11/17/2015 MINUTESHOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PARIS
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
100 GEORGE WRIGHT HOMES
MINUTES OF November 17, 2015
Present at the Meeting:
Gary Savage — Chairman of the Board of Commissioners
Dewayne Dangerfield — Commissioner of the Board of Commissioners
Brenda Cherry — Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners
Sally Ruthart — Executive Director
Patricia Pridemore - Program Manager
1. Meeting Called to order at 12:32 pm on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 by Chairman of
the Board of Commissioners, Gary Savage.
2. Having three Board Members present, a quorum, Mr. Savage thanked and welcomed
everyone to the meeting.
3. Citizens' Forum Opened — No comments — Citizens' Forum closed.
4. Minutes from the October 20, 2015 Meeting were tabled until the next meeting due to
Ms. Cherry wanting details on minutes regarding conversation about attorney that was
contacted and any other significant information also included in the minutes. Tabled with
a motion from Brenda Cherry and seconded by Dewayne Dangerfield. Tabled 3 -0.
A conversation was also had regarding that a quorum has to be present to discuss any
information. Mr. Savage explained that any Board Member can discuss information with
the Executive Director but that nothing can be acted upon without a discussion with a
quorum of the Board of Commissioners.
NEW BUSINESS:
5. Mrs. Ruthart reported on the following:
a. Occupancy:
Public Housing has 7 vacancies — 1 offline due to car running into unit which the
insurance company is paying $4600 and we have 3 bids — the lowest bid should be
through with the unit before Thanksgiving; 1 offline due to major foundation problems; 1
offline due to major mold issues; and 4 units have been offered.
Waiting lists — 1 bedroom = 54
2 bedroom = 3
3 bedroom = 2
4 bedroom = 2
Section 8 — 120
Ms. Cherry asked if the Section 8 is the Vouchers. Mrs. Ruthart stated yes, it's called the
HCV — Housing Choice Voucher Program, and it is a separate Waiting List from the
Public Housing Waiting List. Mr. Savage questioned if someone can come up to the PHA
to see if they are eligible before filling out an application. Mrs. Ruthart explained that we
can tell them if they are income eligible but they need to fill out the application to get a
definite answer. The PHA could be set up for a lawsuit if they tell a person they qualify
before running all the background screenings, etc. PHA does not accept Section 8
applications until the Section 8 Waiting List is open. PHA keeps it closed so that
applicants won't sit on the waiting list for years.
Ms. Cherry asked why is George Wright and Booker T. almost all black? White people
don't want housing? I know that can't be true. Mrs. Ruthart explained that units are filled
by date and time of application. When a unit becomes ready for occupancy, the next
applicant on the waiting list is offered that unit. Ms. Cherry said it looks like only black
people apply. There are probably more white people than black on housing considering
the population of Paris since its only 22% black and there are just as many poor white
people as black people. It's segregated in a way, Booker T and George Wright, to a
certain extent. Mrs. Pridemore explained that a lot of the people that do apply, the
younger people, are the 1 and 2 bedroom people and are usually the younger black
people, and I don't know why. We can show you on the waiting list their race. Ms.
Cherry asked on the Voucher List too? Is the voucher list mostly black? Mrs. Pridemore
responded no, it's a mixture of both. I would say more black people than white people do
apply for public housing. I'm the one that processes them and I have no idea why. Ms.
Cherry asked do ya'11 keep a record of the racial makeup of both Public housing and
Section 8. Mrs. Pridemore responded yes, when they are put into the system we put what
race they are and you can pull a report off of our system. Mr. Savage said you can pull
off national averages if there's a way to do that. Mrs. Pridemore said we can pull reports
but as far as picking who goes where, we don't do that. Mr. Savage asked can we get
demographic reports. Ms. Cherry said of the Section 8 and the Public Housing. Mrs.
Ruthart said we can do that. Mr. Savage said when people apply for housing can they
specify where they want to live? Mrs. Ruthart explained no, but when they are offered a
unit and they don't like where that one is, they can refuse that offer and go to the bottom
of the waiting list and hope for one that is where they want to live. Ms. Cherry said that
people need housing badly and will take what they can get. Mrs. Pridemore said you
would be surprised how many people do that. They get to deny 2 offers and once they do
that they have to reapply, because every time they do that it's more vacancy time. Ms.
