North Adams Housing Authority Discusses Displaced Tenant
 Firefighters responded to a house fire caused by a tenant smoking while connected to an oxygen tank on June 15. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority will have to provide a place for a tenant deemed responsible for a fire in one of the agency's apartments.
The tenant, Diana Kennedy, was smoking a cigarette while hooked up to an oxygen tank earlier this month. The resulting fire damaged her 32 Isbell St. unit in the Greylock Valley Apartments in the city's West End.
"Here's a tenant in clear violation of any common sense and public safety," Chairman Jim Canavan said. "Can we have any recourse for her?"
Executive Director Jennifer Hohn said she is seeking the advice of legal counsel, but also spoke with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD confirmed the Housing Authority was responsible for rehousing Kennedy.
"It puts me in a difficult position, but I can't leave her on the street either," Hohn said.
The authority's high-rise building does have a sprinkler system, but the board agreed that's not enough.
Canavan suggested to at least send a warning letter.
A smoking ban will be enforced starting on Sept. 1. Hohn hopes Greylock tenants will self-police and report others for smoking indoors and that maintenance staff will report the smell of smoke. She is also optimistic because she sees more people going outdoors every day to smoke, knowing that the ban is coming.
Housing Authority also discussed taking an offer from the state to take over the administrative aspects of Section 8 housing at Brayton Hills.
The authority would be responsible to recertify and conduct annual inspections. In return, it will receive from $60,000 to $80,000.
The project would go through the Rental Assistance Demonstration program that requires a self-sufficiency coordinator. Brayton Hill can't afford one of their own, so Hohn suggested sharing one for that property and the authority's own units.
"That would be the ideal situation," Hohn said.
Canavan was impressed that the state approached the Housing Authority first.
"When the state's involved in something like this, they almost automatically go to the regional non-profits," Canavan said. "But they come to us, so we're doing something right. This Housing Authority is doing something great, this is unusual."
Housing Opportunities Inc., the housing development arm, took another step to relinquish its 553 and 555 River St. properties.
HOI voted that the former Harvey's Store lot had no use and agreed to have it appraised. After the appraisal, the property will be offered first to North Adams Ambulance Service, and then to an abuttor.
If sold, the money will return to HOI as part of Community Development Block Grant recapturing. However, if an agreement isn't made then it's "back to the drawing board."
There will be no meetings in July because not enough of the board will be present for a quorum. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26.
Tags: fire, Housing Authority, smoking awareness,
