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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001_01_11 Housing Authority Minutes TOWN OF MAMARONECK HOUSING AUTHORITY © MINUTES OF JANUARY 11, 2001 MEETING T_he_meeting was_called_to_order_at_8:U p.m Members present were: Paul Winick Richard Cherry Susan Sidel Mary Carlson Also present by invitation of the Board was Bram Fierstein of Gramatan Management and Abner Dyke, the resident Superintendent at Hommocks Park Apartments. 1. Bram Fierstein reported on collections. As of the meeting date four tenants are in arrears for one months' rent, which is due on the 10th of the month. These tenants are long time residents who historically have lagged one month behind in paying rent. Gramatan has sent a letter advising them that legal action will be instituted if rent is not brought current by 2/1/01. 2. The Apartments are fully rented. Once tenant in a 2 bedroom apartment has indicated that he has purchased a home and will be moving in mid-march. A current tenant on the waiting list has indicated that she will take his apartment. 3. Boiler Repairs and Flue Recall. Rick Cherry reported on the status of boiler repairs and flue pipe recall retrofit work. The boiler work is complete. Dyke is now quite familiar with the boilers and ancillary systems and can do virtually any repair that is required. Access doors have been installed throughout the complex for better access to the boiler closets. The flue pipe retrofit is complete except for punch list work. The recall fund has paid $54,000 directly to the contractor. The balance to be paid by the Housing Authority is $17,000, which is being paid less a $3,000 holdback pending final work and a decision by the boiler manufacturer whether to inspect portions of the retrofit. 4. Abner Dyke was introduced to the Board. He reported on the effects of the recent snowfall at the HPA. There were two pipe freeze-ups last week, which is a dramatic improvement over years past. The insulation work done last year is having the desire effect. Dyke said that there were some spots that needed additional insulation, and Rick Cherry is to arrange to have the insulation contractor on site to look at those spots and quote for insulation work. 5. Bram Fierstein observed that the tenants were beginning to feel the effect of the cold winter combined with recent increases in energy costs. Rick Cherry suggested that a by-product of the insulation work should be a reduced heating cost for tenants. He agreed to examine the heating bills for the ten apartments along the Post Road that were thoroughly insulated last year NY#379259 vl to see if he can identify any cost savings. Mr. Cherry suggested that if there was a demonstrable • savings one goal of the Authority should be to add insulation to other apartments to give them the same added benefit. There-wassome-diseussion on-this-point. A-consensus-was-reached that„ for-now, insulation work should be opportunistic—responding to freeze-ups and other conditions that indicated a specific need for more insulation in localized areas. The Board will reconsider the issue of more generalized insulation work after Mr. Cherry completes his study of the effects of last year's work. 6. There was a discussion of a current dispute between two tenants. 7. Sewage Pumps. Mr. Fierstein reported concerning the two lifting pumps in the pit located near Hommocks Road. Those pumps are used to lift sewage from the low point in the HPA property to the town sanitary sewage line,which is above the lowest elevation of the HPA sanitary piping system. At present one pump is non-functional. Since sewage pumping is constant, two pumps must be maintained in working order at all times to provide a ready backup in the event of a single pump failure. Fleet Pump, the contractor, has recommend installation of a"grinder" pump, a type that would be better able to handle the solid refuse that damages the pumps. The cost for a single grinder pump is $30,000. Fleet Pump speculated that a contributing cause of pump failure might be the size of the Town sever line. Gramatan is working with the Town to explore this issue, and determine whether there is any way to reduce the cost to the TMHA of a replacement pump. 8. The Board considered the draft calendar year 2001 budget prepared by Gramatan management(copy attached). Mr. Winick observed that the budget is essentially a break-even budget, including the allowance for funding the long- and short-term reserve funds. Given that there is usually one sizeable unbudgeted repair expense each year, we should be hesitant to take on additional voluntary capital expenses. There was general agreement on this point. There was discussion of whether a storage shed should be built on the property to accommodate the snow blower and lawn mover. A tenant near the current storage location ahs complained about the smell of gasoline. It was decided, given the expense and difficulty of further building on the site,that Mr. Dyke should firs try to re-organized the storage garage to fit the equipment into there. Dyke indicated that he thought this would be possible,though perhaps it would require removing some inert materials, such as rock salt, into the storage closet where the snow blower is now kept. The new budget contains a$2,000 raise for the superintendent, from $21,000 to $23,000. MR. WINICK moved that the Board adopt the calendar year 2000 budget as set forth in the 11/30/00 Gramatan draft(and attached hereto). The motion was seconded by MRS.> SIDEL, and carried by a vote of four in favor and none opposed. 2 NY#379259 vl