees and we may be able to work with them on getting additional trees for other sites If that's what the residents would like This is hopefully just the beginning There are two areas in which the tree canopy is very diminished So they're very happy to do this and I think we're very happy to have them Is there any Questions about this No, I think it's a great idea Pam um, yes, um I don't know why we needed a committee on this Joanne for the simple reason that Whenever we needed a tree, especially here at Winslow All we did was request to John Griffin and Bob Cronin that we get trees planted and the housing authority has planted them So I don't understand why the big thing is about having a committee We're not a committee Precommittee is a town committee. We have a lot of money. They've ordered 110 trees They're paying for the trees So and they're paying for an expert to plant them and actually I found out in my own yard You need someone who really knows how to Set the tree I don't think I don't think it's an issue though Pam. I mean it's Yeah What do we need to do? What do we need to do Joanne? John, I just know You you tell me you don't even have if you want to vote you can vote on it if you want don't want to vote on it And you just want to tell me that everyone To accept the Tree that would be great Yeah, let's do that So I would make a motion that we accept any tree donation from the Allenton tree committee and John and the staff work to figure out where to put them And the residents Yeah, I can second that Okay, uh, all of Dave, uh, garr, yes Ryan yes You're alive. Yes Go in Go in The second only To talk about Go ahead. Go ahead John I think very short item, which I Thought the meeting was week and a half ago. So I asked for it to be on the agenda and then I sort of But that's all we talked about a potential karate class um Or the children at monotony manners since they had a school. They haven't had activities um and It was we talked about it a lot and a couple of things and then it snowed Because you're gonna have an outside. So that could dropped Um this time and also I went out and got Come on later next and then and so forth I'd rather bring the estimate and everything If we agree next time But I wanted to say that I have reported that The children know about much I would like to think this is a pilot program. I've reconceptualized it And we might only do 15 or 20 kids outside And if it is successful People quite rightly said well We'll be popular Maybe the parents will want it If it is successful Then we can look for other grant money or partnerships And make it into a More regular program in the winter we can use our new daily community Or karate karate is particularly good and for all children in learning self-control focus and also Off that they can protect themselves if they need to Anyway, I don't want to have to give a whole I can come with some possible um To find out if he Need to about how much might be Uh As a pilot program To that we can find other money Volunteers or whatever I have a question. My only concern with that would be the uniforms I I took taekwondo when I was smaller and I do remember my mom kind of it is a little bit expensive Plus if you want to follow up with Going through every belt, um, would that be something that we would continuously just keep Doing every single year throughout the whole Well, that would be good The last time I proposed it when it was all priced out it included the uniforms and the beginning and the beginning belts and after that For a second year of doing it or in the fall The idea is if it's successful then oh That's working with john. Maybe we can partner with the arlington rec Maybe we can find grants for Programs that that's the idea seed seed money to see it. I think it's a great idea Just start the just start the public join and see what we can do right? So So So I try to get Time and see what people think I like Because there would be like budgeting if there's other activities But I think a credit class would be great. You're right. Self-control discipline Self-protection that's great So how do we go about going and what do you need to do? What do you need from us? Well, I could go back to the kind last time I spent all the time with and then we never really did it and ask if he's still interested and yet again I mean he included at that time. I think but I would think we'd start with a small class And it works 15 or 20 what is recommendation? It's yeah That's what I feel. Um, the people I should ask but I I asked the woman who does the food pantry and she thought that the 10 to 12 year old kids were And the most lucid ends they're They sometimes that that might be a good but I can check Proof for a lot with the parents and see what they think what age group But we obviously can't do them from kindergarten to 15 Even though They take but it would start with one age group and what all the youngest we can do would be ideal I'm sorry great. I said I said I think that the youngest we could do would be ideal Yeah Um, I'll ask I'll ask for the karate person. Thanks. Yes, because then they can move up Do we have the demographics of the age groups on their zero? What did you say? Do we have the demographics of the age groups? Oh, yeah, definitely. I'm just thinking that the older kids maybe other activities in the future I think the karate class for younger kids would be a great way to build their self-discipline to then go into school and keep that going, you know I think it's a great idea wondering how many kids we haven't made what certain age Probably At least Two