Okay, good morning everybody. We're going to open the meeting at 10:10 on November 19th for Port Housing Authority. And just as a reminder again, uh we are being videotaped. Um so why don't we start with the uh um
pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Okay, roll call. >> Uh Tim Gayon >> here. >> Elizabeth Collins. >> Pauline Grodor >> here. >> Paul Stein >> here. Approval of the minutes of October 15, 2025. >> Motion to approve.
>> Second. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Hearing none. So move. Approval of warrant number 16 is amount of 51,27373. Are we good with that? Is there a motion?
>> Motion to approve. >> Is there a second? Second. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Hearing none. So move. Management agent report.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh yeah, just um uh a uh point of information to the board. The the 2026 budget uh for the for the Westport Housing Authority has been approved by the state. So, we we got notification of that earlier uh in
the week. Uh so, that's you know, that's good news. Um you had approved it last month and then it went in and it uh it didn't take too long. Normally, smaller housing authorities, it doesn't typically take very long to approve and that was the case. Um the um
the the financials, and again, these these are going to change. These are these are based upon uh last year's budget numbers but um you know we're we are having a very good year um as far as rent collections are concerned and uh
you know rent collections are running uh well over budget and expenses are running uh you know below budget. So we're we're in very good shape there and our reserves are also uh quite strong at 63%. So there's no there's no uh no real
issues on the horizon. I was talking just before the meeting started with with with the chair. He mentioned snow. That's the one that's the one factor that we really can't predict. You know, we don't know if we're going to have have a bad winter, it's going to be a
warm winter or what. Uh obviously if it's a uh if it's a snowy winter there'll there'll be a lot of maintenance overtime cuz David will be here a lot more taking care of the snow. So uh can't really plan for that. We just have to let it unfold and and see
what happens. We've lucked out the past three or four winters. It's been relatively on the warm side. Um maybe that'll happen again. Maybe not. We're we're due to be hit, but you never know. Um
the um just in the way of a of a project update, um the uh siding project, uh it was decided that we would not begin that project until the spring due to the colder temperatures now. Um however, the
team decided that we would uh have the uh the construction kickoff [clears throat] meeting tomorrow. So that'll uh that'll be tomorrow at 10:00 uh where we'll you know we'll we'll go through the team we'll set the
expectations and then um you probably in April or so once the weather you know starts to warm up uh we will we'll go to work on on the painting job there and the siding. So um that's uh that's something to look forward to. Um the
work order report uh as an FYI is in your board packet. Again, that's just to show you what you know what what sort of things David works on dayto-day. Um I get a lot of compliments about Dave. >> Yeah. >> You know, still do. Uh that's that's the
one constant every month I get. I get a lot of people that say he works hard. He uh he gets the job done. So, we're very very happy to have him. Um, as far as vacancies are concerned, we're still we're holding steady with the one vacant. We did show the unit to a to a
prospective couple yesterday and uh early indications are they're not going to take it because of the size of the unit. Uh so again, this would be the this would would be at least the second or third individual that we've shown the
unit to that uh has decided that they uh that they would not take it. We did give them until tomorrow to inform us officially, but uh if I were a betting man, I would bet that they wouldn't take it, but we'll we'll see what happens. Um
you know, it's um there's a lot of people on the list. there's a lot of people who want housing. So, we'll eventually we'll eventually find somebody that says, "Yes, I I'll take it." Um, so that's uh that's the vacancy. Um, on
page the last page of your board packet, page 22, I just wanted to I just wanted to bring to your attention uh what what we are planning to do at least on a temporary basis. Um I'm I'm I'm proposing a slight modification to the
office hours. Um and this is due to a request that was made by uh our administrative person in the office. Um our administrative person in the office has um uh has has some mobility issues
and um it's you know um it's difficult for her to to get around. So, um, what we what what she asked if, you know, if we would be so inclined is if she could
if she could work two days a week instead of 3 days a week, at least for the winter. Um, and I personally don't have a problem with that. We did an analysis
um kind of like a loose analysis of the foot traffic coming into the office, the phone call, the times that the phone actually rings. Um and um at least the times that that I cover the office, and
I'm not exaggerating, uh I I will sometimes cover on Wednesdays. Uh you know, the the phone might ring twice in the office. Uh we have an answering service. So uh if anybody calls with with a question on an application or if
it's a maintenance emergency call, it'll go through to the answering service. The answering service if it's maintenance related will call David and David will go out to the unit. So we have that that part covered. Um so right now we have
