AUGUST 25, 2003

STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer

______________________________________________________________________________

I. CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Rodin called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

AUGUST 26, 2002

Ms. Rodin said that the August 26, 2002 minutes had not previously been approved pending comments of Ms. Torrano and other Commissioners.

Corrections:

Page 3, under Old Business, second sentence "…whether the lending study…" should be "…whether the luncheon we gave…"

Page 3, sentence 3, "would" should be "would not."

Page 4, strike the first two sentences.

Page 4, second Paragraph, "…Ms. Torrano said…." should be "Ms. Torrano said the last lending study was done by an approval of the Fair Housing Officer’s action plan by the Redevelopment Agency Commission."

Page 4, second Paragraph, strike last sentence and insert "The methodology for the study needs to be reviewed."

Page 4, fifth Paragraph from bottom of page, "Ms. Torrano said…" should be "Ms. Torrano questioned the need for the study."

Page 4, fifth Paragraph from bottom of page, second sentence, add "by the Redevelopment Commission and not the Fair Housing Commission."

Page 4, fifth Paragraph from bottom of page, strike third sentence and replace with "Ms. Torrano expressed her concerns to the Redevelopment Commission." "Ms. Torrano questioned who approves the Housing Officer’s work plan, the NRA or the Fair Housing Advisory Commission.

Page 4, fourth Paragraph from bottom of page, "Ms. Rodin stated that was good, but it still seems inappropriate from her agency’s viewpoint" should be "Ms. Rodin stated that was good, but it still is inappropriate from the NAACP’s viewpoint."

Page 4, last sentence at bottom of page, "Ms. Rodin commented that the work plan …" should

FHAC Meeting

August 25, 2003

Page 1

be "Ms. Rodin commented that the work plan had not been placed on the agenda as an item for approval."

Page 4, Paragraph 6 from the bottom of page, "Ms. Rodin asked whether the Commissioners approved…" should be "Ms. Rodin asked whether the Commissioners of the Redevelopment Agency approved the work plan."

Page 4, Paragraph 6 from the bottom of page, "Ms. Suib said she did not understand…" should be "Ms. Suib said she did understand that to be the case."

Page 4, Paragraph 6, "Ms. Rodin said as a representative…" should be "Ms. Rodin said as a representative of the NAACP she did not consider this appropriate." Add "She also stated that she had not understood that the NRA Commissioners exercised the approval in the past and she wanted on record at this point that they had done this."

** MS. TATEM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

MAY 19, 2003

Corrections:

Change "Lori" to "Ms. Torrano" throughout.

Page 4, Paragraph 2, "riches" should be "richest"

Page 5, first sentence of last Paragraph, "paternity" should be "fraternity"

** MS. TATEM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

III. FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S MONTHLY REPORT

Ms. Suib said that Section 8 vouchers are no longer being distributed to new voucher holders. She stated that the Housing Authority is at 110 percent and they have no more money to support the vouchers. Ms. Suib said this means that she is not doing any training for voucher recipients, which has had a dramatic impact on the number of complaints she gets. Ms. Suib said the State had resurrected a program called the Security Deposit Guarantee Program where the State guaranteed the security deposit. She said it is apparently working well. She said the program was being limited to first time voucher holders and has now dropped off because there are no new first time voucher holders. Ms. Suib stated that landlord’s were saying they did not want to accept the guarantee but wanted cash in hand. She said there is no case law in the State on the issue. She said she spoke with the State’s Connecticut Human Rights Opportunity Organization chief attorney who said they would take complaints regarding this issue and consider it a source of income discrimination.

FHAC Meeting

August 25, 2003

Page 2

Ms. Suib said the year before last there were about 15 Fair Housing cases. She said this past year there were only 5. She said HUD had only prosecuted 5 cases as well.

Ms. Suib said that immigrant status has picked up in Norwalk. She stated that ever since September 11, 2003 there has been a huge increase in discrimination of those perceived to be middle-eastern or from Pakistan. She said there have been some cases in Norwalk, one of which was in July where a landlord asked if he had to rent to someone who was middle-eastern. Ms. Suib stated that she has told Social Service Providers that if their clients need housing assistance she is not going to ask about their immigration status so that they are not afraid to seek help. She said she provided training towards the end of July for the Family and Children Agency staff personnel and that it was very productive.

** MS. TORRANO MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FAIR HOUSING

OFFICER’S MONTHLY REPORT.

** MS. TATEM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

IV. BUSINESS

Ms. Suib said at the last of this fiscal year the Fair Housing Advisory Commission had money leftover. She said this Commission had an approved spending of a set amount of $600.00, which is what they were informed was left in the budget. Ms. Suib said at the last minute it was discovered there was a lot more left over. She said there was unanimous support to using all of the money left for the Anti-Predatory Lending flyers. Ms. Suib said she has 3,000 flyers with English printed on one side and Spanish on the other. She stated that in May the first batch of flyers were distributed in the Lexington Avenue, Woodward Avenue area with the help of the AIC Program at NEON. Ms. Suib said she got a good price on the 3,000 flyers. She said she found a printer through the Mr. Papadakos. It was the consensus of the Commission to send a note of thanks to him for his assistance. Ms. Suib said the next batch of flyers would be distributed in the Fairview Avenue, Flax Hill and Taylor Avenue areas.

