5.12.2025 Housing Authority

This meeting is going to come to order.

You have a roll call, please.

Chairman Long here. Vice Chairman Underh Hill here. Commissioner Burns is absent.

Commissioner Dley present. Commissioner Medeiros here.

Mr. Soua, language for the open meeting law, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The language for the open meeting law is as follows. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. You

is anybody signed up for citizen input?

Okay. Anybody resident input?

Thank you.

Hope we all reviewed the minutes of last meeting.

Want to open it up to a motion, please?

I'll make a motion to accept the meetings from last month. the minutes from last month. Sorry.

Second.

Motion made and seconded. All those in favor?

I management reports.

Uh, bills. Oh, I'm sorry. Bills and communications. Sorry.

Sorry. Moving too fast.

It's this first one.

Yeah.

Have we all reviewed the vouchers?

Motion uh to accept bills and commun communications from last month. I'll seconded. All those in favor? Hi management report. We have applications, occupancy reports, tenants accounts receivable, work order report, monthly section A voucher activity report, monthly personal account and report, director of modernizations monthly report, bank investments, bond debt balance report.

Do I have a motion or any discussion? Whatever.

We'll do a motion first. I'll make a motion to accept the eight management reports.

Second. Any discussion? See? None. All those in favor? I I opposed.

State quarterly modernization report for the period ending March 31st,

2025. Get a motion motion to accept the uh state quarterly modernization report.

I'll second motion be second. All those in favor I opposed. I have an update from our executive director.

Thank you, Chairman Long. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome. Um, a few things that I wanted to mention at this month's meeting.

uh under our human resources uh we hired one new custodian and we did have a housing clerk that resigned. I also attended the uh first signing day event at uh Diamond Regional High School. Um, there were multiple vendors there that participated in the co-op program and I'm happy to say the Fall River Housing Authority is going to hire two of those co-ops. We're going to hire someone from the plumbing program

um as they enter the apprenticeship program and we're also going to hire a young lady uh from the business uh program there that's going to work in our clerical department. So uh upon graduation um we will be in touch with them and go through uh human resources and they will be hired uh permanently at the Fall River Housing Authority. So uh it was the first time that Diamond has done

this. So it was a nice nice event. It was this past uh last week Tuesday morning.

So moving on financial um our director of finance is preparing all year end 25 financials uh in preparation for our unawit um to HUD which is due by May 31st. So, um, she's working very hard at that. Um, and we'll be working with our consultant to get that submitted, uh, on a timely manner. Under management, um, I met with the executive director from the Somerset, Swansea, and a Kushnet Housing Authority.

and um she unfortunately is dealing with some staffing issues um regarding her maintenance department and they also have six federal units. They're predominantly state and she's wellversed with the state units but uh is looking for some help uh with the federal units. So, um, in following up with our field agents from the HUD side and also our, uh, housing managers on the state side,

uh, this is a common practice with large housing authorities dealing with smaller housing authorities uh, that are close by. So, um, I just wanted to inform the board on that. These communications are ongoing. What normally happens is you come to an agreement, you enter into a memorandum of agreement. It's a contract. Uh the board has to approve it and then it goes to the HUD office and also

EOHLC's office. So, what I'm giving you tonight is just a warmup and then it will formally um be on next month's board agenda for discussion and a vote. Um if you if you believe this to go forward, um as I said in my discussions, this is a common practice with larger housing authorities uh aiding smaller housing authorities.

um resident services. Uh once again, the housing authority will be uh contributing $3,300 to greater for river recreation for um the local musicians union. Uh they hire band members to perform at our elderly sites when we have cookouts over the summer. So, we do that every year.

The price has uh has been the same. Uh believe you have a letter to that effect in your in your packet. So, we'll be doing that once again. There's 11 concerts. We're continuing on with our breakfast and serve with the Fall River Police Department. They've done about half of our sites. Uh Joey Dil and resident services coordinates that and does a great job um with that and it's a way of networking with our elderly

residents and explaining procedures uh if they have any concerns um at their sites.

I also had a meeting with uh the executive director from Samaritan South Coast and they provide emotional uh support um for suicide, suicide prevention and currently and statistically unfortunately the higher percentage of suicides uh in our society are with the elderly. um residents. So, I am working on a memorandum of agreement to do a six-month pilot program. Um they have an intern that they'll be hiring and a

supervisor of that intern and they'll be going to our sites in offering counseling and support services to our elderly population.