the office open Monday through Thursday 9:30 to 1:30. um uh going forward beginning in January, possibly earlier depending on the weather. Um I'd like to modify that to Tuesday to Thursday 9:30 to 1:30. Um
I I think it's more than doable. Um as I mentioned in my short narrative there, I'm in frequent contact with the resident board member. uh if there's any if there's anything, you know, percolating as far as residents are concerned, I'm usually able to, you
know, address it right away. A lot of our residents have have my email address, so they're they're not shy about emailing me. I usually will try to get back to folks as soon as possible. Uh and of course, um I can always be
reached at the Attboro office, too, or on my cell phone. I'm, you know, always reachable. emailing you then calling you you receive you get back quicker by email than you >> well that's that's usually because I you know if I'm if I'm in the car
>> as long as you uh respond it's good >> right right exactly I know you've emailed me before to >> which is good so um if if the board doesn't have any objection to to accommodate our our administrative person I I I'd like to make those you know those
changes if it u I'm willing to make it temporary in the event that we're finding that for some reason we get we get bombarded with with stuff on Mondays which um has not been the case. So uh if
if it's acceptable to the board I'd like to try that for the winter at least. >> Was that your email at the bottom of the paper? >> Uh yes, >> correct. Yep. Okay. based based on your
recommendations and your suggestions. >> Um, you know, >> unless it becomes an issue, like you said, I don't have a problem with it. >> Do you need that form of a a motion? >> I mean, if you I I don't I I don't need a motion. I I I just need agreement
>> from you. I'm good with that. You good with that, Paul? >> I I I am good. And I I got and I'm sure we'll get a report, you know, in January at the meeting in January to see how how it's going, >> right? Well, right now we're we're going to start it in January. >> Okay.
>> But if the you know, if if we get hit with snow next month, >> we may start it earlier depending, but she agreed. >> I will expect you to keep us trusted on have >> Okay. And if if any of the tenants feel
affect see have any any effects or feel effects of that, of course, we would want to know that right away. >> I just my my uh >> get that. >> My sources tell me that we're going to
have a light snow. >> A light snow. >> Light snow. You must you must be talking to a person I need to talk to if you can get that information. That's pretty good, Paul. That's really good. >> They they >> I'm impressed.
>> Well, my uh I'm supposedly descended from Aaron, brother of Moses. >> All right, let's see. 118. >> But I go to church on Sundays. I don't get tapped and told
they I'm not sure if that's true, but you know, >> I'm fearful of the snow because of the cold weather early. >> Yeah. >> No, I don't get any uh >> got to check the old farmer's almanac or something.
>> That's right. I don't have any I I don't have any old business unless the board does. U the only thing under new business I again I was talking to the chair earlier. I don't know if we will have a need for a December meeting. But what I'll do the closer we get to that
time frame, I'll email the board if I have anything that I, you know, that's pressing that needs to be addressed. That >> Okay. Um, commissioners comment. >> I I have one uh topic. I I when I left
the uh the meeting last month, I I noticed that the sign out front looks like it's had better days and um I was I looked into what you know might be be done about doing doing something nicer
for the for the authority. Um I talked to the signature sign people. They did the work for us on the other other matter and they came they told me I showed them pictures of of it and they showed me and they said how did they get
that that sign shouldn't be there. It's on a either a Verizon or an Eversource um >> there's no sign printed but it must have been there for for years. >> It's on the door. it was it was probably there when they >> um so they were very surprised because
they've just done something for one of the schools and were told by Verizon to stay away from their box but um I think the best solution would be to find something to make a new thing that replaces what's there
>> I mentioned that at one of the meetings and then they took that white sign if it does if that is you know and that may call for getting uh permission from uh whoever owns that utility box
>> for us for us to change it. Um I had you know I this is this is the kind of thing I think we can probably do and this is just one idea. >> I like that. >> Yeah. >> Very nice.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I gave the signature signs. >> Okay. and they uh I I thought Dina was going to come by because she was going to stop the post office yesterday and look at look at the situation. I haven't heard back from her. I'm happy to
continue to follow up, >> but I you want to put me if you want if you're emailing them, >> you want to CC me on those emails. Well, I think at some point you need to be plugged in because we may need to do some uh research with Verizon or I don't
know if you know or D or D know who whose box it is that the sign is on now. >> It's Verizon. >> It's Verizon. >> It's all wires in there. They come, they open that door. >> They can open it open. >> But it's not a sign. It's printed on that door. That's a metal door.
