09/26/19 SPHA Regular Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority
September 26, 2019
Commissioner Owens, Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:32 am. Upon roll call, the following were in attendance:
Present at Roll:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens, Chair
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans, Vice Chair
- Commissioner James Dates
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott
Absent at Roll:
- Commissioner Roxanne Amoroso
- Commissioner Sharlene Gambrell-Davis
- Commissioner C. Knox LaSister III
Staff Present:
- LaShunda Battle, Acting Chief Operating Officer
- Robin Adams, Asset Management Officer
- Danielle Carevic, Executive Office Manager
- Audria Davis, Compliance Officer
- Larry Gonzalez, Housing Choice Voucher Officer
- Pamela Hobbs, Procurement Officer
- Dennis Lohr, Chief Financial Officer
Others Present:
- Jerome D. Ryans, Temporary CEO
- Leroy Moore, Vice President Tampa Housing Authority
- Attorney Ricardo Gilmore, Saxon & Gilmore
- Attorney Jeff Butt, Squire Patton & Boggs
- Kevin Bessolo, Bessolo Design Group LLC
- Marianne Edmonds, Public Resources Advisory Group
- Brian Evjen, Norstar Development USA, LP
SUBJECT: Approval of the Agenda
BOARD ACTION:
Commissioner Evans made a motion to approve the agenda with an amendment to remove item #5 through #9 due to the need for revisions to the minutes. Commissioner Dates seconded the motion. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Operating the Meeting under small Board rules
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Evans made a motion that the meeting operate under small Board rules. Commissioner Lipsey Scott seconded the motion. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Chairperson Report
Commissioner Owens welcomed Jerome Ryans, President of the Tampa Housing Authority as the now CEO of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority.
Commissioner Owens also acknowledge Leroy Moore who is the Senior Vice President of the Tampa Housing Authority, one of the Nation's Premier RAD and Development Experts.
Commissioner Owens wanted to thank LaShunda Battle, Acting COO for her amazing job and role as the Interim CEO.
SUBJECT: Report from the Personnel Committee
Commissioner Dates reported that the Agenda and Minutes from July 30, 2019, were approved at the September 18, 2019, Personnel Committee Meeting.
The Hostile Workplace Policy and Grievance Policy were both postponed for further review. The WhistleBlower Policy, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy were approved with the appropriate edits and government standards. Commissioner Dates asked that the Tampa Housing Authority staff look over all Personnel Policies before bring back to the full Board for approval.
Commissioner Dates requested Pamela Hobbs, Procurement Officer look into the cost of an 800 number for staff to report their concerns anonymously.
There was extensive discussion regarding Jones Development, Cindy Herrera, and Elle Resources contracts.
The Personnel Committee approved to stop payroll payments to Elle Resources.
SUBJECT: Elle Resources
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Dates made a motion to immediately stop all Payroll payments to Elle Resources. Commissioner Lipsey Scott seconded the motion. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Pro Bono Legal Services
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Evans made a motion to advise the Human Resources Offices to no longer seek Legal Counsel from an unapproved source. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Legal Counsel
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Owens made a motion for SPHA staff to only use approved and properly procured Legal Counsel. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Report from the Residents Interests Committee
SUBJECT: Clearview Park/Disston Place/Romayne/Gateway Place/Sunset Oaks/Jordan Park/Saratoga and Palm Bayou Management Report
Mrs. Robin Adams, Asset Management Officer presented the management report. She discussed four residents who have taken advantage of the Section 3 program for tuition reimbursement. One of four residents is now in the process to receive their CNA License. Robin suggested to the Board a future opportunity to acknowledge the resident at an SPHA Board Meeting.
Mrs. Adams is still working on filling the two open maintenance positions. She recently filled the vacant Jordan Park Apartments, Assistant Manager position. The new hire Ms. Brittany James is scheduled to start October 2, 2019, with SPHA.
SUBJECT: Tenant Activity Report
Mr. Larry Gonzalez presented the Tenant Activity Report for the Month of August 2019. SPHA is currently housing 3200 residents in the HCV Program.
SPHA has issued over 200 vouchers to families from the waiting list.
SUBJECT: Resolution #2545 - A Resolution to Approve the 2020 Payment Standards for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Lipsey Scott made a motion to approve Resolution #2545 - A Resolution to Approve the 2020 Payment Standards for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. There was extensive discussion. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Report from the Finance Committee
BOARD ACTION: Dennis Lohr, Chief Financial Officer presented the August 2019 Financial Report and Capital Funds. There was extensive discussion by Board members and Dennis Lohr regarding the TAR Balance and Write Offs.
SUBJECT: Fraud Recovery Program Status Report
Audria Davis, Compliance Officer presented the August 2019 Fraud Recovery Report. SPHA has collected $10, 669.00 in fraud recovery repayment agreements from participants in the Housing Choice Voucher program. The Compliance Department has been running monthly EIV program reports to assist with Fraud recovery efforts with both the HCV program and the Public Housing program. There are nine individuals who are participating in the repayment agreement program.
SUBJECT: Resolution #2528 - To Increase the Contract Amount for Architectural & Engineering Services.
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve Resolution #2528 To Increase the Contract Amount for Architectural & Engineering Services. Commissioner Dates seconded the motion. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Chief Executive Remarks
Mr. Jerome D. Ryans recommend a few items that need to be address and or looked into.
- Workshops specifically on RAD.
- SPHA staff needs to be involved in the upcoming RAD training.
- Training on an eviction process.
- Review the Budget process with input from all departments.
- Review the status of Jordan Park Redevelopment.
- Review the need or importance of Committee meetings.
- Review all RISE Development LLC's.
- Develop the 2020 Budget.
- Review the need for several Legal entities.
SUBJECT: Committee Meetings
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Owens made a motion to suspend all committee work per the suggestion of our new CEO.
Commissioner Owens amended her motion to suspend committee work with the exception of the Ad HOC Legal Committee and Ad HOC Bylaws Committee. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Old Business
There was no old business.
SUBJECT: Former CEO
There was an extensive discussion by the Board members and Attorney Charley Harris
BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Owens made a motion for SPHA's general counsel to continue to work with the former CEO's counsel regarding financial obligations. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: New Business
Commissioner Owens made a motion to release the Procurement cap of $20,000.00 and reinstated the HUD approved limit of $150,00.00. A vote was called:
- Commissioner Stephanie Owens YES
- Commissioner Jerrilyn Evans YES
- Commissioner James Dates YES
- Commissioner Terri Lipsey Scott YES
The Board approved the motion.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:48 am.
Approved and Adopted this 24th day of October 2019.
Stephanie A. Owens, Chairperson
Jerome D. Ryans, CEO