Resident Advisory Board

Agenda & Minutes

March 27, 2024

Meeting Date & Time

Date: March 27, 2024

Time: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Place of Meeting: Zoom

Board Members:

Michael Harris

Royce McLemore

Sharon Hayes

Kevin Gladstone

Tanya Rouin

Mark Galperin

Lynnette Frary

Thos Chapman

Regina Talton

Agenda

• Call to Order – Attendance - Opening
• Approve Minutes: February 28, 2024
• Matters for Discussion
• Recruitment of new members
• Taking of minutes
• Nan McKay transition plan
• Maintenance Manual
• Unfinished Business
•  Proposed Bylaws –
• RC Updates
• Meeting close
•  Items for next meeting agenda

Adjourn

Next meeting: TBD

Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting: March 27, 2024

Location: Zoom

In Attendance:

Members: Michael Harris (Chair), Royce McLemore, Kevin Gladstone, Mark Galperin, Thos Chapman, Regina Talton (Secretary), Lynnette Frary

Guests: MHA Staff – Kathleen Wyatt (Director, Housing Operations), Susanne Joyce (Program Manager, HCV Program), Yashica Simpson-Franklin (PH Program Manager, GGV)

Absent: Tanya Rouin (unexplained), Sharon Hayes (ill)

Mr. Harris brought the meeting to order at 3:38 p.m.

Attendance was taken, and introductions made.

1. Minutes:  Motion by Lynnette Frary to approve. Seconded by Thos Chapman. All approved.

2. Discussion on the following items took place.

• Recruitment: Kathleen Wyatt emailed draft recruitment flyers to the members during the meeting. Ms. McLemore suggested that the new Property Manager for the Elderly/Disabled complexes and the Resident Services staff go to the complexes to talk about the RAB and recruit new members. Members agreed the RAB needs one member from each of the 5 complexes. Recruitment of Section 8 members can be done by mail. The goal is 15 members – 2 from GGV, 5 from Elderly/Disabled and 8 from Section 8.
  
  
• Taking of Minutes: The meetings are recorded by Zoom, and members agreed that if Kathleen Wyatt writes the minutes, she should send the written version with the Zoom recording printout to Ms. Talton as Secretary to review before the RAB votes on them. Mr. Galperin requested that Ms. Frary be made Administrator so that she could keep the logs, and he wants the Chats saved. Also, Ms. Frary offered to be made host, only when there is no staff person in attendance, to record the meetings. The Zoom account is currently with MHA, but the RAB could have one of their own.
  
  
• Nan McKay Transition Plan:  Kathleen Wyatt explained the hiring and training plan to bring all work back in-house for annual and interim reexams, and how participants will learn of their change in worker. She also informed the RAB that an RFP is out for the inspection part of the work Nan McKay has been doing. Susanne Joyce will look into the personal issues Regina Talton and Michael Harris have with their status and rent. She also explained the intended landlord education and outreach planned, and the Officer-of-the-Day available at the main office for participant questions.
  
  
• Maintenance Manual: The PH Maintenance Manual was sent to RAB members prior to the meeting. A brief discussion Royce McLemore and Thos Chapman mentioned parking problems at their complexes. Yashica Simpson- Franklin informed them that a letter is going out this week regarding GGV parking lots and that she will discuss other issues with AT and Tanya.

3. Unfinished Business

Proposed Bylaws: Mr. Galperin provided a link in the Chat for a Google document on which RAB members can add their comments to the draft bylaws. He shared his screen to show them how. Mr. Gladstone commented that the RAB duties are restrictive as proposed, as compared to Edmund Clark’s memo. Ms. McLemore questioned whether 2 absences should end someone’s term. Both concerns can be addressed by their making comments on the Google document. 

Other:

Mr. Chapman mentioned that inspections had been performed last week at his complex and the inspector informed him that A/C units soon won’t be allowed in buildings under 4 stories. Ms. Talton and Ms. McLemore offered opinions about MHA’s alleged lack of enforcement regarding failed inspections. RAB members expressed a desire to have letterhead. Mr. Chapman, a graphic designer, offered to produce samples if provided with what should be included.

4. Resident Council Update: Ms. McLemore reported that they are working to improve the RC meetings. Their new office manager is “a diamond”. They are co-sponsoring an Easter egg hunt this weekend and are working on planter boxes and getting veggies to residents. She explained that there are good and bad block captains, so they will provide more training. Felicia is going to provide disaster training, and the RC will provide training on the maintenance plan. Ms. McLemore expressed a desire to meet with new residents before they move in to prevent problems such as the loud parties in the 79 building. Yashica said she will act on that problem when given the exact unit (which Ms. McLemore then provided). 

5. Special Orders: There were no further reports or special orders.

6. New Business: Thos Chapman mentioned that the locks at Venetia Oaks to the laundry room and community room and restroom were changed to keep homeless people out, but that now residents can’t access those areas. Yashica Simpson-Franklin will discuss this problem with Tanya and AT.

7. Next Meeting: Items for discussion at the next meeting will include the Recruitment letters, updates to the bylaws, a Zoom account for the RAB (Lynnette Frary will bring pricing and offered to be the Administrator – not the Host), and sample letterhead

8. Adjournment:

With no further business before the Board, the Chair concluded the Meeting at 5:18 p.m.

Certification: Kathleen Wyatt

Date: March 29, 2024