>> Yeah. It looks like there's something attached to They open up the panel, but the the >> Did they get screwed into the >> The name of this place is mama's panel. >> It's a box with wires in it. >> I know. I know. With probably in it. I'm
just wondering how is that sign in the >> It's printed on. >> Yeah. >> Oh, it's on the box. >> They can. >> So, why take a look at it before
to have them take that off? Can you take >> I think I think we could I think we would have to get Verizon in on the loop because >> it's their box and um >> and then sign up first before they take it.
>> They seem to be Yeah. Well, we'll we'll get the solution, but but I think we need to make sure we know what what Verizon's willing to let us. I'm sure they would want to >> I you know it just is you know the the
rest of the of the of the development is just in such tiptop shape appearance-wise. Yeah, we have we have to we have to improve on the sign. There's no doubt about it. >> Uh, >> you know, so I mean there may be an alternative. Um, and I have no idea what
we're talking about in terms of the cost and maybe we can find a donor or somebody to >> I I don't think it's it's going to be all all that all that cost prohibitive to be frank with you. >> Yeah, >> I think it it'll it'll be very doable. >> I'll uh we'll we'll talk after the meeting. Maybe take a look at that and
then see what I'll follow up with the the sign people and >> follow up with them. See >> and I'll email >> see if they can come out and look around. >> Yeah. >> To to you know find a spot for >> Do you want to make an appointment with with them to when they come out?
>> Sure. If you if I I I'm sure they have a website, right? >> Yeah. >> I'll I'll look them up on the web. >> Okay. >> I'll call them. I'll say that they they were speaking with you and we'll take it from there. >> Okay, that sounds good. Go ahead. Okay. Any other uh commissioners comment
>> Thanksgiving everyone. >> Excuse me. That's right. >> Happy Thanksgiving. >> Okay. That's I agree with that. Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving. And if we don't have a meeting next month, happy Merry Christmas. >> Okay. Uh tenant comments next week.
>> That's you. >> I thought I turned it to Any tenant comments? Okay, go ahead. >> In case of an emergency, you have a gas main switch in every building. Who is
authorized to turn that on and off? >> Good question. >> I would think the gas company. >> Yeah, the the >> it would be uh it would be the purview of the gas company, Alex. I believe >> nothing to do with maintenance or an
employee in the uh house. >> No, they we we don't play around with gas lines. >> Well, there might be a time where it has to be shut off. >> Okay. >> Emergency. >> What would you do? Call the gas company and they would come down.
>> They they would come out on on an emergency at night. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Next question. >> All right. about that sign. There was a nice white sign. Lucia had put it up and it was painted white. It was It's
similar to the ones if you look at other housing authorities. They have the wooden ones. Sometimes it's like laminated. Oh, not laminated. You know, it's shiny. It looks nice. It's country looking. Well, that white sign was supposed to be for something and nobody ever used it for anything.
And I suggested a long time ago, put Greenwood Terrace on there and the address on that white sign. It was facing room six. As you come in, if you could see it, >> it was just a blank >> sign was taken down. It's a wood. It's Dave made it. Dave made it.
>> It's just a blank wood panel. Okay. It was supposed to put like Christmas stuff. Are you listening? >> Hello. >> Okay. He's not listening. >> Um, I'm listening to you. >> I know. >> Okay. So, instead of spending money on additional,
you know, stuff to put there, use that when you go to see it. When you guys go out there to see it, you'll see it's already there. >> There's one that it's out there, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. When you come when you and Paul go out there and take a look to
what's up there, it's already there. >> No, the sign's gone. >> No, the sign's gone. But the but the the pole is there. >> So instead of going and spending money on another pole, use that pole to put the sign on there. >> Okay. >> You got it? >> Yep.
>> Okay. But Dave made that sign >> and it was big enough. It was about this wide. Remember that white sign that was when you came in? It was about that wide and you could fit Green Freedom Terrace the address. >> I'll listen to you.
>> Well, you know what sign was taken? >> I'll speak to David about that and find out. Maybe it's still around. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Well, it's just blank now, >> right? This is a blank. >> Yeah, it's white. It's white.
