Summary of RAB MEETINGS and PUBLIC HEARING

Transcription

1 Summary of RAB MEETINGS and PUBLIC HEARING The Fall River Housing Authority (FRHA), pursuant to Federal Guidelines, appointed the Citywide legal representation of the developments--the Fall River Joint Tenants Council, Inc. (JTC)-- as the Resident Advisory Board (RAB). The members of the RAB are as follows: William H. King, Public Housing William Walker, Public Housing Muriel Berryman, Public Housing Donald Keyser, Public Housing Rosemary Cutler, Public Housing Henry Teixeira, Public Housing Adeline Adams, Public Housing Charles Turcotte, Public Housing Robert Tetrault, Public Housing Irene Echard, Public Housing Jack Cooper, Mass. Union of Public Housing Tenants Margarita Morales, Mass. Union of Public Housing Tenants Susan Hayes, Section 8, Tenant Based Lisa Copeland, Section 8, Tenant Based The RAB also had the following unofficial member/observer that represented our state aided developments insofar as issues such as lease and grievance procedures also will affect them. Adeline Adams State Aided Public Housing, Unofficial Members/Observers. Six official meetings were held and the Five Year and Annual Plans were presented to the RAB and discussed at length. RAB Meeting #1 October 26, 2011 Please be advised that the first meeting of the RAB was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. regarding the Authority s upcoming submission of the Agency Plan for Fifteen (15) participants were in attendance at this meeting. The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act (QHWRA) of 1998 requires that public housing authorities to do an annual plan of its operational policies and the spending of its modernization funds. Summary of RAB Meetings and Public Hearing 2012 Agency Plan Page 1

2 Over the course of these meetings, we will have a number of discussions regarding the policies and how the modernization funds will be allocated. Mr. McDonald gave a brief overview of the upcoming meetings and what topics are expected to be discussed at each session. Due to the fact that this is the twelfth year that the Authority has been submitting an Agency Plan, there aren t expected to be many changes to the policies already in place. The topics discussed at this meeting were the Deconcentration Policy and revised Section 8 Payment Standards. RAB Meeting #2 November 9, 2011 Please be advised that the 2nd meeting of the RAB was held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 regarding the Authority s upcoming submission of the Agency Plan for Thirteen (13) participants were in attendance at this meeting. The items discussed were as follows: --PEST CONTROL POLICY (NO CHANGES) POLICY IS --PET POLICY (THE ONLY CHANGE IS THE DATE THAT THE IN EFFECT UNTIL (MARCH 31, 2013) --FRHA LEASE (NO CHANGES, BUT IT WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE) --VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA) (NO CHANGES) THE NEXT RAB MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011 AT 1:00 P.M. The topics to be discussed at the next meeting are the Rent Policies/Flat Rents; Grievance Procedure; Maintenance Policy and Community Service Policy. Information regarding these topics will be distributed at the meeting. RAB Meeting #3 November 23, 2011 Please be advised that the third meeting of the RAB was held on Wednesday, November 23, regarding the Authority s upcoming submission of the Agency Plan for Summary of RAB Meetings and Public Hearing 2012 Agency Plan Page 2

3 Twelve (12) participants were in attendance at this meeting, and items discussed were as follows: COMMUNITY SERVICE POLICY A copy of the Community Service Policy was distributed to RAB members. There are no changes to this policy. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES A copy of the Grievance Procedures was distributed to RAB members. There are no changes to this policy. MAINTENANCE POLICY A copy of the Maintenance Policy was distributed to the RAB members. There are no changes to this policy. RENT POLICIES A copy of the revised Rent Policies was distributed and discussed with the RAB members. It is proposed that there will be a $5 increase in all Flat Rents, starting April 1, 2012 and thereafter. CAPITAL FUND PROGRAM A draft of the Capital Fund Program information was distributed and discussed with the RAB members, and will be discussed in depth at the next RAB meeting. The next RAB meeting is scheduled for WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. Items to be discussed will include the Capital Fund Program, Admissions & Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP) and the Section 8 Administrative Plan. AGENCY PLAN PUBLIC HEARING --The Fall River Housing Authority is required to conduct a Public Hearing each year prior to its submission of the Agency Plan. As in the past, the Public Hearing is scheduled during the first week of January. The date for this year s Public Hearing is Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 4:00 p.m. in the James A. O Brien, Sr. Apartments Community Hall. RAB members and the general public are encouraged to attend this Public Hearing. RAB Meeting #4 December 7, 2011 Please be advised that the 4th meeting of the RAB was held on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 regarding the Authority s upcoming submission of the Agency Plan for Twelve (12) participants were in attendance at this meeting, and items discussed were as follows: Capital Fund Program (CFP) The first agenda item at this meeting was the Capital Fund Program (CFP) Summary of RAB Meetings and Public Hearing 2012 Agency Plan Page 3

