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08/15/2017 MINUTESHOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PARIS REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING 100 GEORGE WRIGHT HOMES MINUTES OF August 15, 2017 Present at the Meeting: Gary Savage — Chairman of the Board of Commissioners TK Haynes — Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Dewayne Dangerfield — Commissioner of the Board of Commissioners Brenda Cherry - Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Sally Ruthart — Executive Director Kim Snow — PHA Inspector Patricia Pridemore — PHA Program Manager Tiffany Cherry Shaquanda Cotton 1. Meeting Called to order at 12:40 pm on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 by Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Gary Savage. 2. Having four Board Members present, a quorum, Mr. Savage thanked and welcomed everyone to the meeting. 3. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman - Chairman - Ms. Cherry nominated Gary Savage for Chairman which was seconded by Mr. Dangerfield. Passed 4-0. Vice Chairman - Ms. Cherry nominated TK Haynes for Vice Chairman which was seconded by Dewayne Dangerfield. Passed 4-0. 4. Citizens' Forum Opened — Tiffany Cherry read a letter she wrote regarding the way Shaquanda Cotton and herself were treated by PHA staff on July 6, 2017. (All Board Members were given a copy of the letter) 5. Minutes from the June 20, 2017 —Minutes were approved with a motion made by Mr. Haynes and seconded by Mr. Savage. Passed 4-0. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: a. Ms. Ruthart reported to the Board regarding a question that Mr. Savage had about a raccoon problem at George Wright Homes at the last Board meeting. Ms. Ruthart explained that she talked to the tenant and the tenant said there was a very large raccoon that came out every day and went into the dumpster. She also told Ms. Ruthart that they throw their scraps out to feed him and her children enjoy watching the animal. Mr. Savage suggested the PHA call the City to put out a trap to catch the animal to prevent possible injuries from the raccoon. Ms. Ruthart said she would call them. b. Ms. Ruthart explained to the Board that the PHA is updating our information regarding Public Housing flat rents that were raised to 80% of Fair Market Rents before PHA sends a letter to the Director of HUD Fort Worth and Washington DC HUD. 7. NEW BUSINESS: A.a. Occupancy Report — 18 vacancies in Public Housing. 1 moving in today and 5 are offered and the rest are in make ready status. Section 8 Program had 293 vouchers leased and made it to 100% lease up and will try to stay at 100%. b. Financial Report — presented bank statements and charts from the accountant for PH and Section 8.2017 CFP should be available this month. c. Laundries at George Wright and Booker T Washington were opened on Monday, August 14, 2017. PHA hired all that applied for the attendant position. 9 tenants are working at the George Wright Laundry and 3 are working at the Booker T Washington Laundry. Prices are $1 per wash and 75 cents for a 45 minute dryer. Resident Council picked the hours of operation. Washers and dryers are operated with a card that is purchased at the George Wright Office there will be no money in the machines. B.a. Ms. Cherry talked about the mold report from July 21, 2016 regarding a plan of action from an inspection of all units regarding mold/mildew. "The PHA was going to instruct the painters not to paint over any mold and mildew but to eradicate the problem by removing sheetrock or treating areas. The second week of February we were given the whole report for each unit. On that report it was sup ose to have what was found in every single unit. In apartment 406, on about February 20 , I received a call regarding a 90 year old man in apartment 406 and he was complaining of headaches and breathing problems and he thought it was because of mold in his apartment. I did go talk to him. There was mold, there was rats and extreme amount of roaches and he didn't have anything covering his windows. His apartment was not filthy or anything except for the roaches and mold. I took pictures that day on my cell phone and they are date stamped. When I got home, I looked at the mold report and on that report you claimed that the Housing Authority replaced the sheetrock, removed and replaced caulk, cleaned under kitchen sink with Biochem and had done complete rehab of the shower/bathroom. None of that was done. So that means a government document was falsified. And his is not the only unit like that and I want to know who is responsible for that report." Ms. Ruthart: I put that report together. Ms. Cherry: I want to know who was responsible for making the claims that all of that stuff was done. Ms. Ruthart: The Maintenance Department. Ms. Cherry: And you know that because you saw that apartment. Ms. Ruthart: No I did not. Ms. Cherry: You moved the man. Ms. Ruthart: I did move the man but I did not go into the apartment. We had the Mold Inspector come and inspect that unit and there was no mold in the apartment. 