I haven't seen any news coverage of the meeting yet, but I'll update and put it here if I see any. A quick summary of the meeting was the non-voting member, Danielle Chynoweth, awaiting HUDs decision on her status as a voting member continued to ask a lot of questions about why various policies and items are being done the way they are. Some of this could be assumed to be the new member learning the ropes. From the frustration sometimes apparent on the faces of other members, especially while Chynoweth herself wasn't there to see it via her remote attendance makes me wonder if it's being perceived as retaliatory. It could easily just be folks not wanting a long meeting. Honestly, who would?
Meeting Write-up:
Their website is still undergoing a lot of construction and still missing more than it offers. I had to dig through my browser history to find links of the meeting just two days ago that don't appear to be linked from any pages anymore. Agenda Packet available here.
Present were Chair Lewis, Vice-Chair Rose; Commissioners Turnbull, Adair and Walker
Absent were Commissioners Henry and Chynoweth, but Chynoweth joined by conference call remotely (still in her roll as a non-voting member).
Before the meeting began there was some scuttlebutt on the entire board of the Housing Authority of Vermilion County resigning at their last meeting. All of them. Currently there are no plans to fill their seats by the County Chair of Vermilion County either (more here), much to the chagrin of HUD. The rumor is that only the Commissioners themselves knew about the resignation move. For everybody else it was a total surprise.
The meeting started promptly at 3pm and began with moving an agenda item to the top that would allow Danielle Chynoweth to join the meeting remotely via speaker phone.
There were no public comments afforded to agenda items only. The minutes were all unanimously approved. The financial report was given by the Chief Financial Officer and highlighted items on 15, 17-19, 24-27, and 29 on the agenda packet covering topics from a work-study with the University, security swipe cards upgraded to a key fob system, and a cashiers check that had to be issued. Chynoweth from the phone asked questions about the website and other IT consulting costs that were answered. Also the work-study report was asked about and there will be a presentation at next month's board meeting. The report was unanimously approved submitted.
In New Business was a charitable sale of HACC property to the Connections Center for $10 and an agreement that the HACC would pay a portion of the utilities on the property proportional to a garage space they'll be leasing at no other additional cost. Chynoweth asked whether the utility payment is necessary or wise given the donation of the property and suggested the agreement allow the garage use for free due to the charitable nature of the sale. A discussion ensued to nail down what that would mean and a motion was eventually put forth to pass the sale motion with an amendment that no utility payments by the HACC would be part of the deal. Walker abstained, Lewis and Adair voted no, while Rose and Turnbull voted in favor. The motion failed.
The original motion to sell the property at the charitable cost of $10 and pay the proportional utilities each month for the garage use (not amended) was then voted on: Walker, Lewis, and Adair voting yes. Rose and Turnbull voting no. The motion passed.
A vote on the Bristol Place / Bristol Park Neighborhood issue (page 37-39 from the agenda packet) passed unanimously. Chynoweth had questions about the used versus unused vouchers as part of the finances.
The rent rates were discussed with Chynoweth asking why higher incomes were being provided housing through the program. The interim Director explained that that reaches into philosophical questions of the organization of the HUD/Housing Authority relationship. There are no HUD income limits for living in public housing, and the regulations say you never have to go off. The HACC is trying to find a balance from HUD's open regulation and a desire to cap at a reasonable basis of Area Median Income. Turnbull noted that drawing a line where people might get kicked off during a time of feast could leave them homeless if they soon find themselves in famine. The rates were approved unanimously after the discussion.
A land swap was proposed for a site that came with an expensive road requirement for the facility on it. The neighboring property owners, the Atkins Group, have no need or desire for the road and are being offered a larger portion of the adjacent HACC property so they may be inclined to pay for the portion that runs by their property, saving the HACC a great deal of money on a project they need right now. The City of Champaign has the road in their "Master Plan" and will not budge on the issue, so the HACC is backed into a corner facing the costs of paying for the whole road section that they simply cannot afford. The land swap offer was approved unanimously.
The interim Director's contract was also updated for the upcoming transition to the new permanent HACC Director and Cindi Herrera's return to her previous contract as a consultant. Chynoweth had questions about the details of the motion and the situation that were answered. Lewis thanked her for her tireless work, often going above and beyond. The motion passed unanimously.
The operations report spoke of a Tolono Hearing on April 10th, but I don't see anything on their web calendar or understand what it was about. There were updates on relocations for the RAD property construction and an update on bed bug eradication (not just treatment) at the Washington location being successful. They're continuing to digitally scan and correct files being audited. A Housing Authority success story was told.
A training program to help residents retain employment in light of many finding work, but being unable to retain the job having been a common problem. The HACC will be joining WorkNet as a partner. Commissioner Turnbull pointed out her earlier comments about income cut offs with a person who might get kicked off of section 8 programs only to lose their job and be unable to get back in without an extensive wait. Waiting lists and possible openings to new vouchers in the future were discussed after another Chynoweth inquiry.
Two people spoke for the general public comments opportunity. Brian Gilaweise (sp?) of Urbana thanked the board for the services they provide, but expressed concerns about cyber security with on-line records in light of their website crash with all data lost. Although the public comment time isn't meant to be a back and forth, Lewis chimed in to say the new system has a backup, and Turnbull pointed out her plans to go out and speak to residents about some of the matters he raised.
Stuart Levy also talked about cyber security concerns with technical credentials in the field. He pointed out the public desire for more transparency for board meetings being recorded and then made available.
Lewis responded again saying they always invite the public to come to the meetings. I'm not sure if he meant in-person on Thursdays during business hours and when schools get out was sufficient public access to meetings, or if he was somehow speaking to the desire for television or web meeting videos.
The Legal Counsel brought up a couple issues, involving work overlap for the new Executive Director during the transition approved by HUD. Lewis noted he didn't see a problem with it. That appeared to be the consensus. A second issue was an amendment to previous minutes that was approved unanimously.
I believe they said there was no private meeting items. The public meeting adjourned at 4:21pm.
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