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

Call to Order

The regular monthly meeting of the Hillsdale Housing Commission was held in the Community Room of Hilltop Apartments on Thursday, April 06, 2006, and was called to order at 12:10 p.m. by President Doty.

Roll Call

Public Hearing – FY 2006 Annual Plan

Director Cousino stated that the Commission’s FY 2006 Annual Plan had been posted for more than 45 days public comment, and that no comments had been received.  Mr. Cousino stated that notice of the public hearing had been advertised in the Hillsdale Daily News.  Finally, Mr. Cousino stated that he had met with members of the Commission-appointed Resident’s Advisory Board and comments had been incorporated into the Plan.  

President Doty asked for any additional public comments regarding the Plan.  None were presented.  Commissioner Field, supported by Commissioner Batt, moved to adopt the Hillsdale Housing Commission’s FY 2006 Annual Plan as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.

Additions to Agenda

No additions to the agenda were presented.

Minutes - Regular Meeting, February 02, 2006

Commissioner Field recommended amending the minutes as presented to include discussion regarding a “Hometown Hero” article in the Hillsdale Daily News honoring Janet Johnson, a resident of Hilltop Apartments.  Commissioner Batt, supported by Commissioner Field, moved to accept the minutes as amended.  The motion carried unanimously.

Residents and Visitors with Commission Business

Maintenance Person

Hilltop Apartments resident Ruth Pauken (112) asked board members when Executive Director Alton Cousino would hire a new Maintenance Supervisor for Hilltop Apartments.  Mr. Cousino stated that the position would be filled in the near future.  General discussion ensued.

CCTV System

Ella Asaro (311) asked why Hilltop Apartments Comcast Cablevision subscribers could no longer receive the closed-circuit television camera signal from the lobby.  Director Cousino reported that Comcast had informed him that they were using all available channels and the Commission would not be allowed to broadcast this signal on their equipment.  Mr. Cousino and board members recommended that tenants who wish to use this service connect to the Commission’s own internal antenna system. 

Several residents expressed concern and again requested that Mr. Cousino broadcast the signal over Comcast’s network.  Mr. Cousino stated that the Commission did not own Comcast’s cable network and therefore could not preempt existing programming on Comcast-owned channels.  However, he stated that a few residents would still be able to receive a partially-acceptable signal, at least for the time being.  Mr. Cousino stated that the equipment was Comcast’s, and reiterated that staff could not control content on their equipment.

Unauthorized Guests

Several residents presented comments regarding unauthorized guests at Hilltop Apartments.  Residents stated that other tenants were letting people into Hilltop Apartments.  Director Cousino stated that he would circulate a standard memo in the near future.

Accounts Payable Report/Bills

Bills in the amount of $68,894.82 were presented for payment.  Commissioner Batt, supported by Commissioner Field, moved to accept the Accounts Payable Report and pay the bills as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.  

President Doty asked if previous employees had received a prorated portion of their accumulated sick time, as stated in the Commission’s Personnel Policy.  Mr. Cousino stated that the board had historically paid the entire amount to former employees, except in one instance.  Ms. Doty requested that this amount be reported for discussion at a future meeting.

Maintenance Supervisor’s Report

Voluntary Termination of Maintenance Supervisor Paul Piper

Director Cousino reported that Maintenance Supervisor Paul Piper had recently voluntarily terminated employment to seek other employment opportunities.  Mr. Cousino stated that a replacement employee had been hired and would be starting in the near future.

Executive Director’s Report

HHC Fiduciary Issues

CD Purchases

As discussed previously, Mr. Cousino reported the purchase of two certificates of deposits to help replenish the Commission’s reserve accounts. 

Part-Time Office Help

No action occurred on this item.  Board members agreed to hold a special meeting in the near future regarding this item.

HUD Legal Contract Clause

Director Cousino reported that HUD had recently issued a memo recommending the insertion of certain contractual clauses in the Commission’s existing contract for legal services.  Mr. Cousino stated his opinion that the recommended clauses were not statutory and appeared to prevent representation by the Commission’s legal counsel during HUD reviews.  Mr. Cousino therefore stated the he did not modify the existing contract as recommended during recent contract renewals.  Commissioners concurred with Mr. Cousino’s recommendations.