2 Ms. Cherry: I took these pictures. Ms. Ruthart & Ms. Snow (Simultaneously): That's mildew. Ms. Cherry: How do you know what it is? Ms. Ruthart: Because we had it tested, it was at the last meeting that you missed. Ms. Cherry: The report says that they saw nothing onsite. Ms. Ruthart: No, that's not what it says. They took tape samples and it was not mold. There were more mold spores outside than there was in the unit. Ms. Cherry: But on that report, they said they saw nothing, they did a visual, I don't have to debate that because I have the report at home. Regardless of that, whatever this is they did not do what they claimed they did in that apartment. Ms. Ruthart: In November, yes they did. Ms. Cherry: No, that's not when that report was made. I'm talking about the report. If it was done in November then the report should have reflected that. The report indicated February. Mr. Savage: What meeting was it that you received that report, was it in February? Ms. Cherry: It was in February. So if it was done in November, I don't know why we didn't receive the report until February. I can go back through all the agendas and see what was written about it, cause regardless they did not do to this apartment what this report claims. They did not remove sheetrock or anything like that, that's what this says. And it says that they completely redone the bathroom, nothing was done to the bathroom. This is a falsified report and that's easily proved. I'm just letting you know. Mr. Savage: Can 1 just ask a question on that? When did you see that, when you went into the apartment, the guy was complaining, and you took pictures, when was that? Ms. Cherry: That was February 20`h Mr. Savage: So when that happened, did anybody come and bring that to Sally's attention? Ms. Cherry: Yeh, I talked to her and she actually moved the man to Jackson Court. And I have pictures, I don't know why deny it. The roach infestation was horrifying. Mr. Savage: Why was he moved? Ms. Ruthart: Because they asked. He did not complain to us, he complained to her. Mr. Savage: We've brought this up before, why aren't they or you come and make a complaint to the office so it's on record that you made a complaint. 3 Ms. Cherry: I did. Ms. Ruthart: They did. Her and Sharon did. We moved him and 2 months later he moved out and went into a nursing home. Mr. Savage: So let me ask this question, so you did make this complaint? Ms. Ruthart: Sharon wrote a letter. Mr. Savage: So did we investigate that further to make sure to see that all that work was done on the report? Ms. Ruthart: That was not on the report, that had nothing to do with this report. Ms. Cherry: She has the report in the office. Ms. Ruthart: He's talking about was it brought up in February about these not being done. Ms. Cherry: It happened in February. Mr. Savage: We got the report that said it was done in February, that's when we received the report, I don't know when it was done. When we heard about the issue, that we doubt that it was done, did we further investigate to see, hey, was it really done. Ms. Ruthart: No, I haven't had a complaint until now that it wasn't done. Ms. Cherry: I would've done it last month but we didn't have a meeting, ya know. And I don't think that that's really a big issue but the fact is that there was a report made that stuff was done and that's a false report. Mr. Savage: We need that report, I don't have it. Ms. Ruthart: Do you want me to go get it? Mr. Haynes: I have it. What's the number? Ms. Cherry: 406 Ms. Pridemore: He did not complain and then his family came and wanted to know why we were moving him. Ms. Cherry: I don't think it matters who complains about something if it's a problem it shouldn't matter who let you know about the problem. He's a old man who couldn't even walk out of his apartment. Ms. Ruthart: (reading) We replaced the vents, removed the A/C unit and replaced the sheetrock in the A/C closet. Did you take pictures of that? 4 Ms. Cherry: I took pictures of the kitchen sink, the bathroom and all of that. I did not open the A/C closet. Ms. Ruthart: That's where we replaced the sheetrock. Ms. Cherry: Could I see it? Ms. Pridemore: I wasn't say it matters who complains, as soon as you told her about the problem, she moved him. Its not... Ms. Cherry: My issue is not that he wasn't moved. My issue is that a false report was created regarding, and it's not the only one, I got pictures of other units that on the report it's claiming that stuff was done that was not done. That's the issue. Ya know, you gonna make a report, it needs to be accurate. Mr. Savage: So let's make sure that a false report was made and you are looking at the paper there. Is that what its saying? Ms. Cherry: It says "kitchen cabinet under sink and A/C closet behind unit and bedroom and A/C vent, window sill and walls and baseboards, flooring and A/C vent in bedroom #3. Mr. Savage: What did it say they did to that one? Ms. Cherry: It said the replaced vents, removed air condition unit and replaced sheetrock and removed and