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FAIR
RENT COMMISSION
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CITY OF NORWALK
FAIR RENT COMMISSION
JULY 11TH, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Commissioners: Richard A. Booth, Chair; Mary Geake; John Church; Maria Borges-Lopez; Patricia Genuario; Jeanette Jean-Pierre (7:50 p.m.); Martin Bernard
STAFF: Adam D. Bovilsky, Director
The meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by Chairman Booth.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING – JUNE 2007
Ms. Geake noted that there were already corrections made by Mr. Patterson.
The following additional corrections were noted:
Page 3, line 1, last word: “prediatory” should be changed to “predatory”.
Page 3, paragraph 4: “up for reappointment” should be changed to “whose terms are due to expire” and “Mr. Bernard” should be changed to “Ms. Borges-Lopez”.
Page 3, paragraph 4, under Staff Report: “July Human Relations numbers” should be changed to “September Human Relations numbers”, “Mr. Patterson said that the numbers remain consistent” should be changed to “Mr. Patterson added that the Fair Rent numbers had remained consistent”, “due to an accidental error” should be changed to “due to an oversight” and “included in the May numbers” should be changed to “included in the May Fair Rent numbers”.
Page 4, second line under docket number 1555-06: “that arrived in his office on June 1st” should be changed to “arrived via inter-office mail on June 1st”.
Page 5, first lines under docket numbers 1567-07, 1568-07 and 1569-07: “Mr. Patterson state that this case” should be changed to “Mr. Patterson stated that this case”.
Page 6, second line under docket number 1571-07 “Commissoin” should be changed to “Commission”.
** MR. BERNARD MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS AMMENDED.
** MS. GENUARIO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENSION FROM MS. BORGES-LOPEZ.
2. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Ms. Jean- Pierre arrived at 7:50 p.m.
Chairman Booth reported that the Fair Rent Commission has been summoned to reply in relation to the Gaby case and said that Mr. Bovilsky would go into further detail. Chairman Booth then said that since there would be no hearing at this meeting and there was a new director, he would like the Commissioners to go around the room and introduce themselves to Mr. Bovilsky.
Each of the Commissioners spoke briefly of their families, professional lives and hobbies.
3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Bovilsky spoke briefly about himself and his experience in housing and noted that his resume was included in the documentation for this meeting to give the Commissioners an idea of his background.
Statistics
Mr. Bovilsky referred to a chart showing historic Fair Rent Commission annual data, which was provided to all Commissioners and noted that the number of intakes has averaged out to be about the same over the past 13 years with fluctuations when the Commission had no director. Mr. Bovilsky told the Commission that he is the ADA Title II Coordinator as well as the Affirmative Action Officer for the city and that his office’s staff prides itself on taking on issues, even when they don’t neatly fit before the Human Relations Commission or the Fair Rent Commission. He also noted how many intakes were NHA related said that he would continue tracking how much work the Fair Rent Commission did that was related to the Norwalk Housing Authority.
Commission Members and Department Staff
Mr. Bovilsky restated that there are four Commissioners whose terms had technically expired on July 1st but who will continue to serve until their terms are renewed or they are replaced, adding that he hopes all the Commissioners remain.
Other
1. Complaint filed against the Commission: Mr. Bovilsky restated that a complaint had been filed against this Commission by Michelle Gaby who alleged a wrongful refusal of this Commission to hear her complaint this past June and that the Fair Rent Commission would be represented by the Corporation Counsel.
2. Education/Outreach: Mr. Bovilsky reported that he’d spoken to Margaret Suib, Norwalk’s Fair Housing Director and planned to work with her on education and outreach to landlords and tenants with seminars in various parts of the city, the first of which will likely be held sometime in September. He said that in one of his first days in the office, a landlord inquired about when the next training session would be held because she found them so useful in the past.
Ms. Jean - Pierre said that she would be glad to help with this.
Mr. Bovilsky thanked her, saying that he was going to ask that any Commissioner interested in participation speak with him.
Mr. Bernard said that it had historically been very beneficial to have either Staff or Commissioners who were bilingual and that Ms. Jean - Pierre, who speaks three languages, could be especially helpful.
Ms. Geake asked if the education and outreach would be held during the week or on weekends.
Mr. Bovilsky said that he would like, at least on occasion to have sessions conducted either on weekends or in evenings.
Mr. Bernard said that sessions have been held at Barnes & Noble and that there used to be a radio program dedicated to education and outreach for the Commission on a local station.
Ms. Jean - Pierre noted that the last session she attended was held in the Community Room of the Library.
Ms. Geake said that there was a good room for training sessions at the Second Taxing District with space for 50 or more people.
