1 1 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 2 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 3 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 4 x--------------------------------x 5 IN THE MATTER OF: * 6 THE REGULAR MEETING * TRANSCRIPT 7 OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY * OF 8 OF THE CITY OF NEWARK * PROCEEDINGS 9 Commencing at 5:00 p.m. * 10 x--------------------------------x 11 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 12 500 BROAD STREET 13 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 14 B E F O R E: 15 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 16 EDDIE OSBORNE, President 17 MARTINIQUE COSTA, Commissioner 18 FAUSTO BAEZ, Commissioner 19 NORMA GONZALEZ, Commissioner 20 BRIAN LOGAN, Commissioner 21 ALIF MUHAMMAD, Commissioner 22 23 24 ANTHONY HOFMANN, C.C.R. 25 LICENSE NO. XIO1854 2 1 PROFESSIONAL STAFF: 2 3 VICTOR CIRILO, Executive Director 4 KATIA OLIVEIRA, Executive Assistant 5 ELIO MENA, Counsel 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3 1 I N D E X 2 PAGE 3 Opening Statement 4 4 Public Participation 5 By: Kim Barnes 5 6 By: Myrna Brown 10 7 By: Dedria Smallwood 13 8 Items for Approval 22 9 10 RESOLUTIONS PAGE 11 H-1 through H-20 24 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 4 1 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: It is now 2 5:00 o'clock. The meeting is called to order. 3 Could I have a reading of the Open Public Meetings 4 Act. 5 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, as required 6 by N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 known as the Open Public Meetings 7 Act, notice of this meeting was provided in the 8 following manner. On December 30, 2020 notice of 9 the meeting specifying the date, time and location 10 was transmitted to the Star Ledger, El Nuevo Coqui 11 and to the Clerk of the City of Newark. 12 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a roll 13 call. 14 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 15 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 17 Commissioner Costa. 18 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Here. 19 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 20 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Here. 21 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Present. 23 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 24 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Present. 25 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, we have a 5 1 quorum. 2 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: I am now going to 3 move to the public speakers. 4 MR. CIRILO: The first public speaker 5 we have today, Mr. Chairman, is Dellon Garaway, 445 6 Mount Prospect Avenue. 7 MS. OLIVEIRA: He will not be joining 8 us today. 9 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, the second 10 speaker is Anthony Arenas, 16 Beamount Place. 11 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Not appearing. 12 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, the third 13 speaker is Kim Barnes, 147 Riverside Court. 14 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Ms. Barnes is 15 present. 16 MS. BARNES: Good evening, Kim Barnes, 17 147 Riverside Court, Newark. Before I get started 18 there is an announcement I would like to make. I 19 would like to thank Councilman Osborne, Commissioner 20 Costa, Commissioner Gonzalez and Newark security and 21 family services for the event that we had at 22 Riverside enhancing our quality of life by having a 23 game and resource night. They did their jobs well. 24 Now, back to business. This is also 25 personal and business. My thing is that it took 6 1 three weeks for y'all to address the issue with the 2 playground over there. I had asked to set up a 3 meeting with Director Thomas who now handles that 4 part of the capital planning and stuff. He has 5 never met me. I have mice in my house. I got a 6 refrigerator that was delivered to me with roaches 7 in it. I just threw out two bags of meat. It is 8 kind of funny how when you get ready to come to the 9 Board of Commissioners how everything gets done 10 real, real quick. They sent me a thing to address 11 the issue that they are going to do the treatment on 12 the unit on the 29th, but I still haven't got a 13 refrigerator. Who is paying for my food that the 14 mice ate that I had to throw out and when they 15 delivered that refrigerator and I must commend Glen 16 Wood, the maintenance guy that brought the 17 refrigerator who was supposed to have help, but he 18 did it by himself. That guy does a lot of stuff at 19 Riverside Villa and he gets everything done, but 20 he's never commended for it. Y'all promised us four 21 maintenance men. We're down to two now. We are 22 down to two. 23 The other thing that I want to address 24 is the appliances that y'all sent. Y'all sending 25 these used appliances to these people that live 7 1 there including myself for a number of years and we 2 are being told that we can't get new appliances, but 3 they are giving appliances to those that is moving 4 in. What about the people that is there that's been 5 there for a long time. We deserve that. These 6 refrigerators, I had that refrigerator since I moved 7 down there in 2004. Then you replaced it with this 8 refrigerator that is horrendous. 9 Another thing is we need to get back 10 with Section 8 also. They are not answering the 11 phones. People are calling me asking me why is 12 Section 8 not answering the phone. Y'all need to do 13 something with that too. The residents in Riverside 14 Villa, they are totally highly upset. My thing is I 15 shouldn't have to -- I pay rent faithfully every 16 month. My rent is paid on time and in order to be 17 treated like this that I do things for the community 18 down there to get it done, y'all need to get on the 19 ball really seriously on the ball. 20 Secondly, I would like to know what 21 the Commissioners do. Why are we not getting our 22 answering back. Why can't we get our answers when 23 we address here that is over the phone. We have not 24 received our answers back from the last meeting that 25 we had. We addressed that the last time we were 8 1 here. They are not picking up the phone here. My 2 thing is NHA don't work. What days do they work 3 because I know when I was working you had to be 4 there on time and be able to do your job when you 5 were there. What is going on? NHA's going to the 6 dogs now and I get all the flak because it is like 7 you need to address these people, but then, like I 8 said, the other Commissioners I had invited y'all 9 guys too. I send y'all an invite to meet you at the 10 place because our residents need to know what 11 Commissioners sit on the Board, who they are. I can 12 say Alif Muhammad, Commissioner Costa, who are they? 13 There is no face. That is the reason I invited 14 y'all there that Saturday. Because we trying to 15 bringing our community back together as one and 16 united instead of being divided. 17 Then we had five, six shots fired. So 18 is security getting in contact with the police. It 19 is like, okay, then they say call SOC. SOC have you 20 on the phone for fifteen minutes. You got to 21 explain who you are, what you are, where it is at 22 and who it is. Come on, get it together, NHA, come 23 on. 24 Thank you. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Mr. Chairman. 9 1 Ms. Barnes, my apologies, you did it right when you 2 called and I blew it. 3 MS. BARNES: Yes, you did. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: But also you 5 are so busy looking out for everybody else, I didn't 6 know you had all those problems. You never told me 7 about you had a problem about the refrigerator. You 8 were looking out for everybody else down there. 9 MS. BARNES: I directed who it is 10 supposed to go to and I still need to see Coleef 11 Thomas to walk with me to my site. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: He is right 13 there in the blue, the handsome guy. He's a good 14 guy. 15 MS. BARNES: Y'all need to get with 16 that garbage because the City destroyed our 17 dumpster. Who is paying for that? 18 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Next speaker. 19 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, the next 20 speaker today is Annabell, 839 Frelinghuysen Avenue. 21 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Annabell, not 22 appearing. 23 Next speaker. 24 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, the next 25 speaker is Myrna Brown, 824 South 17th Street. 10 1 MS. BROWN: I'm here. Good evening, 2 everyone. Good evening, everyone. I'd like to say 3 thank you for those Commissioners that answered my 4 question. I really like to know what is your 5 purpose. I really do. I have been in housing, 6 raised, born in Newark and I know a lot going on in 7 here from the past to the present and I think it is 8 really rude and disrespectful that we reach out to 9 y'all and don't get no response. I e-mailed 10 whatever e-mail you have on the housing, I got no 11 response. I do have to say I got a response from 12 Ms. Gonzalez who just called me, but I didn't get 13 her why she wanted to be, what her purpose. I just 14 got it from Ms. Costa, I thank you. Mr. Osborne, 15 you have been here for a long time. You have been 16 here since Booker administration. You were up here 17 with all the other Commissioners and I know you are 18 at the top, but I think that we deserve to be 19 treated right. 20 I have a situation that I came to 21 y'all. I represent all people, Mr. Alif Muhammad, 22 from public to Section 8. People don't like it, but 23 I'm doing God's work what he puts in my heart to do. 24 Public housing a situation happened I invited y'all, 25 y'all never came. The Director came, Mr. Rouse 11 1 came. That matter just got taken care of. Not 2 really taken care of that late. That is somebody's 3 mother. That is a grandmother. It could be your 4 mother. She's eighty-six. Really I don't know like 5 the response and how long it is taking for that lady 6 to live in that unit and the next day I met with Mr. 7 Thomas and I don't know who Bernard Rollins is, he 8 works here. You don't know what his position is. I 9 would like to know, he came out and Darren. They 10 looked at it, the holes were still there. The 11 daughter calls me a week ago. They never did 12 nothing in her unit, but you're across the street. 13 I don't know what unit giving this lady a whole 14 floor. This lady has a hole in her back door and I 15 can vouch for it. Rats can come in. The lady can't 16 go upstairs to sleep downstairs. Where is y'all 17 list of your vacant units you have. It is so hard 18 to find a two bedroom or unit for this lady to 19 accommodate. No, everybody don't want to go into 20 the senior buildings. So she choose not to go into 21 a senior building. You still have to accommodate 22 her to something that is reasonable. You don't know 23 what you have. You don't know what you got. 24 I really think it's wrong the way 25 residents are being treated through the employees 12 1 top to the bottom and it shouldn't be that. Housing 2 should have a good name because it is still going 3 down. All this year everybody come up, you are 4 coming up, you're a big man, you're a director, but 5 you ain't doing what you do as director. You 6 getting our money and when I say our, I do mean our. 7 You can look up and research it. Section 8 money 8 runs through this agency too. Don't look at Section 9 8 people like we are dirt because there is some 10 issues there too, but I will deal with Mr. Knight 11 and when he ain't going to do what he need to do, I 12 will come up here so I need to know what y'all know 13 about Section 8 because there might be some concerns 14 coming up because your focus on public. You have to 15 focus on the whole pot that you get money for that 16 is going on. That is one thing and I got about one 17 minute more. 18 The other thing is I really -- if 19 y'all don't have y'all e-mails not correct, mine is 20 MYRNBRW@OAL.com, easy simple to remember. You can 21 send me your response and why you choose to be a 22 Commissioner to represent Section 8 and public 23 housing residents in the Housing Authority. I will 24 come back to you with other answers or questions 25 that I may have. 13 1 Thank you. 2 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Next speaker. 