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FAIR HOUSING
ADVISORY COMMISSION
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here for minutes from MARCH 18, 2002 Click here for minutes from APRIL 22, 2002 |
MARCH 17, 2003
ATTENDANCE: Nathaniel Shipp, Chairman; Steve Papadakos;
Lori Torrano, Heather Rodin
STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer
CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:53 p.m.
APPROVAL OF JULY 15 AND AUGUST 26, 2003 MINUTES
Ms. Torrano requested that the Minutes of August 26, 2003 be tabled due to the fact that she wanted to make changes to her comments in the minutes and was not prepared to do so at this time.
** MS. TORRANO MOVED TO TABLE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 26, 2002.
** MR. PAPADAKOS SECONDED.
** MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MS. RODIN MOVED TO ACCEPT OF THE MINUTES OF JULY 15, 2002.
** MS. TORRANO SECONDED.
** MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Rodin questioned if there was a quorum present at the meeting of September 23,
2003.
FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S MONTHLY REPORT
A) APPROVAL OF PREDATORY LENDING FLYER
Mr. Shipp stated that he was satisfied with the predatory lending flyer. Ms. Suib noted that there was one correction in the first paragraph, last sentence, to replace the period after true to a comma.
** MS. TORRANO MOVED TO APPROVE THE PREDATORY LENDING FLYER WITH ONE CORRECTION.
** MR. PAPADAKOS SECONDED.
** MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Suib stated she would look into who the flyer should be distributed to.
B) BUDGET APPLICATION DISCUSSION
Ms. Suib stated that the revised application dated December 18, 2002 was reviewed, however she was not sure which budget was submitted. She noted, however that she felt the tentative approved budget total was $80,847. Ms. Torrano questioned that the line items for T & E and Seminars were up. Ms. Suib replied that the budget was a lump sum approval, not a line item budget, and it is submitted as a grant agency budget.
Ms. Rodin questioned if the Re-Development agency exercised control over the amount of the budget. Ms. Suib replied that under the new Executive Director she cannot approve expenditures for the budget. She stated that she makes up the budget request form and Mr. Sheehan will either approve or not approve any line item. Ms. Rodin asked Ms. Suib if any line items had been turned down and Ms. Suib stated that the subscription renewal item had been.
Discussion followed on the clarification of Mr. Sheehan’s position on funds budgeted by the Fair Housing Advisory Commission for this year’s budget.
** MS. RODIN MOVED THAT LETTER BE SENT TO TIM SHEEHAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RE-DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION, STATING THAT IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COMMISSION THAT BUDGET ITEMS ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THAT CONCERN SHOULD BE RELAYED TO MR. SHEEHAN.
** MR. PAPADAKOS SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH THREE IN FAVOR AND ONE ABSTENTION (MS. TORRANO).
The Chairman stated that the budget process for 2004-2005 needs to begin in August. The Commission requested that Ms. Suib obtain a copy of the 2003-2004 budget that was submitted.
C) DISCUSSION OF FAIR HOUSING MONTH
Mr. Suib reported that next month, April, is Fair Housing Month. Ms. Suib reported that she has scheduled training of fair housing violators for the evening of April 1 and at the end of April she will have a public (landlord and tenant) fair housing training.
Ms. Rodin suggested that an article could go in the newspaper or a press conference be held launching the predatory lending program as part of Fair Housing Month. The Commission concurred to hold a press conference on Thursday, April 3 to kick-off the predatory lending program. It was discussed that the Mayor will be invited to kick-off Fair Housing Month and promote awareness of predatory lending.
Ms. Suib stated should would write the press release and contact the press.
D) DISCUSSION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR COMMISSION
The Chairman voiced his concerns about the struggle to have a quorum present at the meetings. He stated that everyone’s time is valuable and that everyone has to make the same commitment to serve. He stated that there is currently one seat vacant on the Commission and that it is to be appointed by the Mayor. It was discussed about Commissioners consistently being absent at the meetings and that it is the responsibility of their agency on how to handle repeated absences.
** MS. RODIN MOVED THAT IF A COMMISSION MEMBER HAS MISSED THREE CONSECUTIVE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES FROM THE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETINGS, A LETTER WILL BE WRITTEN TO THEIR AGENCY OF REPRESENTATION ADVISING THEM OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVE’S ABSENCE AND NOTING THAT THEIR ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT TO THE TOWN AND HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMISSION. THIS IS TO BE EFFECTIVE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
** MS. TORRANO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Rodin suggested that in the rules and regulations it should be noted that, in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman and if there is a quorum, who can call the meeting. Discussion followed on the election of a second Vice Chairman.
** MS. TORRANO MOVED THAT A MEETING OF THE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY BE CALLED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN, IN THE NAME OF THE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC NOTICE AND THAT A PRO FORMA AGENDA WILL BE USED.
** MS. RODIN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Shipp stated that affordable housing needed to get back on track. Ms. Rodin reported that she spoke to the Director of Public Health, Welfare and Safety from Stamford and he was very helpful as to the development process that was used in Stamford for affordable housing. She stated it might be worth talking to him.
The Commission concurred that Ms. Rodin and Ms. Suib will meet with Ben Barnes, the Stamford Director of Public Health, Welfare and Safety, to discuss the development process for affordable housing for Norwalk.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Rodin voiced her concern that the Commission needed to have a position on inclusionary zoning. She questioned how to start and what was feasible. Ms. Suib stated that Stamford had done a study and came up with 12-13% affordable housing for different districts. Ms. Torrano suggested that a Sub-Committee be put together to discuss this further.
The Commission concurred that a Business Item will be added to next month’s agenda to discuss ways of progressing affordable housing action, including inclusionary housing. Ms. Suib reported that she would gather information on the Stamford study and send it to the Commission before the next meeting.
ADJOURN
** MS. RODIN MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MR. PAPADAKOS SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna DeVito
Telesco Secretarial Services
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