JUNE 21, 2004

ATTENDANCE: Herbert A. Grant, Chair; Heather Rodin; Mary Corcoran; Rev. Jeffrey Ingraham.

STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer.

I CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Grant called the meeting to order at 7:50pm.

II APPROVAL OF MAY 17, 2004 MINUTES

Corrections:
Under Business section A where it states “Mr. Grant distributed copies of the plan” should read “Mr. Grant distributed copies of the format for the plan”.

Page 4, the second paragraph states “Ms. Suib said she had a meeting”, should read “Ms. Suib said she attended a meeting”.

Page 5, under New Business, the second line that reads “City Affordable Housing Unit” should read “Initiative” instead of unit.

** MS. CORCORAN MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF MAY 17, 2004 AS AMENDED.
** MR. INGRAHAM SECONDED THE MOTION.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

III BUSINESS

A. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF COMMISSION WORKPLAN FOR FY 2004-2005.

Ms. Suib handed out the draft for the Fair Housing Advisory Commission’s Program Plan for FY 2004-2005. Mr. Grant said the result of this came from the meeting that was requested as Chair and Commission members Mr. Dupervil and Ms. Rodin met with Ms. Suib and went over the overall recommendations that were made and outlined at a previous meeting, and this working plan came from that discussion. Mr. Grant questioned Ms. Suib on leaving out some segments of the package, and asked if she can add it to the package. Ms. Suib replied yes.

Ms. Suib described the outline of the draft, stating the Roman Numerals are the different topics, the capital letters are the summaries or goals, and the numbers 1-7 are the dates, who is do what, and the anticipated resolution.
Ms. Corcoran asked if anything was ever done with the senior centers in the past. Ms. Suib stated not in her time. Ms. Corcoran suggested that they develop a program for the senior centers. Ms. Rodin questioned how Inclusionary Zoning listed on page 2 would operate. Mr. Grant asked Ms. Rodin if she had any recommendations. Ms. Rodin said no, she went to say, they need to figure how to get the City’s respect on the issue. Ms. Rodin asked if there was ever any response from someone. Ms. Suib said that Mr. Grant received a response from someone. As Mr. Grant was looking for this letter, Ms. Rodin on to her other question, stating on the last page of the draft under Outreach, the wording “illegal housing discrimination” should read differently, because housing discrimination is not necessarily illegal if you’re not in the protective class, you can be discriminated against. Ms. Roding suggested that wording be changed.

Mr. Grant said he received a letter from Zoning Chairperson, Dorothy Mobilla dated 3/17/04. He read the letter:

“Please excuse my delay in responding to your request concerning affordable housing initiative, taken by the Zoning Commission in recent years. In 2001, the Zoning Commission which participates in Housing Partnership in Active Moderate Income Housing Regulations Section 118-1050. The Commission has more recently negotiated affordable housing provisions for more than 10% of units to be built at Summit LLC on Richards Avenue, and is in negations for similar provisions on the Pepperidge Farm property. In addition, an application from the Human Service Council that will provide for more than 56 affordable housing units is pending before the Commission.”

Mr. Grant then said the pending application is moving ahead except there is a court case by Easy Storage. Ms. Rodin asked for copies of the letter. Mr. Grant replied affirmatively. Ms. Rodin questioned how do they get initial input into these matters. Mr. Grant stated they need to become an ombudsman as it relates to these issues, and exercise an aggressive approach. The Committee can send letters to the Commission stating they would like to be included as a part of the Agenda on affordable housing. Ms. Rodin asked Ms. Suib if she receives Agenda’s. Ms. Suib said no, but the Agenda’s are posted on the website and distributed interoffice. Ms. Rodin asked if they can request copies from the Staff in the office. Mr. Grant reiterated that they need to come with an aggressive point that needs to be included. Ms. Corcoran said if something is on the Agenda that pertains to them, they should be included. Mr. Grant agreed. Ms. Suib suggested a proposal be made. Ms. Rodin said it should say that a Fair Housing officer be included on meetings regarding the Inclusionary Zoning.

Mr. Grant said that the Mayor has asked for a plan, and as the plan is submitted they include this issue on the cover letter. Mr. Grant then stated to Ms. Suib to make a note that once they approve the Inclusionary Zoning plan she remind him to include a cover letter advising the Mayor the Fair Housing members would be addressed and included on any discussions regarding this issue.

Ms. Rodin suggested that for Mortgage Lending Study it say May 31, 2005 instead of June 30, 2005. Ms. Suib said that her concern was this project is an annual project on top of her normal work. If they want all the other projects, she can’t also do a lending study in the same year. Mr. Grant said what Ms. Rodin was asking that it be put in the year 2004-2005. Ms. Rodin said no, she is only asking that I be changed to May 31, 2005, the year remain the same, just the day changed. Ms. Suib replied affirmatively. Mr. Grant then advised Ms. Suib to finalize this and put the whole package together, so it can be distributed prior to the next meeting.

