NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the Housing Authority an annual Capital Fund Award of just over $1 million

 

Executive Director Jennifer Hohn told the commissioners that the authority received essentially double what it usually does. 

 

"This is also performance-based and if you are a high performer you get a high-performer bonus," Hohn said. "So we are thrilled to see that this is doubled what we have got in the past."

 

The Capital Fund provides funds to Public Housing Agencies for the development, financing, and modernization of public housing developments and for management improvements.

 

Historically, NAHA has received around $500,000.

 

In other business, auditor Dan King presented NAHA's annual audit findings, which there were none. 

 

He said there wasn't much to report in the Housing Authority's annual audit and that its finances are in good shape.

 

"It seems over the past few years things have just been getting better and better," King said. "Everything is going in the right direction … things have been excellent."

 

He said they only had to include one "qualified opinion" in regard to the pension audit, which they simply did not have in time due to circumstances beyond the Housing Authority's control. He said the North Adams Retirement Board was at the time working through an audit of its own which delayed some paperwork.

 

"There is nothing you can do about that. It does not cause an issue, and there are no findings. This sort of thing happens frequently," he said. "You shouldn't get any questions from HUD and it does not reflect on the Housing Authority."

 

He said NAHA has $2.6 million in cash, which leaves it in a good position to cover current financial obligations. Its net income is $542,000.

 

"The authority is doing quite well," he said. "Public Housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Programs are both in surplus and are in good shape."

 

Hohn thanked staff for all of their hard work over the past few difficult years.

 

"It is all good news, and we have to commend the staff," Hohn said. "… Especially the last couple of years. It has been a tough time, and I really need to commend the staff for that hard work."

 

Before closing, the commissioners touched on security issues in Ashland Park and Spring Park apartments. 

 

NAHA has been relying on a police detail to deal with trespassers and other concerns, however, this was not consistent or cost-effective. 

 

Because of this, the commissioners decided to explore hiring a security firm.

 

However, Program Manager Lisa LaBonte said she has only received two proposals.

 

"We are struggling … we are begging for that third but we aren't having any luck," she said.

 

Resident Commissioner Richard Lavigne said the problems are persistent and felt a little bit of self-policing would go a long way.

 

"The biggest thing we have to do with the tenants already living here is really not let in people you do not know. That is my biggest grief," he said. "If they don't live here don't let them in. There is some real bad riff-raff going on on the fifth floor." 

 

Hohn said residents should continue calling the police if there are trespassers or if police intervention is needed.

 

Lavigne said the cops told him they are getting "fed up" with some of the calls. He said recently there was a person walking through the halls completely naked. He said the police told him this is a Housing Authority problem.

 

Hohn agreed some of these instances are not police issues but with so few resources in the area, NAHA often has to step in. 

 

"It is unfortunate, and there are a lot of phone calls. There are so many resources lacking in the area," Hohn said. "We can't be the police, we can't be doctors, we can't be psychiatrists, but we do what we can do."