replaced caulk, cleaned under kitchen sink with Biochem complete rehab of shower and bathroom. That was not done. Ya know, we can argue back and forth, but I got pictures, got the report,... Mr. Savage: You got pictures of all those spots? except the A/C closet. Ms. Cherry: Yes, I've got pictures of all of that. Nothing was done. Mr. Savage: The A/C unit wasn't replaced? Ms. Cherry: I don't know about the A/C unit. Mr. Savage: What wasn't done on that report that ... Ms. Cherry: The bathroom was not redone. They went and searched for, the report said they searched for mildew and mold, that's what it says at the top of there, Mildew and mold. Ok let's say this is mildew, let's say its mildew, then the report is a lie. They did not put this in the report, it's horrible, do you wanna see it? I want you to see at least one picture. Mr. Haynes: The report is from that Company. Ms. Cherry: No it's not. Mr. Haynes: Not this report, I'm talking about the one ... Ms. Ruthart: From Abacus. Mr. Haynes: They inspected this unit, tested it, after he moved out. Ms. Cherry: And I got that report and they said there was nothing. They did a visual and saw nothing. Visual, and this had to have been there or covered up one or the other. This should have been in the report if they actually did anything. Mr. Haynes: When did we get that report? Ms. Ruthart: That was in the June Meeting. Mr. Savage: I might be wrong but I thought they said they found mildew. Ms. Ruthart: They took tape samples of the mildew in the window sills. Ms. Cherry: Regardless, of what they found, the Housing Authority report is false. Mr. Savage: So you are saying that the complete rehab of the bathroom was not done. Ms. Cherry: It was not. I took pictures of the shower in the bathroom and the sink because they claimed they redid all of that. (Showing pictures) Nothing was done in that bathroom. After someone goes in and checks for mildew and mold, that should not be there either. There are more apartments which people say that theirs was just painted over which the action plan said that was not to be done anymore. Mr. Savage: Over mold. Ms. Cherry: What looks like mold or mildew or whatever it is because it's supposed to be tested to see what the appropriate action is. What is Biochem and where is it purchased? Ms. Snow: It's not harmful. Ms. Cherry: But where is it purchased? Ms. Ruthart: Probably Share. Mr. Haynes: I remember what the report said. Ms. Ruthart: They tested the HVAC ducts, the window sill and the kitchen. Ms. Pridemore: And that's the report from the mold... Ms. Ruthart: Abacus, yes. Mr. Savage: That was after our repairs had been made? G Ms. Ruthart: No. Mr. Savage: What month was that? Ms. Ruthart: This is the one from June. I told them not to touch that unit after we moved him out and I sent Abacus over there to get samples. Mr. Savage: Yes, that's what I'm saying, so this mold test came after our repairs were made? Ms. Ruthart: Yes after the ones that she is talking about from a year ago. Ms. Cherry: No what I'm talking about is not from a year ago. The report is from February and the pictures are from February of this year. Mr. Haynes: That when the report was made is that from the same time the report was made? Ms. Cherry: I took the pictures about a week after the report was made. Ms. Ruthart: She's talking about a different report. She's talking about the report that was made when we went and did and inspection on every unit. In 2016, when we went to every apartment, that's the report she's talking about. Ms. Cherry: No, I'm not. On the report it mentions one specific apartment that they are going to do a few days later because the tenant wanted them to wait til she was there and that was in February. Ms. Ruthart: That's right, but all those repairs were not done in February. You can't do 234 units in February. It's from process when we started the inspections in November or October even, I don't remember when it was, we started doing repairs then. Ms. Cherry: Ok. Fine, let's say it was done in November, by February, it shouldn't be like that. Ms. Ruthart: No, if the tenant is taking care of it, it shouldn't be. Ms. Cherry: Don't blame the tenant for this empty room. The room was empty, at least this one was. And this was a 90 year old handicapped Veteran and his apartment actually was in good condition considering his disability. So to blame the tenant for this is unacceptable, it's just unacceptable. The Housing Authority needs to take responsibility when they don't do what they are supposed to do. Ms. Ruthart: So we have to go over and dry his window sill every time it sweats? Ms. Cherry: Yes. Ms. Ruthart: Really? Seriously? 