Um, and in exchange for that, we'll assist uh in the cost of uh some of the stationery, the cost of the supervision. It's roughly about $16,000 for a six-month period. Um, they depend largely on donations and on some state uh grants. So um in meeting with the director of finance we came up with a an amount which we feel is reasonable based on what they are requesting. Um so um that that will be

um happening and um it's in the works as well.

Um before I move on to the uh next thing I just want the publics that here and anybody watching our meetings and any colleagues and people that you associate with just in the few things that I mentioned that uh forever housing authority does a lot more than just renting apartments and collecting rents for our residents.

uh the services that I just provided, there's many other services. So, we should all be proud that we put a strong effort into doing what we can for our residents to help them in all ways in life and to help them uh age in place for our elderly residents. We have a lot of programs for our younger ones and we welcome the community as well. So, um, when you're in conversations, when

you're at events, I think you can speak proudly that we we we work hard here. We put a strong effort here into, as I said, not only just renting apartments and collecting rents, but providing many many needed and crucial services uh to our residents.

So, um, moving on, um, I wanted to thank Representative Alan Sylvia. Uh, we received the grant here, a recreational grant. It was a total of $75,000. Uh, 10 of which we are, uh, sharing with the city of Fall River for their senior centers. But that money will go into purchasing bingo machines.

TVs, uh, park benches, picnic tables, um, uh, tables and chairs for the community room to, uh, create and, uh, free Wi-Fi service, uh, for our residents. So, again, another, uh, uh, grant for our residents and I wanted to thank him, uh, at our meeting for that. and also uh Senator Rodri and the new representative um Steve Wlette. He we got a small grant of just over $3,000 for the Paresi Pipes

location for the same type of items that I that I mentioned. Um so I wanted to thank and recognize them uh publicly for these grants. And lastly, um, I wanted to recognize two residents from Catel Heights. As you may remember, and some of you don't, we had a an incident a couple months back at Catel Heights and um there was a a resident that was not a resident, but uh a neighbor that was

hurt badly and made his way to Catel Heights. and we had a couple of residents there that uh really provided some crucial u first aid uh and helping to save this this gentleman. So I wanted to recognize Scott Ferrer from 607 Patel Height and Clarissa Amaran Borges her mom certificates that I'd like to give them.

Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you. Thank you both.

So I had a lot to discuss this month and update the board on but that is all I have. So with that I will yield.

I just I I I want to uh thank you from the board for the people who uh helped out at also. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

It's going to be a quiet room.

All right. With our next order of business under modernization, we're looking at amendment number 14 contract for financial assistance 501 between EOHLC, and the Affordable Housing Authority. This amendment funds the following and extends the contract dates of service from June 30th, 2027 to June 30th 2028.

HNS award the number 095192 replace failing gas lines PH 2024 at Maple Gardens 200-2 master meter award formula funding award for fiscal year 2028 I will take a motion I'll make a motion uh to approve the uh amendment number 14 to contract for financial assistance 50001 between EOHLC and Fall River Housing Authority in the amount of 21 million $1,59.75 extending the contract dates of

service from June 30th 2027 to June 30th 2028.

I'll second.

Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? I I opposed. Certain certificate of substantial completion for boiler replacement project at the George E.

Riley Plaza math mass 6-17.

The general contract to Gona Plumbing and Heating Services was substantially completed on April 5th, 2025. All those in favor?

I'll make the motion. I'll make the motion to approve the certificate of completion for boiler replacement at Riley Plaza.

Second. Motion made in second. Any discussion?

All those in favor? I I opposed contract award for HUD fire alarm system replacement project at father Vincent the fario village mass 6-3 funded through safety and security project scope of work consist of replacement of the existing fire alarm system contract awarded to the lowest bidder electrical contractors in the amount of $68,000 $300. Uh, CA Crowley Engineering, Inc., you receive a letter from recommended.

Uh, make a motion toward the contract for the HUD fire alarm replacement project at Defario Village to LA Lisy Electrical Contractors, Inc. in the amount of 68,300.

Second motion made a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I posted miscellaneous closed circuit TV technician position. This position is for a technician. He uh pay starts at what? 70,000 I think it was. Uh yeah. So 1360 a week.

So currently uh we have a vendor that provides uh maintenance to our security cameras, DVRs. Um there's a monthly fee and then any repairs or replacement that's in addition.

