MINUTES FROM A REGULAR MEETING JUNE 29, 2017

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on June 29, 2017 in the Conference 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 Ernest Williams

Commissioner Joseph Juliano

Commissioner Betty McLeod

Commissioner Francis Audain – Entered Meeting 6:18 p.m.

 

Also Present

 

Walter D. McNeil, Jr., Executive Director

Leo Dugan, Feinstein, Raiss, Kelin & Booker

Several Employees

Several Tenants

 

Absent

Commissioner Ernest Williams

Commissioner Hashim Garrett

The pledge of allegiance was said.

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt the agenda.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt the agenda and 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 and/or correction of the Minutes from

May18, 2017 Board meeting.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt the Minutes.  Commissioner McLeod seconded.

 

Chairman Rimes called for discussion

No discussion

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor except for Commissioner Ross and Commissioner McLeod abstained.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

There was no Treasurer’s Report.  Mr. McNeil said that he will have a report from the Accountant by the next meeting.

 

Chairman Rimes wants the Treasurer’s Report giving to them before the Board of Commissioners Meeting so he has enough time to review it.

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

Mr. McNeil stated that the PHASE IV Application has been submitted and we should hear something by the end of August.

 

Mr. McNeil went over the Management Report.

 

Chairman Rimes wanted to know what PIC means.

 

Peggy Wade, Acting Director of Section 8 said it means Public Information Center.

 

Mr. McNeil went over the Section 8 Report

 

Commissioner Audain entered the meeting at 6:18 p.m.

 

Commissioner Ross asked how many applications did we received.

 

Ms. Wade said we received 3918 applications but we are only taking 300 of them.

 

Commissioner Rimes asked what happen to the old Section 8 list and how many people were left on the list.

 

Mr. McNeil said there were about 26 people left on the old list.

 

Ms. Wade said she is in the process of qualifying those 26 people.

 

Shanda Hammond, Housing Manager stated that the Laundry room is now open 24hours.  She also stated that they received new computers for the Community Room and the Gazebo has been ordered.

 

PUBLIC SESSION

 

Barbara Dunn, Apt. 7K, stated that she has lived her for 5 years and she liked when Ms. Betty was checking on tenants and she wanted to know when the program was going to start again.

 

Mr. McNeil said we didn’t get our funding yet from HUD but once we receive funding we will start the stipend program again.

 

Terrance Brangman, Apt. 6U said that all the stipend workers were laid off and the garbage rooms are a mess.  Also he does not like the smoking policy.

 

Commissioner Rimes stated that this is HUD’s Policy and if you want to live here you have to follow the rules.

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5447-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange approving Bills Resolution No. 1893.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt.  Commissioner Juliano seconded.

 

Chairman Rimes called for discussion

 

Commissioner Ross asked what is the bill about City Fire was there a leak.

 

Lance Hammond Maintenance Superintendent stated that it’s the Sprinkler System yearly testing.

 

Chairman Rimes asked do we have a contract with them.

 

Mr. Hammond said no.

 

Commissioner Ross asked about the Generator bill.

 

Mr. Hammond said it’s a 5 year requirement test on the alarms and generators

 

Commissioner Rimes asked if we have a contract with them.

 

Mr. Hammond said yes.

 

Commissioner Ross said who owns a Ford Focus why are we getting billed for it.

 

Mr. McNeil stated that it’s the Section 8 car we have owned it since 2007.

 

Commissioner Ross asked about the high water bill at 179 Central Place.

 

Mr. Hammond stated that there was a toilet leaking on the first floor.

 

Commissioner Rimes asked why we are paying the NAHRO dues since it’s not due until October 1, 2017.

 

Commissioner Rimes wants this pulled from the bill list and put on the September bill list.

 

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5448-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange approving the emergency work done on the Fire Alarm by Fire Control Electrical System, LCC at Washington Manor.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt.  Commissioner McLeod seconded.

Chairman Rimes called for discussion

 

Commissioner Ross asked if this is a proposal to do work.

 

Mr. McNeil said we have to get the work done, it’s an emergency.

 

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5449-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange approving the emergency work done on the Generator Panel by GenServe at Washington Manor.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt.  Commissioner McLeod seconded.

 

Chairman Rimes called for discussion

 

Commissioner Ross asked Mr. McNeil to explain.

 

Mr. McNeil said this is another emergency resolution.  The water line broke again and it impacts the elevator controls.  HUD requires we do this work as soon as possible.

 

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5450-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange awarding a contract to IBN Construction Corporation for the demolition of the Central Place Project.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt.  Commissioner Juliano seconded.

 

Commissioner Ross asked where the proposals are.

 

Mr. McNeil said they are attached.

 

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5451-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange authorizing the Housing Authority of the City of Orange Budget for the fiscal year April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.  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

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5452-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange signing a proposal for emergency plumbing work at Washington Manor.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt.  Commissioner Juliano seconded.

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adopt Resolution No. 5453-17 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange approving a contract with Verizon to upgrade the copper lines to fiber optic lines so residents have access to FIOS.  Commissioner Ross moved to adopt.  Commissioner Juliano seconded.

 

Chairman Rimes called for discussion

No discussion

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor except for Commissioner Ross who voted nay.

 

Chairman Rimes called for a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Commissioner Juliano moved to adjourn. Commissioner Ross seconded.

 

Chairman Rimes called for discussion

No discussion

A roll call was taken

All Commissioners voted in favor

 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:14 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Walter D. McNeil, Jr.

Secretary