** MS. RODIN MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMMISSION WORK PLAN FOR FY 2004-2005 WITH THE CORRECTIONS, WITH FINAL PLAN TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE NEXT MEETING.
** MR. INGRAHAM SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

B. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF ALLOCATION OF FY 2004-2005 BUDGET.

Ms. Suib handed out the Fair Housing Monthly Budget Report for July 2004 and went through each item on the budget. Ms. Suib said the Annual Budget column is what the City approved, $80, 847, which is the same as it was last year. Ms. Suib started with the Personnel section and stated her salary will go up minuscule so part of the operating funds was eaten up by salary and FICA/Fringe, so the Operational section is down a little. $650 is the amount Ms. Suib was told to put in for the overhead. There is $0 in postage and Ms. Suib said this may become a problem because the usage has to be tracked. Dues and subscriptions are are the same as last year. Travel, training and secretarial are the same as last year. FHAC is a little more than what they will probably use. Mr. Grant went back to the postage issue, he asked since the items are flexible, the dollars can be moved around. Ms. Suib replied yes and added the overhead should include postage. Ms. Rodin asked if this is for FY 2004-2005. Ms. Suib said yes, but there are no expenditures because it is not yet July. Ms. Suib said that expenditures will be a problem. Mr. Grant said he hears Ms. Suib, and the bridge will be crossed when the new fiscal year begins and they need to be more aggressive to get their voice heard. Ms. Suib suggested that they give her the copies of the checks they write, and that would help her in getting the monies they need. Mr. Grant said he will re-address this with Lori Torrano, whom he spoke to in the past, and ask her to work with Ms. Suib to simplify the process for the new fiscal year. Ms. Rodin did not agree, because Lori is no longer a commissioner and doesn’t regularly attend meetings. Mr. Grant said he spoke to Lori and she advised him she would get back to him after she spoke to Ms. Suib, but never contacted him back. Mr. Grant said that now it needs to be in writing. Ms. Suib suggested getting this matter resolved, Mr. Grant should contact Tim Sheehan. Mr. Grant agreed.

Mr. Ingraham asked if each category on the budget report is represented in the budget of the redevelopment agency. Ms. Suib said the Fair Housing office has been funded for many years as a grant agency, and the Commission fills out the application and the Common Council approves a lump sum. It is presently administered by the Redevelopment Agency, but Redevelopment can not spend the money. It is up to the Commission on how the money is allocated, and since it is a lump sum it is not a line item on the budget. Mr. Grant questioned if it was similar to a block grant. Ms. Suib replied negative. Mr. Ingraham asked if there were safeguards so they don’t go over budget. Ms. Suib said yes.

** MS. CORCORAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF FY 2004-2005 BUDGET.
** MR. INGRAHAM SECONDED THE MOTION.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

C. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF NEXT STEP IN DOOR-TO-DOOR PREDATORY LENDING CAMPAIGN BASED UPON CENSUS TRACT DATA.

Ms. Suib referenced the correspondence in the Agenda titled “Targeting Predatory Lending Door-To-Door Campaign”. Which listed census tracts that show where in Norwalk the most sub-prime loans were. Sub-prime loans include predatory loans. There are three low income census tracts which also are the highest minority population census tracts. Ms. Suib made copies of her census tract maps and attached them to the Agenda. Two of the three lowest income and highest minority tracts also have the highest incidents in sub-prime lending. Moderate income census tracts are also very attractive to predatory lenders because the people have a little more money and equity. They also have the next highest minority population. Ms. Suib referenced the tables that show the median income levels, given the example of tract 445 which states if a family income is 45.32% of the area median income that family’s income is $46,000.

Ms. Suib said they have done one neighborhood so far in the door-to-door campaign, Census Tract 444 attached to the Agenda. Tract 444 is statistically a good neighborhood for this project. About 2000-3000 flyers will be handed out. So far 1000 flyers have been handed out. Ms. Suib suggested they target the other low income/high minority neighborhoods and one of the moderate income tracts. Mr. Grant asked what was the consensus of the commissioner. Ms. Rodin advised she sees no problem with doing two low incomes and one moderate, and she has not problem with doing to two moderate and one low income area. Ms. Rodin said they should decide on what would be the easiest streets to go to. Ms. Suib said 441 is the third low income on the list, but it also has a lot of redevelopment i.e. the police station and the Putnam, 441 should be left out due to high transition of public facilities. Ms. Suib then added if they were to do 441 then they should do Columbus to Havilland to Raymond Street and not leave this neighborhood out completely. Ms. Rodin agreed. Mr. Ingraham asked how do they distribute the flyers. Ms. Suib said they leave the flyers in the doors and they have the help of the AIC program.

Mr. Grant stated that it seems to be consensus based on Ms. Suib’s recommendation that they proceed.

D. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S JOB PERFORMANCE AS COMMISSION STAFF FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004.

This item was tabled.