>> Well, yeah. >> Which is good if you put black print on it. >> I'm just saying spending another money on a fold. You have to fold it. >> Exactly. It's too cold. >> Okay. Any other questions, comments? >> Um, yeah. I'm sorry. Um, you had
mentioned something about the weather, the snowing, the snowing and wowing stuff like that. Okay. And she already mentioned at a previous meeting about getting the um prisoners down here
to do the um you know the um sidewalks and the driveway. >> All you have to do is call the Trevor's office and make that arrangement. >> Correct. >> Previous um directors before you got it already. I think I think Christine started that
>> when she was director, >> right? and um Lucia discontinued it, >> right? >> But um yeah, that's easy. >> You know, that's something, you know, depending on the extent of the storm, >> right? >> Um you know, it's something we can
certainly do. The only the the only drawback to that, I think, would be that um uh you know, you can't really, you know, we don't know when it's going to snow. >> Yeah. >> So, if it >> Well, it doesn't matter. You don't have to know when it snows. The arrangements
already made so that if it does snow and it does it is out of control then they can come down and just clean it up. It'll already be there in place. >> Paul, you know the show. >> I do. He's a good guy. >> Yes. Yes. >> There you go.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean that we just sort of make a a general agreement that when you get 2 in of snow or more than so much snow >> show up >> that they'll they'll that they'll they deploy some people over here. >> Okay. >> Yep.
>> And then you got to feed them or something like that. You feed them or give them coffee or hot chocolate or whatever it is. >> Correct. >> Pardon. >> Call Trump to do that. You could p like
>> I'm sorry about that. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead. >> All right. It's still about the snow. Last year I used to help Pauline knows. I used to help Leo's clean Leo's car off and George's car and my car. I was energetic then. Now I'm not. And last
year when I was just cleaning in between the two cars, I fell. It was a big mound of snow. I couldn't get up. Thank god Cindy was out there. She helped me get up. But when you think about it, there's some people that have people that can clean their cars off, family,
off friends, I don't have that here. So where I was the one that was doing everything before, I can't do it anymore. And I don't have anybody that's going to do it for me. So it would be nice if somebody could come and show >> we used to have a way where this side was taken care of as well as this side.
>> Yeah. >> And that stopped. Dave, when you told me not to flick snow in your path and everything, you stopped people from doing that. People over here used to park in the back. >> No, I know. >> And let me finish, please. >> I already know. >> Let me finish.
>> Everybody remove their cars. Move their cars. >> Dave was in charge of that, right? >> The first year I was here cuz I didn't know what was going on. He made everybody go around in the circle and they cleaned all those cars back there. That's right. Because they organized like that. We're parking facing in. So
you said last year that we only had to do the back, only one end of it. That's not true because that snow that we're putting in the middle, it melts during the day when the sun's out and it freezes at night. It's like a sheet of ice we're walking on. >> Yeah, but it's not being plowed in. This
is a pl I've got a picture of it on my phone. I'll bring it next time. I got a picture of it. The way that that plow driver did the thing last year. Oh my god. There was this much snow in front of my car and in the back of my car.
>> That's not enough. That's two cars that are almost touching you or anybody else. >> I'm talking between the two cars. >> So no, it's totally and nobody here is should be telling the plow driver
>> where to plow and how to plow. Tenant shouldn't do that. No, they shouldn't. You're absolutely right. >> You're absolutely right. They shouldn't. >> But the the point I'm making is that's totally different than what we go through over here. And I got pictures to
prove it. But if it was organized like when Dave did it first year I was here, he everybody moved their card. Jo, what's his name? Greg will tell you. He told me he said, "Oh, we're going to be organized through Dave." And it was been here. It was
>> I can I can talk to Dave about we we can strategize it. It's not >> problem is you don't know when the plow's going to come. That's number one. Number two, it could be 2:00 in the morning. Nobody's up to move their car. >> You know what I'm saying? >> You can't control that, >> right? >> You can't control that.
>> No, you can't. No. >> Do it like whenever there's a parking ban or something. Well, that's in the city, but >> yeah, Westing. Yeah, >> I'm a city girl, so >> we're up in farmer's country, top of the
corn fields. >> Okay. >> Anything else? Good. >> Good. Everybody's good. >> Okay. Can I have a motion to adjourn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Any opposed? So move.
Have a good holiday. Happy Thanksgiving.