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ANN ARBOR HOUSING COMMISSION
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
January 17, 2007
MINUTES
The meeting took place in the AAHC Community Room, 727 Miller, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Chairperson
French convened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners present: Larry French, James Jackson, David Parent, Deborah Gibson,
and Alan Levy. Staff Present: Elizabeth Lindsley, Weneshia Brand, and Charles Pear
Guest: Stephen Kunselman, Carol Schuler and Jimmy Williams
I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Jackson moved to approve the Agenda and Commissioner Parent supported. The
Agenda was approved 4-0.
II. PUBLIC COMMENTARY
A. Resident Organizations – None.
B. Others Requesting to Speak – Kunselman: excited to be here and purpose is to obtain a
thorough understanding of the Housing Commission operations.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Regular Board Meeting – December 20, 2006. Commissioner Parent moved,
Commissioner Gibson supported, to approve the minutes of December 20, 2006, and the
motion passed unanimously, 4-0.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolutions.
1. FY 07-22: To Approve PH TAR Write-Off. Commissioner Jackson moved and
Commissioner Parent seconded Resolution FY07-22. French: could you explain
what the $2,000 cost under the column “Other Charges” represent. Lindsley: that cost
was incurred from a previous tenant’s damage to, two units; this amount was derived
by an agreement with Legal Services. AAHC doesn’t expect to collect from the
tenant. The resolution passed unanimously, 4-0.
Ann Arbor Housing Commission March 22, 2007
Regular Board Meeting - Minutes Page 1
2. FY 07-23: To Approve Organizational Restructuring. Commissioner Parent
moved and Commissioner Levy seconded Resolution FY07-23. French: asked for
perspective of the resolution. Lindsley: Capital Improvement funds have been cut for
the last five years and additionally anticipates a cut of 10% this year. HUD has
mandated all PHA with more than 250 units convert to the Asset Management
Model. AAHC has determined two projects; the asset Management proposes that
each project is financially self-sustaining reporting financial entities. S8 has been
operating consistently with temporary staff and isn’t performing well. PH requires
new positions to meet HUD mandate. A meeting was held with Parent and Gibson to
discuss the new model and the best way to conduct business. An additional meeting
was held with Jackson and Levy to discuss new configurations and organizational
restructuring. A meeting with HR was held to discuss what options are available for
restructuring. It is proposed to add two positions in PH and one position in S8,
redesign job descriptions, and reclassify salary ranges; it is anticipated that more
funding will be allocated in FY08. French: HUD has mandated conversion of Asset
Mgt.; with the exception of Miller Manor and Baker Commons, no site is large
enough to be financially self-sustaining. Lindsley: or large enough to have a property
manager. French: HUD has mandated that AAHC reconfigure the organization,
operate with reduced funding, and with reduced rents. A combination of these faults
causes a dilemma to operate appropriately and forces the Commission to decide the
best ways to conduct affairs. Lindsley: Funding is provided on a calendar year;
operating and reporting is completed on a fiscal therefore, only six months of funding
is known. If the Commission reconfigured the organization, added three positions,
and continued with current salary rates, the Commission will be at a loss of over
$240K. Richard Martonchik assisted with benchmarking to establish salary ranges. If
the Commission reconfigured the organization, added three positions, and reclassified
salary ranges: the Commission will be at a loss of $60K. Section 8 would profit at
$25k and Low Rent in a deficit. Section 8 New Construction profits are used
proactively with Board approval. The model of Asset Management will change staff
roles and business operations. French: what is the proposed timeline? Lindsley:
configuration must be completed by July 1, 2007. French: is there a deadline of FY
08? Lindsley: yes, July 1, 2007 we must report as separate financial entities. Parent:
how would the physical reorganization occur in regards to inventory and vehicles.
Lindsley: Baker Commons will operate as the administrative office for the Eastside
sites and Miller Manor will service the Westside sites. Parent: how would the
maintenance of inventory be addressed? Lindsley: possibly some maintained in the
basement of Baker Commons; Miller Manor has a warehouse. French: will the
inventory be split. Lindsley: yes. Levy: this is a required model by HUD; we must
maintain operations with declining funding, un-funded mandates, and deteriorating
structures. He expresses his concern that the Commission’s model doesn’t have a
person to be a facilities manager. It is suggested that communication to staff is direct.
Parent: a timeline should be created to communicate change to residents; open
forums, newsletters, and meet and greet. Parent: adding a new position to Section 8
is to improve performance? Lindsley: yes, Section 8 hasn’t passed SEMAP in three
years and assumes new computer software will improve performance. Parent: would
the position of Clerk Waitlist be centrally located? Lindsley: yes, this position is
HUD approved. Levy: what other restructuring models were considered? Lindsley:
three options were considered; separation for the City of Ann Arbor, contract out to a
property management company, or layoff staff and hire from an employment agency.
Gibson: he proposed model of asset management cease to put the public housing at
the same business level as private housing; this ignores a couple of important factors
Ann Arbor Housing Commission March 22, 2007
Regular Board Meeting - Minutes Page 2
with respect to the resident and the services provide by the hard working PH staff. In
the private housing market it is assumed that residents have stable income and
management has the option to raise the rent to meet operation cost. Reality is that the
resident in public housing have declining income; that is declining faster than the
Commission’s income with respect to employment opportunity etc. This is due to a
number of issues; the evidence with respect to revenues from resident, will carryout
that per capita income isn’t aligned with Ann Arbor cost of living. People who live in
PH are vulnerable, if the model is to be profitable in the new structure, the obvious
answer is to lease to people with more income; this doesn’t speak to the needs of the
resident. A large percentage of residents have SSI and SS as a source of income;
these residents are the very low income. What this means primarily is that there are
very few options. The initial mission of PH as stated in 1937, when a lot of people
were out of work, was to provide affordable housing. It was obvious then, that
privatization didn’t work, otherwise people would have some place to live and it is
obvious now that privatization hasn’t worked. Privatization is not the answer, as you
look around at the new construction throughout A2, it is not for low-income housing.
