MINUTES FROM AN ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 21, 2016

A Annual Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange was called to order at 6:22 p.m. on April 21, 2016 in the Community Room at Walter G. Alexander Complex, 105 Wilson Place., 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 Tracey Latta

 

Absent

Commissioner Hashim Garrett

 

Also Present

Walter D. McNeil, Jr., Executive Director

Leo Dugan, Esq., Feinstein, Raiss, Kelin & Booker

Several Employees

 

Mr. McNeil:  This is an Annual Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange, Thursday, the 21st 2016 at 6:00 p.m., duly advertise the following matters will be discuss and so the Board may take action.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Would you like me to do the roll call sir?

 

Chairman Rimes:  Yes

 

Mr. McNeil: Mr. Ross

 

Commissioner Ross: Present

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano: Present

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Williams

 

Commissioner Williams: Present

 

Mr. McNeil: Chair

 

Chairman Rimes: Present

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ok so we are missing Commissioner Latta

 

Commissioner Juliano:  She’s coming

 

Mr. McNeil:  So we do have a quorum.  Ms. Latta is here I understand.  Ms. Latta is here now.

 

The pledge of allegiance was said.

 

Mr. McNeil:  We said the pledge we need to adopt the agenda.

 

Chairman Rimes:  The Chair entertains a motion to adopt the agenda.

 

Commissioner Ross: Motion

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Second

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Ross and Mr. Juliano

 

Chairman Rimes:  Roll call please

 

Mr. McNeil: Mr. Ross

 

Commissioner Ross: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. Latta

 

Commissioner Latta: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Williams

 

Commissioner Williams: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil: Chair

 

Chairman Rimes: Aye

 

Chairman Rimes:  This is an Annual Meeting and I’m gonna vacate the Chair…. umm I’ll read Resolution No. 5381-16 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange Nomination for the position of Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Orange for a one year term beginning April 21, 2016.

 

Chairman Rimes:  I’m gonna vacate the Chair and turn it over to Ernie.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Would anybody like to offer this motion.

 

Commissioner Ross:  I’ll offer it

 

Mr. McNeil: Yes

 

Commissioner Williams:  Somebody seconded?  I’ll seconded.

 

Mr. McNeil: Mr. Ross offered the motion.  Mr. Williams seconded the motion.  What is the motion.  The motion is a Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange Nomination for the position of Chairperson.  So I take a roll call.

 

Commissioner Rimes: Not on the motion

 

Commissioner Ross:  Discussion on the motion.  As I mentioned in the last meeting we had a Personnel Committee meeting and we talked about the umm the officers the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Parliamentarian and we decided as the Personnel Board that we wanted to keep Coram Rimes as the Chairperson, myself, Clifford Ross as the Vice Chair, Ernie as the Treasurer and Joe Juliano as the Parliamentarian.  That’s the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, of course anybody can nominate whoever they want and umh we can move on.  That’s what the Personnel Committee recommends that we keep the Commissioners on board the way it is.  We can move on.

 

Commissioner Latta:  No, No, No…When was Tracey at a Personnel Committee meeting.  When was there a Personnel Committee meeting?

 

Commissioner Ross:  Ummm about a month ago.

 

Commissioner Latta: Ok. Well I’m on the Personnel Committee.

 

Commissioner Ross: I understand you’re not on the Personnel Committee.

 

Commissioner Latta: Who said that?

 

Commissioner Ross:  The Chairperson told me.

 

Commissioner Rimes: I put you on Finance

 

Commissioner Latta:  No I was on Personnel remember I sat in with you….

 

Commissioner Rimes:  Was…I think we had this conversation off lines to see where you were gonna be we will have that discussion today.  So I’m gonna vacate the Chair.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ok, I just want to call for a point of order in terms of how we do this now.  Obviously there are Resolutions on here but the Resolutions don’t mention anybody’s name. So we are doing Resolutions.  Why are we doing…Umm?  I guess the Resolutions say to take nominations for the Chair.  So after we do the Resolution are we gonna take the nominations?

 

Commissioner Rimes:  Yes

 

Mr. McNeil:  Or is there a separate Resolution.  There is gotta be a Resolution naming a person. They have to vote on a person. Ok so what are we doing?

 

Commissioner Ross:  There is no other nominations and the Personnel Committee’s recommendation is that the Chair stays the same.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ok, this is what I recommend.  There is a resolution on the floor to take nominations.  I think you have to vote on this resolution to take nominations and then you take nominations from the floor.  So let’s do that and we will make corrections.  There is a motion on the floor to take nominations for Chairperson.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Williams it’s either yes or no to vote on the Chairperson.

 

Commissioner Williams:  Yes

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:  Yes

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Yes

 

Mr. McNeil: Ms. McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod: Yes

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. Latta

 

Commissioner Latta: No

 

Mr. McNeil:  You don’t want to vote on a Chairperson tonight?

 

Commissioner Latta:  No

 

Mr. McNeil: Mr. Garratt is not here

 

Commissioner Latta:  Commissioner Garratt is not here

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Rimes

 

Commissioner Rimes:  Yes

 

Mr. McNeil:  Now we can do our business in terms of making a nomination

 

Mr. McNeil:  There was a motion and a second and a vote on it now we are taking nominations for Chair.