3 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, the next 4 speaker on the list is Dedria Smallwood at 72 North 5 Munn Avenue. Ms. Smallwood. 6 MS. SMALLWOOD: Hello, good evening, 7 everyone. It's been a minute since I've been here. 8 My complaints and concerns is basically the same 9 thing, old stuff, but it's still present going on 10 off and on. The Director, Mr. Victor, came to our 11 site some time ago probably about two years ago I 12 want to say and he stated that he was going to make 13 some changes to try to enhance the cleaning 14 condition and it started out slightly, but we never 15 got the proper cleaning in our buildings. We still 16 at that same standstill. The garbage, the building 17 that outside we have big flies still coming in and 18 out. We never got our -- we never get steam 19 cleaning in our building and during the time of 20 COVID, I'm quite sure people were getting paid to 21 clean those buildings, but we never got a sanitized 22 building, not ever, not even up to this date we 23 don't get cleaning. Now, I understand they use the 24 drug behavior as an excuse, but if you still getting 25 paid what is going on in those buildings. They 14 1 don't bother the maintenance people because some 2 maintenance people that is involved in it too or you 3 can have family members doing it. So you can't use 4 it as an excuse why our buildings cannot be cleaned 5 properly. 6 Another thing I have made complaints 7 about how we still have residents that still want to 8 prohibit the interest or use the hallways as they 9 social lounge. It may not be them directly, it 10 might be their guest or sometimes it could be the 11 residents and it all depends on how they are feeling 12 which way the wind is blowing, then they may give 13 you some space, but they still feel like they could 14 claim and do what they want. You even have some 15 residents that live in other buildings. They won't 16 behave a certain way in their building, but when 17 they come to another building they are doing the 18 opposite which means being rude. 19 Now, the weather is about to get cold 20 so pretty soon it is going to resume right back to 21 using the hallways again because it didn't ever 22 stop. Mainly during the COVID. Half of the time 23 you would have to hurry up out of your apartment out 24 of the building because they felt like they could 25 just hang and socialize in the building, everybody 15 1 guest, family members. They don't go in the 2 apartments, they use the outside or even the walkway 3 or the entrance and exit to socialize and it is not 4 right because that is not how it is supposed to be. 5 Maybe if you get them some chairs or something to 6 sit on the side, but they find anything to sit in 7 the doorway. Very few of them will sit on the 8 opposite side so people can come in and out. It all 9 depends how they feel. If they feel like they want 10 to stay there and disrupt the walkway, the exit and 11 entrance they will do it or it just depends on what 12 mood they are in and this is an ongoing thing. 13 No one sends up-to-date notice out to 14 the residents to let them know the do's and don'ts 15 and I don't understand why. I shouldn't have to 16 keep coming down here to update you guys on what is 17 going on, but this is how housing works. If you 18 don't complain, nothing gets done. Even with 19 management if they don't go to them and complain 20 about it, they don't update the people on the do's 21 and don'ts, but you shouldn't have to, but with some 22 people you do and it is not all the residents, it is 23 just a few of them. They I guess are used to their 24 old ways and maybe they are not used to doing what 25 is not supposed to be done. I don't know what it 16 1 is, but anyway that's my complaint and I would just 2 like to know the status when we are going to get 3 some decent maintenance people that will clean our 4 buildings properly because we are not getting it and 5 they are -- we don't even get our garbage disposal 6 cleaned out and that is why we have all those big 7 flies and things going on because they never steam 8 clean or pressure clean the outside or the inside of 9 the buildings like they should. I mean no one 10 follows up behind them. Maybe that could be why. 11 They slack and don't do what they are supposed to 12 do. So they will have some residents or someone 13 that they know to clean up the building for them, 14 but it is not being done correctly. They do enough 15 just to get by and this is constantly going on 16 throughout where I reside at. I don't know about 17 y'all other sites, but I'm quite sure it is probably 18 going on there too. So that's my problem. 19 I would just like to know the status 20 because what you had promised us it didn't surface 21 yet. It didn't get to that point yet and you 22 remember that, okay, so basically that is all I am 23 here at this present moment. Thank you for letting 24 me speak, everyone, take care, stay safe. 25 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, can I have 17 1 the floor, if it is okay with you. 2 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 3 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez 4 told me today she had spoken to Ms. Brown and she 5 can speak for herself. She would like to introduce 6 a reporting mechanism where issues and complaints 7 that come in such as the ones that Ms. Smallwood 8 presented can be logged in and responded to so we 9 can keep a record to assure that these complaints 10 are being addressed. 11 So I don't know if the Commissioner 12 wishes to talk a little bit more about what she 13 spoke about, but basically we want to make sure that 14 what is being presented before you is being 15 addressed and there is a record that it is being 16 addressed. 17 I am just sitting here listening to 18 Ms. Smallwood. She has a career in real estate and 19 she really hit the nail on the head. That is 20 exactly what is going on and she described it and 21 you know what, we would be doing a disservice to our 22 residents if we don't address that, if we are 23 sitting in this room and we are not addressing the 24 issues that she just presented before us. 25 Ms. Gonzalez. 18 1 MR. ROUSE: I would like to say 2 something too. 3 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Thank you. 4 Director Cirilo, thank you so much. Thank you, 5 Mr. Chair and, yes, I spoke to Ms. Brown and it was 6 a very good idea. What we are going to do effective 7 at all our meetings, everything that has been 8 discussed today we are going to continue to send you 9 a written response, but we want to spend a couple of 10 minutes or as long as we need at the next meeting to 11 make sure that every item that was covered today has 12 been addressed and what follow up is being done. 13 MR. CIRILO: Thank you. 14 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I'm done, 15 thanks. 16 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Commissioner 17 Gonzalez, you want to cover the other thing you 18 wanted to do earlier? 19 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes, thank you 20 so much. I just wanted to remind everyone and thank 21 you, Mr. Chair. I wanted in remembrance of our 22 Hispanic heritage month which is observed from 23 September 15 to October 15 I would like to highlight 24 and allow us to remember the role of Hispanics and 25 how they continue to strengthen our City from the 19 1 days of the Black and Puerto Rican Coalition days 2 with now a population that is consistently growing 3 in this City. Now is the time to come and embrace 4 and strengthen our coalition so that we can continue 5 to grow in unison and harmony in this City. I want 6 to thank all our residents and I would also 7 especially like to thank our Honorable Mayor Ras 8 Baraka, the entire Council and our Deputy Mayor 9 Jacqueline Quiles for such a wonderful event and 10 start date of the Hispanic heritage month which she 11 had a wonderful dinner last week and it was a kick 12 off to our Hispanic heritage. 13 I also want to thank all our Puerto 14 Rican parade members. Also want to remind everyone 15 to continue to support our community, all our 16 community events like the Puerto Rican Parade, the 17 Dominican Parade and I want to say this is a true 18 testament to the hard work that many of the 19 volunteers have taken and the pride heritage in our 20 City so once again, Mr. Chair, I would like to thank 21 you for giving me this opportunity and Hispanic 22 heritage month to our all residents in our community 23 and I would also like to give Ms. Brown a shout out 24 for having that wonderful community event that 25 brought together the residents and all our children. 20 1 So thank you for the time. 2 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: You're welcome. 3 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, let the 4 record show Commissioner Baez has checked into the 5 meeting for the record. 6 MR. ROUSE: I would like to address 7 Commissioners and staff. In respect to what our 8 residents have said today, with all due respect we 9 admonish that and we accept that, but I would also 10 like to say that because I know where these 11 residents are first. As Ms. Smallwood stated that 12 there is some work that need to be done, that is 13 true. We had a visitor with us from HUD who came 14 and visited us this past week and we did a walk 15 through in Bradley Court and when he walked through 16 Bradley Court, there was some things that he stated 17 some concerns that he had, but he also encountered 18 some residents there as well and the residents that 19 he encountered he had a personal conversation with 20 them and they did say there is some things that need 21 to be done because of community because of certain 22 issues, but they also said that the staff there is 23 doing a better job than they have done. So with one 24 thing being said also as their immediate supervisor 25 I have to also say that there are residents who are 21 1 pleased with some work that is trying to be done 2 because of the fact of our inventory and we know 3 what our occupancy looks like, we know how our 4 inventory is. There is certain things that can be 5 done. There are certain things that can't be done. 6 We are going to push our staff to make sure that 7 they do what can be done, but with things that go on 8 beyond our control, stuff does happen. 9 So I just want to say they are doing 10 as well as assisting our residents who need to move. 11 We do have compassion on our residents who are in 12 spaces and places that are not accountable that I 13 wouldn't my eighty something grandmother living 14 there as well, but when we give choices to people I 15 mean I want to say this honestly and put it on 16 record. A part of our policy and a part of ACOP and 17 a part of the policy we can't play eeny, meeny, 18 miny, moe game. We can't allow people to say I 19 don't want to go here, but I want to go here or I 20 want to go here. We have to give them the place 21 that we can provide them the quality of life that 22 they deserve. So that is a lot of things that's 23 been going on. People don't want to go certain 24 places, but we do have stuff available for you to go 25 where you can go, but I don't want to go there, but 22 1 this is what we have for you. So I want to put that 2 on there. We are not leaving people out there and 3 say leave it alone and taking it a long time because 4 people making the choice where they don't want to go 5 and that is really not part of the policy. You have 6 to go where we have and what we can provide you a 7 quality of life that you deserve. 8 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, we look 9 forward to discussing similar to the Director 10 discussing responses and answers and initiatives to 11 address the issues that are presented before us so 12 I'm glad that we started this conversation. 13 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: We are now going to 14 move to items for approval. 15 Items for approval. The Board monthly 16 activities report. I need a motion and second to 17 approve the Board monthly activities. 18 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will move 19 it. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will second 21 it. 22 MR. CIRILO: We have a motion and a 23 second. 