This places residents who want to stay, need to stay and like to stay in PH at more
risk. I want to point out, while the idea of increasing revenue and matching revenue is
the ideal revenue model, that it doesn’t meet the need of the residents or the people
on the waiting list. Jackson: the Commission and Board member are struggling to
maintain the Housing Commission and appreciates the work and efforts made by all
parties that have taken part in this difficult situation. Levy: suggest that Board
members look for ways to increase funding/revenue and request that Lindsley
provide a copy of HUD funding formula. Schuler: HR and AFSCME have yet to
discuss and plan for the restructure and options for staff. Open Public Commentary:
Twining: when would staff know more information? Schuler: Friday, at staff
meeting. Lindsley: mostly this will be a discussion. Schuler: the most important is to
satisfy contractual processes. Lindsley: staff will incur a 17-19% salary reduction; the
Executive Director will take a more substantial salary reduction, but each individual
must make their one decision. Williams: there is no comment, but the lack of
commenting doesn’t mean an approval from the AFSCME union prospective. The
resolution passed unanimously, 4-0.
B. Discussion Items.
1. Maintenance Update – Charles Pear. French: what is the status of the fire
unit? Pear: not for certain, more repairs have been completed; it is expected
the kitchen cabinets replacement will begin next; will check status. French:
what size unit is this? Pear: one bedroom. French: is there an occupancy
demand? Lindsley: a client has accepted the unit; availability is anticipated the
first week of February, but permit clearing is difficult due to extended holiday
weekends for city inspectors. French: explain the difference between the
inspections as reported for December. Lindsley: no unit inspections were
completed for December; but all site and system inspections were completed
for December. Pear: UPCS inspections are complete; this is a summary report
for HUD that reflects major repairs. Parent: will this report be included in our
Capital Plan? Pear: only major repairs are included in this report such as new
roofs. Parent: has Green Baxter received a new roof? Pear: two rows got new
roofs, but the other two need new roofs, as well. Lindsley: some repairs will
Ann Arbor Housing Commission March 22, 2007
Regular Board Meeting - Minutes Page 3
be included in CFP and identified in the 5 yr plan; some repairs will be given
work orders and completed. Parent: is there a checklist used? Pear: yes, a
five-page inspection form. Parent: will the report be filed for submission?
Lindsley: yes. Gibson: what is the status of the heating system at Miller
Manor? Pear: staff has progressed to the fifth floor and each unit receives
repairs; each unit has individual thermostats. Parent: are unit repairs
completed as a result of resident call or chronologically? Pear: repairs are
completed by resident call. Gibson: is there a date scheduled for upcoming
inspections? Pear: Miller Manor is scheduled for March.
2. Agency Plan Possible Policy Change Discussion – Elizabeth Lindsley.
French: how is the restructuring related to the agency plan? Lindsley: it isn’t
related; the agency plan doesn’t address reconfiguration. The targeting of the
broader income base consumer should be considered. The board should
consider developing a preference for this consumer base and the disposition
sale of property. Parent: define the target? Lindsley: the target is the
preference created for the higher income consumer. Parent: this will require
more advertising. Lindsley: yes. French: when is the deadline for the agency
plan? Lindsley: completed by the February Board Meeting. French
commented, email attachments for revised agency plan and to sell properties.
V. OLD BUSINESS.
A. Discussion Items.
Housekeeping Standards – Weneshia Brand. French: define the meaning of the check
marks on the schedule provided. Brand: this is an actual reporting checklist for the
inspections conducted on January 5, 2007; the check marks indicate violations. Parent: were
residents notified of their violations. Brand: residents were sent letters that concluded an
overall finding and informed them of upcoming clean-ups and cost related to removal fees.
Parent, inquired of the violations to a particular unit as opposed to that unit’s neighbor.
Brand, explained that the disorder of the unit assumed one unit owned the items: not the
neighboring unit. French: asked if the unit contained perishable items provided by Food
Gathers and the process of distribution. Brand: explains the unit did contain perishable and
nonperishable items: then explained the distribution of Food Gathers. French: suggests that
the Commission has more control of the distribution process. French: asked if the violations
could contribute to an eviction. Lindsley: yes, but the resident already has an agreement that
upon two late payments of rent, the resident will receive an immediate writ/eviction.
VI. COMMISSIONER SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS.
A. Asset Management –Parent/Lindsley. none
B. Finance – French. none
C. Personnel – Jackson/Levy. none
VII. COMMISSION REPORTS.
A. Executive Director – French mentions an error on the report. Lindsley replies that error is
noted. Parent inquires of South Maple. Lindsley: there are three scheduled move-outs, Parks
and Rec., has provided a good proposal for the playground area, and the community has been
Ann Arbor Housing Commission March 22, 2007
Regular Board Meeting - Minutes Page 4
actively participating in events and meetings. Lindsley: mentions that Hikone has continued
to have sewer backups and explains the cause. French: suggests that a meeting is held with
Hikone residents and that resident may incur cost if problem persist.
B. Housing Programs Manager on Occupancy Issues – Included in Board packet.
C. Finance Manager – Included in Board packet.
D. Maintenance Supervisor – Included in Board packet.
E. Security Report – Included in Board packet.
VIII. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTARY – none
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Commissioner Larry French, Chairperson Elizabeth Lindsley, Executive Director
Ann Arbor Housing Commission March 22, 2007
Regular Board Meeting - Minutes Page 5
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