in each household that's I at least like as we figured out for the christmas dinner. I think there's one with The same person said Nick this is in your area. Maybe So we could have a basketball clinic on the weekends And I mean the idea is it would just like a We did that, uh, we did that years ago the ellicton police actually were help ran it and help coach it during the summer Yeah If we did that it's going I think ronnie kerr is still around on the police station. We can actually ask him to do that stuff Okay I was just wondering here all the just the age groups. That's all I was asked how many kids were in each age group from You know three to five five the age whatever that oh, maybe we talked to the Oh Yeah, okay, there's honestly no I think there is a lot of more younger kids here than older kids. Yeah Okay Yeah, so I mean, I think I think now that covid's almost over. Yeah, I think it's certainly worth looking into but but my thought is get the tenant association formed And then we're put the tenant association to bring this into great programs like the basketball clinic and like So buy him into it and to see if you know because I think you're really going to do a survey to see if anybody wants to do it We won't do it, but I've already talked to the parents who are very enthusiastic about it Right, but remember remember each facility can get tenant funds and this is a perfect use of the tenant funds Responsive programs like this. So I mean, we're so where are we with that fear? Have you been successful at all and trying to get this going? Um, I mean, yeah, I've been doing research Joanna's been talking to jack cooper I talked to the like I said high rock church and that's my biggest concern is the covid regulations Which is why I'm doing research on apps that we could use and even maybe other tenants associations can use it so things for example that Tenants are concerned that I'm not updated in the website for Arlington Maybe it's something that we ourselves could keep updated Once we get the information, uh, for example like the budget The the operating budget and the budget has something that could be included within that all the law for the tenants associations You know, I just think it would be so much more organized and ideal But what about what about just creating a simple flyer? And having a zoom and distributed to all the buildings all the all the units down there and say on this date We'll have a zoom meeting to talk about forming An association and see if anybody wants to come. I mean, I you know a simple start like that Having the karate class if I could Figure it again. There's a way to show people it's worth while having a tenants association and becoming a community Or I still think it's worth the investigation Joanne figure out you know talk to the person at the karate And then you know he would he recommends as a start and what age group and I think we go back with you Maybe this week we can do a little believe that for the tenants association and including a survey for the karate class And maybe have them email me or something to see if they would be down to do it Thanks, ryan I'm happy to help you design a flyer. Um, I've Stuff the yes a bit. I'm happy to help and So, uh, you know, why don't I why don't I put something together and I'll email it down to you And then I mean John and the staff We'll get it out. I mean understanding that the board's not supposed to You know have the tenant we're not supposed to we're supposed to inspire them to try and have one But I think it's going to take a little kickstart obviously and perfect candidate to kickstart it So I'll draw up a fly like that and I'll email it to you and We can go back and forth and if you like it, we can get John to print them and You Organize a zoom meeting and we can go from there. I'm sure it's like we said over and over You know the puppet down there is very busy and they get a lot of things in the hands And they certainly don't have a lot of time to volunteer, but I'm sure you're going to find five or six people that will come forward I'm sure you're going to find that as well. And we only need a handful. Yeah, thank you All right, uh, good recommendations man. Thank you. Rella. So I'm trying to get that done. Uh, item eight Mission or leite site review This is this is kind of an ongoing thing that we talked about a couple months ago in terms of trying to get the commissioners more involved in the five facilities and You know my thought was we come up with a liaison program We assign a commissioner to the building and the and the committee interacts with the president of the association However, john greco had a good idea and as you may or may not know, john greco was the executive director for the medford house many many In his board what they did is they didn't have taken a sign building They worked every month and every month one of the commissioners would be in tour the facility In a lot of checklist, you know of the status of the facility But what I put together and emailed you folks, uh, and unfortunately because when i'm trying On doing this you can't put it up on the screen to share But I put a simple spreadsheet together and and my thought behind this was If if my month big village then I would call campy Spencer and say What's a good time to meet with you? Um, I would meet with her And we would walk the premise, you know, we would walk outside inside and on that checklist For instance, you see outside so and it's very simple The driveway the walkways the building facade and other And there's a column that says clean another