24 On the Board monthly activities report 25 for July and August, Commissioner Logan. 23 1 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 2 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 3 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 4 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 5 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 6 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 7 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 8 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 10 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 11 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 12 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 13 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: I need a motion and 14 a second to approve the Board transcripts for 15 July 22, 2021. 16 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will move 17 it. 18 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 19 MR. CIRILO: On the motion to approve 20 the Board transcript. 21 Commissioner Logan. 22 Commissioner Baez. 23 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 25 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 24 1 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 2 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 3 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 5 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 6 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 7 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 8 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Resolutions. Any 9 member of the Board may request that an item be 10 removed from the consent agenda and be considered 11 separately. All remaining items will be considered 12 together. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, I 14 know we have a lot of them today so if you allow, I 15 think we should take all the lawyers together, 16 resolutions, you know, the ones that we are hiring 17 the lawyer contracts, take them altogether and vote 18 them together. The rest of them I would like them 19 read separately. 20 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Okay, is that okay, 21 Mr. Director. 22 MR. CIRILO: I believe the Vie Chair 23 just asked that the legal resolutions remain in the 24 consent agenda and you would like to pull the rest 25 to be discussed separately. 25 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 2 MR. CIRILO: So we are going to pull 3 to your question, Mr. Chairman, 01. We are going to 4 pull 02. We are going to pull 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 5 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. The rest remain on the 6 consent agenda. 7 So you would entertain a motion to 8 approve the consent agenda and then we can go to the 9 individual resolutions. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, what 11 we are doing is for time because we are doing two 12 months and what is happening we had to hire a lot of 13 lawyers out source for ethics and, you know, 14 tenants, general liability, different things. So it 15 is basically the same lawyers that we have been 16 using for years. I just want to say that that's the 17 same firms that we have been using so that is why I 18 want to put it altogether. Other than that, I would 19 just say read it separately so everybody would know, 20 but these are the same people we are working with. 21 Am I right, E.D., for a while? 22 MR. MENA: Yes. 23 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman. 24 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: So we are going to 25 read resolutions -- what number were they? 26 1 MR. CIRILO: We are going to do a 2 consent agenda vote first and then we are going to 3 go to the individual resolutions. 4 MR. MENA: Is that resolutions three 5 through nine? 6 MR. CIRILO: Yes, resolutions three 7 through nine, motion and second. 8 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Resolutions three 9 through nine, need a motion and second. 10 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will move it 11 for you. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will second. 13 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 14 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 16 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 17 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 18 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 19 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 20 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 21 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 23 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 24 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 25 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes on the 27 1 consent agenda. 2 We will go to 01. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, I 4 got some questions on this one. 5 MR. CIRILO: The Newark Housing 6 Authority Board of Commissioners adopt the Annual 7 Comprehensive Financial Report, ACFR, for the fiscal 8 year ending December 31, 2020. 9 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a motion 10 and second? 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I would like 12 to get some comments first. 13 Sam. First, thanks a lot. I can read 14 it, I appreciate it, I can read it. I just wanted 15 to ask some questions real quick. I'm trying to 16 read page sixty-two where the title is fourteen 17 miscellaneous Mainstream Care Act. Is that the Care 18 Act money? I don't understand what that is. 19 MR. MOOLAYIL: Yes, that's the Care 20 Act money. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is all 22 Care? 23 MR. MOOLAYIL: Public housing, yes. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is the 25 grant money we received? 28 1 Page 61, 9400 we are extending 2 twenty-one thousand dollars -- excuse me, twenty-one 3 million dollars a year, twenty-one million two 4 hundred fifty-seven thousand sixty-five in 5 maintenance. 6 MR. MOOLAYIL: Yes. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That's 8 salaries, equipment and everything? 9 MR. MOOLAYIL: Salaries, material and 10 the contract maintenance contract altogether, yes. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Then further 12 down the line what is the protective service, what 13 is the three three nine seven six, the three three 14 nine, what is that? 15 MR. MOOLAYIL: That's Captain Broner 16 and his team that are on the payroll. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is the 18 administrative? 19 MR. MOOLAYIL: Administrative. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: And the total 21 is seven million, last year 7.9. 22 MR. MOOLAYIL: That is for the public 23 housing side, yes. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I know we had 25 extra security last year because of the virus 29 1 situation. 2 MR. MOOLAYIL: Right. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So didn't we 4 use some Care money for that. 5 MR. MOOLAYIL: If you look at the next 6 column, the five million dollars we used from Care 7 money. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So we will -- 9 it was five million, that is what you are saying? 10 MR. MOOLAYIL: Budget is only five 11 million, but that 7.9 is the actual number. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Because we got 13 some money for that? 14 MR. MOOLAYIL: Yes. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I know E.D. we 16 had to have armed guards at the seniors because they 17 wouldn't let nobody in. So I know prices went up. 18 But I'm confused when you go to seventy, page 19 seventy under protective service it says other 20 costs. 21 MR. LARSON: Because we blew this up, 22 it's bigger. We made it bigger so what line? 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: It would be 24 under line 95200. It said we spent ten million 25 dollars for security. 30 1 MR. MOOLAYIL: That is agency wide 2 ten million. That is including Branch Brook and 3 Section 8, federal public housing altogether. The 4 agency wide was ten million. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: For security? 6 MR. MOOLAYIL: Yes. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What money we 8 spent on security for Section 8? 9 MR. MOOLAYIL: Section 8 also sent 10 here at central office is part of the Section 8 so 11 prorated charge we charge to the Section 8. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So what I am 13 saying we spend another three million dollars, well, 14 not quite. Yeah, almost three million. 15 MR. MOOLAYIL: Yeah, that is including 16 the Care Act money, public housing money and also 17 for the Branch Brook Park, you know, for the Branch 18 Brook Park Manor. That is also included in there. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I'm sorry, we 20 spend money for Branch Brook Park Manor? 21 MR. CIRILO: We have properties that 22 are privately managed that are also booked to our 23 accounts. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Even though 25 that is not our buildings, we still provide -- 31 1 MR. CIRILO: They are our buildings 2 they are just privately managed. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We provide 4 security for them? 5 MR. CIRILO: Depends on how you 6 describe it. 7 MR. MOOLAYIL: They have their own 8 separate financials. We got their financials into 9 this report. 10 MR. CIRILO: I will give you an 11 example. You know the Prince Street, they have 12 public housing units, ACC units and they have 13 Section 8 units mixed in with market and tax credit, 14 et cetera. So for the public housing units those 15 are booked into our account. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: But Captain 17 Broner is not responsible for those, are they? 18 MR. CIRILO: No, because they are 19 privately managed their own. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: But that is 21 not included in our budget. That is not included in 22 his budget. 23 MR. CIRILO: It is not included in his 24 budget, but it is included in our budget. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Our budget 32 1 overall, okay. Okay, guys, thank you. Good job 2 too. 3 MR. LARSON: Thank you very much. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: And 5 congratulations to Section 8 because you said they 6 did good. 7 MR. LARSON: Yes, clean opinions, no 8 findings. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So we will let 10 Mr. Knight out of the dog house. 11 MR. LARSON: Yes, did a very good job. 12 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Next resolution. 13 MR. CIRILO: It is also a financial 14 resolution, do you want to take a motion for the 15 first one, Mr. Chairman. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 17 for you Chairman. 18 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I will second it. 19 MR. CIRILO: 01, Commissioner Logan. 20 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 21 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 22 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 23 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 24 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 25 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 33 1 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 2 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 4 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 5 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 6 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 7 Resolution 02. That the Newark 8 Housing Authority Board of Commissioners certify the 9 review of fiscal and compliance audit report for the 10 fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. 11 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a mover 12 and second? 13 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I will move it. 14 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will second. 15 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution 02, 16 Commissioner Logan. 