Minutes From A Regular Meeting December 21, 2015
MINUTES FROM AN ANNUAL MEETING DECEMBER 21, 2015
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange was called to order at 6:20 p.m. on December 21, 2015 in the Community Room at Washington Manor, 340 Thomas Blvd., Orange, New Jersey. The Executive Director advised that all requirements of the Sunshine Law were met. A roll call was taken as follows:
Present
Chairman Coram Rimes
Vice Chairman Clifford Ross
Commissioner Juliano
Commissioner Betty McLeod
Also Present
Walter D. McNeil, Jr., Executive Director
Gary Gordon, Esq., Feinstein, Raiss, Kelin & Booker
Several Tenants
Several Employees
Absent
Commissioner Ernest Williams
Commissioner Tracey Latta
Commissioner Hashim Garrett
The pledge of allegiance was said.
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to suspend the rules and change the procedure of the agenda to start with the Resolutions first and if we have a quorum after the Resolutions we will continue with the rest of the meeting. Commissioner McLeod moved to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
RESOLUTIONS
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No .5361-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange Approving Bills Resolution No. 1876. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
Commissioner Ross questioned the purchase of pens.
Mr. McNeil said they were purchased for the holiday event.
Commissioner Ross asked about the $170.00 that was purchased for banners.
Mr. McNeil said it was for the banners that were displayed on the convention event.
Commissioner Ross questioned the amount being paid to ABK Plumbing & Heating for the leak in the ceiling at 340 Thomas Blvd.
Mr. McNeil asked Lance Hammond, Maintenance Superintendent to explain that bill.
Mr. Hammond explained that there was a leak in Apt. 3N and it leaked down into the Community Room. The leak was repaired.
Commissioner Ross questioned the water bill on Hickory Street why it was so high.
Mr. Hammond said that they had a busted pipe.
Commissioner Ross questioned the Visnet bill. There was a bill for preventive maintenance twice on the bill list for the same month.
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to amend the bill list to remove one month of the Visnet bill. Commissioner Juliano moved to amend the bill list. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5362-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange to select banking institutions for 2016 Calendar Year. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5363-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange to select official newspapers for 2016 Calendar Year. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5364-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange establishing Housing Authority Regular Meeting dates for Calendar Year 2016. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner McLeod seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5365-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange approving the Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2016. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5366-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange approving Memorandum of Agreement between the Housing Authority of the City of Orange and the Resident Associations of Washington Manor. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5367-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange authorizing the Executive Director to submit a Community Development Block Grant Application to enhance our Section 8 Home-ownership Program. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5368-15 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange authorizing the Executive Director to submit a Community Development Block Grant Application to address vacant and abandoned housing in the East Ward. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
Chairman Rimes called a motion to adopt the Minutes from a Regular Board meeting on November 12, 2015. Commissioner Ross moved to adopt. Commissioner McLeod seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
UNFINISHED BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
Mr. McNeil said that Section 8 and Public Housing was rated High Performance. He said that the Housing Authority cam a long way since he started here. Mr. McNeil thanked the Commissioners and staff for all getting along and cooperating he said he couldn’t do it without everyone’s help.
Mr. McNeil congratulated Commissioner Juliano on passing the Executive Directors Educational class.
Mr. McNeil announced that Chairman Rimes and Mr. McNeil will be teaching a class for Rutgers the Center for Government Services and Continuing Studies. The classes will take place in the Spring 2016. He stated that the classes will be held in our Conference Room at 340 Thomas Blvd.
Commissioner Ross asked about the brick work on the building and did M Mr. McNeil told the Board of Commissioners, Residents and Staff to all have a Happy Holiday.
McNeil reached out to the Insurance Company.
Mr. McNeil said that the brick work is in the process of getting done they just found the same color of the brick and it should all be done by next Wednesday weather permitted. He said that the Adjustor came out to look at the building and he is still looking over the claim.
Commissioner Ross asked about the Retreat.
Mr. McNeil said that we are looking at a few places and at the end of February or beginning of March and it will be during a week day for only one day.
Commissioner Ross said that all Directors are supposed to be attending the Board meetings.
Mr. McNeil said that this meeting was postponed because we didn’t have a quorum. This is not on the regularly scheduled day and it is also the week of Christmas a lot of the staff had scheduled days off.
Mr. McNeil told the Board of Commissioners, Residents and Staff to all have a Happy Holiday.
Chairman Rimes called for the adoption of the original Agenda. Commissioner Juliano moved to adopt. Commissioner Ross seconded.
Chairman Rimes called for discussion
No discussion
A roll call was taken
All Commissioners voted in favor
TREASURER’S REPORT
No Treasurer’s Report
PUBLIC SESSION
No tenants spoke
Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Ross moved to adjourn. Commissioner McLeod seconded.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Walter D. McNeil, Jr.
Secretary/Treasurer