one that says working and another one that says need attention So if you discovered there's massive cracks In the driveway, you obviously check needs attention and you you make a note under the note section Then you go in the front door and you is the door working properly Uh to the buzzers works. Is it clean? Um, you know the side doors and there's other things that you see side doors and and other Uh, and then you would walk the building first floor hallways greeting room Um community room ceiling windows and this kind of came about when I met with the folks at qzak And we went into the community room And I immediately noticed some of the ceiling tiles were out, you know and and um You know In other other issues that they're simple but needed attention, you know, and I chatted with john about it And I think I mean we're in the cobra time. So it's tough to point fingers or even think that way So I think but if this was if I was inspecting qzak, I would make a note of those ceiling tiles And then we would hand this document Um, we could either simply email it into john to get it into the system for repairs and follow-up So, um, it also gives the presidents a little bit of a buy-in. I spoke to a couple of the presidents Before this meeting and they they love the idea And I think it gives the commissioners Um a buy-in and more exposure to the facility and the residents And I think it helps coordinate things. So Perfect point in in in case so if perella was and if she was the president of the monotony meadow And I'm touring with perella and she shows me doors that Need gaskets and windows that are leaking in the in the wintertime You know, we're going to catch that before it becomes an issue on on our Wild zoom meetings here. Um, we're going to we're going to beat it before it happens And we're going to find a solution So it's not going to it's not going to become this great battle. It's going to be fixed for it And same thing with mice. I'm in the fall. Hey, I had three mice in my house You know what I mean? So it's like these things come in in the fall So we're going to catch this stuff So I think I think this type of a program a little bit of a legwork for the commissioners, but it's not going to kill you Um, I think it just is a there's a better way of oversight Um and help staff kind of identify things John Greco Do you want to add anything to that on why you thought it was so successful at your place? Yeah, it was very successful And I think the reason is because every commissioner gets to see every development on a rotating basis So one person might pick up something somebody else doesn't but everybody gets familiar with every development I think it's really uh, it's it works very well And uh, sometimes if uh, even if you didn't get a chance to get it in an email if you brought it up at a board meeting Uh, the director would take note of notification of that take notice of that and say, okay Uh, I got these four things to get the maintenance tomorrow morning or something like that So it does uh, keep a constant eye on things Little things before they grow big just as you said Brian, and I think I I thought it worked very well Hmm So the form they sent out is certainly not complete. Um, I um, so why don't we do this? Why don't we let's try for the question Add email me things that you want to be put on this form And then we've got to figure out how to design this form so I don't have to list all 14 floors of one building It's a little easier than that. Um I mean, I didn't expect to vote on any of this tonight. Like this is just a proposal Cool. Do you have any thoughts on it? Go in Um Am I Wondering I two suggestions one is We have a maintenance person That looks all right My suggestion was since Um, I'm not an expert on maintenance um, it might be helpful to have the maintenance person come along because I might say those stairs look all right but I know they're loose because I went up them and I think we ought to do something with them. They may they may see things we don't see That was one thing and secondly I really feel strongly that way to do pest management is to Do it pro proactively And so I one of these little things should say you know, has anyone seen a mouse? Is there any sign and we can write what sometimes you don't see them? But there are certain signs that there's a pest problem And so although I really don't It's strictly But the state says that commissioners should be doing I I think it actually attention to the condition of the buildings Is better more eyes on it more discussion So I would support it with a maintenance person And let me just let me just respond to that one. So really this is not And I understand people have um limited knowledge of Operational things whether it be an electric door or something like that austere is like you said this look at this form as a very common sense review. So for instance You're not a maintenance expert. You're not a mechanic So as you if you look at the parking lot or you look at the walkway going into the building I mean if there's a hole Well common says common sense says gee somebody might trip in the hole. So that's important So let's let's write that down and if you see a stairway If a if the handle to the staircase is off, you know, the the handle on the side Well, then you'd report that. I mean, so this is a very cursory look to document things. I mean if you felt That the hallways look pretty disgusting and it's time to repaint them You know, then you want to document that and um, I know that we have in the past We've had the prisoners come and paid