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FAIR HOUSING
ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES
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CITY OF NORWALK
FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION
MAY 21, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Rev. Jeffrey Ingraham, Chairman; Cesar Ramirez, Barbara
Hudgins, Bernadine Tatem
STAFF: Attorney Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Office
CALL TO ORDER
Rev. Ingraham called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 19, 2007 MINUTES
** MS. HUDGINS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 19, 2007 AS CORRECTED.
The following corrections were noted:
Page 3, paragraph 1, line 5: please change the following from: “reminded the Commission that they can only act in an advisory capacity.” to “reminded the Commission that they have the power to act in an advisory capacity.”
Page 3, paragraph 2, : please change “She also briefly reviewed her objections to the use of the term “workforce” since the definition was clearly an economic one rather than in terms of employment.” to “She also briefly reviewed her objections to the use of the term “workforce” since it’s meaning doesn’t equate with the economic definition given.”
** THE MOTION PASSED WITH TWO IN FAVOR (INGRAHAM AND HUDGINS) AND TWO ABSTENTIONS (RAMIREZ AND TATEM).
FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S REPORT
Atty. Suib reported that the meeting with the past and present chairs of the Zoning Commission regarding “workforce housing” had gone well. The current chair of the Zoning Commission promised to relay the information from the discussion to the Zoning Committee of the Zoning Commission.
Atty. Suib also related the details of a conversation she had with the Mayor about the word “workforce” and her suggestion that the term “moderate income” be used instead.
Atty. Suib then reviewed the details of a case filed by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) against the Norwalk Housing Authority with the Commission.
Atty. Suib then explained that another situation had arisen regarding a Norwalk resident who had become homeless because of divorce and the difficulties that ensued because of this. She reported that the situation had been resolved when the director of the homeless shelter stepped forward and supplied the necessary documentation for the man.
Atty. Suib also reported about a case where the landlady and her daughter had refused to tenant because the tenant was Section 8. Atty. Suib wrote a letter to the landlady and explained that it is illegal to refuse to rent to Section 8 tenants. She received a call from the landlady and a meeting was arranged. This led to the resolution of the situation.
Atty. Suib informed the Commission that another situation regarding a landlord who had refused to allow the installation of a wheelchair ramp for a disabled woman because of existing landscaping. This situation has not yet been resolved and a suit has been filed. As a result of this situation, Atty. Suib approached the Redevelopment Agency about possibly starting a wheelchair ramp program with CDBG funding. This new program will begin on July 1, 2007.
OLD BUSINESS
Rev. Ingraham asked when the Commission had last given Atty. Suib a review. He said that he believed that the Commission had agreed to prepare reviews every other year. Atty. Suib said that she would contact Rev. Ingraham about the date of the last review.
Mr. Ramirez said that while he respected Atty. Suib’s work, he still disagreed with the report that she had submitted about the Housing Authority. He then suggested that Atty. Suib consider possibly addressing the Housing Authority about some of the issues covered by the report. Atty. Suib said that she would be happy to meet with the Housing Authority staff and Board.
NEW BUSINESS
Atty. Suib was asked about the level of interaction she has with both the Fair
Rent Commission and the Human Relations Commission. She explained that when
there was a Director in the Human Relations office, she had more contact with
the two Commissions.
ADJOURNMENT
** MS. TATEM MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MR. RAMIREZ SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services
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