The Fall River Housing Authority board meeting on June 8, 2026, began with a roll call and the reading of the open meeting law. The board quickly moved through routine business, unanimously approving the regular meeting minutes from May 11, 2026, and executive session minutes from January 12 and March 9, 2026. They also approved vouchers, management reports, and financial reports for the period ending March 31, 2026, without discussion. The Executive Director provided an update, noting the internal promotion of a new associate director of property management and a temporary property manager. The director also reported the on-time submission of unaudited financials to HUD and announced a continued partnership with Greater Fall River Recreation for senior concerts and a summer lunch program, including a $3,300 donation. The board was presented with a new public housing resident handbook and informed of a new onboarding program for the management department, both developed by Director of Field Operations Kathleen Povar. The chairman also offered condolences to Assistant Director Tim McCoy on the recent passing of his father. The board then approved several financial and property-related items. They approved Amendment #16 to a contract for financial assistance with EOHLC for $5,226,291.33, despite a typo in the contract dates which the state advised them to approve as-is for later correction. They also approved two change orders: a $4,375 increase for site improvements and tree removal at Elma and Corbett Streets, and a $90,351 increase for building upgrades at Maple Gardens. Finally, the board approved an easement for National Grid at Oak Village to relocate a utility pole to facilitate the widening of a sidewalk for students of the Fuka School. The meeting adjourned at 4:58 PM.
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City Officials
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Meeting of the board will uh will begin at 4 4:41.
0:064:41.
0:08Roll call.
0:10Chairman Long here.
0:11Vice Chairman Underh Hill here.
0:13Commissioner Burns here.
0:14Commissioner Bentley. Commissioner Medeiros here.
0:18Language for the open meeting law.
0:19Council.
0:19Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The language for the open meeting law is as follows.
0:24Pursuance to the open meeting law. A person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
0:31Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
0:42Do we have any here anyone here for citizen input?
0:47Seeing none, do we have anybody here for resident input?
0:51Just did it.
0:56I hope we all had a chance to review our uh regular meeting minutes.
1:01Um I'll entertain a uh motion to accept the regular meeting minutes of May 11th 26.
1:12I'll make a motion to accept the regular meeting minutes the the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 11th, 2026.
1:19Second.
1:24Um, I'll entertain a motion to accept the executive se session minutes of the annual meeting held January 12th, 26 and the executive session minutes of the regular meeting held on March 9th of 2026.
1:42We got a vote on the um minutes, right?
1:47Yeah. First to accept.
1:48We got a motion on second. Oh, we didn't vote.
1:51We just got a vote on it. We had a motion in a second to accept the minutes, right? We didn't of the regular minutes. Yes, we didn't vote on it yet.
1:56I'm sorry. That's right.
1:57Take a vote. All those in favor of accepting the uh regular meeting minutes held on May 11th, 2026, I I opposed.
2:07I entertain a motion to accept the executive session minutes of the annual meeting held January 12th, 2026, and the executive session minutes of the regular meeting held on March 9th, 2026.
2:18I'll make a motion uh to accept the executive session minutes of an the annual meeting held on January 12th, 2026 and the executive session minutes of regular meeting held on March 9th, 2026.
2:35All those in favor?
2:36Second.
2:37Oh, second. I'm sorry.
2:38Just a second.
2:39Motion made and seconded. It's a good thing we waited for you. We'd be home.
2:43I thought I thought you were here practicing.
2:46Did you sec?
2:47I second.
2:48Okay, Dave. Thank you.
2:49All those in favor?
2:50I opposed.
2:56Bills and communications vouchers.
3:04We'll make a motion to accept the uh vouchers.
3:08Second.
3:09Motion made second. All those in favor?
3:11I opposed.
3:15Management reports, application, occupancy reports, tenants accounts receivable, work order report, monthly section 8 voucher activity report, the monthly personnel account report, director of modernization monthly report, bank investment and bond debt balance reports.
3:38I'll make a motion uh to accept the management reports.
3:45Second.
3:46Motion made and seconded. All those in favor?
3:49Opposed.
3:51Financial reports for the period ending March 31st, 2026.
4:02I'll make a motion to accept the financial reports ending 33126.
4:09Second.
4:10Motion made and seconded. All those in favor opposed.
4:19We have a update from our executive director.
4:23Thank you, Chairman Long. Good afternoon, everyone. A few things to uh share with everyone. Um human resources.
4:34We hired a new associate director of property management um and a temporary property manager. uh that was to fill uh inter internal um retirements and they were both promoted uh from within. So uh thank you to our human resource director Elizabeth Burns.
4:56Finance uh once again we submitted our unodudited financials to HUD uh on time.
5:04Uh so thank you to Nella Souzer, our director of finance and the assistance of our fee accountant, miscellaneous. Um we will once again uh be partnering with uh Greater Fall River Recreation for both the senior concerts uh at our elderly sites and also the lunch program. Uh they'll be utilizing five of our family sites. Um, two of them will have uh afternoon activities after lunch and three uh just
5:40uh during the the lunch period. Um, and with that, as usual, we'll be making a donation to them for $3,300 and that's to defay some of the cost for the concerts that uh goes toward the band. Um, so we'll be doing that again as we usually do. Um, in your packet is the new and updated public housing resident handbook. Um, I wanted to acknowledge Kathleen Povar, our director of field operations. Um,
6:18she worked very hard and diligently putting that together. As you can see, it's a a nice little um quick guide for new residents and um active residents that we have. Um you know, sometimes they won't go through the whole lease.