Cherry asked if they do that they are subject to wait a year? Mrs. Pridemore explained
that is only on the one bedroom waiting list because the PHA only has a few 1 bedroom
units. Mrs. Ruthart explained that all the "new sites" are 3 and 4 bedrooms. Just like 1839
Jackson Court has been offered 4 or 5 times and is not filled yet. Mrs. Pridemore
explained that at the new sites the tenant pays for their own electric and gas and some
people can't get their utilities on so they deny the offer or just don't show up. Ms. Cherry
asked about Price Circle and Park Garden North. Mrs. Pridemore explained that Price
Circle (6 units) is the PHA's but Park Garden North is not PHA's.
b. Financial: PH Account: $738,030.79
Sec 8 Acct: $402,888.09
Maintenance expenses are over due to repairs to long -term tenants of cabinets, carpets,
flooring, and keeping them updated. Mr. Savage asked about why the administrative
costs were up in October. Mrs. Ruthart explained that those costs were up in October
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because we had to pay 2 employees all of their vacation when they left employment. The
non routine maintenance is water leaks, etc. — the things that you can't budget for.
Section 8 Utilization Report is looking better as we go. We are still trying to get to 293
Vouchers and we are currently at 281. Going over on HAP costs every month but
requesting HUD held reserves and receiving them as our expenses increase above our
funding.
C. PII — Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information to be posted for approval.
Required by HUD.
d. Mold Problems Reported to PHA from Tenants — 6 reports of mold: PLEASE
SEE ATTACHED.
Ms. Cherry said at the last meeting I said I would go door to door which I have started
but I'm asking that this wait until next month so I have a chance to report because some
of the people weren't home and it takes some time. I haven't finished, but there are more
than these. Mrs. Ruthart asked if she would give me some unit numbers so that we can
get started on them. Ms. Cherry said I have a list at the house because I was going to ask
for it to wait, but I can get it to you. I do know that the apartment where Bobby Yates
used to stay (413), so 414 I have talked to her. There was this man that said the
maintenance men came and painted over the mold right before the inspection. I think that
the maintenance men should already know where the mold is. There was one woman that
said the PHA has been providing her bleach. So I think the maintenance men have an
idea where the mold is especially if they have been painting over it before the inspection.
But, like I said, I will go door to door and talk to everybody that's calling and find out.
The ones that I already talked to, I will get that to you. Mrs. Ruthart said OK.
e. 2015 Employee Longevity Bonuses — Last years was $7625. This year's will be
$5200.00. The top 3 longest standing employees Denny Head, Benny Goforth, and Sally
Ruthart — two are no longer employed at the PHA and Sally is not included in list — only
for other employees. Ms. Cherry asked if the Maintenance Men get bonuses. Mrs. Ruthart
responded yes. Ms. Cherry asked if all these people were included in the recent raises.
Mrs. Ruthart responded yes in July. Mr. Savage asked how long we have been doing this.
Mrs. Ruthart responded 4 years. Motion was made to approve by Dewayne Dangerfield
and seconded by Gary Savage. Passed 3 -0.
RESOLUTIONS:
2015 -005 Rent Collection Policy - Motion by Dewayne Dangerfield and
seconded by Brenda Cherry. Passed 3 -0.
2015 -006 By -Laws — Motion by Brenda Cherry and seconded by Dewayne
Dangerfield. Passed 3 -0.
2015 -007 Personnel Policy — Motion by Brenda Cherry and seconded by
Dewayne Dangerfield. Passed 3 -0.
Ms. Cherry suggested a lock box be placed at the PHA since we will be closed on Fridays
and some people may get paid on Fridays. Mrs. Ruthart said she would check into that.
Mr. Savage had a question about transferring employees "equal or maximum salary ".
Mrs. Ruthart explained that to her that was like a workforce reduction and had to transfer
and employee from one job to another with same pay.
2015 -008 Lease — Motion by Dewayne Dangerfield and seconded by Brenda
Cherry. Passed 3 -0.
Ms. Cherry asked what would happen if a tenant had an amendment that they didn't agree
with and wouldn't sign, would they be evicted. Mrs. Ruthart explained that there is a
grievance procedure that they can go through. They can get a Grievance Procedure at the
front office. Only violent crimes and drug charges are not allowed Grievances. PHA
requires some kind of proof (i.e. — Police Report) - Per the One -Strike Policy from HUD.
There was a discussion about various crimes committed and evictions.
All of the proposed changes from the September meeting were changed except for the 30
day posting of lease /policy changes. The CFR 966.6 says 30 days not 45 days which was
a proposed change but not changed.
Board Questions or comments:
Ms. Cherry asked if we had checked into the laundry mats yet. Mrs. Ruthart told her she
had not had a chance to talk to the accountant yet about the costs but she would get with
them as soon as possible. Mr. Dangerfield said he was definitely interested in working the
one at Booker T Washington.
Ms. Cherry asked if the Booker T Washington cameras were working. Mrs. Ruthart said
yes they are working.
No further business or questions, a motion for adjournment from Gary Savage and
seconded by Dewayne Dangerfield. Motion passed 3 -0. The meeting was adjourned at
1:40 pm.
APPROVED THIS day of , 2015
Sally Ruthart, Secretary
Gary Savage, Chairman
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