REGULAR MEETING

PROVINCETOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

 

A regular meeting of the Provincetown Housing Authority was called to order by

Margaret Carroll-Bergman, Chair, on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 at 5:20 p.m. in the Maushope Common Room at 44 Harry Kemp Way, Provincetown, Massachusetts.

                       

PRESENT:                Margaret Carroll-Bergman, Chair

                        Arturo Alon, Treasurer

                        Nancy Jacobsen, Commissioner

                        Patrick J. Manning, Executive Director

                        Lucy Singer Farkas, Recording Secretary

           

ABSENT:              George W. Bryant, Commissioner

 

AGENDA:  M. Carroll-Bergman asked that the agenda be amended to include a discussion about submitting Letters of Intent to the CPC relative to properties at 951R Commercial Street and the Cumberland Farm parcel.

            Motion by A. Alon to approve agenda with amendment as requested, seconded by N. Jacobsen.   

                                                                                    VOTED: Unanimous to approve                                                                                          agenda with amendment as                                                                                                             requested by M. Carroll-Bergman.                                                                               

PUBLIC STATEMENTS:  None.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 

                        Motion by A. Alon to approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of July 27, 2005 as presented, seconded by N. Jacobsen.

                                VOTED: Unanimous to approve                                       Minutes of July 27 as presented.

                 Motion by N. Jacobsen to approve Minutes of Executive Session of

 July 27, 2005, seconded by M. Carroll-Bergman.                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            VOTED: 2 to approve Minutes of                                     Executive Session of July 27;                                     1 abstention.                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                       

FINANCIAL REPORT:

                 Motion by A. Alon to approve Financial Report for July 2005 as presented, seconded by N. Jacobsen.

                               VOTED:  Unanimous to approve

                                                                         Financial Report for

                                                                         July as presented.     

 

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE:

 Board reviewed recent news article from the BANNER relative to CPC request for projects.  Letters of Intent for projects seeking CPC funding must be submitted by Sept. 15th.  M. Carroll-Bergman suggested that the Board submit Letters for 951R Commercial Street and for the Cumberland Farm property.

 

A. Alon asked about the status of the Cumberland property.

ED advised that the alleged encroacher is still pursuing his claim for adverse possession of land.  Cumberland may be willing to negotiate for access land for the PHA (assuming the Authority gets the land).  It is still unclear if the land will be offered for sale or gifted to the Authority.  ED does not feel that Cumberland will be willing to gift the entire parcel due to its high appraisal.  The CPC may be willing to fund 50% of the Cumberland appraisal.

 

M. Carroll-Bergman asked Board to review her draft of a Letter of Intent to the CPC.  Feels letters of support for the PHA’s proposed projects should accompany the L/I. 

 

N. Jacobsen asked if the Board had information on other projects to be submitted to the CPC.

ED said “no”.

 

M. Carroll-Bergman to work with ED to flesh out the Letters of Intent following CPC guidelines.  Due to time constraints she will E-mail Letters to all PHA Commissioners for review and approval.

                        Motion by A. Alon to submit Letters of Intent to the CPC outlining proposals for affordable housing development of 951R Commercial Street and for the Cumberland parcel and seeking CPC funding for same.

                       

                                                                        VOTED:  Unanimous to submit                                                                                     Letters of Intent to the CPC for                                                                                  development of 951R Commercial                                                                            and the Cumberland Farm                                                                                                               property by the PHA.

 

 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

I.              DHCD:

         A.  Maushope Atrium Payment- - State has finally reconciled payments for

               the atrium project and has sent the PHA an additional $158.20 due the 

               Authority, along with the final sign-off.  Matter can now be removed from

               the agenda.                  

 

         B.  Subsidy Payments--Monies still due for 2003 and matter to remain on

               agenda until paid in full.  No subsidy due for 2004 as accounts receivable

               covered operational expenses.

 

 

II.  MAUSHOPE:    

          A.   Census is 23 of 24.  Lease for the handicapped unit to be signed 9/1/05.

 

                 

III. FAMILY HOUSING:

         A.  DHCD Inspection--Still following up with tenant.  She has made minimal

               progress in cleaning property as required but has put a dumpster on her

               property.