Um we feel in speaking with the director of facilities and some of the management team that um we're getting to a point where it may require a full-time position. Someone who has a security camera background that can do preventative maintenance, maintenance repairs on our camera systems. have you seen over the past few months at some of the different sites we're doing new camera upgrades and DVR

upgrades. So, um I put together a job description, did some research on it, um and seeking the permission of the board to uh post this position internally and outside and uh see where we go from there. Uh, our contract with the current vendor ends June 30th. So, trying to be a little proactive with this um and put it out there. So, anytime there's a new position created, I always seek the

board's approval uh prior to doing anything.

I I just have uh one question. So, Kevin, this will be in lie of an outside vendor.

You will have an in-house person in lie of Yes. So, as I said, that contract ends June 30th.

We would try to get the best candidate, go through the hiring process, but if we're running behind, we we could seek like a 30-day extension on the vendor.

Where I was going with that, if if need be, they might if need be. If need be.

All right. And And who would does this person report to? Who would this position report to? Director of Facilities. Okay.

It I says it. I'm sorry. Yeah, that's okay. H and just one other thing, one other tidbit, the long-term goal of the Fall River Housing Authority is once we get all our sites modernized with cameras and DVRs, as hard as that may be sometimes because, as you know, technology is always changing and moving so fast, is get this linked to the Fall River Police Department. So whenever there's an incident, regardless of what

it is, they have a designated person that can view the footage and act accordingly. As it is currently, if we had a potential crime committed at one of our sites, they contact us. If it's on the weekend or at night, somebody's going to go out there, let them in. They they do the footage, they they check the cameras.

Um, if we can link it straight to the police department, they they don't need us for it. They would inform us, but they can view the cameras, see what's going on much faster. So, but that's a long-term goal.

I believe New Bedford has that currently, the New Bedford housing authority. All of their camera systems are tied into the police department.

When when you say a long-term goal, any idea of what time frame you're talking?

Well, we we still have some sites that need replacement. And for example, uh we have uh a project in the queue on the state site at Maple Gardens. Believe it or not, 2025, Maple Gardens has no camera systems in place. And that's one of our larger family sites. Zero cameras there. Yeah. We we put some temporary ones to view the dumpsters because we've had illegal dumpings. We've had a

problem with that, but they're really not that effective for preventing crime and uh things like that.

So, and I I can't speak intelligently enough to know what's involved logistically to get our systems tied in um to the police department. Um and another state site, Corki Row, although it's scattered, there's there's no camera systems there. The city has cameras strategically I believe on telephone polls but us as an individual organization and we don't have any cameras there. I'm just concerned um when I was

reading this as to I'm not sure if this person in this position is going to assist vendors or is he going to be installing those cameras and installing all the different pieces to it. I used to work in security. It's a it's a big job um in trying to get all of that done, wiring and making sure it's all set up. So, I'm I'm unsure as to when I look at this um as to what

that position is. I don't I'm not against it, but I'm just figuring that I think maybe some of these jobs are going to change as you go along because one of the things that concerns me is, you know, when we talk about um the systems and then you start talking about the software that runs those systems, a lot of that software is is is protected um and they're only issued by certain

vendors um who maintain it and do all those things. So, I'm not sure that the technician here would be trained in all that. Well, it does. I think it might be on the second page.

Uh, chairman, it discussed um licensing uh continuing ed training.

Um, where am I here?

keeping a breast of advancement of camera uh effectively assisting local law. Um I have it and I understand all that because somebody has to so has to do that job right when it when when it states assisting vendors just like our other internal specialized trades if there's a big job. So, we're going to hire Steve Long security to replace cameras and infrastructure in the ground for one big site like a

modernization project. That person would would assist in the consulting of these are the systems we want. this is how it will where we want it and then take it from there to like if a camera came down they they have the capability of replacing a camera replacing a line um adding cameras and services adding cameras much like if you you look at a carpenter or an electrician they do

internal stuff but a major modernization project they an individual couldn't take that on I get it Um, but I did I just can't find it, but it is mentioned in here to stay uh up to date with licensing.

Um, and we we kind of put this together.

Um, I took a couple of job descriptions that I found. This certainly can be tweaked. I just wanted to give you the gist of what I'm trying to do and what the the you know the job description would look like the salary.

Um we actually have someone internally now in our maintenance that is is has a strong background in this is and has helped us greatly with with this stuff. But we just feel it's time for a full-time position here, right?

