Meeting Minutes

Meeting of the AHA - September 17, 2014

Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Gaar Talanian, in the John F. Cusack Board Room, located at 4 Winslow Street, Arlington, MA.

Roll Call
Present: Daniel Brosnan, Richard Murray and Gaar Talanian
Absent: Nicholas Mitropoulos and Bridgett James
Also Present: John J. Griffin, Executive Director and John L. Greco

Notice to Town Clerk
Notice of this meeting was delivered electronically on January 6, 2014, and posted by the Arlington Town Clerk in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law.

Appointments

Local Tenants Organizations

General Public
NONE

Project Updates

2014 State Income Limits

VOTED
Upon a motion made by Mr. Murray and seconded by Mr. Brosnan it was unanimously voted in favor to accept the State Income Limits for a

1 Person    $47,450.
2 Person    $54,200.
3 Person    $61,000.
4 Person   $67,750.
5 Person    $73,200.
6 Person   $78,600.
7 Person    $84,050.
8 Person    $89,450.

  Yes No
     
Daniel Brosnan X
Gaar Talanian X  
Richard Murray X  



HCV Administrative Plan Change

REVISIONS TO AHA’S CURRENT SECTION 8 ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN:

The 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill HR 3547 makes statutory changes to the Section 8 Program. The AHA proposes policy changes in the Section 8 Administrative plan effective January 1, 2015 based on language contained in the omnibus bill, as follow:

1. Performing biennial, instead of annual, Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections of units occupied by tenants receiving voucher assistance, and accepting and approving inspection criteria required for conducting similar inspections for other assisted housing programs.

2. Definition of extremely low-income (ELI) families to mean very low-income families whose incomes do not exceed the higher of the federal poverty line or 30 percent of area median income (AMI).

3. Modification of utility allowances to limit the allowance amount for tenant-paid utilities to no more than the appropriate utility allowance for the appropriate family bedroom unit size as determined by the AHA pursuant to its Occupancy Standards, regardless of the size of the actual unit leased by the family. The AHA may be required to approve a higher utility allowance pursuant to a reasonable accommodation request made by a family that includes an individual with disabilities, if needed to enable the individual family member with a disability to continue to reside in an accessible unit.

He said that we won’t be doing that for other programs. That will save a lot of money. If we receive a complaint then we will do the inspections. The low income is being defined and there is a modification for utility allowance.

VOTED
Upon a motion made by Mr. Brosnan and seconded by Mr. Murray it was unanimously voted in favor to accept the HCV Administrative Plan Change as outlined on this paper.

  Yes No
     
Daniel Brosnan X
Gaar Talanian X  
Richard Murray X  



National Grid at Winslow
Mr. Griffin explained to the board that National Grid has agreed to install gas service at Winslow Street at no cost to the Arlington Housing Authority.

VOTED
Upon a motion made by Mr. Brosnan and seconded by Mr. Murray it was unanimously voted in favor to approve and accept the agreement with National Grid at Winslow and to authorize the Executive Director to sign the contract.

  Yes No
     
Daniel Brosnan X
Gaar Talanian X  
Richard Murray X  



Approval of Minutes of July 16, 2014 Regular Meeting

VOTED
Upon a motion made by Mr. Brosnan and seconded by Mr. Murray it was unanimously voted in favor to accept as amended the Minutes of July 16, 2014 regular Meeting.

  Yes No
     
Daniel Brosnan X
Gaar Talanian X  
Richard Murray X  

Approval of Minutes August 20, 2014

VOTED
Upon a motion made by Mr. Murray and seconded by Mr. Brosnan it was unanimously voted in favor to accept the Minutes of August 20, 2014.

  Yes No
     
Daniel Brosnan X
Gaar Talanian X  
Richard Murray X  



New Business

Executive Session
NONE

Adjourn

VOTED
Upon a motion made by Mr. Murray and seconded by Mr. Brosnan it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:40PM.

The next meeting is October 15, 2014.