7 Ms. Cherry: Yes, if the problem is bad window sills and he's not doing anything wrong, why should he be responsible for bad window sills? Ms. Ruthart: I lived in a house that was 5 years old and the windows sweat. Ms. Cherry: Here's my point. That's a problem that can either be taken care of or excuses can be made and it can continue on and then the Housing Authority will have to deal with it... Ms. Ruthart: It was not mold. Ms. Cherry: Whatever it was, that report was false. The bathroom was not completely overhauled. Ms. Pridemore: But it seems like you are just trying to find a problem. Ms. Cherry: There is a problem and I'm gonna talk about it if I'm trying to find it then so be it, but there is a problem whether I'm trying to find it, I just happen to be on it or what, there is a problem. Ms. Pridemore: And you don't know how hard we have been working to try to make sure that stuff is done right. Ms. Cherry: This is unacceptable. I don't know how hard you've been working but from November until February this should not be. Mr. Savage: I think what you are trying to say is that they said on the report that it was done and it didn't get done and that it never was done. Ms. Cherry: It never was done. Mr. Savage: That's where we need to go from here, we just need to look into that. Was it done, was it not done. You might need to email the pictures. Ms. Cherry: I can email the pictures and everything I've got. But I think ... Mr. Savage: You got any comments, Dewayne, Mr. Haynes? I don't know if we are even suppose to be discussing it here. Ms. Cherry: We're the Board. Where else would we discuss it? There is no other place to discuss it. When it's discussed all of the Board Members are supposed to be present. Mr. Savage: So your complaint, because there is no action going to be taken on this today it's not an action item. But the complaint is that, in your opinion that the staff is saying that they did work that they didn't do. Ms. Cherry: On that report, that's what happened. I don't know what they usually do, but this report, not only that but in several units that I've seen, the reports are falsified. That is just that. Rather than making excuses, ya know, fix the problem. Ya know, I've been complaining about mold issues and stuff since I got on the Board in 2015 and it's always this reaction, it's the tenant, we didn't do it, you're wrong. This shouldn't even be.. Mr. Savage: I know what you're saying, but my reaction would be, just like with the raccoon situation, I heard about that, so I brought it to their attention immediately and she got right on it. So to me, I don't understand why we are not bringing it to them you know instead of waiting til later to pull it up. Ms. Cherry: I brought it when I was told about it. Mr. Savage: The deal is you want it resolved. That's the point, we want it resolved. We want the rooms cleaned up. We want mold gone and we want the problem fixed. That's the bottom line. So the only way we are going to do that is the tenants have to come up and make their complaints. Ms. Cherry: Listen. Mr. Savage: Wait let me finish. The tenants need to come up and make their complaints, if your there with them and they have enough trust in you or another Board Member or whoever, or just an average Joe, that should be our advice to them, hey, go to the office, I'm your witness. Ms. Cherry: I'm not going to advise a 90 year old man that can't even hardly walk to go take care of it, I'll be your witness. There is no reason for that when I, he lived right there, there's nothing wrong with me saying hey this man has an issue he wants me to tell you about. There's nothing wrong with that and we shouldn't even be say that it has to be done like that, cuz it doesn't have to be done like that. Anybody can report a problem, if I saw a infestation of snakes outside, I don't have to wait for the tenant to come tell you. Mr. Haynes: Was there a written report made? Ms. Ruthart: No, she went to Lone Star Legal Aide first, she didn't come to us. Ms. Cherry: I didn't go to anybody, I didn't go to anybody. Mr. Savage: Did the 90 year old man go? Ms. Cherry: No, he had a friend that went. Mr. Savage: My question is his family was wondering why they were moving him so why didn't he call his family about the issue? That's what I'm wondering why. Ms. Cherry: Ya know, I, maybe he did. Mr. Savage: And then, Mr. Haynes: They didn't know anything about. Ms. Cherry: 1 don't really know this man, but I was told about this woman that she go over and helps him and gets him food and stuff cause he doesn't have anybody doing a lot of things he needs done. She's the one that actually called me and said would you come over and look at this and she's the one that complained. Mr. Haynes: She asked you to come look at it? Ms. Cherry: Yes she did. Mr. Haynes: And so you went over and looked at it? Ms. Cherry: Yes I did. Mr. Haynes: And that's when you saw what you took a picture of? Ms. Cherry: Um huh. Mr. Haynes: And that was before the Company did the testing as to what was in that unit, correct? Are you taking issues with what the Company said was there? Ms. Cherry: No. Mr. Haynes: If the Company says there is no mold there, what are we talking about? I'm missing the point somewhere. Ms. Cherry: I am too. Because, what I'm saying is the report that the Housing Authority did was falsified. It was not accurate, they did not do the work on it. Before the mold people even came, that's what the Housing Authority had