HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY

February 4, 2004

9:00 a.m.

Harris Hall Main Floor

APPROVED 3/17/04

 

Commissioner Bobby Green, Sr. presided with Bill Dwyer, Don Hampton, Hugh Massengill, Anna Morrison, Judith Pothier and Peter Sorenson present.  County Administrator Bill Van Vactor, County Counsel Teresa Wilson and Recording Secretary Melissa were also present.

 

1. PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

 

2. COMMISSIONERS' REMONSTRANCE

The commissioners introduced students who job shadowed with them for the day. Sorenson introduced Tasha Adams from South Eugene.  Dwyer introduced Whitney Acres, a senior from Springfield High School.  Hampton introduced Shoshana Amaruso from Cottage Grove and Zach Robertson from Creswell High School.  Green introduced Robyn Mopert from Willamette High School.

 

3. REGULAR BUSINESS

 

a. REPORT/Review of Audit Report and Project Based Accounting Report.

 

Larry Abel, HACSA, explained at the time the audit report was completed, they had not yet received the scores from HUD.  He passed out a copy of the report. (Copy in file.)  He thanked his accounting staff for all of their help.  He also thanked Laurie Larson-Lewis, the Accounting Supervisor.  He noted that Congress passed the FY 04 appropriations bill.  He said HACSA will be okay but they made some cuts in their public housing operating subsidy.  He indicated that Section 8 this fiscal year should be fine.  He said they have 2,598 Section 8 vouchers that are out and HUD had guaranteed they would fund all of those vouchers this year.  He added in the bill they have the ability to transfer some of the administrative money to cover the cost of the vouchers and that could be a problem for them.  He was more concerned with Section 8 in the FY 05 budget. He said there was no guarantee they will have all the vouchers.  He noted the administration is proposing to switch from a unit-based budget where they guarantee the number of vouchers. He added they proposed cutting $1 billion from this year’s funding.  He indicated that if that happens, they would lose 162 vouchers.  He added that HUD was also proposing a seven percent cap on their administration fee.  He noted they would have to lay off many people if that happens.  He stated there were no findings in the audit report.

 

Don Williams, HACSA, also thanked his staff.  He noted this was the third year in a row they had received a 96 rating.  He indicated the chance of getting 100% was almost zero because any finding, out of thousands of data points, would lower the score.  He added the resident survey asked questions about neighborhoods and other issues that they have no control over.  He noted that three years ago he reported they had received a 98 score and at that point they were the highest in the nation for a housing authority their size or larger.  He stated he hadn’t computed the 96 score for the past three years to see how they compare with other HACSAs across the country.  He thought they would be tied for the highest in the region.  He was pleased with what they have been able to do.  He explained the importance of being a high performer (a score of 90 or above) was that this year HUD offered bonus money.  He stated they received in excess of $200,000 in bonus money for their capital fund.  He thought that one reason they received a 96 instead of a 98 was because they were not physically inspected this year.

 

Morrison commented that HACSA was doing very well and she was pleased with the results.

 

4. EXECUTIVE SESSION as per ORS 192.660

None.

 

There being no further business, Commissioner Green adjourned the meeting at 9:25 a.m.

 

 

Melissa Zimmer

Recording Secretary