April 16 2008 Minutes

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. by Richard B. Murray, in the John F. Cusack Board Room, located at 4 Winslow Street, Arlington, MA.

Roll Call

Present: Richard B. Murray, Teresa J. Walsh, Nicholas Mitropoulos, Brian Connor and Brian R. Greeley

Also Present: John J. Griffin, Executive Director

Notice to Town Clerk

Notice of this meeting was delivered electronically on March 7, 2008, and posted by the Arlington Town Clerk in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meeting Law.

Appointments

Local Tenants Organizations

Mike Leavitt, Tenant Association President of Drake Village, stated that a tenant call him a dictator. He said that he may proceed with court action of defamation of character.

Mr. Griffin wanted to know who the person is who made that statement and he will have a discussion with that individual and then discuss the matter with Mike Leavitt.

Mr. Murray complimented Mike Leavitt for Candidates Night and turn out of people that were there.

General Public

Marion King said that she is waiting for the Tenant Funds.

Mr. Murray handed Marion King the check.

Marion King wanted to know when and where the tenants are are moving so that the tenants will know where they are moving to.

Mr. Griffin stated that the first group of 40 tenants knows where they are going. We don’t know 100% where the other tenants will be moved to. Janet Doyle offers a 30 day notice before they move and that is when the tenant finds out where they will be moved to.

Mr. Griffin stated that he can hold a meeting with the tenants and give them an approximate time they will be moved but cannot give them the unit they will be moved into.

Mr. Murray stated that Mr. Griffin and Marion King can sit down and go the Thompson School to discuss the different phases of the duplexes.

Mr. Griffin stated that Janet Doyle and Maureen Bitterlari are doing a walk thru, giving boxes out to tenants and doing physical inspections to make sure everyone is ready to go.

Graciella Correria wanted to know if it is possible to buy a quarter machines for change for the laundry machines at Drake Village

Mr. Connor stated that someone would have to fill the machines when the change runs out. Every building would have to have these machines. He also asked about vending machines being installed at each building. Vendors may be able to get a percentage of everything. He asked if this would have to go out to bid.

Graciella Correria inquired about the Board to approve a donation of $100.00 for English as a Second Language in appreciation for students who will be graduating this program. She would like Mr. Griffin to sign the diplomas.

Graciella Correria would like to have chairs and table for the lawn area for the summer.

Upon a motion by Mr. Connor and seconded by Mr. Mitropoulos it was unanimously voted in favor to donate $100.00 for the English as a Second Language.

Peter Szerlag, Tenant President for Winslow Towers, asked if there could be a vending machine installed in the community room.

Mr. Greeley wanted to know whose cars are parked in Hurd Field. He wants to know who has temporary stickers.

Mr. Griffin stated that the Town of Arlington owns the parking stickers and the AHA pays the Town for the stickers. Mr. Griffin stated that there are not enough parking spaces in all of our buildings. The AHA sells the stickers to tenants who do not have parking at Drake.

Mr. Griffin has asked the towing company to make runs to see if anyone is parking at Hurd Field who doesn’t have a sticker.

Mike Leavitt asked if someone could make signs for the tenants regarding the parking situation at Hurd Field.

Mr. Greeley requested that Mr. Griffin look into getting a large sign posted for tenants regarding parking at Drake Village and Hurd Field.

Mike Leavitt wants the AHA to enforce people that park in the handicapped spots that don’t belong there be towed.

Project Updates

A. Menotomy Manor – April 17, 2008 moves begin

The moves will start on April 17, 2008. Someone will be taking pictures of the units that the tenants are moving into so everyone can see what they look like. The construction of these units is going very well and contractors are working well with DHCD.

B. Drake Elevators started

The new doors have been ordered. 3Phase Elevator is in the process in taking the cab apart on the left side. The elevator company is doing a good job in cleaning up after themselves. The first elevator should be done within the next three months.

C. Emergency Generators – Notice to Proceed

Both generators should be installed with the elevators. They will have emergency lights.

D. Cusack Elevators – Notice to Proceed

We are still waiting for approval.

E. Chestnut Manor 689 Designer Selection

Mr. Griffin received approval for a screening committee for the architects for the design of 689. The committee includes John Griffin, G Rowe, Laura Weiner and Walter Abbott. DHCD has picked the following architects for the AHA to choose from. They are Abacus Architects, Ammondson Architects, Mosture & Assoc. and Cubellis Architects. The screening committee will present the four Architectural Firms to the Board.

Contract for Financial Assistance for 689 Amend to for 689 vote needed

Upon a motion by Mr. Greeley and seconded by Mr. Connor it was voted unanimously in favor to increase in the amount of $250,000.00.

Upon o motion by Mr. Greeley and seconded by Mr. Connor it was voted unanimously in favor to increase the amount for the lighting by $1,766.36.

Upon a motion by Mr. Greeley and seconded Mr. Connor it was voted unanimously in favor for additional roofing costs in the amount of $456,482.00.

Change orders 5-6 vote needed

CDBG Award

The AHA requested $150,000. in funds for affordable housing. The AHA wants to purchase another condo. The AHA needs financial information of what we used when we purchased the condo. The AGA also needs a detailed report.