PHADA HUD Asset Management Literature

Mr. Cousino displayed literature from the Public Housing Authorities Director’s Association (PHADA), detailing reasons why that organization and other groups were objecting to HUD’s plan for implementing draconian asset management procedures, anticipated in the near future.  General discussion ensued.

NAHRO Journal of Housing Magazine

Mr. Cousino reported that the Commission was now receiving six copies of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) trade magazine, the Journal of Housing.  Mr. Cousino asked if board members were interested in continuing to receive this magazine at the meeting.  Board members requested that the magazines be forwarded to their offices and/or homes.  Mr. Cousino said that he would contact the circulation department in the near future.

PHADA Protests HUD Secretary Comments

Director Cousino reported that PHADA recently submitted a formal protest regarding HUD Secretary Jackson’s comments at a recent House of Representatives appropriations hearing.  Mr. Cousino stated that the PHADA report indicated that Secretary Jackson said, “I was a housing authority director at three PHAs; I know the caliber of people running the housing authorities and they are not doing their job [sic].”  Mr. Cousino expressed his alarm over these comments, especially since he stated his opinion that the Secretary should be attempting to obtain more Congressional funding for public housing – not deriding PHAs – and so found the comments especially inappropriate at an appropriations hearing.  Mr. Cousino provided this testimony as further evidence of the current administration’s lack of compassion for PHAs, as discussed at previous meetings.

Commissioner Orientation – Application Process Flowchart

Mr. Cousino provided board members with a recently-designed Application Process Flowchart, intended to give a broad overview of the application/waiting list process for public housing.

Grant Reports

No action occurred on this item.

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

New Business

Resolution #HHC 2006-05 – Accept 06/30/2005 Audit Report

Director Cousino provided each board member with a copy of the Commission’s 06/30/2005 Audit Report and presented his opinion that the auditors, Sailor Khan & Co., had done a very commendable job.  Mr. Cousino reported that the audit contained one finding – that the Commission had overspend during the fiscal year when subsidies were drastically reduced and CFP funds had been delayed.  Mr. Cousino recommended acceptance of the Audit Report with this finding.  Following discussion, Commissioner Field, supported by Commissioner Batt, moved to accept the FYE 06/30/2005 Audit Report as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.

MHDA HUD Intervention/Contractor Legal Action

Mr. Cousino stated that the board of the Michigan Housing Director’s Association (MHDA), of which he was a board member, had recently begin compiling complaints regarding actions by the Detroit office of HUD in response to several member complaints.  Mr. Cousino also reported that a PHA contractor was also considering legal action, including a possible injunction against this office for alleged wrongdoing during a site review.  General discussion ensued.

Reasonable Accommodations Request – Waive Unit Transfer Fees

Mr. Cousino reported that a resident of Hilltop Apartments who resided in a Section 504-equipped apartment had submitted a Reasonable Accommodations Request (RAR) to request that the Commission waive a portion of the existing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies.   Mr. Cousino stated that the RAR specifically requested a waiver of the clause requiring payment of unit turnover fees for such a move. 

Following discussion, Board members asked the resident presenting the RAR whether funds were available to pay for this transfer.  The resident stated that this information would be made available at a later date.

City Telephone System

Director Cousino and President Doty reported prior informal discussion regarding implementation of the City’s phone system at Commission’s offices.  Mr. Cousino and Ms. Doty stated their opinion that the Commission was spending an excessive amount of money for telephone line charges and stated that the City had previously invited the Commission to participate in the City’s phone network but the Commission had lacked infrastructure funding at that time.  Mr. Cousino recommended that the Commission attempt to determine whether this offer was still available, and the approximate cost.  Following discussion, Commissioners requested that Mr. Cousino attempt to determine initial and long-range costs, if the offer was still available from the City of Hillsdale.  Mr. Cousino stated that he would provide this information at a later date.

Adjournment

Commissioner Batt, supported by Commissioner Field, moved to adjourn.  The motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 01:12 pm.