Minutes Of A Regular Meeting

Of The Board Of The

Lancaster County Housing Authority

July 24, 2007, 4:00 P.M.

202 North Prince Street, Suite 400

Lancaster, PA   17603

 

 

The members of the Board of the Lancaster County Housing Authority met Tuesday, July 24, 2007.  The meeting was held at the offices of the Lancaster County Housing Authority, 202 North Prince Street, Suite 400

 

Members of the Board in attendance were: Cindy Stewart, Chairman;  Ralph Murray, Treasurer; and Miriam Fletcher.  Absent: Neil Kinsey and Jim Shultz

 

Staff members present were: Matthew T. Sternberg, Executive Director; David M. Brazina, Deputy Director; Teresa Danforth, Housing Services Director; Aimee Tyson, Community Development Director; and Marian Joyce, Secretary. 

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:16 p.m.

 

Public Comment – None

 

Minutes of the May 2007 meeting were approved. The motion was made by
Mr. Murray, second by Ms. Fletcher and unanimously accepted. 

 

Bills or Communications: The three Board members present showed staff a letter they had received from a prospective Section 8 Rental Assistance client asking for special consideration. None of the Board members knew the applicant personally and it was surmised that she had gotten their names from the Authorities’ website. Teresa Danforth, Housing Services Director, took one copy of the letter to attach to the individual’s application form.

 

Report of the Executive Director – is attached hereto, and made a part hereof.
Mr. Sternberg summarized the activity of the past few weeks’ Rental Assistance application process when 2,560 applications were mailed out and many more people walked in to pick up forms. The next step is to verify the applications for eligibility. David M. Brazina, Deputy Director, and Ms. Danforth answered questions from the Board. It was noted that a significant percentage of applicants were city rather than county residents. There was some discussion about alternative ways to open the Housing List – maybe more frequently but in shorter spurts, similar to what the City Housing Authority does, instead of every three to four years. Also Ms. Danforth suggested utilizing the phone system differently as it was difficult for other staff to get an outside line during the application process with all available lines in use by incoming Housing applicants.
Mr. Sternberg noted that a wrap-up meeting might be helpful to collect all the data and use what was learned in future rounds of applications.

 

The Financial Reports for the months of May and June were approved on a motion by
Ms. Fletcher, second by Mr. Murray, and unanimously accepted. 

 

Committee Reports – None

 

Old Business – None

 

New Business:                                                                                                                                                     

 

1) The Board approved a Cooperation Agreement between the Housing Authority of the City of Lancaster, Tabor Community Services, Inc. and the Lancaster County Housing Authority. The motion was made by Mr. Murray, second by Ms. Fletcher and unanimously carried. Teresa Danforth provided details on the scope of the agreement.  (A copy of said Resolution [July 07 #1] is attached hereto, and made a part hereof).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of the Lancaster County Housing Authority to approve the attached Cooperation Agreement between Tabor Community Services, Inc., the Housing Authority of the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster County Housing Authority governing the operation of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of the Lancaster County Housing Authority agrees to provide a maximum of ONE HUNDRED ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX AND 00/100 ($101,556.00) DOLLARS from the Family Self-Sufficiency Grant to be received through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to Tabor Community Services, Inc. to cover the Authority’s share of the annual administrative costs associated with operating the Family Self -Sufficiency Program from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008.

 

Other Business - None

 

Ms. Stewart announced that the next meeting of the Board of the Lancaster County Housing Authority is expected to be held Tuesday, August 28, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. at the offices of the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities, 202 North Prince Street, Suite 400, Lancaster, PA. 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:38 p.m.              

 

Marian C. Joyce, Secretary