done. I don't know what happened after that. What I'm saying is there was suppose to be a crew went out and tested looked at all the apartments for mold and they fixed any problems, but it was a lie. Mr. Haynes: Here's what we don't know. We don't know how long a time from the time the correction was made until the time it was reported, til the time you were there and took pictures. Ms. Cherry: She said that the corrections were made in February and the report... Ms. Ruthart: It does not say they were made in February. Ms. Cherry: I meant to say November and then the report was in February. Mr. Savage: I guess what we need to do here and let me make this plain, and this is not what anybody's thinking but we do not address employee discipline. We don't. Now the Executive Director, we do, but we don't govern the employees or supervise the employees. We don't address those complaints here at this Board Meeting. Ms. Cherry: I understand that, I am addressing because she is over making sure that the mold and the inspectors and everybody is doing their job. Mr. Savage: So I got one more question, so what is your main complaint or what action are you asking for? 10 Ms. Cherry: Ya know, I'm making the problem known. I've been doing this since 2015 and the same reaction. I'm not gonna suggest anything cause it's not being listened to, everything is denied. So the Housing Authority can do whatever they want to do, we're the Board, but ya know, like you said, we're not the micromanagers but this is not being done. And tenants have a right to complain to anyone they want to and I have a right, if a tenant shows me something within the Housing Authority that is a problem, I have a right to talk about it and that's that. Now, what can happen, there's nothing more that I can do. I brought the problem, I've discussed the problem for two years and so it's all one problem so.. Mr. Savage: So I guess what I'm saying is, so you brought the problem for two and a half years. We've done different things as far as out of this Board, like ordering the Housing Authority to get mold reports, this is documentation, I think that's what Mr. Haynes is saying, that's documentation, but then you are saying that the tenants are calling you, but where's the documentation? I know you showed us pictures, but where is the proof of this stuff. They need to come to the office and complain to substantiate themselves. Ms. Cherry: She could've went over there and said hey is Brenda Cherry lying? Let me step out of the office right next door and see if she is lying. Ms. Ruthart: I didn't, I moved him just like you requested. Ms. Cherry: I didn't request anything, he requested that. I assume. He told me he wanted to move. What I'm saying is if there's an issue of whether or not I'm telling the truth and did this mold whatever it is exists and all the Housing Authority has to do is look. Ms. Ruthart: We moved him, we didn't have to look, we took your word for it, we moved him. Ms. Cherry: But, but he's saying why doesn't the tenant come... Ms. Ruthart: It's their responsibility, in the lease, not only do they have rights, they have responsibilities to report problems to the Housing Authority. Ms. Cherry: There's lots of ways to report something. You can get on the phone and call, Ms. Ruthart: That's right. Ms. Cherry: You can walk over, you can tell a relative or a friend, they can come and report for ya, however you want to do it. Ms. Ruthart: But the first report doesn't have to come from Lone Star Legal Aide. Ms. Cherry: You know I did it, that report came from Lone Star Legal Aide. Ms. Ruthart: Yes it did. Ms. Cherry: Well, if his family chose, friend chose to do it that way then so be it. But what my issue isn't how you report it, my issue with this is there was a false report done by the Housing Authority. Now, handle it however, but... Mr. Savage: Now, you're saying that but that's you saying that. You have not substantiated that there was a false report so I don't know why you keep saying that, but where is the substantiation of that? Ms. Cherry: For me not to substantiate it, so it's possible, you're saying that these pictures that are time stamped on my phone are a lie. Mr. Savage: No, I'm saying we have official mold reports and documentation, we've all gotten it and we have paid people to come in and do this work, so I'm not saying nothing, I'm just saying that these, whoever it is, have to come in and make a complaint just like everybody else. Ms. Cherry: Like I said, it's been recorded, I've talked about it today, I'm done with that part. It is whatever it is. b. Ms. Cherry reported that in April of this year the Office of the Inspector General of the United States from the Housing Urban Development completed an investigation of the Jasper, Texas Housing Authority and they found that they were misusing funds and equipment. And one of the things listed was keeping Housing Authority vehicles for personal use and using them outside of the Housing Authority hours. According to Ms. Ruthart and I think she put it in everybody's package, the