3. State/local policy: Mr. Bovilsky reported that Norwalk is receiving a $715,000 award to be used for the preservation and/or creation of affordable housing.
4. State/local policy: Mr. Bovilsky reported that Governor Rell announced a new website, www.CTHousingSearch.org which will help low-income families find affordable housing, but which was not fully operational at the time of this meeting.
Mr. Bovilsky distributed press packets to the Commissioners including items 3 and 4.
Year-End Budget
Mr. Bovilsky said that because July begins the new fiscal year, he thought it might interest the Commissioners to hear that the Commission was doing well with regard to budget. He said that there was a budget of approximately $200,000 appropriated to both the Human Relations Commission and Fair Rent Commission and that of that $200,000, if the former director’s salary is discounted; all but 3% of the operating budget for the year was used.
1. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
2. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF OPEN CASES
A list with descriptions of each case was included in the meeting documentation provided to all Commissioners.
1555-06 – Gaby
Mr. Bovilsky said that this case is still open by means of being appealed to the Housing Court and that this is the initial Michelle Gaby case. Staff recommends no action be taken on this item.
** MS. GENUARIO MOVED THAT THE FAIR RENT COMMISSION TAKE NO ACTION ON CASE
1555-06 AT THIS TIME.
** MR. BERNARD SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
1566-06 – Nirschel
Mr. Bovilsky said that the Fair Rent Commission voted to increase the rent at 22 Lenox Avenue (right) by $100 and notice has been given to both tenant and landlord.
Mr. Booth asked if this decision was accepted by both parties.
Mr. Bovilsky answered that he had not heard otherwise and that notification had been received from them, which allows a recommendation to close the case.
** MS. GENUARIO MOVED TO CLOSE CASE 1566-06.
** MR. CHURCH SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
1567-07 – Esposito
Mr. Bovilsky said that the tenant received a new lease on August 29th, which was acceptable to both parties, and the tenant has submitted a withdrawal to the Fair Rent commission and so it is recommended that the case be closed.
** MR. BERNARD MOVED TO CLOSE CASE 1567-07.
** MS. GEAKE SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
1568-07 – Hudson
Mr. Bovilsky said that the tenant received a new lease, which was acceptable to both parties, and the tenant has submitted a withdrawal to the Fair Rent commission and so it is recommended that the case be closed.
** MR. BERNARD MOVED TO CLOSE CASE 1567-07.
** MS. GEAKE SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
1569-07 – Garcia
Mr. Bovilsky said that the tenant received a new lease, which was acceptable to both parties, and the tenant has submitted a withdrawal to the Fair Rent commission and so it is recommended that the case be closed.
** MS. BORGES-LOPEZ MOVED TO CLOSE CASE 1569-07.
** MS. GENUARIO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
1570-07 – Miles
Mr. Bovilsky said that negotiations are still being conducted between the landlord and the tenant in this case. The landlord, upon recommendation from Larry Patterson has begun work on repairs to the apartment and both parties seem to be willing to negotiate on the issue of rent. It is the Fair Rent Commission’s recommendation that the repairs be completed first, and upon completion, mediation efforts will continue. At this time it is recommended that the Commission take no action.
** MS. GENUARIO MOVED THAT THE FAIR RENT COMMISSION TAKE NO ACTION ON CASE
1570-07 AT THIS TIME.
** MS. GEAKE SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
1571-07 – Gaby
Mr. Bovilsky introduced this item as the second of the two Gaby cases, remarking that in June, the Commission voted to not hear Michelle Gaby’s complaint and notice has been received from the tenant’s attorney that they are filing suit against this Commission. Action is to be taken by Corporation Counsel and therefore it is recommended that this Commission take no action at this time.
** MS. GENUARIO MOVED THAT THE FAIR RENT COMMISSION TAKE NO ACTION ON CASE
1571-07 AT THIS TIME AS THE CASE IS BEING HANDLED BY THE CORPORATION COUNSEL.
** MR. BERNARD SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. PRESENTATION OF NEW CASES
1572-07 – Anglhuber
Mr. Bovilsky reported that this case was received on July 2nd and that the landlord who’d previously been unresponsive, had returned from vacation and has been very responsive. In light of this, the tenant has asked the Commission to stand by and take no action on his complaint at this time and so the staff recommends the same.
** MR. BERNARD MOVED THAT THE FAIR RENT COMMISSION TAKE NO ACTION ON CASE 1572-07
AT THIS TIME.
** MS. GENUARIO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. ADJOURNMENT
** MS. BORGES-LOPEZ MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MS. GENUARIO SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
This meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessica Schroder
Telesco Secretarial Services
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