17 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 19 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 20 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 21 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 22 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 23 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 34 1 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 2 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 3 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 4 Moving on, Mr. Chairman, to Resolution 5 10. Resolution 10 reads that the NHA Board of 6 Commissioners authorize the Executive Director to 7 execute a contract to make necessary corrections 8 with TSUJ Corporation for electrical fire alarm and 9 security system repairs and services on an as needed 10 basis at various sites for a period of one year with 11 an option to renew for an additional year in an 12 amount not to exceed three hundred twenty-four 13 thousand four hundred dollars or two years, 14 whichever comes first. 15 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I have a question 16 on that, please. My question on this one is this 17 for the whole entire Housing Authority or this is 18 just a specific site? 19 MR. CIRILO: Mr. Chairman, through you 20 this is agency wide. 21 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Agency wide. 22 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a mover 23 an second? 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 25 it. 35 1 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second. 2 MR. CIRILO: On the motion, 3 Commissioner Logan. 4 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 5 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 6 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 7 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 8 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 9 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 10 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 11 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 13 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 14 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 16 Resolution 11, that the NHA Board of 17 Commissioners authorize the Executive Director to 18 execute a contract and make necessary corrections 19 with National Water Main Cleaning Company for 20 emergency sewer cleaning on as needed basis at 21 various sites for a period of one year with an 22 option to renew for an additional year in an amount 23 not to exceed four hundred forty thousand seven 24 fifty or two years, whichever comes first. 25 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a mover 36 1 and second? 2 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will move, 3 Chairman. 4 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 5 MR. CIRILO: On the motion, 6 Commissioner Logan. 7 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 8 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 9 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 10 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 11 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 12 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 13 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 14 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 17 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 19 Resolution 12, that the Newark Housing 20 Authority Board of Commissioners authorize the 21 Executive Director to execute a contract and make 22 necessary changes with B Safe, Inc. for removal and 23 replacement of Legacy Emergency Pull-Cord System 24 located in James C. White Manor incorporating 25 installation of equipment at one-time amount of 37 1 thirty-six thousand one forty-nine and monthly 2 monitoring services for a term of five years at a 3 cost of one thousand one hundred seventy-five 4 dollars per month in an aggregate contract amount 5 not to exceed five years or seventy thousand five 6 hundred. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman. 8 This is the contract for James C. White where they 9 had a problem. I'm a senior and I live in a private 10 building. There is a cord or a button you push if 11 you're in trouble and the cords wasn't working. Am 12 I right, Pastor Rouse? 13 MR. ROUSE: Yes. 14 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: And a lot of 15 tenants been complaining about it for a long time so 16 this is going to happen and they are talking about 17 doing it in less than two weeks. So the building is 18 going to be safer in the next two weeks. They are 19 not here now, right? They said about two weeks so I 20 just want to say that is a good thing to make that 21 building a little safer. 22 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a mover 23 an second? 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 25 it. 38 1 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 2 MR. CIRILO: On the motion, 3 Commissioner Logan. 4 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 5 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 6 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 7 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 8 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 9 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 10 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 11 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 13 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 14 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 16 Next resolution is Resolution 13. 17 That the NHA Board of Commissioners approve the list 18 of professional service providers which responded to 19 RFQ-21-S-007 and have been deemed qualified to 20 represent the Newark Housing Authority on an 21 as-needed basis. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, can 23 I ask something to the E.D. on this. How big is the 24 minority participation in our professionals? 25 MR. CIRILO: I don't have statistics 39 1 in front of us. But, yeah, we would have to take a 2 look at that. That is one of the criteria we weigh 3 these proposals on meaning that respondents get 4 extra points if they are a minority or a business. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Mr. Chairman, 6 I would like to know how many are from Newark. 7 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Especially 8 woman. I'm sorry, I just interjected. I think that 9 is one of the requirements. 10 MR. CIRILO: Yes. 11 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Sorry, 12 Commissioner Muhammad. 13 MR. CIRILO: The companies selected 14 get additional points if they meet one of the 15 criteria. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I am good. 17 I'll move it for you. 18 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I will second. 19 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution, 20 Commissioner Logan. 21 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 22 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 23 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 25 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 40 1 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 2 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will 3 abstain. 4 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 6 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 7 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 8 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 9 The next resolution reads that the NHA 10 Board of Commissioners authorize the Executive 11 Director to execute a contract and make all 12 necessary changes with Perdomo of New York for 13 demolition and tree removal services at the former 14 Seth Boyden Terrace for a total contract amount not 15 to exceed two million four hundred fifty thousand 16 dollars. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, this 18 is a hallelujah and Christianity and Islam 19 Subhanallah, that means glory to God. That we are 20 going to get that Seth Boyden tore down because that 21 is crazy down there, it is crazy. Anybody ever been 22 down there, it's the worst eye sore and I remember 23 back fifty years ago it was a beautiful site, but 24 this is a great situation. This is a great moment. 25 This is going to be so much better for the seniors 41 1 that live in that area because it is all around 2 seniors because I think Seth Boyden elderly got a 3 fence right there so I just want to say I'm so happy 4 for this one and I will be glad to move it. 5 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will second 6 it. 7 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution, 8 Commissioner Logan. 9 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 10 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 11 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 12 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 13 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 14 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 15 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 19 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 20 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 21 The next resolution reads that the NHA 22 Board of Commissioners authorize the Executive 23 Director to award the sale/disposition of High 24 Spruce to Monge Capital Advisors, subject to the 25 approval by U.S. Housing and Urban Development. 42 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, you 2 got the proposal late. Is Yetla here. You sent me 3 that, you know, the list. I don't understand. 4 Explain this to me. 5 MS. MARTINEZ: Sure. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: MAR's taught 7 me when a person does a proposal, it comes in, the 8 proposal comes in and then it goes out to somebody 9 that scores them outside the building that is a 10 company that scores them. Then it comes back on a 11 selection committee that is in-house. So when you 12 sent me that thing, is that the selection committee 13 or is that the score committee? 14 MS. MARTINEZ: The document you 15 received was a tabulation sheet. So as you 16 mentioned, it goes to our third party which is Ms. 17 Drishaw, she reviews the sheet to make sure 18 everything, the submission has submitted, every 19 document that was required. Once it is reviewed, 20 then she sends it back to the agency then a 21 committee is put together. The committee consists 22 of three members. Those three members then evaluate 23 the -- 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Let me ask you 25 a question. The people on there now that are on it, 43 1 are there new members because it was a different 2 selection committee before. 3 MS. MARTINEZ: Yes, it switches. 4 Every RFP there is a different committee. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So it is not 6 one committee? 7 MS. MARTINEZ: Correct. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Somebody gave 9 somebody a perfect. I never seen that before. 10 Okay, I got no questions. 11 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: I need a mover and 12 second. 13 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will move. 14 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 15 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution, 16 Commissioner Logan. 17 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Due to the 18 litigation in this matter, I will abstain at this 19 time. 20 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 21 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 22 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 23 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 25 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 44 1 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 2 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Abstain. 3 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 4 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Abstain. 5 MR. CIRILO: The motion fails. 6 We are going to move onto Resolution 7 16. The resolution reads that the Newark Housing 8 Authority Board of Commissioners authorize the 9 Executive Director to execute and make all necessary 10 amendments to an agreement with the City of Newark 11 in regards to a four million dollar interest-free 12 loan from the City to pay for demolition, debris 13 removal and asbestos abatement at the former Seth 14 Boyden Terrace. The NHA shall repay the City loan 15 upon receipt of the redeveloper reimbursement as 16 provided in the Redevelopment Agreement. 