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Home My WebLink About2000-10-13 Regular MeetingSTATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF TARRANT CITY OF GRAPEVINE The Board of Commissioners of the Grapevine Housing Authority met in Regular Session on this the 13th day of October, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room, Grapevine Housing Authority, with the following members present to -wit: Marian Nicastro Chair Lloyd O. Latta, Jr Vice -Chair Linda Robbins Financial Officer L. E. Holmes Commissioner Doris Waite Resident Commissioner Constituting a quorum, with the following also present: Debra Wells Executive Director Matthew Boyle Counsel Bill Gaither Administrative Service Director Numerous Citizens GHA Staff CALL TO ORDER Chairwoman Marian Nicastro called the meeting to order at 10:00 A.M. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY Item 1. Rent Delinquency and Information Sheet The Secretary reported to the Board on the rent delinquencies, number of empty units and statistical information on waiting list for Public Housing from September 25 through October 12, 2000. Also, reported was statistical information for Section 8 waiting list for the same period. NEW BUSINESS Item 1. Consideration of Minutes of Boarding Meeting held September 28, 2000 Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Robbins to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion prevailed by the following votes: Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None Item 2. Consideration of the 2001 Budget and take any necessary action Miller and Associates prepared the 2001 Budget based on information provided by the Executive Director. The total budget is limited by the amount of rent collected plus the subsidy allowed by HUD. The 2001 Budget is comparable to the 2000 Budget. Travel and Training was increase to respond to the auditor's recommendation that the executive director and staff attend training due to the turnover in staff. 1 Commissioner Robbins, seconded by Commissioner Waite to approve and adopt the 2001 Budget. The motion prevailed by the following votes: Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None Item 3. action Consideration of revisions to the 2000 Budget and take any necessary Revisions to the 2000 Budget prepared by Miller and Associates was presented to the Board. HUD requires housing authorities to revise the current year budget before yearend when line items have a negative balance. The revisions do not change the bottom line numbers in the budget; it only realigns the individual line items. When the 2000 Budget was prepared last year it did not take into account the Inter -local Agreement with the City of Grapevine or contracts resulting from the agreement. The line items effected by the inter -local agreement had to be revised to show actual expenditures. Commissioner Latta, seconded by Commissioner Holmes to approve the revisions to the 2000 Budget. The motion prevailed by the following votes: Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None Item 4. Consideration of the following items: 2000 Annual Plan, Dwelling Lease Admission & Occupancy Policy, Security Deposit Policy, Rent Collection Policy, Grievance Procedure Policy, Pet Policy, Eviction Policy, One Strike Policy, Community Service Self Sufficiency Policy, Housekeeping Standards Policy, Administrative Plan. Take any necessary action on the above. Due to some confusion at the public hearing on October 2, 2000 it was suggested that the floor be open to comments from the audience. A member of the audience had some concerns whether exception rents were being utilized in the Section 8 program and whether landlords were being marketed. Several residents stated their concerns with the Housekeeping policy in regards to not being allowed to smoke in their units. They also voiced concerns in regard to some items in the Pet Policy and Security Deposit Policy. Commissioner Waite, seconded by Robbins move to approve all the items under Item 4 with the exception of the Housekeeping Policy, Pet Security Policy and Community Service Policy. The motion prevailed by the following votes: Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None The following changes were made to the Housekeeping Policy: Item A. Letter J. changed to read -"Smoking in units is strongly discouraged for the safety, health and welfare of the other residents." This item is to be revisited at a later meeting after research information can be compiled. Item B. #6 add -No major car repairs to be performed in parking area. Commissioner Robbins, seconded by Commissioner Latta to approve Housekeeping Policy as amended. The motion prevailed by the following votes: 2 Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None The following changes were made to the Pet Policy: Section 1, Item 7: add sentence to read "Pet deposit shall be paid no later than 90 days after execution of the lease". Item 5 is to be deleted from policy due to state ruling. Item J. 1. add: "All fish/turtles in an aquarium or bowl of five (5) gallons or more require a $100.00 pet deposit". Item F. 14 add: "Permission for Guests visiting with pets for 24 hours or more is at the discretion of the Executive Director. Visiting pets will be subject to all provisions of this policy. Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Latta to approve Pet Policy as revised. The motion prevailed by the following votes: Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None Commissioner Latta, seconded by Commission Holmes to approve Community Service Policy. The motion prevailed by the following votes: Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Holmes, Robbins, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None Item 5 Report from Advisory Board Meeting held October 11, 2000 Judy Bentley reported on the Advisory Board meeting held October 11, 2000. All changes to the policies were presented to the Residents for their review and comments. The residents were supportive of the changes to the policies except for a few issues of concern. The first item of concern was the non-smoking clause in the Housekeeping Standard Policy. Both smokers and non-smokers voiced their concerns over not being allowed to smoke in their own homes. They questioned the legality of being told they could not do something in the privacy of their own home. The second item of concern was the security deposit and pet deposit increase. They stated that with all the other deposits that are necessary at time of rental, i.e. utility deposits, the prospective tenant would not be able to come up with all the funds necessary for deposits. They inquired whether the applicant would be turned away if they could not pay the deposits. The residents were reassured that we would work with a prospective tenant if the deposits were a problem. The third item of concern was with some items in the Pet Policy. The residents suggested that all pets should not require a $100.00 pet deposit and would like the list of pets to be changed. They gave a gold fish in a bowl as an example of a pet that should not require a deposit of $100.00. They recommended that the types of pets should be revised and that a statement be added to the pet policy that would hold the pet owner responsible for any damages caused by the pet. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Lloyd, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, offered a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. The Motion prevailed by the following vote: 3 Ayes: Nicastro, Latta, Robbins, Holmes, Waite Nayes: None Absent: None PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE GRAPEVINE HOUSING AUTHORITY on this the 26th day of January, 2001. ATTEST: 03t-.43. Debra L. Wells, Secretary APPROVED: 4