HA has 8 vehicles. The most expensive is a Chevy Traverse purchased in 2012 in which Ms. Ruthart keeps for her personal use and does not have the HA logo on it. Ms. Snow, the inspector, also keeps a vehicle for personal use and it also does not have the HA logo on it. Mr. Scott keeps a vehicle at his home and it does have the HA logo on it. Ms. Ruthart: No it does not have a logo on it. All the Maintenance trucks do except his. Ms. Cherry: Ok. The three that are kept at people's homes do not have the logo on it. And a on call maintenance man takes a truck home for emergencies. Keeping vehicles for personal use not only goes against HUD policies, it goes against the Paris HA policy. The vehicles need to have logos on them and they need to be used for Housing Authority business only. I'm putting that out there. Ms. Ruthart: May I respond? Ms. Cherry: Have I tried to stop you? Ms. Ruthart: They are not used for personal use. They are driven home at night because we get called out here in the morning and at night all during the night. Kim had to go out when PRV flooded. She had to go all weekend and pick people up and take them to hotels and home and take them from their home and back. Scott gets called out all night long. About the logo, you go to any training for Section 8 or any of that, they say do not put a logo on any vehicle that goes to a Section 8 home because you don't want to embarrass the tenant and let everyone in the neighbor hood know that they are on 12 government assistance. That's from the training of HUD officials. Scott does Section 8 inspections as well. I hand out notices with Liz. I'm not trying to embarrass people, I'm just trying to do my job. And I'm going by what HUD training people tell us to do. Ms. Cherry: Are you through? Ms. Ruthart: Yes, I am through. Ms. Cherry: Most of the Housing Authorities out there have a logo on all their vehicles and they go place to place with the logo on it. I'm just telling you what has happened and has happened in a number of Housing Authorities. Do with it what you want. But you know if there's a complaint to the Inspector General then you'll have to deal with it then. So what. I'm done with that. Ms. Ruthart: I, as well, have read the Inspector General rules and that's why I buy ya' ll's lunches, which has not been done in the past. I buy the coffee for the employees. I buy that out of my personal account. Ms. Cherry: What about gas for the car? Ms. Ruthart: No, I do not, because I am on call 24/7 for this place. Mr. Haynes: I think if we are complying with what HUD policy is, then I think we are ok. Ms. Ruthart: That's what the HUD trainers tell us to do. Anybody that goes to Section 8 units out in the community, you don't want the whole neighborhood to know that they are on government assistance. You don't want to embarrass them. It's not an embarrassing thing, but you don't want everybody to know that. Mr. Savage: Nobody wants everyone to know their business. Maybe just monitor the vehicles and make sure we are not misusing them. As far as the ones on this list, I have absolutely no problem with them taking them home as long as they are doing their job. Ms. Ruthart: If you want logos on them, we will put logos on them. That's fine with me, it doesn't bother me. Mr. Savage: I don't think everybody needs to know everybody else's business. There's no shame to it, its... Ms. Snow: I wouldn't feel comfortable pulling up to someone's house with the logo on the truck, it's nobody's business, next door or across the street that this person is on assistance. Ms. Cherry: I'm just putting this out for you to know and for the record, do with it what you want, but if you don't believe me look it up. Look up what happened to the Jasper Housing Authority. I'm done with it. Look it up. 13 C. Ms. Cherry - This is regarding the issue that happened with the police man called. When, through that visit Shaquanda Cotton, who's a tenant, was not allowed to have a copy of a paper in her file. She was told instead to file a grievance before she can get it. By law tenants can view their housing authority file and get a copy of anything in it. The HA can charge a reasonable fee if they choose and tenants do not have to file a grievance to get it. If they choose to file a grievance, they still have a right to have a copy of whatever they need before then. Mr. Haynes - Is that the rules for the tenants that you are reading from? Ms. Cherry - No, I wrote this out. Ms. Ruthart - That's the Open Records Act. Ms. Cherry - That is from the Open Records Act that they can have a copy. The front office secretary, I don't know her name, they told me Althea, called the police on my daughter, Tiffany Cherry, for no logical reason. Shaquanda Cotton was told by Cathy Sims that she could not get a copy of the child support figures that Ms. Sims had showed her earlier in the day that was used to calculate her rent amount and she could get it at the Attorney General's office. Ms. Sims told Shaquanda to put it in a grievance if she wanted it. Tiffany asked what the name of the paper