17 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a mover 18 and second? 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Can I ask a 20 question on this, Chairman. 21 Mr. E.D., can you explain that to me. 22 The City of Newark and four million dollars, can you 23 explain that to us. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioners, Mr. 25 Chairman, the City of Newark has come across relief 45 1 funds to address issues related to quality of life 2 especially post COVID. They share the same 3 sentiment that the complex shall be or should be, 4 should be rather, turned down. I'm sorry, torn down 5 rather and they have agreed to consider us for a 6 loan, a zero interest loan to demolish that at a 7 faster rate than it would have normally been 8 demolished if we waited for a redevelopment 9 agreement. Once the Housing Authority considers and 10 enters into a redevelopment agreement, the condition 11 for that agreement is to extend a payment of four 12 million dollars to pay back the City for the 13 extension of this grant that we are considering 14 tonight. 15 This matter will also need to be 16 approved by the Local Finance Board in Trenton since 17 the City of Newark is also overseeing or its 18 finances are monitored in some form as in any 19 municipality by the Local Finance Board so we are 20 going to be -- 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: This is part 22 of the two hundred million dollars, approximately 23 two hundred million dollars, Chairman, that you guys 24 got from the government? 25 MR. CIRILO: Yes. 46 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: For the 2 residents. 3 MR. CIRILO: That is my understanding. 4 For the record, I'm not a hundred percent sure, but 5 the legality on the City side has been cleared to 6 extend this grant. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Okay, thank 8 you. I'll move it. 9 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second. 10 MR. CIRILO: On the motion, 11 Commissioner Logan. 12 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 13 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 14 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 16 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 17 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 18 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 19 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 21 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 22 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Abstain. 23 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 24 The next resolution reads that the 25 Newark Housing Authority Board of Commissioners 47 1 authorize -- I'm sorry, the next resolution is 2 seventeen, Mr. Chairman. Let me correct the record. 3 Resolution 17 reads that the Newark 4 Housing Authority Board of Commissioners authorize 5 the Executive Director to execute and make necessary 6 changes to a Memorandum of Understanding with the 7 City of Newark in regards to a one million eight 8 hundred thousand dollar grant in nonfederal funds 9 from the City to assist NHA residents with payment 10 of outstanding rent balances accumulated during the 11 COVID-19 pandemic. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Mr. Chairman. 13 I want to say this, E.D., so we are just saying is 14 that we got 1.8 million dollars for our tenants, 15 only the Housing Authority tenants that was affected 16 with their rent that is behind in their rent to 17 bring their rent up-to-date? 18 MR. CIRILO: That's correct. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Do you have an 20 idea what the process is going to be? 21 MR. CIRILO: Yes, as a matter of fact, 22 we have been in communication with a Memorandum of 23 Understanding that according to the initial draft a 24 family would sit down with a property manager, fill 25 out the application, the application goes to the 48 1 City, the City stamps it and then issues a check for 2 that balance. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That's great 4 because Pastor Rouse I know Kretchmer's manager, 5 senior manager did it without this. So this is 6 great. So every tenant, Ms. Barnes, tell all your 7 tenants down there. Everybody tell your tenants if 8 you're behind that we got a bit of catching up. 9 MR. ROUSE: Yes, sir, the word is out. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: The word is 11 out, okay. I will move it for you. 12 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 13 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution, 14 Commissioner Logan. 15 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 17 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 19 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 20 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 21 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 22 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 25 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 49 1 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 2 Mr. Chairman, now, we are going to go 3 onto eighteen. Resolution 18 reads that the Newark 4 Housing Authority Board of Commissioners authorize 5 the Executive Director to execute and make necessary 6 changes to a settlement agreement with the City of 7 Newark in regards to payment of an outstanding water 8 and sewer balance of ten million four hundred 9 seventy-four thousand four hundred eighty-four 10 dollars and eighty-four cents exclusive of interest, 11 fees and estimated amounts to be paid by the NHA 12 with cash and transfer of real estate subject to the 13 approval by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 14 Development and the Newark City Council. 15 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Can I get a mover 16 and second? 17 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will move. 18 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 19 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution, 20 Commissioner Logan. 21 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Abstain. 22 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 23 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 25 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 50 1 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 2 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 3 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 5 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 6 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Abstain. 7 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 8 The next resolution, Resolution 19 9 reads that the Newark Housing Authority Board of 10 Commissioners authorize the Executive Director to 11 implement and make necessary changes to a mandatory 12 COVID vaccination policy subject to negotiation of 13 any punitive elements with public employee unions. 14 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Mr. Chairman, 15 if possible I want to have the HR director to 16 explain this to us, explain it to the people because 17 she's explained it at the work session, but a lot of 18 people don't watch the work session because this is 19 very, very important for your staff, am I right, 20 E.D.? 21 MR. CIRILO: Yes. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: This is life 23 support. 24 MR. CIRILO: That is a hundred 25 percent. 51 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Ms. Carter, if 2 you explain this to us. 3 MS. CARTER: Good evening, Board 4 members and Executive Director. So effective on 5 October 4 all NHA Employees and Section 3 workers 6 will be required to be fully vaccinated. We will 7 give them a thirty-day period so by November 4 they 8 have to provide human resources with their proof of 9 being fully vaccinated. If they are not fully 10 vaccinated by November 4, they are required to test 11 and provide human resources with a negative test 12 result every Monday. The test has to be taken on 13 Thursday of the previous week, that Thursday or 14 Friday or will not be valid. The cost of that 15 weekly testing between that thirty day window is at 16 no cost to the Housing Authority nor can they be 17 tested during the Housing Authority's time. If you 18 join NHA after November 4, you will be required to 19 show proof of full vaccination. There will be 20 exceptions for medical and religious reasons. We 21 will offer vaccinations next week for our employees 22 for those who are not vaccinated, they will be able 23 to get vaccinated during working hours. They will 24 need to let their immediate supervisor know. If 25 they become ill the day after, we will allow them 52 1 that time off. If they want to request an 2 exemption, they need to submit a request to my 3 office by close of business on October 11. To those 4 who require a medical exemption will be required to 5 do biweekly testing at no cost to the Housing 6 Authority nor can they test during our time. Those 7 who are not in compliance will first receive a 8 thirty day suspension after which if they do not 9 still decide to get vaccinated, they will be 10 terminated. Subject to further disciplinary 11 measures up to including termination. There is 12 documentation that we have provided for you. If you 13 want to have an exception to come to our office to 14 get it to take to your physician. We are not 15 allowing the physicians to stamp, they have to sign 16 it so that we know that it is accurate. We have a 17 form to request further information. I have met 18 with all the unions about this. Every union that 19 exists all the trade unions, it is over ten unions 20 that I have met with. If this policy is voted on 21 tonight, voted up, the unions will be provided with 22 notice of this and they will be able to bargain over 23 any proposed changes, but prior to creating this 24 policy, I spoke with all unions and some of their 25 suggestions are incorporated in this policy. 53 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you. 2 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Chairman, did you 3 tell me the Housing Authority is not paying for it? 4 Who is paying for that, is that the employees? 5 MS. CARTER: Yes, for the employees. 6 If their insurance company doesn't cover it, the 7 employees will have to pay for it or whomever pays 8 for it, but the Housing Authority is not liable to 9 pay that. 10 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Director Carter, 11 so they have until October 4 to be vaccinated. If 12 they are not, they can provide every week every 13 Monday they can come to work provided they have 14 proof of a negative test? 15 MS. CARTER: Up until November 4. So 16 by November 4 you have to be fully vaccinated or you 17 will get the thirty day suspension, but between that 18 October 4 and that November 4 date if you are not 19 fully vaccinated, you have to test weekly. So if 20 this policy is approved tonight, it will be sent out 21 tomorrow just to give staff a heads up and we will 22 provide vaccinations one day next week. We are 23 aiming for Thursday at the Waterfront, just waiting 24 for our confirmation. 25 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Any other 54 1 questions? Any questions on the phone? 2 Thank you. 3 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 5 for you. 6 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: I will move it. 7 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan, would 8 you like to second the resolution. 9 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes, I'll second 10 it. 11 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Roll call. 12 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 13 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 14 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 15 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 17 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 19 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 20 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 22 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 23 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Resolution 20 reads that 25 the Newark Housing Authority Board of Commissioners 55 1 authorize the Executive Director to pay Option 1 2 Group for emergency snow removal services in the 3 amount of two hundred forty-seven thousand nine 4 hundred twelve dollars and thirty-four cents. 