4 funding plan. Peter Proulx, Director of Facilities Management, distributed the final version of the CFP list of items to the participants and same was discussed in detail. A question and answer period followed the distribution and discussion of the CFP. SECTION 8 ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN A copy of the proposed changes to the Section 8 Administrative Plan was distributed to RAB members and discussed. ADMISSIONS & CONTINUED OCCUPANCY PLAN A copy of the proposed changes to the ACOP was distributed to RAB members and Marie Souza, Coordinator of Tenant Selection explained each proposed change and answered any questions raised by RAB members. The next RAB meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at which time we will discuss the Agency Plan Template and answer any other questions the RAB members may have. THE LUNCHEON WILL BEGIN AT 12:00 NOON, AND THE ACTUAL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 1:00 P.M. LAST REMINDER: THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 AT 4:00 P.N., IN THE O BRIEN APARTMENTS COMMUNITY HALL. COFFEE AND DONUTS WILL BE SERVED FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING. RAB Meeting #5 December 21, 2011 Please be advised that the 5th meeting of the RAB was held on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 regarding the Authority s upcoming submission of the Agency Plan for Twelve (12) participants were in attendance at this meeting, and items discussed were as follows: PHA 5 YEAR AND ANNUAL PLAN A copy of the draft of the PHA 5 Year and Annual Plan was distributed and each line item was discussed, and any changes were identified and agreed to. Attachment A Goals and Objectives for the Current Five Year Plan were discussed item by item, and a question and answer period followed. enjoyable. The annual Luncheon was also held prior to the meeting, which was very Summary of RAB Meetings and Public Hearing 2012 Agency Plan Page 4

5 REMINDER: THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 AT 4:00 P.M. IN THE JAMES A. O BRIEN, SR. APARTMENTS COMMUNITY HALL. COFFEE AND DONUTS WILL BE SERVED FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING. PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 The Public Hearing was conducted on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in the James A. O Brien, Sr. Apartments Community Hall. There were 22 people in attendance, including Executive Director, Thomas J. Collins, Jr.; Deputy Executive Director Daniel P. McDonald, as well as Fall River Housing Authority staff involved in the preparation and implementation of the Agency Plan, a number of the RAB members, and a number of residents from O Brien Apartments. Mr. McDonald presided and the hearing was conducted in an informal manner. A number of issues were discussed and summarized below, with any comments notated. Copies of the relevant portions of documents were provided to the attendees. The following subjects were discussed, which were also reviewed and agreed to at the RAB meetings. Mr. McDonald distributed a copy of the Resident Advisory Board meetings summary, which briefly outlined the subjects discussed at each meeting, as follows: CAPITAL FUND PROGRAM (CFP) Both One and Five Year Plans were distributed and reviewed by the attendees. Peter Proulx, Director of Facilities Management, explained the Plans and a brief question and answer period followed Mr. Proulx presentation. Everett McGarty, Director of Modernization, further explained the contents of the CFP contents. The FRHA staff explained that the CFP funding may change substantially if and when the Federalization of the six state aided developments occurs and our CFP allocation is changed. This could effect the funds approved by AMP and may require a redraft of our CFP at which time we will meet with the RAB regarding these changes. A question and answer period followed the distribution and discussion of the CFP list. RENT POLICIES Mr. McDonald explained the current rent policy that was agreed to in prior years, and discussed the revised Flat Rents. FRHA residents in Federal developments have the option of paying their rent on a percentage or flat rent basis. The Flat rent system was introduced to enable higher-income residents to remain in public housing, without having to pay exorbitant rents. Our rents continue to be significantly lower than rents in private housing, and the Authority Summary of RAB Meetings and Public Hearing 2012 Agency Plan Page 5

6 only raises the flat rents a minimal amount each year to satisfy HUD requirements. The revised Flat rents become effective April 1, SECTION 8 ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN The changes as shown in the summary were presented and discussed. ADMISSIONS AND CONTINUED OCCUPANCY PLAN (ACOP) The minor changes were presented and discussed. DECONCENTRATION POLICY Mr. McDonald explained the Deconcentration Policy and also explained that after analyzing the income levels in the affected family developments, it was determined that all sites were within the income limits, pursuant to HUD regulations, and, therefore, we not are required to take any action for the coming. AGENCY PLAN TEMPLATE Copies of the Agency Plan Template were Distributed and the contents were discussed and any questions from attendees were answered. The result is an Agency Plan that is agreed to by all parties and with no unresolved issues. The Plan reflects a workable document and is the sum of the Fall River Housing Authority, RAB and public desires. Following a brief question and answer period and light refreshments, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Summary of RAB Meetings and Public Hearing 2012 Agency Plan Page 6