was so she could put it in the grievance. Ms. Sims told Tiffany Cherry that she didn't have to answer any questions for her because she is not a tenant. Althea became agitated and came to the window and shouted at Tiffany, shutup, sit down. Shaquanda told Althea not to talk to Tiffany like that. Althea also said they didn't have to answer questions to people who aren't tenants. Althea told Tiffany Cherry she was not, I'm calling her Althea cause I don't know her last name, not trying to be disrespectful to her, Althea told Tiffany Cherry she was going to have her removed and proceeded to call the police. Shaquanda Cotton continued to write out her form. Tiffany called me and said the police were being called on her for asking a question. The police came and Althea told them she wanted them both removed, Shaquanda tried to turn in her paper but Althea told her she was not gonna wait on her and the police removed them both. Tiffany doesn't live in housing she most likely will never need to but right now Shaquanda does. Tenants can be evicted over claims they violated a staff member, such thing can result in an arrest. Instances such as this are also intimidating and gives a tenant a reason to be reluctant to complain about anything or ask questions. The Housing Authority should not call the police on tenants unless there's a valid reason. I don't like you. I don't want you asking questions or you did not sit down when told to are not valid reasons. It's in the best interest of the HA to resolve simple issues without a tenant having to file a complaint to get it done. It's in the best interest of the HA to not instigate problems. The Paris Housing Authority has a notice posted on the front office window. It says if you are disrespectful to staff don't expect service here. Respect works both ways. The HA is not running a plantation, a grade school where people are not allowed to question anything. The HA code of ethics standards of conduct states the maintenance of unusually high standards, of honesty, integrity, impartiality and conduct of employees is essential to assure the proper perfon-nance of HA business and the maintenance of confidence by citizens of the community. It also says the HA requires that each employee shall conduct himself/herself in a manner that facilitates the accomplishment of the work of the HA, observing at all times the requirements of courtesy, consideration, and promptness in dealing with the public and with persons or 14 organizations having business with the HA and with fellow employees. I don't think that was done here. I think the HA, they were out of line. Mr. Haynes: Were both of the people you are talking about tenants? Ms. Cherry: One was a tenant, one wasn't. Mr. Savage: I'm not good with names, what did you say your name was? Ms. Tiffany Chert': Tiffany Cherry Mr. Savage: The two that are here with us today. I wanted to make sure of that. What direction are you wanting to go with this, cause it's discussion only. Ms. Cherry: I mean, that should be just common courtesy. You don't sit and call the police on people for asking a question. Nobody was rowdy, nobody was threatening, none of that. And, since the HA always denies everything, the whole thing is recorded, the entire thing. Now, ordinarily would I, if I was not on the Board and something like that happened and I had a recording of it, the news people would be down here cause I think that's outrageous. But because I'm on the Board, you know, I think it should be handled in a different way. I think that the HA is a public entity, it's not anybody's private business and you handle people with respect and that's just that. Mr. Savage: So you said you think it should be handled in a different way, what way? Ms. Cherry: What way would you think? Mr. Savage: You said not going to the news paper, so what way should that be done? Ms. Cherry: I'm just saying that's what I would do if I wasn't on the Board. I'm not saying that's what the HA should do. Mr. Savage: I know what you're saying, I'm asking you what is the different way that you think it should be handled now? Ms. Cherry: I think the HA should come up with, I mean no matter what I say people just oh well you just, I don't wanta suggest anything, I want the HA to follow their own policy in the treatment of people. Mr. Savage: Alright then, anymore discussion on that? Mr. Dangerfield? Anything else? OK, we will move on to item 8 Resolutions. 8. RESOLUTIONS: 2017-001. SEMAP Motion to approve made by Mr. Haynes and seconded by Mr. Dangerfield, passed 3-1. Ms. Cherry voted against the motion because of #6 on SEMAP Report (HQS Enforcement) she wanted it on the record regarding inspections and corrections. 9. Board Questions or comments: Ms. Ruthart told Ms. Tiffany Cherry that no one was trespassed. 15 9. No further business or questions, a motion for adjournment was made by Mr. Savage and seconded by Mr. Dangerfield. Motion passed 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 1:51 pm. APPROVED THIS / day of 'E'er' '2017. Sally Ruthart, Secretary l Ga0av Chai an 16