5 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Mover and second? 6 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will move. 7 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: I will move 8 it. 9 MR. CIRILO: On the resolution, 10 Commissioner Logan. 11 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 12 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 13 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 14 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 15 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 17 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Chairman, this 20 is the one I said I was excluding myself. 21 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 22 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 23 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 24 That completes the agenda items. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Mr. Chairman, 56 1 I have some questions I'd like to ask. Can I have 2 security first. I want to say before I ask you a 3 question, you know, you are a hero tonight. Let me 4 explain to you why I say that. I am not talking 5 about personal things. I come from a child of 6 Newark in the fifties so in the fifties and sixties, 7 Chairman is a little younger than me, but we didn't 8 have -- I don't remember seeing black police 9 officers honestly. The first black police officer I 10 seen, forget about Latinos, I am talking first black 11 police officer I seen was housing authority police 12 officers in the sixties. So for somebody to be a 13 captain, your image and I admire you for that image. 14 I have some questions for you. 15 What is your budget this year? 16 CAPTAIN BRONER: So far the budget was 17 submitted was 5.4 million. We're currently up 18 through August so far we spent 5.6 million. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So we are over 20 budget, all right. 21 CAPTAIN BRONER: We are over budget. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What was the 23 money they were talking about before the 24 seven million, that is from last year's budget? 25 CAPTAIN BRONER: That was last year's 57 1 budget. 2 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So you are 3 really doing a lot better. 4 CAPTAIN BRONER: So far up to August 5 with payments that we have paid out is 5.6. I am 6 not sure exactly. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I said it to 8 you and I am going to say it to you publicly. Do 9 you think this budget you have on security for the 10 Newark Housing Authority, what I am saying to you is 11 I don't want to put a restraint on you moneywise 12 because one person get hurt, it is worth more than 13 five million dollars. Don't forget about somebody 14 getting killed. That is five million dollars. Are 15 we putting a restraint on you? 16 CAPTAIN BRONER: I can always use like 17 anybody, you can always use more money, but what I 18 tried to do is work with what we have and I look at 19 the statistics when I employ personnel where the 20 problem is and analytical and that is where I try to 21 employ personnel the most. Of course I use outside 22 agencies. I work with the Newark Police Department, 23 Sheriff's department, narcotics unit, DEA and they 24 have been a big help in helping us control crime. 25 That is why at the current moment we are actually 58 1 down in crime one percent for the summer. We 2 actually did pretty good. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is my 4 next question, how was the summer? 5 CAPTAIN BRONER: Summer we actually 6 did pretty good overall. We had some shootings. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I heard there 8 was a shootout in Oscar miles. 9 CAPTAIN BRONER: Yes, it was. We 10 actually overall we did pretty good. Recently we 11 had an uptick in violence. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Which is all 13 over the country. 14 CAPTAIN BRONER: It is all over the 15 country and the City. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: When they talk 17 about SOC, Ms. Barnes said when you call SOC, what 18 is it? 19 CAPTAIN BRONER: Security operations 20 center. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Ms. Barnes 22 said when you call them they don't answer and 23 somebody told me there is only one person there that 24 is monitoring all these cameras. 25 CAPTAIN BRONER: That's correct. 59 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How do we do 2 that? 3 CAPTAIN BRONER: What happened I got 4 called about the budget so I looked at where we, you 5 know, can decrease the budget and would be less 6 effective than decreasing the manpower on the 7 street. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many 9 cameras is one individual looking at? 10 CAPTAIN BRONER: Most of our cameras 11 are up at our problematic sites. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many 13 cameras you think they are looking at? 14 CAPTAIN BRONER: We have five or six 15 screens down there so a lot of cameras. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many armed 17 guards do we have? 18 CAPTAIN BRONER: We have actually 19 forty-one armed guards for Procop. We have eleven 20 for Prime and we have three for Gateway Security. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many 22 special police are we using now because I know last 23 time we talked they said it was an issue because of 24 the money. They make a lot more money in the 25 private sector. 60 1 CAPTAIN BRONER: That is true. What 2 it we started out with eighteen part-time specials 3 at the current moment we have only one special that 4 is full-time. We hired him full-time and we have 5 three part-time. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We are in 7 trouble there. We need more specials. 8 CAPTAIN BRONER: We definitely need 9 more specials, but the one we have full-time he is 10 actually doing a lot for us. He wrote over two 11 thousand tickets with the specials we have now. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Elio, are we a 13 tort organization? 14 MR. MENA: We operate under the Tort 15 Claims Act. We have to follow the process, provide 16 the notice of claim. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: There is a 18 question I wanted to ask. I sent you, the Chairman 19 has past and Municipal Council new ordinance for 20 security. I went on a tour. The best thing I ever 21 did, go on a tour because I seen so much I didn't 22 even know we had spots that I didn't even know. It 23 was the best thing. After I asked about vacancies 24 and this and that, I asked about security and most 25 of the people said we don't have any security. We 61 1 have except for seniors they have twenty-four hour 2 security, everybody that was correct. Per these new 3 ordinances, the old ones that they signed they 4 passed and this new one, the only in my tour and I 5 am not a professional. The only two sites that is 6 in compliance is Kretchmer and Cedar Lane. That is 7 the only ones I seen in compliance. So we are the 8 largest landowner in Newark, New Jersey. Our 9 Chairman is a Councilperson, but we are not in 10 compliance. What is your thoughts on that? What 11 are we going to do for that? 12 CAPTAIN BRONER: I am looking at that. 13 I just received the new ordinance and I am looking 14 at that now and trying to plan a budget to be able 15 to fit that new requirements there. I haven't 16 received anything specifically from the City yet in 17 reference to that, but I am looking at that. 18 Hopefully, we can be in compliance with it next 19 year. A lot of spots we are unable to with the old 20 ordinance they had was hard to put one officer by 21 themselves in some of these spots where it is pretty 22 hot. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: You are going 24 to come back maybe next month God willing and have a 25 plan? 62 1 CAPTAIN BRONER: Yes. 2 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Elio, if we 3 get in trouble, something happens, we are not 4 responsible if we are not in compliance, are we? 5 Say I get hurt on one of our properties. 6 MR. MENA: It all depends on the 7 circumstances. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thanks a lot. 9 I appreciate you. 10 CAPTAIN BRONER: No problem. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I'd like to 12 speak to the Section 8 person. 13 MR. KNIGHT: Good afternoon, 14 Commissioners. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: You want to 16 tell everybody who you are. 17 MR. KNIGHT: Good afternoon. I am 18 Duane Knight, I am the director of the Section 8 19 program. Thank you for bringing me up here. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Again, 21 congratulations. Can you tell me how many vouchers 22 you did in July? 23 MR. KNIGHT: Yeah, we issued a hundred 24 and thirty-five vouchers to families from our wait 25 list in July. 63 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How about in 2 August? 3 MR. KNIGHT: August we only did 4 sixty-four because we had a staffing transition so 5 it slowed our -- 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That's when we 7 had to move out the building. 8 MR. KNIGHT: That was a minor bump, 9 but we had a change of staff, but we expect our 10 volume to go back up in September. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Has the 12 Governor gave us any new vouchers? 13 MR. KNIGHT: So a hundred and one 14 emergency housing vouchers were allocated to the 15 NHA. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Who is that 17 for? 18 MR. KNIGHT: They are for homeless, 19 you know, offers for homeless and it is done in 20 partnership with the City of Newark and all the 21 homelessness services. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: If I am 23 hypothetical become homeless and I go to the City, I 24 can apply for these vouchers if I am homeless? 25 MR. CIRILO: Can I interject, 64 1 Commissioner Muhammad. Those vouchers are not being 2 administered by Mr. Knight's team. They are being 3 administered by a case worker that we hired in the 4 housing authority an administrator. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We have 6 somebody new here? 7 MR. CIRILO: Correct. To administrate 8 those vouchers because they are special vouchers. I 9 know you have a question on human resources and we 10 can talk about the new person. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many 12 NHA -- well, can he answer that question? 13 MR. CIRILO: I can answer that. 14 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: For instance, 15 how many vouchers have we gave away in the last two 16 months on homeless people? 17 MR. CIRILO: I can answer the question 18 about the hundred and one vouchers. They are very 19 special vouchers for extreme hard to house families. 20 They come with third party assistance for providers 21 that provide social services necessary. So that is 22 why we needed a special case worker to address 23 those, find housing and connect them with the 24 services. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: When did that 65 1 person start? 2 MR. CIRILO: They started about three 3 weeks ago, two weeks ago. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What is the -- 5 MR. KNIGHT: What I was going to just 6 say that we still work with the health department to 7 issue vouchers to homeless families and so over the 8 last two months this is separate from what we been 9 doing. Our regular wait list we issued twenty-eight 10 vouchers to homeless families. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you for 12 that answer. So the hundred and one is somebody 13 else? 14 MR. KNIGHT: Yes, that's separate. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What is the 16 forecast for September? 17 MR. KNIGHT: A hundred and fifty. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What happens 19 when a voucher -- this is a question. Somebody in 20 the audience asked a question what happens when say 21 I have a Section 8, right, and I make too much money 22 and I lose it, but the voucher I had even though I 23 live in Newark came from East Orange. Does it go 24 back to East Orange or stays in Newark? 