 

          B.  Up-Date on Tenant Complaint--ED still working with PHA Attorney to

                bring eviction proceedings.               

 

         C.  Septic Failure--It is still unclear when, or if, the Town plans for Phase II of

               sewer system.  Meanwhile ED has secured three bids for work on existing

               system and recommends that Authority contract with Billy Rogers for

               necessary work.  Rogers will be working in conjunction with a State

               engineer relative to system design.

          

           Motion by A. Alon to approve contract with Billy Rogers for design and repair of septic system at 33 Court Street, seconded by N. Jacobsen.

 

                                    VOTED:  Unanimous to approve                                        contract with Billy Rogers for                                              septic design and repair at

                                     33 Court Street.

 

 

           D.  Re-grading of Court Street Access Road--ED advised that access road

                 has been re-graded but learned after the fact that bid did not include

                 grading of tenant parking area, an additional $200.00 cost.  ED approved

                 the expenditure following visit to the site.  Materials have been delivered

                 and grading to be done tomorrow.

 

 

            E.  Census is 9 of 9.

            .

 

IV.  FOLEY HOUSE

           A. Eviction Up-date--The attorney used by the PHA for Foley House is no

                longer practicing.  ED has asked PHA Attorney Pat Grace if she would be   

                willing to represent the PHA for federal programs.  She will bill the

                Authority at the same fee as previous attorney and will try to hook FH legal

                matters with legal matters for Maushope and Family units to keep costs

                down.

 

            B. Town Sewer--Letter from the Town has set a deadline of 2008  for FH

                 hook up into Town sewer system.  However due to public outcry about the

                 system the Town appears to have backed off from this deadline and it is

                 unclear what will be required and when.  There have been no problems

                 with the FH system to date.

 

                 M. Carroll-Bergman asked about the cost of hook-up.

                 ED said app. $48,000.000.

 

                  N. Jacobsen asked if the State will help with costs.

                  ED said FH is a federal program and PHA may be able to get a low-

                  interest loan from federal government.  Another option could be an

                  equity loan on the property.

               

            C.  Census is 10 of 10.

                

 

V.  OTHER

           A.  ED Contract--ED advised that he has learned that the Board must hold a

                 formal vote to approve joining the Barnstable County Retirement System, 

                 which vote must then be sent to the Office of the State Attorney General

                 for approval within 30 days of the vote.

 

            Motion by A. Alon to submit application for membership of the PHA in the Barnstable County Retirement Association and to build into the PHA budget the cost of membership and related benefits, seconded by N. Jacobsen.

 

                                    VOTED: Unanimous to                                                approve application for                                                 membership in the Barnstable                                           County Retirement System and to                                            build cost of membership and                                            benefits into the PHA budget.

 

 OLD BUSINESS:

            A.  Creek Road--Status quo.

 

            B.  Affordable Housing Trust Fund--Status quo.

               

            C. Tax Title Properties---Status quo.  

                               

            D.  State Appointee--Still pending approval by State.

            

            E.  Cumberland Farms--Discussed previously under CPC.

                               

             F.  951R Commercial Street--Discussed previously  under CPC.

           

            G.  Community Preservation Committee--Discussed previously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:  Board advised that due to change in Board Commissioners.

and to allow Commissioner Bryant to become a signatory for the Authority, new signature cards are needed.  Commissioners present signed bank forms.  ED will have to delay submission to banks until he can secure G. Bryant’s signature and will try to get Commissioner Bryant in to sign before next Board meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS:       

Board reviewed check registry and checks presented for signature.

         Motion by A. Alon to approve vouchers as presented, seconded by

N. Jacobsen.

 

                                    VOTED:  Unanimous to approve

                                     vouchers as presented.

 

The next Regular Meeting of the Board was set for Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at 5:15 p.m.  in the Common Room at Maushope. 

 

There being no further business a motion by A. Alon to adjourn  was made.  Unanimous to adjourn at 5:55 p.m..

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lucy Singer Farkas

Recording Secretary