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FAIR HOUSING
ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES
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CITY OF NORWALK
FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION
OCTOBER 16, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Rev. Jeffrey Ingraham, Chairman; Bernadine Tatem; Barbara Hudgins;
Nancy Burke; Lori Torrano (7:45).
STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the Chairman.
APPROVAL OF JUNE 18, 2007 MINUTES
** MS. HUDGINS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.
** MS. BURKE SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MS. TATEM).
FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S REPORT
Ms. Suib reviewed her written report.
Ms. Tatem spoke of a woman she knows who works at Wachovia Bank who tried to purchase one of the affordable units at 55/77 Water Street but has never been called back. Ms. Suib said that this woman should contact her.
At 7:45 p.m., Mrs. Torrano arrived at the meeting.
The Chairman asked how much the Fair Rent Commission and the Fair Housing Commission overlap. Ms. Suib said they don’t overlap at all. Fair Rent deals with rent increase issues. Human Relations deals with discrimination and has the power to hear housing cases. Fair Housing helps the client file a complaint, wherever it may be. Mrs. Torrano said that, as a former chairman of the Human Relations Commission, there were hearings that did not come through Fair Housing. Ms. Suib said she foresees a good relationship with the new director of Human Relations.
The Chairman asked how people would find the Fair Housing office. Ms. Suib said people refer friends, as do other agencies. Ms. Tatem suggested that office hours be added to Ms. Suib’s newspaper articles.
Ms. Hudgins asked if Fair Rent and Human Relations have tremendous backlogs. Ms. Suib said she did not believe that they are backlogged.
Ms. Tatem asked that the word “others” in her report be defined. Ms. Suib said she would try to expand on this category.
** MS. TATEM MOVED TO ACCEPT THE FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S REPORT.
** MRS. TORRANO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
OLD BUSINESS
The Chairman said they sent membership letters on October 2nd to remind everyone of the meetings.
The next meeting will take place on December 3rd, possibly from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Chairman received a resignation letter from Hope Boone, dated August 14th and received on October 10th. The Commission will asked Ms. Suib to request of the Mayor that he make a new appointment.
NEW BUSINESS
FAIR HOUSING OFFICER REVIEW
The Chairman said that Ms. Suib has consented to pass on the annual review because of the fact that it has been difficult for this Commission to get a quorum of 6 commissioners. Ms. Tatem suggested they plan to do this at a special meeting; the Chairman agreed.
DISCUSSION OF COMMISSION WORK PLAN FY2007-2008
Ms. Suib reviewed possible topics for the work plan:
1. Workforce housing ordinance
2. Educational seminar
3. Newspaper column
4. Outreach
5. Fair Housing event
The Chairman suggested that the newspaper column is possibly not reaching all of the people they should reach.
Re outreach, Ms. Tatem said that flyers should be distributed at NEON, in churches, etc.
Ms. Burke suggested that the newspaper column should go into the Spanish-speaking newspaper.
Discussion took place on predatory lending practices. Ms. Torrano said there will be a disproportionate number of people who will be impacted by what is happening in the credit market now. Ms. Suib said this would be a referral issue. It was agreed that this would be addressed under outreach and educational seminars and would be included in flyers.
There will be further discussion at the next meeting.
** MRS. TORRANO MOVED TO APPROVE THE FAIR HOUSING CONDITIONAL WORK PLAN AS
PRESENTED, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
THESE ITEMS AND WILL BE WORKED ON AT THE NEXT MEETING.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT
** MRS. TORRANO MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services
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