25 MR. KNIGHT: It depends. If we were, 66 1 when that person came into Newark, the agency maybe 2 billing East Orange for the cost of that family in 3 Newark and if that's the case then that voucher goes 4 back. But typically what we do is we absorb the 5 voucher and keep the voucher in Newark. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Is that a way 7 to add onto our voucher list? 8 MR. KNIGHT: Yes. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Say people 10 make too much money or whatever. 11 MR. KNIGHT: Right. In the case of 12 people who make too much money, what happens that 13 happens when their tenant portion can cover the 14 whole rent so when a family gets that threshold, we 15 come six months and if they still there after six 16 months then their participation on the program ends 17 and that voucher is put back into the portfolio of 18 our wait list. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is a way 20 of increasing vouchers too. 21 How you doing on your customer 22 service? 23 MR. KNIGHT: We have a lot of work to 24 do on customer service. I mean I can layout a 25 preliminary plan that we have in place so tomorrow 67 1 we're actually having an all staff training on 2 customer service. We are scheduled to have staff 3 training. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many 5 people you have on customer service? 6 MR. KNIGHT: The entire Section 8 7 program is customer service. We have our main calls 8 come into three people, you know, two customer 9 service specialist and a supervisor and then we also 10 have somebody that handles calls that are related to 11 inspections separately. It is a kind of separate 12 that out, but more importantly so in addition to the 13 training we are doing tomorrow after that training 14 in the week of October 18 we have another customer 15 service trainer coming in to observe operations and 16 see how -- to see what stuck from the training that 17 we do tomorrow and make recommendations and then do 18 training with more team specific training on the 19 19th and 20th. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So you will 21 have a report for us in October? 22 MR. KNIGHT: There is still additional 23 steps in the process of putting together. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Can I go to 25 occupancy now. 68 1 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Excuse me, 2 Chairman, but I have to go so I'm going to excuse 3 myself. 4 MR. CIRILO: Let the record show 5 Commissioner Costa is being excused. 6 MS. RODGERS: Sekina Rodgers speaking. 7 Director of occupancy. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How we do for 9 July because my count wasn't too good. No, July was 10 good, August wasn't good. How we do for July? 11 MS. RODGERS: July the question was? 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I have 13 forty-nine net in July. 14 MS. RODGERS: There is a two apartment 15 discrepancy because I have forty-seven. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: August it 17 dropped to thirty something. That was low. Why did 18 we drop? 19 MS. RODGERS: So in July we offered 20 seventy. We made seventy offers. There are several 21 reasons why. It would be a variety of reasons 22 people can refuse. We had a high level of refusals. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: The 24 application for senior, is there still open in 25 elderly? 69 1 MS. RODGERS: Yes. 2 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So the senior 3 citizens or disabled person could apply down here, 4 right? 5 MS. RODGERS: Yes. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: You talked 7 about this while we are still pulling if the senior 8 citizens elderly from the list 2013 and 2014. The 9 reason why I am asking that question is because a 10 senior citizen is not going to wait eight years. 11 They are either going to die homeless or nursing 12 home or they have to get a place. So eight years I 13 know your family list I have seen people waiting 14 ten. I know people waiting ten years, but eight 15 years why are we pulling from that list? 16 MS. RODGERS: We are pulling based off 17 date and time stamp of the application, but 18 understand this. The elderly waiting list is 19 shorter, but you can be elderly with a family if 20 you're elderly with a family you are still 21 considered a family. So those units there is a lot 22 of people disabled with the family or elderly with a 23 family and most of the time that requires a two 24 bedroom. For those we are, it depends on the 25 location. It can be anywhere from eight to ten year 70 1 wait, however, if they are a senior citizen and they 2 are elderly some of the -- we are actually in 2020 3 for screening. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We are? 5 MS. RODGERS: Yes. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That answers 7 my question. How many available units do you have 8 at Woodland development? 9 MS. RODGERS: I don't have any 10 available. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So there is no 12 vacancies up there? 13 MS. RODGERS: There is vacancies, but 14 there is not none available. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So they are 16 not real, in other words, that's the problem I had 17 when I went on my tour. The report would say you 18 have twenty vacancies. Then the people say, no, we 19 only have three. 20 MS. RODGERS: No. So at Woodlawn 21 Village there is nothing when an apartment is 22 available, it is ready for rent. There is no 23 apartments right now at Woodlawn ready for rent. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What do you 25 think you are going to do for September? 71 1 MS. RODGERS: September we are ready 2 as of today we made fifty-three offers. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you. 4 Operations. 5 MR. ROUSE: Good afternoon, Board of 6 Commissioners, Director. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Pastor, that 8 is the problem I have when I went around and I would 9 look at your book what you said in the book. It 10 would say ten, fifteen and then the people say no, I 11 only have three ready so it is like -- 12 MR. ROUSE: I looked at your question 13 and I brought the poll with me and I highlighted 14 what you may have been talking about. Can I show 15 you this number here to explain that. What happens 16 is we have units that are put into Mod and so once 17 they are put into Mod it won't show up here on the 18 board report because they are in Mod. So, yes, you 19 may see fifty vacancies, but here it will say 20 twenty-five because those other units are in Mod 21 meaning that -- 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Managers would 23 say to me, well, we have twenty-five units, but Rich 24 has fifteen. I don't know what that means. There 25 is twenty-five, but Rich has fifteen. 72 1 MR. ROUSE: That means half of those 2 fifteen that Rich have are in Mod because Rich is 3 Force Account. Force Account only can do units in 4 Mod and so their staff takes care of the others. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How we doing 6 on Hyatt Court? What is the deal or should I save 7 that? 8 MR. ROUSE: You can save that to 9 Director Thomas. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How many 11 apartments -- I mean how many units do we have in 12 Woodlawn available? How many people are living up 13 there? 14 MR. ROUSE: Ten families. 15 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: That is where? 16 MR. ROUSE: Woodlawn, there is only 17 ten right now. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We did an 19 inspection. That was the look out for us. What is 20 the plan to make it better so we don't get ourselves 21 in trouble? 22 MR. ROUSE: Absolutely. We have been 23 working on our scores and we have five sites who 24 passed. We had about four other sites that were 25 very close to passing and other sites received low 73 1 scores. 2 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I am going to 3 show you something. I didn't mean for her to give 4 me this. What happened was when I was going on my 5 tour they had an inspection. I said I will come 6 back okay, come back another day. One day I came 7 back after it was over and the asset manager was 8 very upset because she was saying that she didn't do 9 well and this is the reason why she said she didn't 10 do well. You see it? 11 MR. ROUSE: Yes, I know the exact 12 site. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That was all 14 landscaping overgrown. 15 MR. ROUSE: Yes, overgrown vegetation. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: They said they 17 had some problems with landscaping also so what we 18 are going to do to resolve that? 19 MR. ROUSE: Everybody has been placing 20 work orders in places where they were deficient to 21 get that resolved. Some of that stuff can be done 22 by our landscaping company and other stuff we have 23 to do ourselves and other stuff we have to also 24 bring in people who are our neighbors because a lot 25 of that overgrown vegetation that is coming from 74 1 that neighbor and the stuff is growing over into our 2 property and we get hit for it. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I was in the 4 building today and we still only -- seniors only 5 letting one visitor in the house. 6 MR. ROUSE: Yes. 7 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is kind 8 of antiquated. 9 MR. ROUSE: That is keeping us safe. 10 In August -- 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Nobody else is 12 doing it. I live in the senior citizen project. 13 Nobody's doing it. Nobody's doing it. Why are we? 14 MR. ROUSE: You mean letting other 15 people in? 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Only one 17 person to come see a senior citizen. I can -- when 18 we were in the middle of it and we were going around 19 inspecting every week we were, but why are we still 20 doing the same thing. I was on a Zoom meeting at 21 the Board of Education because I know -- I was on a 22 call with all the principals. They said 23 eighty percent of Newark senior citizens are 24 vaccinated. 25 MR. ROUSE: Yes. 75 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We do very, 2 very well. There is a problem with this one 3 situation we need to relook at that. That only one 4 person visit for senior citizens. You can tell me I 5 can only have one person. I can see it last year 6 when we were having a problem. We were letting 7 nobody in, but we are still doing it a year and a 8 half away. 9 MR. CIRILO: City guidance, 10 Commissioner. We will check with them. If the City 11 is okay, we are okay. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I heard that 13 before and the Council people told me that is not 14 true because my building didn't open up until late. 15 They said that is not true. The City showed it to 16 me and also the City is not doing inspections no 17 more like they used to. 18 MR. ROUSE: We are still doing 19 inspections every Thursday. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I am talking 21 about Pat Council going around doing inspections. I 22 like to see where the City is saying a senior 23 citizen can only have one person in their house. I 24 know the CDC ain't saying it. So that is something 25 I am concerned about. Thank you so much. 76 1 Can I have human resources. They get 2 paid, we are volunteering. Who is these new 3 hirings? 4 MS. CARTER: So the first one you 5 asked about is our new director of finance. The 6 second person is who Mr. Cirilo is speaking of hired 7 in our redevelopment. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Are they here? 9 MS. CARTER: Today, no. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Where is this 11 young lady Lacinda come from, what is her 12 background? 13 MR. CIRILO: Can we discuss that? I 14 don't know what limitations there are to personnel. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What is her 16 background. We brought Coleef Thomas up here. 17 MR. CIRILO: We can ask the employee 18 to come in. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is why I 20 put their names. Is the other person name maybe 21 they will be here next time. Who is the assistant 22 to Coleef Thomas. 