Hillsdale Housing Commission
45 N. West Street ¨ Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 439-1210 ¨ Fax: (517) 439-9577 ¨ E-mail: mail@hillsdalehousing.org
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| Minutes - Regular Meeting February 03, 2005 Call to OrderThe regular monthly meeting of the Hillsdale Housing Commission was held in the Community Room of Hilltop Apartments on Thursday, February 03, 2005, and was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by President Karri Doty. Roll Call
Additions to AgendaThere were no additions to the agenda. Minutes - Regular Meeting January 06, 2005Vice president Vear, supported by Commissioner Eames, moved to accept the minutes of the January 06, 2005 meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Residents and Visitors with Commission BusinessThere were no residents or visitors with Commission business. Accounts Payable Report/BillsBills in the amount of $27,004.53 were presented for payment. Commissioner Eames, supported by Commissioner Field, approved the Accounts Payable Report and pay the bills upon correction of a typo on ck #12765. The motion carried unanimously. Maintenance Supervisor’s ReportVice president Vear moved to accept the Maintenance Supervisor’s Report as presented. Commissioner Field supported the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Maintenance Supervisor Paul Piper requested Board approval for attendance to Inspection Group UPCS training in Saginaw, MI March 30th and 31st. Vice president Vear, supported by Commissioner Field, moved to approve Mr. Piper’s attendance at the training seminar. The motion carried unanimously. Director Cousino commended Maintenance Supervisor Piper for his diligent research on cost efficiency while operating under the currently tight budget. Executive Director’s Report
FY 2005 Executive Director’s Annual EvaluationDirector Cousino reported a spreadsheet detailing the aggregate total for the FY 2004 Executive Director’s Annual Evaluation had been completed and distributed to the Commissioners. No action need be taken on this item at this time. FY 2006 Annual 5-Year PlanDirector Cousino reported the draft FY 2006 Annual Plan/5-YearPlan is in process and is due for submission to HUD in early April. Mr. Cousino stated a Resident’s Advisory Board meeting has been scheduled for the Friday following this meeting to review the draft plan with Hilltop residents. Director Cousino further stated a public notice of the draft posting will appear in the newspaper and a public meeting will be held at the April Housing Commission meeting. Board members gave unanimous approval for posting. No formal action need be taken on this item at this time. FY 2004 Annual PlanDirector Cousino distributed copies of a letter received from the Detroit office of HUD approving the FY 2004 Annual Plan to the Commissioners. Mr. Cousino stated no action need be taken on this item. Commissioner OrientationDue to conflicts in schedules, the Commissioner Orientation scheduled for Wednesday, January 26, 2005 was cancelled. Director Cousino recommended a new date be set for Commissioner Orientation. Commissioners set a new date for February 16, 2005 at 12:00 at the ISD Building. 2004 Audit PresentationDirector Cousino reported that, as requested at the last meeting, a quote was obtained for an audit presentation from Sailor Khan & Co. The quote received was $600.00 -$650.00, nearly one half the cost of the audit proposal. After some discussion, board members agreed not to schedule an audit presentation at this time, however, requested that audit presentation costs be included in future audit bids. FEMA Allocation BoardDirector Cousino reported he had been invited to sit on the FEMA Allocation Board by United Way for the 2005 allocation of funds. Mr. Cousino reported that he attended the meeting with Commissioners Vear and Hudson. No action need be taken on this item. Grant ReportsCFP 2004Director Cousino reported that, as discussed at the last regular meeting, all CFP2004 funds have been made available. Mr. Cousino reported that the Housing Commission will be in good standing until the end of FY 2005 (June 30, 2005). CFP 2005Director Cousino reported that, as discussed at the previous meeting, 2005 funds have not yet been approved by the Appropriations Committee. Mr. Cousino stated all updated information will be presented to the Board as it is received. Reports of Committees and SubcommitteesThere were no reports of committees or subcommittees. Unfinished BusinessEmployee Waiver RequestDirector Cousino reported that, as previously requested, he met with President Doty regarding employee health insurance; the rising costs and its impact on the operating budget. Mr. Cousino reported the following proposals: 1. Adopt a policy in which employees will pay a portion of the premium; 10%, 15%, 20%. Mr. Cousino stated the City of Hillsdale’s employees currently pay a 20% co-pay on the premium. 2. Reduce the insurance waiver from “2-person” to “single”. Director Cousino and Commissioner Doty recommended an employee premium co-pay and a reduction in the insurance waiver to “single” status at this time. Lengthy discussion ensued. Commissioner Eames moved that a 15% employee co-pay on the insurance premium beginning next payroll be implemented in the next payroll and to revisit this matter at the next fiscal year. Commissioner Field supported the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Eames moved to reduce the current “2-person” insurance waiver to a “single” person insurance waiver to be in effect for the next payroll and review the matter on an annual basis during the budget review. Vice president Vear supported that motion and the motion carried unanimously. CFR Regulation – Over-Income FamiliesDirector Cousino reported he and Commissioners Doty and Hudson, Administrative Assistant Michelle Loren met to discuss possible new legislation regarding over-income families residing in public housing. Mr. Cousino reported that information will be gathered and presented as a subcommittee in the near future. No action need be taken on this item at this time. New BusinessFHEO Policy Waiver Request – Unit Transfer Fee WaiverDirector Cousino reported a unit transfer had taken place at the request of a resident due to “medical reasons”. Mr. Cousino reported he had granted the transfer request and the resident agreed to pay the necessary charges incurred due to the transfer. Mr. Cousino stated that this is HHC policy unless the transfer falls into categories stated in the ACOP. Director Cousino reported that the resident has since been in contact with HUD’s Fair Housing office in Detroit regarding the transfer charges. The resident feels that because the transfer was for “medical reasons”, no charges should be incurred. Mr. Cousino reported that Fair Housing then contacted him and informed him that, regardless of Commission policy, the Housing Commission was to absorb the cost of the transfer. Mr. Cousino responded that he could not act outside of policy and that this was a Board decision. Mr. Cousino requested the Fair Housing office provide him with documentation of U.S. Code regarding the Housing Commission’s handling of this matter Director Cousino distributed a copy of the letter received in response to Mr. Cousino’s request. Mr. Cousino asked that the Commissioners review this letter and discuss the matter again at the next meeting. Mr. Cousino also stated the tenant has not yet been asked to pay the transfer charges and will not ask for payment until a final decision is made by the Board as to how to proceed in this matter. Reasonable Accommodations Request – BathtubDirector Cousino reported a Reasonable Accommodations Request (RAR) had been received for a Hilltop Apartments resident who reports difficulty getting into and out of the bathtub. The request is for the removal of the existing bathtub and replacement with a walk-in shower. Director Cousino stated cost information for such an accommodation would be gathered as well as research into possible alternatives. Mr. Cousino pointed out that the cost of such a modification would also include the cost of restoration back to the original condition upon move-out. Vice president Vear suggested contacting the Hillsdale County Senior Services Center for equipment that could possibly satisfy the resident’s needs as well as contacting FIA for other resources (programs and finances). At the Board’s request, Director Cousino stated he would pursue this matter and present his findings at a later meeting. AdjournmentThe meeting was adjourned by President Doty at 1:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Loren, Administrative Assistant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