 

Commissioner Ross: I nominate Coram Rimes for Chair

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ok

 

Commissioner Juliano: Second

 

Leo Dugan:  Is there any other nominations for the position of Chairman

 

Mr. McNeil:  We do a vote on the position of Coram Rimes as Chairman of the Board

 

Mr. McNeil:  All in favor of Coram Rimes as Chairman

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Ross

 

Mr. Ross:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano:   Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. Latta

 

Commissioner Latta:  Nay

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Williams

 

Commissioner Williams: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Rimes

 

Commissioner Rimes:  Abstained

 

Mr. McNeil:  4 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstained.  The Resolution passes.  Coram Rimes is the Chairperson.

 

Chairman Rimes:  Thank you very much.  I’m looking forward to working with everybody.

 

Chairman Rimes:  Resolution #6 Resolution No. 5382-16 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange Nomination for the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Orange for a one year term beginning April 21, 2016.

 

Chairman Rimes:  The Chair will entertain a motion to nominate somebody.

 

Commissioner Ross:  Motion

 

Commissioner Williams:  Second

 

Mr. McNeil:  This is the Resolution for the nominations for Vice Chair.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Williams

 

Commissioner Williams:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Latta…..Commissioner Latta

 

Commissioner Latta:  Aye, Nay, Aye, Nay

 

Chairman Rimes:  It’s either one or the other please.  It’s either Yah or Nay

 

Commissioner Latta: Nay

 

Mr. McNeil: Chairman Rimes

 

Chairman Rimes:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil: The motion passes

 

Chairman Rimes:  The Chairman entertains a motion to nominate a Commissioner for Vice Chair.

 

Commissioner Williams:  I nominate Cliff Ross

 

Commissioner Juliano:  I seconded

 

Chairman Rimes:  Is there any other nominations coming from the floor.  Seeing none I call the nominations close.  Roll call please.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. Latta

 

Commissioner Latta:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Ms. McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Mr. Williams

 

Commissioner Williams:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil: Chair

 

Chairman Rimes:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Resolution passes

 

Chairman Rimes:  Resolution #7 Resolution No. 5383-16 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange nomination for the position of Treasurer of the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Orange for a one year term beginning April 21, 2016.  The Chair will entertain a motion to open the nomination.

 

Commissioner Ross: Motion

 

Commissioner Williams:  Second

 

Chairman Rimes:  Any comments on the Resolution.  Seeing now, roll call please.

 

Mr. McNeil: Commissioner Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Williams

 

Commissioner Williams: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Latta

 

Commissioner Latta:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil: Chairman Rimes

 

Chairman Rimes: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Resolution passes

 

Chairman Rimes:  Resolution been properly moved and now we will take person’s name for Treasurer Position.

 

Commissioner Ross:  I nominate Ernest Williams

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Second

 

Chairman Rimes:  Any other nominations.  No other nominations I declare nominations close.  Roll call please.

 

Commissioner Latta left the meeting at 6:37 p.m.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Latta…no response

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Williams

 

Commissioner Williams:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Chairman Rimes

 

Chairman Rimes: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Motion passes

 

Chairman Rimes:  #8 Resolution No. 5384-16 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Orange Nomination for the Position of Parliamentarian of the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Orange for a one year term beginning April 21, 2016.

 

Chairman Rimes entertained a motion to open the nominations.

 

Commissioner Ross:  Motion

 

Commissioner Williams:  Seconded

 

Chairman Rimes:  Roll call

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Latta is absent now.  Commissioner Garrett is absent.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:   Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Williams

 

Commissioner Williams: Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Chairman Rimes

 

Chairman Rimes:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Motion Passes

 

Chairman Rimes:  Open up the nominations for Parliamentarian

 

Commissioner Ross: Nominated Joseph Juliano

 

Chairman Rimes:  Second that nomination

 

Chairman Rimes:  Any other nominations?  Seeing none I declare the Parliamentarian position close.  Roll call please.

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Ross

 

Commissioner Ross:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil: Commissioner Juliano

 

Commissioner Juliano:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner McLeod

 

Commissioner McLeod:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Commissioner Williams

 

Commissioner Williams:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Chairman Rimes

 

Chairman Rimes:  Aye

 

Mr. McNeil:  Motion Passes. Congratulations

 

Chairman Rimes:  Congratulations to everyone.  Looking forward to working with the team.  With the elections behind us now and the new people in place I’m going to declare the Annual meeting now close.

 

Chairman Rimes:  All in favor

 

Commissioners:  All in favor

 

Chairman Rimes:  Any apposed

 

Chairman Rimes: Nobody apposed.  Moving to a regular meeting now.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.

 

Chairman Rimes:  We are going to be sending out a list of committees that we have and we are going to be adding new committees in a week or two in an email.  Then I’m going to be reaching out to see what committee’s people are willing to serve on and commit to.  It’s important that we have the right people in the right committees. It’s important that we have the right mind set as we do the work we have to do for the City of Orange. I am going into my 9th year I do appreciate everybody and looking forward to working with everybody.  Two more years and I’ll be gone.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Walter D. McNeil, Jr.
Secretary/Treasurer