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FAIR HOUSING
ADVISORY COMMISSION
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April 12, 2004
ATTENDANCE: Herbert A. Grant, Chairman; Heather Rodin; Bernadine Tatem; Rev. Jeffrey A. Ingraham; Rahoul Dupervil; Mary Corcoran; Lori Torrano
STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer
Chairman Grant called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
11. APPROVAL OF MARCH 15, 2004 MINUTES
Corrections:
Page 1, last paragraph: change the number ‘10’ to ‘18’ in the first line and in the third line change the number ‘10’ to the number ‘2’. Also change the word Council to Commission in the third line.
Page 2, first paragraph, change the word ‘past’ to ‘passed’. And change ‘1981’ to ‘1983’.
Page 2, third paragraph, change the word ‘activity’ to ‘active’.
Page 3, second paragraph under number IV., change the word ‘sketches’ to ‘pamphlets’.
Page 4, first paragraph, last sentence, change regards to read regard.
Page 6, under Old Business; change ‘McClave’ to ‘Miklave’. And change the sentence to read ‘ He Said that he spoke with Matt Miklave and would meet with him at a later date with respect to his concerns relative to an affordable housing plan.
** MS. TATEM MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF MARCH 15, 2004 AS CORRECTED.
** MS. TORRANO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
III. BUSINESS
A. Chairman’s report of meeting with Tim Sheehan/Meeting with Mayor.
Mr. Grant said that he had a productive meeting with the Mayor and Mr. Sheehan and that the Second Decree was signed off by the City and Judge Burns. Mr. Grant said that the legal counsel and the Mayor were to implement a plan with the Second Decree. He also added that this was not the responsibility of Mr. Sheehan but is the agency of the city for the second decree which an agreement with the NAACP and the City of Norwalk, with the Mayor being in charge of the plan of action. Mr. Grant said that the plan was then handed down to the Redevelopment Agency.
Mr. Grant said that Ms. Suib was here to assist the Commission in their plan of action and to assist in the role of the Commission. Mr. Grant said that they are here to supervise Ms. Suib. He said that there has not been a plan as of yet. Mr. Grant said that the position of the Fair Housing Officer was housed in the Redevelopment Agency therefore they are responsible for the day to day administration of that function. He said that the decree also stipulates that the two elements to be addressed by the NAACP and the city were the classification of the position. Mr. Grant said that that means to clarify if the position was exempt or non-exempt. Mr. Grant explained the difference between exempt and non-exempt. He added that the comp hours worked in the exempt position must be used within the week that the hours are worked. Mr. Grant said that comp hours couldn’t be banked. Mr. Grant said that this was an outstanding issue that needed to be resolved and the resolve had to come from the Mayor. He added that the Redevelopment Agency was an instrument of the city.
Mr. Grant said that the second issue was the personnel policies that are not resolved. He added that this was not the responsibility of the Commission. Mr. Dupervil asked if the Commission would resolve a conflict between the Mayor and NAACP. Mr. Grant said that this was not the position of the Commission to resolve.
Mr. Grant said that the Mayor has resolution to fill the position of the director of Human Relations. Mr. Grant said that the Mayor was aware of what to do. He said that the eighth position needed to be filled on the Commission also. Ms. Rodin said that the Mayor assigns the vice chair but the Commission ratifies it.
Mr. Grant said that the Second Decree absolves the first decree into the Second Decree. He said that a letter was submitted to the Mayor sometime ago to move forward to fill the position of the director of Human Relations.
Mr. Grant said that the Mayor has two obligations. He said that they were to meet with the NAACP and the legal counsel. Mr. Grant said the second obligation was to determine an action plan for the decree.
Ms. Tatem asked about the budget and if Ms. Suib could transfer funds from one line item to another. Ms. Suib said that she fills out a form and then the process was through the controller in Redevelopment. Mr. Grant said that the format of the budget was the issue. He said to change it back to the original format because it was much easier to read. Mr. Grant said that the decree makes it clear as to the responsibilities of the Commission when it comes to the budget process.
B. Update/Report by Commissioner Rodin and the Fair Housing Officer on Commission Event scheduled for May 6, 2004.
Ms. Rodin said that she reached the Attorney General and he was very excited about the May event and gave his staff name to contact. Ms. Rodin said she gave the staff name to Ms. Suib to be in touch with for the May breakfast on Predatory Lending.
Ms. Suib said that the Attorney General would speak promptly at 8:15 a.m. She said that he would speak from 8:15 to 9:00 a.m. Ms. Suib said that Mr. Blumenthal would bring another speaker as well. She added that the staff from the Attorney General’s office would stay and answer any questions from the meeting.
Ms. Suib distributed a draft letter to the Commission regarding the invitation to the breakfast. Discussion took place on how many and who should be invited. Ms. Suib said that the Community Room would accommodate 125 seated and about 270 standing. Ms. Suib distributed the list of invitees for the event. She added that there would be a press release also. Mr. Grant asked what kind of assistance would be needed from the Commissioners. Ms. Suib responded that she would need the list of invitees from them. She said that they could call her with names.
Discussion took place on who should be invited. Mr. Dupervil suggested using the list from the Mayor’s Ball. Ms. Torrano said that the list seemed to be more social than who the Commission was trying to reach. Ms. Torrano suggested inviting lawyers, real estate brokers and bankers.
Mr. Grant said that the Commission was trying to reach the working family and maybe could reach them through churches. Ms. Rodin said that the target should be the victim of this housing issue. She said that senior citizens should also be invited. Ms. Torrano said that the terminology that the Attorney General would talk about predatory lending and would target lenders and bankers.