6:36They might have a question or they're not sure on something and it's all pretty much referenced in this little booklet. Um so I do want to acknowledge her. Uh she did a great job on that and it's it's a good resource. Um she also worked on uh what is called uh an onboarding uh program. So any new hires for the management department uh they'll go through through like a uh mini training.
7:07Uh so wherever they're assigned in the management department um we want it to be consistent regardless of the site uh or population that they're assigned to.
7:20So, I wanted to thank her uh for that as well and that just shows our continuing effort to um professionalism for the organization. Uh so, we're always looking to improve and and and be better as an organization.
7:40So, uh thank you Kathleen for that. Um and that is all I have for this month.
7:47Thank you.
7:48Thank you.
7:52Oh, and I'd like to acknowledge and send our uh condolences out to the assistant director, Tim McCoy, whose dad passed away recently states.
8:06No, I I'll mention it to you.
8:10Okay.
8:12No. Our next order of business is modernization amendment number 16 to the contract for financial assistance 501 in the amount of 5,226,291.33 between the EOlc and the forable housing authority extending the contract dates of service from June 30, 2035 to June 30, 2035.
8:43What?
8:43So, uh, clearly, um, that's a typo. Our executive assistant, uh, Martha Gallagha did reach out to the state and question that. Um, and the response that Martha received was, "Put it on like that and we'll correct it once it's approved."
9:05So, um, that's why we left this the the dates the same. So, we did question it.
9:13And I I do have that contract sitting in my email for signature.
9:17Yeah.
9:17But I couldn't do it until Yeah.
9:19Right.
9:19We had to get it through.
9:20We have to approve it.
9:22So, yeah.
9:22Do we have to wait to get that before I sign it or uh once tonight? So, once tonight, once you the board approves it, then you'll you can sign it and submit it. And I'm sure they'll correct the date and send it back.
9:36Is the ending date supposed to be 35?
9:39Um, they haven't determined what it's going to be yet.
9:42So, I'm going to sign a contract that's undated and it'll be okay as long as they send us the 5 million. What do we care right?
9:48Yes. I mean, pretty much they said to leave it. So, yeah.
9:52And I'll send all the backup paperwork.
9:54All right.
9:55But for the record, uh, the dates are your understanding, we did question those dates and they said to leave it.
10:02So, okay. Okay, I'll entertain a motion to approve.
10:12I'll make a motion to approve amendment number 16 to the contract for financial assistance 50001 in the amount of 5,226,291.33 between EOHLC and the Florida Housing Authority.
10:29And can I put in there that we're approving it with the dates as written knowing that the dates will be changed?
10:35Yes, I think that's a good motion.
10:38I'll second that.
10:40Motion made and second. All those in favor?
10:43I opposed.
10:48Change order number one for site improvements, tree removal at Elma and Corbett Streets, chapter 689-1, EO HLC number 095205.
11:01A change order number one is an increase of $4,375 to the contractor to provide a more consistent flat surfaces for parking and to meet ADA requirements. The contract time will increase by 30 days.
11:17Entertain a motion for approval.
11:25I'll make a motion uh to approve change order number one for site improvements tree removal at El Elmer Corbett Streets chapter 689-1 EOHLC number 095205.
11:44Do I have a second?
11:45Second.
11:46Motion made and seconded. All those in favor?
11:48I I opposed.
11:53Change order number one for the comprehensive building and site upgrades gateway at Maple Gardens, Fall River 200-2, EOHLC number 095177.
12:07The change order number one is an increase of $90,3511 to the contract for one replacing water shut off valves. Two, relocate electrical panels in the building 15, 16, and 17. Three, electrical extend secondaries at buildings 17. Four is the AMC exploratory work building 18 abatement. And five, abatement pipe insulation. There is no increase to the contract title.
12:43I'll make a motion to approve the change order number one at Maple Gardens.
12:49Second.
12:50Motion made and second. Any discussion?
12:55I just want to make a note. You an increase of $90,000 to a contract. It seems like a lot. What's the original amount on that contract? Do you know?
13:04Just under 9 million.
13:06Okay.
13:09Any other discussion?
13:12Motion made and seconded. All those in favor?
13:14I.
13:18Under procurement, there's no items this month under procurement.
13:23Miscellaneous. There's an easement for National Grid at Oak Village.
13:27Recommended actions to ratify approval for an easement for National Grid to relocate one telephone pole and one telephone pole anchor from the sidewalk to a location 6 ft from the original location into the Oak Village development.
13:44I entertain a motion to approve.
13:46I'll make a motion to approve the easement for National Grid at Oak Village.
13:51Second.
13:53Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? If I could just add just so uh everyone is aware um this request came from the city on behalf of the uh school department. They're looking to expand the width of the sidewalk on Wall Street going down to Fuka School for the kids and um National Grid has a pole on the sidewalk and to move the pole over they're requesting an easement on our
14:22behalf so they can put the pole on our property. That's so they can widen the sidewalk for the kids.
14:28That's a very narrow sidewalk.
14:29Yeah.
14:33Do we have a motion? Second.
14:37We did make a motion.
14:38I think they did.
14:39Yes.
14:40I'm going to abstain just because it's over.
14:43Okay.
14:46Okay. Motion made and seconded. All those in favor?
14:50I opposed.
14:52I move. No. Davids abstaining.
15:02That's it.
15:04That's it for the business.
15:07I entertain a motion to adjurnn.
15:09I'll make a motion to adjurnn.
15:11Second.
15:12Motion made and seconded. Any discussion?
15:15All those in favor? I opposed.
15:19This meeting is now adjourned at 4:58. Water.