NAHA to Resume Security Meetings Amid Tenant Concerns
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Housing Authority will bring back meetings with emergency services to allow tenants to air security and safety concerns.
After an open forum during the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA) Board of Commissioners regular meeting Monday, where residents spoke about security issues in the building, Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah announced that NAHA will bring back quarterly tenant meetings with city emergency services and the mayor.
"We have gotten away from them, but we are going to bring them back," she said. "But we need you to show up and speak at those meetings."
Uqdah noted they were poorly attended in the past and urged residents to attend. She added that a memo will be sent to all tenants once a date is confirmed.
Prior to the announcement, tenants spoke of constant security concerns. One tenant said strangers had trespassed into their apartment. Others said they were afraid to leave their apartments during the evening because of suspected drug activity.
A few residents said some door alarms just did not work.
One woman, who lives by a door in the Ashland Street apartments, said she hears the door opening and closing all night.
There was a concern that non-residents and trespassers were being let in by tenants, even those who have been issued no-trespassing orders.
Uqdah said that, legally, there is little the Housing Authority can do even if an individual was asked not to return to the property.
"If a resident invites someone in, they are allowed to come into that property. They should not be in the common area," Uqdah said. "They can go to the door, to the apartment, and then they can leave."
She noted NAHA isn't happy about this scenario, but it is the law.
There were also sanitary concerns, with one tenant alleging there were cockroaches.
Uqdah and NAHA attorney Elisabeth Goodman were hesitant to address or allow discussion on items that were not on the agenda. At one point, Goodman stopped Corey Fortin, president of a tenant organization, from reading a statement alleging the unauthorized seizure of tenant association inventory.
"I am going to interrupt you," Goodman said. "I am really sorry to do that, but that item about tenant security is not on the agenda. We are speaking to a very important agenda item, which is security."
Fortin posted a video on social media on Aug. 14 demonstrating opening doors at the Ashland and Spring Park apartments without any alarms signaling. He said the next day the tenant organization's office and kitchen were locked.
A list he posted on social media detailed the "unauthorized seizure of tenant organization property." The itemized list alleged that the items were seized under the direction of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn.
He said the statement was sent to all commissioners. Goodman said she would read his statement and provide a response.
Uqdah said the door alarms are not tied into the fire system. Neither the building nor fire codes require this. The alarms are designed to deter people from using the doors and, when they do use the doors, to alert those in the immediate area.
New door alarms will be installed, as well as new signage, she said, adding that the Housing Authority properties are well covered with security cameras, and offenders are caught on camera.
She did urge residents to report all instances, including the ones they were unable to talk about Monday.
In other business, the Board of Commissioners was informed that the RAD conversion process for the Greylock Apartments has been completed, and they will now move on to other properties: Spring Park and Riverview.
The Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, allows HUD housing authorities to move their units to the Section 8 platform and to leverage debt and equity for reinvestment without affecting tenant rights, rents, or housing authority control.
Another agenda item was an executive session to negotiate with the executive director regarding "continuing contract terms, salary, and/or bonus," but this was tabled.
Attendee Jen Barbeau said there were inconsistencies between the agenda posted on the city website and NAHA's website, with the latter missing entire sections. She objected to the continuation of the meeting and threatened to submit an Open Meeting Law complaint.
Uqdah felt confident moving forward, as the agenda posted by the city clerk was the legally binding one. The one posted on the NAHA website contained a known clerical error.
But Commissioner Marie Harpin preferred to err on the side of caution and said she would not support entering into executive session.
"Did you get a picture of it? How am I supposed to have confidence in what was posted outside that door?" Harpin said. "We have two conflicting agendas right now, and it causes confusion to the public."
The rest of the commission agreed. The meeting closed in a little under an hour.
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