Meeting Minutes

Meeting of the AHA - July 15, 2004

514.

A meeting of the Arlington Housing Authority was held which was open to the public, and was called to order by Chairman Nicholas Mitropoulos on Thursday, July 15, 2004 at 7:01 PM in the John F. Cusack Room, located at 4 Winslow Street, Arlington, MA. The Roll Call was taken and the following members of the Arlington Housing Authority were present:

Present: Patricia Worden
John Griffin
Freeland K. Abbott
Nicholas Mitropoulos

Absent: Richard B. Murray

Also Present: Frank W. Hurd, Jr. Executive Director Joan Pippin, Section 8 Tenant Representative

The Chairman announced that the filing of the Notice with the Town Clerk has been complied with and directed a copy of this Notice be spread upon the records, a copy of which is as follows:

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23, Chapter 39 of the Massachusetts General Laws, that a meeting of the Arlington Housing Authority will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall, Arlington, MA.

CERTIFICATE AS TO SERVICE OF NOTICE OF MEETING

I, Franklin W. Hurd, Jr., the duly appointed Secretary of the Arlington Housing Authority, do hereby certify that on June 30, 2004 was emailed and filed with the Town Clerk of the Town of Arlington a copy of Notice of Meeting, of which the foregoing is a true and correct copy.

__________________________
Secretary

515.

Communications

Upon a motion by Mr. Griffin, and seconded by Mr. Abbott, it was unanimously:

VOTED: To receive the following communications-

- From: June Hannefold, AARP
Re: Election Results of Chestnut Manor LTO

- From: Pat Lieberson, LWV
Re: Election Results of the Mentomy Manor LTO

- From: Marilyn McCarthy, Tenant, Drake Village
Re: Tenant Concerns over Recent Vandalism

- From: Marian King, Co-President MMTA
Re: Proposed AHA/MMTA Participation Agreement

- From: Hurley & O'Neill, CPA
Re: Audit Report Final Page

Appointments

The Board opened the floor for discussion by anyone present.

Ms. Marian King, Co-President of the Menotomy Manor Tenants Association, was asked what special budget requests the tenants of her development would like considered. Her request was for child-proof locks in the family development. Mr. Hurd assured her that there were funds being requested for that purpose in the FY2005 Budget Request.

Candidate Access

Mr. Hurd requested that this subject be placed on the agenda because he had received calls from candidates to meet with tenants.

John Griffin said that he will be setting up a meeting with the tenant presidents of each development. He said that he hoped to offer a plan that would be agreeable to tenants as well as to provide access fairness to the candidates. He will report on the matter at the next Board Meeting.

DHCD Visit

Mr. Hurd reported on a recent field trip to the AHA by members of the DHCD. The visit allowed for numerous discussions of pending initiatives by the Authority. Among those subjects were: Kitchen and Bathroom/Handicap Access project, Formula Funding of some of these units, the development of a program for larger authorities to assist others, and the Symmes Hospital prospects for handicap accessible family units.

Among those who toured the facilities were: Marc Slotnick, Paul MacPartland, Robert Pelleitier, Nicholas Mitropoulos, John Griffin, Robert Cronin and Frank Hurd. All were pleased with the condition of the properties.

516.

Inclusionary Zoning Units

Upon a motion by Dr. Worden, and seconded by Mr. Abbott, it was unanimously:

VOTED: To have the Executive Director write a letter to the Arlington Redevelopment Board asking for their assistance in acquiring the two one-bedroom Inclusionary zoning units coming on the market at the former Texaco site on Massachusetts Avenue. It should advise them that the Authority has the approval, means, and desire to add these units to its family housing portfolio.

Upon a motion by Dr. Worden, and seconded by Mr. Abbott, it was unanimously:

VOTED: To send the following recommendation to the Arlington Redevelopment Board:

The Arlington Housing Authority recommends that in the zoning changes which the ARB will request of Town Meeting for the Symmes property, there should be included a proposed amendment to the Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw (SECTION 11.08 OF THE ZONING BYLAW) such that, if and only, highly specialized affordable units are to be provided by the development, such as special needs/elderly units, then these could remain clustered together rather than distributed throughout the development if such grouping is clearly of advantage to the prospective occupants."

FY 2005 Budget Discussion

Mr. Hurd provided the Board with a working document that is being used by his office to develop the capital spending plan for the FY2005 Budget.

Left to be included are needed elevator upgrade work and an energy management system upgrade for three of the high rise electric-heat developments.

Minutes

Upon a motion by Mr. Griffin, and seconded by Dr. Worden, it was unanimously:

VOTED: To approve the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of May 20, 2004.

Upon a motion by Mr. Griffin, and seconded by Mr. Mitropoulos, it was voted 3-0-2 (with Mr. Abbott and Ms. Pippin abstaining).

VOTED: To approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Arlington Housing Authority with the Arlington Affordable Housing Task Force of May 26, 2004.

517.

Adjourn

Upon a motion by Mr. Griffin, and seconded by Dr. Worden, it was unanimously

VOTED: To adjourn the meeting at 8:34 PM.

__________________________________
Secretary