Ms. Rodin said the Fair Housing Advisory Commission should contact the Hour again. Ms. Suib said the Commission should ask the Hour to come and cover the actual distribution of the flyers. Ms. Rodin asked Ms. Suib to pick a date and contact the Hour to let them know. Ms. Suib said that she would contact the Director of the AIC Program to see when she would be able to solicit more help from them.

Ms. Rodin said that since it is a new budget year, posters at certain locations regarding Anti-Predatory Lending would not be a bad idea. She asked Ms. Suib to price the posters.

Ms. Suib said that

FHAC Meeting

August 25, 2003

Page 3

It was the consensus of the Commission that Ms. Torrano would draft the design of the poster and submit it to the Commissioners.

Ms. Suib said that at the request of the Commissioners there were a couple of letters sent to the Corporation Counsel regarding the issue of a conflict of interest to do a lending study looking at the mortgage lending of banks, including Fairfield County Savings Bank, given that Fairfield County Savings Bank sponsored a luncheon for this Commission in 2001. She said the FHAC received two answers over a two-year period. She said there was a sense among the Commissioners that there was not a specific answer.

Ms. Rodin said there were actually two specific answers. She said one was that the FHAC could not exclude Fairfield County Savings Bank from future studies and the other was that the Fair Housing Commission should not accept money for luncheons. She said there was no answer as to whether the Commission could include them. Ms. Rodin asked that the FHAC do a followup letter to the Norwalk Corporation Counsel asking for clarification as to what the FHAC needs to do now that it has accepted the money.

Ms. Suib said the letter should address the question as to whether the $500.00 received several years ago needs to be returned.

** MS. CORCORAN MADE A MOTION TO WRITE A FOLLOW UP LETTER TO

THE NORWALK CORPORATION COUNSEL ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION,

** MS. TATEM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

C. UPDATE REGARDING FY 2002-2003 BUDGETARY ITEMS AND FY2003-2004

BUDGET

Ms. Suib said last year the FHAC ended up with approximately $1,900. She said every penny of the money was used on the flyers.

Ms. Rodin said the Redevelopment Agency has made it so that whatever the Comptroller is doing is meaningless as far as the FHAC is concerned. She said the FHAC has the right, as a line item budget to change the line. She said the question has to be resolved as to what the stipulation says and what the NAACP’s position is. Ms. Rodin stated that this is the FHAC budget and the FHAC determines whether there are any changes in the line and the FHAC does not do so through the Redevelopment Agency. She said the next budget, when it is presented to

FHAC Meeting

August 25, 2003

Page 4

the City of Norwalk, will come directly from the FHAC to the City of Norwalk.

Ms. Suib said she did not have a problem working with the new Comptroller. She said her issue is that there is a line item now for support. She said support is doing the work. Ms. Suib stated that the NRA support charge is $600.00.

Ms. Rodin said the point is that no one from the Redevelopment Agency has the authority, including the Comptroller, of putting in line items or changing lines.

Ms. Suib said that other than paying for accounting services that the FHAC has done she does not have a preference as to how Redevelopment is trying to structure themselves. Ms. Rodin said the FHAC should require, on a quarterly basis, a breakdown of the actual expenses that Ms. Suib has incurred. It was the consensus of the Fair Housing Advisory Commission that the $600.00 as a flat charge is reasonable for supplies, copies and postage.

** MS. CORCORAN MADE A MOTION FHAC ACCEPT THE NORWALK

REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY’S $600.00 FLAT BUDGET CHARGE FOR

SUPPLIES, COPIES AND POSTAGE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

** MS. TATEM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

V. OLD BUSINESS

None.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Rodin said regarding the position of Human Relations Director, under additional duties is listed "performs investigative and mediation services as Fair Housing Officer". She said the wording is directly from an old job description. She said that when Mr. Papadakos found out about this he called the head of Personnel who said this is what was posted. Ms. Rodin said she wondered if it was the consensus of the FHAC to write a letter to the Human Relations Commission, the Mayor and the head of Personnel noting the fact that there is a Fair Housing Officer that is staffed to the Fair Housing Advisory Commission so that it is on record.

** MS. RODIN MADE A MOTION TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE HUMAN

RELATIONS COMMISSION STATING THAT THERE IS A FAIR HOUSING

** MS. TATEM SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

FHAC Meeting

August 25, 2003

Page 5

Ms. Corcoran said the Mayor’s appointment to the FHAC has been vacant for two years. She said it seems very irresponsible. She stated that for months the FHAC has had trouble getting a forum. Ms. Corcoran said she thinks the FHAC should send a letter to the Mayor regarding this issue.

Ms. Tatem said she thought the FHAC should wait until after the elections. She said there has been a lot of diverse people on the FHAC that have been difficult to work with and she does not want to open up another can of worms.

Ms. Corcoran said the Commissioners would have to work with whoever is sent and that the position could not be left vacant.

** MS. TATEM MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

** MS. TORRANO SECONDED THE MOTION.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Custis

Telesco Secretarial Services

Back to Previous Page	Back to Home Page

Business & Ecomomy

City Departments

City Services

Government

Living in Norwalk

City Calendars

How Do I ?

Job Openings

Tourism & History

Other Sites

Feedback

Site Outline