08/18/2015 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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requested additional HUD held funds from HUD due to the fact that PHA has spent more in HAP costs than the PHA had been funded. Process was unexpectedly simple and HUD deposited and extra $25K for July & August in our Section 8 account. REAC Inspection — August 10th, 2015. Last year PHA score was 75; this year score was 76. Maintenance staff worked extremely hard on grounds and units to correct all possible problems. Inspector told Mrs. Ruthart that PHA's main problem was not the grounds or the buildings that it was the tenants' housekeeping and not reporting damages that were our main deductions. One unit got 0 points because of its housekeeping. The PHA is in the process of eviction on this tenant due to PHA's repeated attempt to get this tenant to keep her unit sanitary. Ms. Cherry asked if the PHA does monthly inspection and Mrs. Ruthart explained that the PHA does annual inspections of all units and HUD comes in once a year and does an inspection of 10% of the units (24). Mrs. Cherry asked how HUD chooses the units to be inspected. Mrs. Ruthart explained that the inspector has a computer program that chooses the units randomly through the HUD Systems program. Ms. Cherry stated her concerns about things she has seen and receives complaints about and Mrs. Ruthart explained that if they will call in to the PHA and report problems they will be fixed. Mr. Savage asked if there is a report process that proves that they reported it and it was not fixed. Mrs. Ruthart explained that she attended a meeting on the 17t' of August called "Ask the Director ". This was a request of Kelly Crawford, Social Service Coordinator. Only 10 tenants showed up at the meeting, but received a lot of information from them. Ms. Cherry explained that she knows that in the past tenants have not complained or reported things because they feared retaliation. She said she hoped that things change and Mrs. Ruthart assured Ms. Cherry that the PHA goal is to change a lot of things. Mr. Savage said he thought it would be good if the tenant and PHA had a system of documentation of items reported to make sure they were fixed. Mrs. Ruthart assured Mr. Savage and the Board of Commissioners that she was willing to do everything in her power to change this and that she told all tenants at the "Ask the Director" Meeting to please call her at Extension 26 if things like this happened. Copies of the 3 EHS Findings were given to the Board and explained that these were fixed as soon as they were found and reported to the REAC inspection as required. Ms. Hearn stated that the smoke alarms being inoperable is a safety hazard and asked if it because of tenants. Mrs. Ruthart explained that both were not the tenant's faults the smoke alarms were inoperable due to faulty wiring or bad battery and the tenant not aware that they were not working. Ms. Cherry discussed the inspections for Section 8 Tenants. She said that she knew of a house that was inspected with no working fire detector and said that the house ended up catching on fire due to a faulty wired ceiling fan. She also stated that the Fire Marshall lied and said that the smoke detector was faulty. Mrs. Ruthart explained that the inspector would not have passed a unit without a working smoke detector. She said there was one but it was not hooked up. Mrs. Ruthart explained that the tenant should not have signed the inspection if something was wrong. Ms. Cherry stated people desperate for housing will sign anything to get into a house and that the PHA just needs to make sure the inspections are done correctly. Mr. Savage asked if that happens does it hold up the tenant from getting to move in. Mrs. Ruthart explained that in a case like that, the inspector gives the landlord only 24 hours to fix safety & health issues. Board of Commissioner's Training - Mary Ann Russ, Dallas HA ED, has offered to do Training to all Board Members. The Board of Commissioners agreed on August 28, 2015 from 8 am to 2 pm. Mrs. Ruthart told the Board that she would get in touch with Ms. Russ and try to get it set up. 2