facilities. So even though you might document that the hallway needs repainting I mean John may already have this in the pipeline for maintenance they have a Phenomenal and very detailed maintenance system But I think this this checks the checker as they say Um, and it's really only supposed to be a common sense look interacting with yourself and the president and Surely if the if the president says hey, we've got some mice. Well, to me mice Comes to the top of the page now and and we want to make sure that John does have the program going and all that good stuff but But I mean digest it look at it and email me with some thoughts and and I can add to it and we can come up with a final product and You know there It's a pretty good idea Brian and it also gets um The tennis associations involved and gets communicated. So I thought that's a pretty good So go ahead Joanne. You had a No, just to wrap up. I just wanted to assure everyone um, I'm still working on the communications part and one thing Talking with some people. I realized that you can't see the website separate from the handbook separate from other sources telephone because Good information on the website. People don't need to call the office and so, um, I'm thinking of it as sort of an umbrella communications and There's been Much more stuff put on our website, but then the question of accessibility um Can people find what they want right away? So I've been looking at some other websites and um, I actually would like to have some Some residents Sort of on a little committee with me Because they have a much better idea of what they're looking for What they need to know right away whether they can But we can put something on a link And actually they might know more about websites than I do And I'm thinking actually if one woman is she here. I don't see her She doesn't know I'm ready to ask her that I can ask in great village who actually knows how to put websites together But anyone else I just think Um, it would be good to do it as a joint project And I think it's a great idea Can we need to It looks like John Wood has a lot of knowledge around websites and what he's trying to find he should he probably should Help you John, what do you think would you help would you uh With that I've had my own website for Ah, perfect I also think we should find some more recent photographs and especially those Websites is trash in and is trash out. That's all there is to it We've got a good website. You just need to maintain it well I think I want to I just think we need more More in different photographs to um that represent the diversity of the people who live there Yeah, I agree to the friend Okay Yes Joanne when it comes to the photographs it's hard to get photographs right now when we can't have meetings or functions or anything I know so as we get back to the spring of things we can do with A lot of things are being held out, but um, yeah We can do in advance and then we'll wait Hopefully by june People will be out and about and you could have events and so forth, but you're right I want to show the the residence together and some activities Now we can do those beautiful flower gardens of winslow towers Flower garden And the flower Nick I just I just want to make a comment that the flower gardens won't be happening this year with the windows being put in Because we're going to have scaffolding and everything here Oh, yeah, yeah, so it's okay Item 10 Office of labor and workforce development. Yes, this is from Joanne, we have to vote on the what it is here Yes, every every Department of labor and industries or department of labor and workforce development as it's now called That's the wage rates for each one of our Electricians and maintenance aides and maintenance mechanics and those are All set by the state based on the the type of work That they do for instance A maintenance mechanic. He'll have maybe 30 plumbing. He'll have 10 pain. He'll have 30 cleaning Might in in there that sometimes they do bricklay. So they actually It was just a higher paying Portion they might have 10 bricklayer in there and and as all those reports come together the state Looks at that and they set the wage rates. Um, that we are required to pay And usually it's uh every April 1st this change Changes so each year we get this here And the difference I think between this year and last year is probably about 50 An hour so it's not not very big raises, but uh, I'm sure it's appreciated But you do need to vote on Okay John do we have to John Greco do we vote on this individually or? You can vote you can vote on the whole you can vote on the entire package As it is uh, because it's it's delineated. So it's clear what it is for each train Okay, can I ask something please? I would like to ask questions before the Um on the last one I did see that he said a foreman Right Correct Yeah Okay, and I was wondering who the foremen are The working uh foremen are I mean, I know what they are I'm just saying who they are like name-wise because I was under the impression that there were no foremen in the Arlington housing authority Mechanics we actually have uh positions for three working foremen and and it's it's um We have two of them one is uh Dennis Broughton One is Chris Partridge And the third one we have not given Uh given out a working foreman titles We do we do have another um the And according to a budget a work a working foreman is basically a maintenance mechanic that has some supervising There's some extra work Um, I don't know if he's uh some of the so Dennis Broughton and and um Chris Partridge at this