23 MS. CARTER: He doesn't have an 24 assistant. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So there is 77 1 nobody that is an assistant to him? 2 MR. CIRILO: We will be considering 3 somebody in the near future because he is asking for 4 an assistant. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: He has asked. 6 Please accommodate him because he is doing a good 7 job. Could I speak to him, thank you. 8 MR. THOMAS: Good evening. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I was over at 10 801, 815. I went over there to see your work. You 11 did that in four or five days, buddy. You took -- I 12 don't know if you seen what he did. Explain to him 13 what happened. 14 MR. THOMAS: They had an emergency 15 underground utilities. We redid the sewer line from 16 the building to the sewer in the street and 17 installed two sewerage drains on the property a 18 hundred feet of pipe inside the building and 19 replaced forty feet of four-inch pipe because there 20 was a lot of backup in the building because of the 21 storm drain had collapsed on the sidewall and into 22 the street. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So it was 24 backing up. Everything was backing up I think into 25 the sinks and everything. 78 1 MR. THOMAS: To the house trap. To 2 the boiler room. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: The people 4 couldn't drink no water. They were drinking regular 5 bottled water the last couple days and then you put 6 some new pumps because I seen some new pumps. 7 MR. THOMAS: The house traps they 8 brought sump pumps over there. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Do we need to 10 do this at a lot of places? 11 MR. THOMAS: These buildings are over 12 sixty years old. On the resolution you approved I 13 think it is number three we can use some of the 14 professional service people to go out and give us a 15 real inspection. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: You know when 17 you came here, you know why I was happy because I 18 was personally bothering you. I thought you were 19 going to save us a lot of money, you know, so you 20 coming up with snow plan because I think that you 21 can save us a lot of money. 22 Now, I want to ask a question because 23 something caught me from recreation. They said we 24 spent five thousand dollars for Clubhouse and waste 25 management for a month and they said they only have 79 1 one month. Why are we spending five thousand 2 dollars a month in waste management. 3 MR. THOMAS: I don't know. I haven't 4 heard that, but we were on a call today, me and 5 Director Rouse with the manager at some locations 6 are getting picked up regular household trash or 7 regular trash by private vendors. Newark has four 8 trucks coming in in the next two weeks, but the two 9 front loads that we were supposed to get and put 10 them in the back where we were actually put those 11 dumpsters in Bradley Court and Avon and some of 12 these are going to be picked up by Newark as well. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We will be 14 able to cut some of these vendors out, that is 15 great. 16 MR. THOMAS: That is the plan. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: You will come 18 up with a snow removal. 19 MR. THOMAS: We are going to send out 20 another snow bid. We actually called them in 21 earlier. We have them on standby. The E.D. 22 approved it today to actually get more vendors to 23 come in. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I am looking 25 for you to save us a million dollars. 80 1 MR. HOWARD: I don't know if it is 2 going to be a million with snow. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: But with waste 4 management. 5 MR. THOMAS: It can happen. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: God willing. 7 Financial. This is very important. 8 We're three million dollars in the hole. We just 9 approved something for three million dollars. If 10 hypothetical we sold an asset for three million 11 dollars, what do that three million dollars go to. 12 Can that go to the plug our deficit? 13 MR. MOOLAYIL: The three million? 14 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I am giving 15 you a hypothetical. We are three million in the 16 hole, right, we have a deficit. So if we sell 17 something for three million, where does that money 18 go? 19 MR. MOOLAYIL: Depends on the type of 20 asset that we are acquiring. For example, the 21 federal funds has restrictions on it. On that 22 property there is a restriction on that so we cannot 23 use that money for anything else. So, in other 24 words, when we report all this information by 25 property by property the way HUD requires so we 81 1 cannot move money from one property to the other. 2 For example, if we sell a property in the vacant 3 land or something, that money on the sale the gain 4 on sale of asset goes to a program. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I understand 6 that so, in other words, if we sell something for 7 three million, I couldn't get the maintenance men 8 that we had that we need the maintenance new 9 maintenance men we need. So you can't take more 10 money like that. 11 MR. MOOLAYIL: Exactly. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: When we have 13 an apartment in Mod, how much is the Mod paying, are 14 they paying eighty percent what the actual rent 15 would be? 16 MR. MOOLAYIL: Yes, Mod units that is 17 classified we get the full subsidy portion. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So if the 19 apartment is twelve hundred dollars for one bedroom, 20 we get the whole twelve hundred dollars? 21 MR. MOOLAYIL: Not twelve hundred 22 dollars because every property we calculate the 23 subsidy HUD comes out with the total amount then 24 they deduct the rental portion. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is what I 82 1 am saying. 2 MR. MOOLAYIL: The tenant portion we 3 are not getting. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How much 5 percentage is that? 6 MR. MOOLAYIL: It depends on each 7 property how much is the average rent. It varies in 8 property to property. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: It could be 10 ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent. 11 MR. MOOLAYIL: Maybe like four hundred 12 dollars rent, you know, twelve hundred dollars. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is why 14 what they did when they went in the office they 15 didn't lay off people, they didn't cut budgets. 16 What they did was they created revenues. That is 17 what you do in private business. Public business 18 you have a budget. When your private business, you 19 have to sell revenues and we need to start doing 20 revenues. We need to start renting more apartments 21 so we don't have to cut. That ain't the way to do 22 it. 23 I need the redevelopment person. 24 MR. CIRILO: That's me. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How we doing 83 1 on Terrell Homes, what is going on? 2 MR. CIRILO: Terrell Homes is 3 currently under the financial initiative so we are 4 working with New Jersey, State of New Jersey to 5 finish up the capital, putting in the financing to 6 build that Phase I and we have started working on 7 Phase II. In addition, we have been working with 8 our residents on the move out and ultimately return. 9 We have a meeting with the stakeholders, residents, 10 Ironbound Community Corporation and the legal team 11 of the tenants in the next two weeks. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you. 13 What is going on with Felix Fuld? 14 MR. CIRILO: Felix Fuld we are 15 currently under negotiations. We haven't finished 16 the Memorandum of Understanding yet. There were 17 some differences of opinion so we are still trying 18 to hammer that out. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: The MAR's, 20 they have got two deals, West Side. 21 MR. CIRILO: Sure, MAR is starting to 22 clean up the environmental issues at West Side Villa 23 and while we wait for the full demolition approval 24 by HUD, we should have come in this week hopefully 25 by next week to start demolition. In the meantime 84 1 we are planning ahead meaning that we are working 2 with the developer to have the development team to 3 start raising the property. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I think I 5 put -- it's West Clinton Avenue, is that the lot 6 name, the one behind Rivera Hotel? 7 MR. CIRILO: There is a whole 8 initiative there by the City so we are waiting. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We appointed a 10 developer. 11 MR. CIRILO: Yes, on the other side, 12 correct. The developer had initial reservations 13 because they were under the impression that there 14 were no more tax credits for the central ward area 15 because they are over saturated with low-income 16 housing and tax credits. So New Jersey HMFA has 17 already identified that as an area that they cannot 18 fund anymore, but we have been able to figure out a 19 way. We are going to be appealing that ruling with 20 the developer to make sure there is funding. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So that is on 22 hold right now because remember I had a problem with 23 the rent? 24 MR. CIRILO: Yes. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: A hundred 85 1 years from now. Stephanie Thompson. 2 MR. CIRILO: Stephanie Thompson we are 3 finalizing the developer agreement. It is going to 4 be like an artist village through a RAD deal, a RAD 5 conversion with a developer part, the developer 6 chosen by the Board. So we are going to go in that 7 direction. We looked at three different directions 8 and accommodated the development according to 9 capacity on their side and capacity on the Housing 10 Authority side so right now we are about to finalize 11 that development. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Me and you 13 talked about the Stella Wright, the Prince Street. 14 MR. CIRILO: I'm going to -- 15 basically, in short terms the developer is not 16 accepting of us exercising our right of first 17 refusal. So we may go to litigation so that we can 18 have those properties back according to what and you 19 will be briefed on that in the future. Those 20 properties in my opinion are Housing Authority 21 property and we have the right to exercise the right 22 of first refusal. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: He is not 24 cooperating with us. I think that is it. Okay, I'm 25 done, Chairman, thank you. 86 1 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Before we adjourn, 2 I just want to do two things. I want to make an 3 acknowledgment from Ms. Barnes from Commissioner 4 Gonzalez she wanted to make sure I tell you what a 5 good job you are doing down there and the second one 6 is I think we should observe a moment of silence for 7 individuals and their families affected by COVID-19 8 so I will ask for a moment of silence. 9 (Whereupon, a moment of silence was 10 kept.) 11 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Thank you. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I make a 13 motion to adjourn. 14 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I second. 15 MR. CIRILO: On the motion to adjourn, 16 Commissioner Logan. 17 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 19 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 20 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Costa. 21 Commissioner Gonzalez. 22 Commissioner Muhammad. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 24 MR. CIRILO: Chairman Osborne. 25 CHAIRMAN OSBORNE: Yes. 87 1 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 2 3 (Whereupon, the proceedings were 4 concluded at 6:40 p.m.) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 88 1 C E R T I F I C A T E 2 3 I, ANTHONY HOFMANN, a Certified Court 4 Reporter, and Notary Public within and for the State 5 of New Jersey, certify that the foregoing is a true 6 and accurate transcript of the stenographic notes of 7 said witness(es)who were first duly sworn by me, on 8 the date and place hereinbefore set forth. 9 10 11 12 ___________________________ ANTHONY HOFMANN, C.C.R. 13 LICENSE NO. XIO1854 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25