Mr. Greeley made a comparison between the Arlington Housing Corporation and the Arlington Housing Authority. Previously the AHA has built decks, porches; etc to help the Arlington Housing Corporation received affordable housing funding. Mr. Greeley stated there was a misunderstanding with the Board of Selectman and Mr. Hurd regarding the AHA would match the funding 3 to 1 and there wasn’t anything in the letter that AGA would match these funds.

Ms. Walsh stated that she would like to represent the AHA at the Arlington Housing Corporation.

Upon a motion by Mr. Murray and seconded by Mr. Mitropoulos it was voted unanimously in favor to have Ms. Walsh represent the AHA at the Arlington Housing Corporation.

Antennas

Fiber Towers Bid for 4 Winslow Street

Mike Johnson, representative from Fiber Towers, proposed a fee of $250.00 a month for the Antenna. Fiber Towers will replace existing telephone lines. It will allow the carriers to have cheaper service and they won’t loose the cell phone service. Fiber Towers will not need roof space. Equipment is already up there. They will help market their service.

Drake Village will need an antenna at their location.

Fiber Towers will give us a 5 year contract with a 5 year option.

Mr. Greco discussed the bid with Mike Johnson. Mr. Greco asked about a 10 year contract with 2 five year terms totaling 20 years.

Mr. Connor wanted to know if there were any power back ups. Does Fiber Towers have to draw any power from the AHA box and also is there a backup generator. Mike Johnson said no. There is a monitor but it cannot be down for more than one hour or Fiber Towers has to pay a penalty.

Upon a motion by Mr. Greeley and seconded by Ms. Walsh it was voted unanimously in favor to review the contract for Fiber Towers.

AT & T

The AHA is still getting phone calls after the last meeting. We have 8 – 9 different folders on this and we don’t know where we are at this point. AT & T at Hauser the amount went up to $2,280.00. We had a contract in 1997 at $2,000.00 per month. Looking thru the records we found back in 2002 there was an increase and in 2003 at Winslow there was no increase. The contract ended in Dec. 2007. We haven’t received anything stating that they want to renew the contract. We believe that AT & T still owes us money.

We believe that the amount of the contract should be $2,580.00. They may owe us more than $10,000.00.

Mr. Greeley said at the last meeting that we should say nothing and we should let AT &T continue paying us and at some point bill them the amount that is owed the AHA. Mr. Greeley also stated that the AHA should send a letter to them and tell them to remove their antenna because they are in violation of the contract.

Mr. Connor said that the AHA should go after the $10,000.00.

Mr. Murray wanted to know if we should be chasing money.

Mr. Greco stated that they are in violation.

Mr. Griffin stated that Sandra Gammon and Robert Cronin worked on putting the contracts into separate books.

Mr. Greeley stated that the offer is $2,280.00 for the next 10 years.

Mr. Greco wanted to know if we should stay with the original contract.

The Board stated that they would be comfortable in letter Mr. Greco and Mr. Griffin work together on this matter.

Mr. Connor wanted to know if Mr. Griffin should send out a letter to AT & T regarding the contract.

Mr. Murray wanted to know if we have a contract in place that AT & T should explain what is suppose to happen each year.

Mr. Greco stated that it is pretty clear with the clauses. He wanted to know what would happen if AT & T doesn’t give and explanation. Are we a tenant at will? It is not clear.

Upon a motion by Mr. Greeley and seconded by Mr. Connor it was voted unanimously in favor to have Mr. Griffin send a letter to AT & T asking for the $10,000.00 that is owed the AHA.

Upon a motion by Mr. Greeley and seconded by Mr. Connor it was voted unanimously in favor to

Unfinished Business

NONE

New Business

Mr. Greeley would like to invite Minuteman Health Care to the next Board Meeting.

Mr. Griffin has invited Myrna Saltman but she was unable to attend this meeting.

Mr. Greeley would like to expand Minuteman services to the other AHA buildings. He would like to see if Minuteman can do their services. Does the State pay for these services and the answer is yes. People who do not qualify will pay for these services themselves. They can also help set up services for young and disabled tenants.

Mr. Connor wanted to know if the AHA could hire someone to help at these buildings. Can we use the antenna money?

Marion King wanted to know if Janet McGuire could attend one of the Board Meetings.

Mr. Griffin stated that she has an open invitation and Marion has the dates to all the Board Meetings.

Mr. Greeley would like the AHA to work with the Arlington High School students to have them work with the Elderly and to reach out to the community. Mr. Greeley also wanted to know if the AHA could talk to Dan Broslin to have him sit with Mr. Mitropoulos and Mr. Greeley.

Mr. Griffin wanted to let the Board Members know that on May 6, 2008 the Arlington Boys and Girls Club will have their Annual Dinner.

Mr. Mitropoulos stated that the School Committee would have the elderly read to the students.

Mr. Griffin stated that he is working with Gloria Spier about solar panels and windows at Winslow Towers. He also is working with Ms. Hall the energy person at DHCD. Winslow Towers will probably need a new roof.

Executive Session

NONE

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00PM.

Upon a motion by Mr. Connor and seconded by Mr. Murray it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting.

The next meeting will be May 21, 2008 and held at Winslow Towers at 7PM