Okay, who is in charge of like I mean I guess appointing the foreman from the team that's already there Who's in charge of it? Yeah, I know we didn't have foremen as of recently. I'm definitely aware of that So this must have been something recent and then there's a third one that will be coming in I'm assuming from people that we already have hires and so have the experience Yeah, no, we have it just be um We have working foremen, but even um the In the budget it we're budgeted for a working foreman even if we don't give out that title to someone We don't pay someone else A working foreman unless they have So but we've always had we've always been working foreman here at the housing authority Okay Do you have a concern for your level? Hold on. Hold on. I have some questions Yeah, hold on pamp. Hold on Fiorella, did you have a concern? Are you okay? Who's asking that? Who's asking what? What are you saying? Yeah, no, I'm okay. I have a concern that there were no foremen But now I'm understanding that even if there's no title to the person I guess Yeah, but thank you for answering that. Yes Okay, go ahead Okay John who was Who was our ground groundskeeper custodian? Do we have one? We don't we do not have one. We did have one Then why are we paying putting that in the budget to pay somebody when we don't have that person to pay These are these are just categories that all maintenance workers in the In the maintenance department that they can't we can't have if we wanted to add a plumber to this We would ask the board On the housing authority to vote to include a plumber Which we may end up doing You know, we can What we're not approved. We're not putting this in the budget. We just approved the rate, right? Yeah, we just Okay, but I see what I know. Do we have laborers? Who are our laborers? We don't have laborers. We we did have laborers. We don't have laborers How about maintenance days? We don't have maintenance days right now I think we're not No, but the thing is so What I what I just suck as under the assumption is our maintenance aids with our summer high Is our two kids here that do absolutely nothing Point of order next So let's let's John let me understand this these are the wages that the state tells you you have to pay If you have people in those categories, right? So we don't necessarily have people in there But you're just letting us know that these are the wages that you now have to pay now. Do we need to We don't need a formal vote on it because we don't No, yeah, we did No, we do need a formal vote we vote on this every year So I would make a motion that we accept item number 10 with the titles and the wages that were stipulated by the state I second that For your early second That you yes, okay. All in favor. Yeah, yes Ryan yes Your Ella. Yes Go in Yes And nick of the yes, it's unanimous. Thank you Um, number 11 COVID update. I think we had that update. Yep John I did send you the link that I see Go ahead Pam Yes, I just have a question john I spoke to the castle of aging on twos. Um yesterday monday And I said when were they going to start putting out the second shots because it's coming up on four weeks 28 days And the girl happened to say well, we haven't got the shot the doses yet We'll get them next week or the week after but you have up to six months to get that shot That's not what I'm hearing on television or from everybody on there So we're going to get them within the next two weeks. I think you hear on television, fam No, but that's No, but every health person on here says it's within 28 days After 28 days you get your second shot and this person at the council is telling me six months Well, what is what is christine boy's urinal telling you john Christine born journal uh yesterday I confirmed Uh the accounts with the state that they're requiring for the second accounts The state sent out 600 vaccinations to the heart to the health and new services department for use in our buildings they took that and a Um, I have the breakdown here They not did all the residents in our elderly buildings. They took all the elderly people or seniors down at monotony manor Uh, and vaccinated them also Uh, so With the extra ones they From the 600 they I believe there was about 179 residents down Down at monotony manor. I believe about 30 about 30 employees The housing authority vaccinated so they will use Yesterday morning To the state christine born journal requested an additional 600 vaccinations. So usually that takes I shouldn't say usually but um the last time it happened Uh took about a week and a half once we got uh once she put that request in for the vaccinations that come So I expect them to come either next week or the week after Okay Better And I would I would go to you know, the council only aging I would I would defer to christine born journal To get to get the accurate I think I just think the best thing right now is just to be patient, uh everyone at the board of health, uh, christine and council major Are working with the state And uh is uh second one's um Accomplished next I'll have more Okay, john after them When after the meeting since you're and I'd like to ask you a few questions about the windows if you could stay on please Okay I feel like if there's questions to be asked to the deputy general just wondering just I don't know John are you comfortable with that? It's that cool. Yeah. Yeah Okay, do you want to ask the questions? Go ahead. Damn. Ask the question now Okay, um, you say that you said that the windows are going to start April 5th now Granted they put in the fun party for tanker here