Minutes 01-03-2002
Hillsdale Housing Commission
45 N. West Street Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 439-1210 Fax: (517) 439-9577 E-mail: mail@hillsdalehousing.org

Minutes - Regular Meeting January 03, 2002

Call to Order

The regular monthly meeting of the Hillsdale Housing Commission was held in the Community Room of Hilltop Apartments on Thursday, January 03, 2002, and was called to order at 12:18 p.m. by President Vear.

Roll Call

Present were:	President Vear, Vice president Field and Commissioner Skiver.
Absent was:	Commissioner Doty.
Also present were:	Executive Director Alton Cousino, Maintenance Supervisor Paul Piper, Secretary Vickie VanVlerah, Housekeeper Luanne Lehman, and the following Hilltop Apartments residents: Beulah Wright (411), Marlene Donihue (203), Theresa Geren (202), Erma Spade (415), Betty Blair (205), Jerry St. Peter (210), Joyce Johnson (402), Cecelia Henderson (316), Velma Smith (201), and Alice Kuhn (309).

Additions to Agenda

Director Cousino requested three additions to the agenda as published: under “Director’s Report,” add “Evicted Tenants Visiting Hilltop Apartments” and “Michigan Public Act 18 of 1933 as Amended.” Under New Business, add, “Resolution #HHC 2002-12.” Commissioners expressed consent for the additions to the agenda as published.

Minutes – Annual/Regular Meeting – December 06, 2001 and Special Meeting, December 19, 2001

Vice president Field, supported by Commissioner Skiver, moved to approve the minutes of the annual/regular meeting held on December 06, 2001 as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioners requested revision of the minutes for the Special Meeting held on December 19, 2001 to include specific changes recommended to the Hilltop Resident’s Association By-Laws.

Visitors with Commission Business

Several Hilltop Apartments residents stated they were having difficulty empting their closets and shelves so that new shelves could be installed. President Vear stated that the Senior Center could supply someone to help residents with this project.

Accounts Payable Report/Bills

Bills in the amount of $42,542.07 were presented for payment. Vice president Field, supported by Commissioner Skiver, moved to accept the Accounts Payable Report and to pay the bills as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Maintenance Supervisor’s Report

Unit Turnover

Maintenance Supervisor Paul Piper presented a report on unit turnover times at Hilltop Apartments.

Pay Telephone Revenue

Mr. Piper reported that the pay telephone at Hilltop Apartments had generated $1.66 in revenue during the previous month.

Bathtub Strips

Mr. Piper stated that he was researching the possibility of placing non-slip strips in bathtubs at Hilltop Apartments as requested previously by residents.

Laundry Room

Mr. Piper stated that an informal survey had been conducted regarding a resident’s request for an additional laundry room at Hilltop Apartments. Mr. Piper reported that the survey, conducted over a period of 13 days between the hours of 8 A.M. and 4 P.M., indicated that only 28 persons utilized the laundry room and stated his opinion that an additional laundry room was not necessary. Commissioners concurred with Mr. Piper’s recommendations.

Executive Director’s Report

Operations

	1 Br.	2 Br.
Move-Ins:	2	0
Move-Outs:	2	0
Vacancies:	1	0
Approved Applications:	7	0
Applications in processing:	3	0
Applications on waiting list:	0	0

Evicted Tenants Visiting Hilltop Apartments

Director Cousino discussed difficulties encountered when evicted tenants visited Hilltop Apartments. Following brief discussion, Commissioners agreed to discuss this item at a later date.

Michigan Public Act 18 of 1933 as Amended

Director Cousino discussed Public Act 18, State of Michigan, and specified the portion which reads: “The Business that the Commission may perform shall be conducted in a public meeting of the Commission housing compliance with the Open Meetings Act.”

New Business

Resolution #HHC 2002-09 – Modification of Hilltop Apartments Dwelling Lease

Vice President Field, supported by Commissioner Skiver, moved to adopt Resolution #HHC 2002-09, which made minor changes to the existing Hilltop Apartments Dwelling Lease, effective January 07, 2002. The motion carried unanimously.

Resolution #HHC 2002-11- Accepting Audit 2001 Report

Commissioner Skiver, supported by Vice president Field, moved to adopt Resolution #HHC 2002-11, to accept the 2001 Audit as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Resolution #HHC 2002-12- Disposal of two refrigerators listed in inventory

Vice president Field, supported by Commissioner Skiver, moved to adopt Resolution #HHC 2002-12, with a revision to show the total amount of $217.70, which removed two non-functioning refrigerators from the current inventory. The motion carried unanimously.

Draft Vehicle Use Policy

Director Cousino provided each Commissioner with a photocopy of a draft Vehicle Use Policy, as requested by President Vear during an earlier meeting. Following discussion, Director Cousino and President Vear suggested that certain restrictions included in the draft policy, including hours of driving and a potential employee insurance accident deductible, be eliminated, and recommended that the policy be sent to the Commission’s attorney for review. Commissioners concurred with Ms. Vear’s and Mr. Cousino’s recommendations.

Grant Reports

CFP 2000

Director Cousino reported that the dead bolt/passage locks had been installed at Hilltop Apartments, as specified under the Commission’s CFP 2000 grant. Mr. Piper reported that the recessed lighting project has an approximate start date of February 4^th, and that the hallway border project was in process.

CFP 2001

Truck Purchase

Director Cousino stated the expected arrival of a truck, included as a work item under the Commission’s FY 2002 CFP grant, was January 14, 2002.

Shelving

Director Cousino stated that Dale Mason Construction had been awarded the contract on the shelving project, scheduled as a work item under the Commission’s FY 2001 CFP grant, and Maintenances Supervisor Paul Piper stated that the project was scheduled to begin January 7, 2002.

Reports of Committees and Subcommittees

There were no reports from Committees or Subcommittees.

Unfinished Business

By-Laws Revision

Director Cousino stated that recommended revisions to the Commission’s By-Laws had been sent to City Council. Mr. Cousino stated that the revised By-Laws would be presented for possible adoption and ratification following approval from City Council..

DART Rental of Smoking Lounge

Mr. Piper reported that an antenna tower and antenna had been installed. Mr. Cousino stated that he anticipated execution of the Lease Agreement in the near future.