And I don't know what the market is going to be, you know, we'll find out once we close it if you if you agree.

Any further discussion here? I have a motion please.

Um, I'll make a motion to approve the uh job description and posting for a closed circuit TV technician position.

Second.

Motion made and seconded. All those in favor? I I opposed. This the last item on the board. The last item on the agenda is the board member stipen adjustment. No, this this couple.

So, um, under your board member stipen, if I can just give you a little bit of information.

Um, right now the Massachusetts state law is a commissioner cannot exceed $10,000 a year in a in a stipen yearly and a a chairperson cannot exceed 12. Um, our board all gets the same pay and you're all well under that.

Um, I know you're you're seeking a stipen adjustment. Uh, also the last time the board uh received an increase was in 2019, so it's been six years. Um, I was able to get some information on the Springfield Housing Authority uh commissioners. Um, they're a little less than you currently, but the information that I did get is that they were way under compared to other housing authorities in the state. Unfortunately, I

I wasn't able to gather other information from other housing authorities other than Springfield.

So, personally, whatever you decide, I feel it's warranted because this board is very proactive in resident meetings, resident groups, resident training. I know uh Commissioner Medeiros and Chairman Long attended tenant meetings. I know Commissioner Underh Hill is involved in Mass Union and many other educational um trainings. Commissioner Bentley is on numerous boards and brings so much insight.

Um, Commissioner Burns, he's he's not here, but he brings a lot of valuable uh labor uh information to us. So, it's ultimately your decision. Um, even with an increase, uh, you'll still be under the mass state law. Um, so you'd be okay with that. Uh, and it's been a while. So uh and I value all of you. So you wouldn't get any opposition from me.

I believe uh Commissioner Under under Hill was you were looking for an increase of $100 monthly.

Yeah, I think that's what we thought.

Yeah.

I think that's around what we some in that vicinity we received in 2019.

I think it was Well, that's a lot less than the 10,000 for the regular commissioners and 12,000 for the chair.

So that's Yeah, that's works for me.

$100 is not bad. Since you haven't done it in what, five years? Six. Six. Six years. I'll deserve a little bit here and there, right?

Do I have a motion? I would like the motion to be uh to increase the stipen by whatever talks that much.

Yeah. Uh but I'm okay. It's not I'm kind of out of this. It's it's among you to discuss.

You want the right you would have to Yeah. for the meeting record. Yeah, you'd have to put the amount.

Yes. I'm just my insight was the law what other housing authorities getting and you're not you know it's a reasonable request. Yeah. From from my dealings with a lot of different housing authorities at the meetings you were talking about mass union. I inquired and there's all different formulas I guess that they use, but you found the one that I'm familiar with and cuz I I know one of the commissioners from

Springfield. So, uh yeah, that's fine. I mean, I I appreciate it, but if you want, you know, I'll make a motion to increase the stipen by $100 a month if that's okay with you guys.

Mhm. Have a second. Second.

Any more discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed.

Okay. If I could just add on these next two items, if you could remain after the meeting, we're going to need some signatures. Martha will need some signatures from the commissioners. Okay.

Yep.

And this is for fiscal year 2025 leadbased paint certification or

compliance. We need these to be uh I've already received from uh emails from uh EO L ELC EOHLC. So, what these next two items on the agenda are, every year we have to um sign by the by the board um a lead disclosure certificate of compliance and also a wage match. what the wage match certification is. It's you're approving a handful of our employees who work on our state sites uh

to have access to this information and and you know qualifying residents and uh doing rent changes, things like that.

And then on the lead, the state always requires an updated uh lead certificate of compliance from us.

And when we get the lead based certificate, is that do they come in and actually test every every year or just Well, the the properties have been tested in the past, but they just want a formal board vote and a form signed by by the commissioners each year. So, you just make recommendations.

Um, I'll make a motion uh for the approval uh of the FY2025 leadbased paint certificate of compliance uh for submission to EOHLC.

Second. Motion made and seconded. Any more discussion?

All those in favor?

I opposed. And then next is FY2025, the EOHLC wage match certification.

I'll make a motion to approve the EOHLC wage match certification for FY2025 for submission uh to EOHLC.

Second. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion?

All those in favor? I I I think a motion to adjurnn. We'll make a motion to adjurnn.

Second. Motion made and seconded. All those in favor? I I opposed. This meeting is adjourned.