and I had people thinking that we had an earthquake but it wasn't because the building shook but um Uh, we got are you going to be able to get me involved with the contractors to come out with the listing of when they're going to do The apartments and where they're going to start top the bottom or bottom to top Because I'm getting a lot of questions by a lot of tenants on this and I don't have the answers yet Yep, we don't have the answers yet, but the answer to your question is Yes, they are putting together schedule of which side they're building this on um their first They're going to be doing the first and second floor Those two floors don't include any tenant apartments So they'll be doing the first and second floor and then when they when they go into the tenants apartment They're going to start they're going to do one side of the building at a time and Particularly units at a time. So when that when they get to that point, um, they will Give us notification of what units they're going into on what days they're going to be going into I'm going to have to have meetings with these people We have to have meetings with these people Well, p.m. We'll we'll have meetings. Um, when we have the information Well, that's what I'm saying when we have the information Yeah, I mean, but just saying I can't even have a tenant meeting right now But I don't even get more than 25 people at a meeting There's no information to gift and there's no meeting to be had unless there's other Things to talk about but if the information isn't there, there's nothing I mean, do you have to wait for John to get the information? That's That's that's it. I'm not saying You're yellow. I I we need to have a tenant meeting period not even involving the windows And I only get out of 132 people That's one person per pop and I know some poppins have two people in them. I only get 25 people So I Have you tried zoom? I know that I mean even go-to meetings zoom Or all options I would say 75 of the seniors in this building do not have computers Where we'll phone that they can do they have to be live Nick has to be in person Yeah And could I suggest After you get your second vaccination and two weeks later when you're fully vaccinated and the governor says we can meet Then we'll help you make a fly and put under every door and you can try and reorganize But you know, I hate to say it over and over the last year has been hell Nobody can gather nobody can get together Nobody's back to work. So we really gotta wait till We gotta wait until the second shots are out and everybody's vaccinated and we can kind of rebuild everything. So And second to that that's Living what we went through with the drake village windows I'm sure john is going to go overboard to communicate effectively with everybody at winslow towers And I nominate that we fixed john wards windows first No, I want my eye done Well, it's just that I just wanted to comment back to brian Yes, I understand that that's why I'm so adamant at getting the of these people the second shot here in the building So we didn't have a tenant meet brings things up, but It's gonna happen, you know, it's just It will happen for him. You got to be patient. Yeah, you have to be patient. Oh my patience is funny thing I want to go back to work Oh, I hear you You're not the only one damn I mean the whole country the whole world is in the same situation We're actually not in bad shape Nick one last thing Until september minimum. Go ahead. Go ahead. I think after this vaccination and everybody's Done and we can gather again. I think we should put on a Every facility and celebrate the passing of the coven. So we can talk about that later Great. Yeah, so you need emotional acceptance minutes Yes, uh, yeah approval of the minutes of february 16 20 It's 2020 john. It should probably say 2021, right? All right, we'll just get a second So I make a motion that we set the minutes to february 16 2021 Do I have a second? Go ahead. All right. Hold on. Joanne, go ahead I think there's a section that says john Pleased to fill in what the motion was that joanne made and who made the motion and who seconded it I know they all voted in favor. I think we have to fill that in I think the motion was that A member of the monotony manner organizing committee could attend Uh, the maintenance meetings at the beginning of the month with the maintenance people and the president And the president's meetings. Yes. Yeah, you you must have made that motion joanne, didn't you? Yes That's what it said. Yeah, you made that you made that Yes I look at the tape on that and add that in. I didn't I didn't review the uh The tape on that. No, we voted it was unanimous. I know that we voted it was unanimous Yeah Do you want me to amend the motion or do you want to table it and fix it and bring it up next meeting? No, I just amend amend it now. I'll add it Back and look at that in and We'll do it I'll amend my motion that would be corrected to include joanne's Um Motion um as just noted and that it was passed unanimously I think we just lost joanne Yeah, I second uh, dryans motion if no one else seconded yet. I forget Okay All in favor Brian Yeah Yes Go in Yes Dear Ella Yes And it is yes, you may in advance Um, I think that that does it for the agenda Oh Okay Do I have a second Second I'll second that you will have seconded all in favor to adjourn Yes Brian Yes Dear Ella Yes Go in Yes And nick is a yes So we adjourn. Thanks everybody for joining and thanks everybody for the Conversations, we appreciate it man. Thanks. Enjoy. Stay safe everybody And thank you for chairing