Ms. Suib said that she would need an RSVP for the event. Mr. Grant said that a brochure with a tear off to mail back or call the office with an RSVP.
Mr. Grant said that most people do not know the role of the Commission. Ms. Torrano said that this was one part of a sustained effort to bring about awareness of predatory lending. She added that this particular event would not target the working family. Mr. Grant said that the Commission not exclude the recipient of the event. He said that it could not only be realtors or bankers. Ms. Rodin said that people are more sophisticated than we think they are. She said that most people are self-selecting and if they think this is informative for them, then they would come to the event. Ms. Tatem said that she agreed with Ms. Rodin. She added that a lot of people would feel insulted if not invited.
Mr. Grant said that Ms. Suib needed direction on this project. He said that this should be inclusionary not exclusionary. He added that this is the 18th year of this decree and the Commission needed to demonstrate as a body what steps are taken to show what the Commission was about. Ms. Torrano said that there are two aspects to stop predatory lending. She said that the victim needed awareness and she said that the focus hopefully would be on the attorneys and builders. She said that they should be held accountable for lending also. Ms. Torrano said that she did not mean this to be condescending.
Mr. Grant said that the Commission would steer the Attorney General to the type of audience that is present. He said that we need an RSVP and a head count.
Ms. Rodin said that there was an IMF meeting soon and could be announced at the church. Mr. Grant said that Ms. Suib would use the media to make the message clear of what activity we are about to proceed with. He said that this message should be very clear.
Ms. Suib asked if a motion was necessary to spend the money. Ms. Rodin said that this was a line item in the budget and a motion was not necessary.
Discussion took place on the number of flyers to be distributed to the churches. Ms. Rodin said that 20-25 should be handed out.
Ms. Suib said that Mr. Grant would welcome and introduce the Mayor. She said that the Mayor would welcome the Attorney General. Mr. Grant suggested stating that the speaker would start promptly at 8:15 a.m. so that everyone should be there on time. Ms. Torrano suggested that the event start at 7:45 a.m.
IV. FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S MONTHLY REPORT
Ms. Suib distributed the report to the Commission. She said that there were two cases opened for the month of March. She added that they would be closed in April. Ms. Suib described the situation. She said that a married couple that looked Asian in appearance with a foreign sounding name was turned down for a one bedroom rental. She said that the realtors were instrumental in bringing this to her. Ms. Suib said that the realtors cancelled the contract with the landlord. Ms. Suib said that the landlord said that the apartment was too small for a couple. Ms. Suib said that she told the landlord that she should speak with the attorney in regard to this complaint. She added that the landlord decided to rent to the couple.
Ms. Suib said that the second case was that a disabled single woman with four children was trying to be evicted by the landlord after being a tenant for eleven years. She added that the tenant always paid the rent on time. Ms. Suib said that under Connecticut law the tenant could not be evicted if the rent was paid on time. She said that the case was settled and the tenant was on the waiting list for Section 8.
Ms. Suib said that the case with HUD has been resolved. She said that HUD agreed with her on how the Housing Authority was conducting the Section 8 determination. She said that the Housing Authority was now conducting the hearings differently. Ms. Suib said that HUD said that the issue was resolved.
Ms. Suib said that she needed to contact Mr. Langhorn of the AIC program for distributing flyers. She said that the census that she has would indicate what neighborhood to distribute in. She said that the target would be the neighborhoods that are getting the most predators. Ms. Suib said that it would depend on when the volunteers would be available. She added that hopefully in May.
Ms. Suib said that the Fair Housing annual conference would be held in Cromwell this year. She said that she would moderate the predatory lending panel this year.
Ms. Suib said that the net operating surplus of the budget was $2,852 at the end of March.
V. OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Rodin said that she wanted to talk about a plan of action. Mr. Grant said that he would like Ms. Suib to submit 5 topics for the Commission to have a plan of action.
Ms. Suib said that it would make sense to have a work plan for the coming fiscal year. Mr. Grant said that he would like the Commission to put on their working caps and have a plan of action that goes along with the Second Decree.
Reverend Ingraham asked about seminars for Ms. Suib. Mr. Grant said that money was available under the miscellaneous line item. Reverend Ingraham said that it was helpful to know what the expenses are up front. Mr. Grant said that there were only two months left for this year. Ms. Rodin said that the Commission could work on a better understanding of the budget for next year.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Rodin said that she saw the Mayor’s position on exclusionary zoning in The Hour. She said that the Mayor was supposed to work out what kind of zoning there was. She added that the exclusionary zoning was only for Webster Street, Reed-Putnam and West Avenue. Ms. Rodin said that exclusionary zoning was not needed for those areas. She added that the concern was having affordable housing in certain areas of the city. Ms. Rodin said that the census tracks have a majority of low-income residents in the area. She said that Ms. Suib should look at the data and advise the city of this. Mr. Grant said that he received a phone call from a reporter asking the opinion of the Commission but did not answer because he had not been chairperson long enough. He said that Stamford had a clear example of what was called ‘not in my backyard’ regarding affordable housing. He said that the issue was people in affordable housing are educated and are responsible to do what they have to do. Ms. Suib said that she would research the census for the Commission’s May meeting.
Ms. Rodin said that the other issue tonight was that the Commission evaluates the Housing Officer under the second decree. Ms. Rodin said that the resolution was passed in June. She asked if there was a new form or should they use the form from the Redevelopment Agency. Ms. Rodin said that there has to be 6 Commissioners present for evaluation and 5 present to pass the evaluation.
** MS. TATEM MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** MS. TORRANO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Jean Lane for
Telesco Secretarial Services
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