Minutes

Housing Authority Board

Meeting

 

 

The Tucumcari Housing Authority Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, February 24, 2005 at 5:00 p.m.  Members present constituting a quorum included Christopher Maestas, Bettie Ditto, Antonio Apodaca and James Witcher.

 

City staff present at the meeting included Richard Primrose, Rachel Hicklin and Robert Pacheco.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

A motion for approval of the January 27, 2005 minutes was made by Witcher and seconded by Maestas.  Roll Call:

 

Ditto       Apodaca       Witcher       Maestas

 Yes             Yes             Yes              Yes

 

Review of Financial Statements

 

Robert gave a brief report on the financial statements for Section 8, Public Housing and Chaparral Apartments.  He advised that there was an error in the Section 8 income.  The financial statement indicates that there is $791,418.00, however, the correct amount is $7,914.18.  Robert added that the Section 8 account showed a positive balance of $19,037.88, which was due to some leases being dropped and less money paid out in January.  This balance will help to offset the overages paid in the previous months.

 

Robert advised that the Public Housing account reflects a negative net income, which is attributed to the expense for replacement of the gas lines.  He added that funds still need to be transferred into the account to make up for the expense.

 

Robert explained that the Chaparral Apartment account is doing well and the long term improvements shown on the financial statements was for carpet.

 

Approval of Bills

 

A motion for approval of the bills presented for payment was made by Witcher and seconded by Maestas.  Roll Call:

 

Apodaca       Mayfield       Maestas       Ditto

  Yes                Yes                Yes           Yes

 

Executive Directors Report

 

Robert reported that he is in the process of verifying the income stated by residents in Public Housing and Section 8 for the past eighteen months.  Under the new HUD income verification system, they have been able to find seven people who had misreported their income and owe the Housing Authority approximately Ten Thousand Dollars of which he feels only ten percent will be collected.  Robert added that some of the people that owe money have chosen to move out instead of repaying the amount owed. 

 

Ditto questioned where the accounts receivable would be shown for the money when it is paid back.

 

Robert advised that the amount is shown on another report.  Robert added that he was not sure how the money should be reported under HAP, however, he will contact HUD to get guidance on where this should properly be reported.

 

Robert reported that the gas line work has been completed, and he will now be able to monitor the gas usage per unit, which will help cut down on the gas waste.

 

City Manager Primrose questioned if all units would be placed on individual gas meters.

 

Mr. Pacheco advised that this would be done and is addressed in the five year plan that he will be submitting to HUD.

 

Witcher questioned if it would be cheaper to have a master gas meter, with individual meters after the main meter.

 

Robert replied that he was not sure if this would be cheaper and he would check with the Gas Company.  He added that he would like to monitor the gas usage for one year to determine if it would be better to give the tenant a check for the gas and make the tenant responsible for the gas bill.

 

Robert advised that he is trying to set up a direct deposit with landlords, which will save time and money.

 

Apodaca questioned the status of the neighborhood watch program.

 

Robert advised that it did not go well with only seven of twenty-seven families showing up for the meeting.  He added that there has been no interest from law enforcement officers to live in one of the public housing units.  He added that he was going to contact Derrick Shaw to see if he would be interested in being the contact person who would serve notices to tenants on evictions and perform the housing searches.

 

Next, Robert reported on House Bill 496 and stated why he felt that this would negatively impact our community and housing authority.  He added that he had contacted Representative Moore and Senator Harden asking that they vote against this bill.  If the bill were to get approved, it would allow any Regional Housing Authority the ability to go into any community and build, which could have a financial impact on our Housing Authority as the tenants would be more inclined to move into the new housing units.

 

Ditto commented that years back a partner of hers came in and with a deal from Fannie Mae, was able to build thirty homes in Tucumcari and sell them locally.

 

Ditto questioned the status of the Five Mile Park building.  She added that she knows a person who made a quilt to be raffled off with the proceeds of the raffle going towards Five Mile Park improvements.

 

Robert advised that the work on the building has been completed.

 

New Business

 

Robert presented Resolution 2005-02 – Enrollment Fee for Housekeeping Instruction/Training.  He advised that they have had problems with some tenants not keeping their housing units clean.  Robert added that he is proposing to implement a policy where any tenant that does not pass their first inspection will have their unit re-inspected.  If they fail the second inspection, they will be assessed a mandatory fee of $25.00, the tenant will then be placed on probation and will be required to attend a four hour training in housekeeping.  After the training is held and the person still does not comply with the housekeeping requirements, then they will be evicted from Public Housing.

 

A motion for approval of Resolution 2005-02 was made by Ditto and seconded by Maestas.  Roll Call:

 

Witcher       Maestas       Ditto       Apodaca

  Yes               Yes           Yes           Yes

 

Robert then presented the Annual Plan and PHA Certification on Compliance with the PHA Plans and Related Regulations.  Robert explained that he is required to submit an annual plan on public housing along with a certification stating that the Housing Authority is in compliance with the policy.  He added that he will be asking HUD for funding for management improvements for placement of the furnaces for the remainder of the housing units.  Robert advised that the entire plan is available for review at the Housing Authority office if any of the Board Members would like to see it.

 

A motion for approval of the annual plan and PHA certification was made by Witcher and seconded by Maestas.  Roll Call:

 

Witcher        Maestas        Ditto       Apodaca

  Yes               Yes             Yes            Yes

 

Items from Board Members

 

Witcher advised that a guy called him and commented on the Housing Authorities phone system.  He added that it would be nice to have someone answer the phones and if a person is not in, then the call can be directed to their voice mail.

 

Maestas commended Robert on the letter he received where he was invited to be on the New Mexico Housing Planning team.

 

Adjournment

 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

Attest:                                                                          Antonio Apodaca, Mayor Pro-tem

 

 

                                               

Rachel Hicklin, City Clerk