IV FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S MONTHLY REPORT

Mr. Grant questioned Ms. Suib on her meetings attending, and asked how Monterey Village was coming along. Ms. Suib replied it is progressing. Ms. Grant stated there were a couple of incidents in the paper i.e. a cutting of a youngster and trash not being picked up. Ms. Suib said she is not involved in the police issues, she deals the residents who have their rights violated, perhaps in a targeted fair housing way. Ms. Suib gave an example of a woman who had a clogged drain, the drain did not have anything installed that would prevent hair from going down the drain. When the resident reported the incident, they charged the resident for it, and under landlord tenant law, if the landlord did not install anything to prevent it, it should have been the landlord’s responsibility not the tenant. The tenant was charged a large amount which she could not paid, and the eviction process was started. The tenant had to go to court and sign an agreement, and what started as a $60 plumbing bill turned into a $600 stipulation. Which she could not pay and got evicted. Ms. Suib continued stating that this is a pattern, with the protective class. Ms. Suib said the Health Department is involved because they can order the landlord to make repairs. Ms. Suib stated that their goal is to get the word out to the tenants that as soon as they get a bill, to contact them, because once an eviction process is started, they can not help the tenant. There is a tenant representative that has been assisting in bringing the tenants to them. The tenants are afraid to say anything in fear of eviction. Ms. Suib said the tenant representative has been very helpful.

Mr. Grant said it has been two years since the City has been involved in any kind of monitoring or evaluation of the management company for Monterrey. Ms. Suib said she didn’t recall any evaluation being done, but there was a lot of dissatisfaction and the Mayor went up there to speak, but not at the level of monitoring. Ms. Rodin said there was at one point, where the Housing Authority was going to pull out, but decided to stay in. Ms. Suib said they eventually got a new management firm.

Mr. Grant said he brought up Monterrey as a tip of the iceberg but all public housing need a Tenant Representative to assure the tenants know what their rights are as well as the resources to help them. Ms. Suib added that Monterrey is in a class of by itself, because all the other public housing in Norwalk are under the umbrella of the Norwalk Housing Authority which has the Commission, tenant groups that meet with management, a public plan and administrative plan, there is a least a bureaucracy in place. Monterrey has none of this. Monterrey only has an onsite manager who is under no supervision.

Mr. Grant asked Ms. Suib if she had recommendations. Ms. Suib said she brought a Fair Housing case against the management company four years ago, and the management stop speaking to her. Her plan is to start building up a case with the patterns and practice, since there are no other means of talking with the management. Ms. Suib said she doesn’t anything the Commission can do, but her office will continue to build the cases.

Ms. Suib attended the Human Relations Taskforce meetings, of which Ms. Rodin attended also. Ms. Suib advised the meetings are coming to conclusion and they are drafting the recommendations. Ms. Suib said one recommendation will be that the Human Relations and Fair Rent remain separate and another was that Human Relations maintains its enforcement purposes for unemployment cases and housing. Ms. Suib said the most important thing is she still has a local body to bring a fair housing complaint to. Ms. Suib they always try to settle cases and in most cases settling works.

Ms. Suib said she has continued with the State Predatory Task Force and the CT Fannie Mae Foundation has been doing a lot of presentations to senior groups. Ms. Suib has asked if they would come to Norwalk and do presentations and they have agreed. Ms. Suib said she has asked if they would do in conjunction with synagogues and churches but guesses they will.

Ms. Suib advised she has done some lobbying for stronger Federal Laws with their congressmen on predatory lending. The taskforce has asked Ms. Suib to get Chris Shae’s office to support what the taskforce is doing. Ms. Suib is in the process of discussing this with them.

Ms. Suib said she is trying to get Senate Democrats to sign on to another Democratic letter object to some weak regulatory proposals. She spoke to Lieberman’s aid, and he did sign on.

Ms. Suib is going to New Orleans on June 26, 2004 for the Annual Fair Housing Conference returning on June 30, 2004. July 6-7 2004 is the Annual Predatory Lending training in Hartford for advocates and attorneys from Connecticut and Massachusetts given by a national organization that does lending.

Mr. Ingraham asked Ms. Suib how does someone with a housing issue know how to find her. Ms. Suib advised there are many ways, if they call the Mayor’s office, they will be referred to her, they can call 211, word of mouth, if they call the Housing Department and also in the Norwalk Hour.

V OLD BUSINESS

Ms. Rodin had changes in the approval of minutes from April 12, 2004. Ms. Rodin referenced page 3, 3rd paragraph regarding Ms. Suib completing an analysis on the Inclusionary Zoning, to be distributed at the next meeting so the Commission would know what to do with the information. Ms. Rodin suggested this be continued on to the next meeting. Ms. Suib said she will write up a handout.

VI NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

VII ADJOURNMENT

** MS. RODIN MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Tia C. Malick
Telesco Secretarial Services.

Back to Previous Page	Back to Home Page