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EVENING.UH, WELCOME TARA, OUR TOWN BOARD, UM, WORK SESSION.
UM, WE'RE GONNA START THE WORK SESSION WITH, UM, ASSURED, UM, EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF INTERVIEWING, UH, UH, POTENTIAL, UM, CANDIDATES FOR THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, MOVE THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SECOND.
AND WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE BACK IN APPROXIMATELY HALF AN HOUR.
WELCOME BACK TO AVOID THESE THINGS.
WELCOME BACK, TARA, OUR MEETING.
AND, UH, NEXT WE HAVE ON THE LIST OF DISCUSSION OF OUR BATTERY, UM, STORAGE, UH, LEGISLATION.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK, UM, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR, UH, THEIR HARD WORK AND, AND EFFORTS, UH, TRYING TO REACH, UM, A COMPROMISE, UM, THAT MAKES SENSE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TOWN.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE TOWN BOARD APPOINTED BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE LOCAL LAW COMMITTEE, AND HERE ON OUT, I'M GONNA USE THE WORD BEST IN PLACE OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE.
SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE LATE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE COMMITTEE MET A MINIMUM OF ONCE WEEKLY AND A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES.
COLLECTIVELY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT BATTERY STORAGE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY NEW YORK STATE AS AN IMPORTANT ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENT.
AS ENERGY DEMAND CONTINUALLY INCREASES PLACING STRESS ON THE EXISTING ELECTRICAL GRID, WITH PLANNED RELIANCE ON POWER FROM FOSSIL FUELS DECREASING OVER TIME, BESS IS BEING PROMOTED WITH SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FROM NEW YORK STATE OVER $350 MILLION.
AND AS A RESULT, PROPOSALS FOR THESE SYSTEMS WILL BE PREVALENT IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND OTHER NEW YORK STATE MUNICIPALITIES.
THERE IS A NEED TO PLACE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER AT THE FOREFRONT OF PLANNING WHEN CONSIDERING LAND USE AND ZONING CONSIDERATIONS FOR BEST SYSTEMS. BUILDING ON THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THE TOWN BOARD AND ITS WORK SESSIONS IN JANUARY, WHICH INCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH BEST INDUSTRY DEVELOPERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ARUP ENGINEERING WHO ARE NOW CONTRACTED AS THE TOWN SAFETY ENGINEER ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOCAL LAW FORMATION.
THE COMMITTEE BROADENED ITS KNOWLEDGE ON BEST INFRASTRUCTURE BY REVIEWING A NYSERDA LOCAL LOG AND GUIDEBOOK, INTERVIEWING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NYSERDA, INTERVIEWING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CON EDISON'S ENERGY OF THE FUTURE DIVISION, REVIEWING VARIOUS BEST SITES EXISTING AND APPROVED IN NEW YORK STATE, MEETING WITH AND DISCUSSING VARIOUS SAFETY ASPECTS OF BEST FACILITIES WITH ARUP AND CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT RE REVIEW OF NUMEROUS OTHER BEST DOCUMENTATION.
GREENBERG IS UNIQUE FROM A BEST PERSPECTIVE.
THERE EXISTS MILES OF CON EDISON DISTRIBUTION LINES, TWO CON EDISON SUBSTATIONS, AND TWO CON EDISON TRANSMISSION LINES ACROSS UNINCORPORATED GREENBERG'S AREA OF 18 SQUARE MILES.
WHILE THIS VARIOUS EXISTING CON EDISON INFRASTRUCTURE COULD FACILITATE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF BEST SITES OF VARYING SCALES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN, THE LOCAL LAW HAS BEEN DRAFTED TO DO THE FOLLOWING.
ENSURE COMPREHENSIVE AND STRINGENT STANDARDS FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE ALLOW FOR VERY LIMITED APPLICABILITY IN THE ONE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
DISTRICTS ALLOW FOR SMALL SCALE INSTALLATIONS IN THE TOWN'S MIXED USE CORRIDORS AND NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, AND FACILITATE INSTALLATIONS THAT WILL NOT BE HEARD OR SEEN FROM SENSITIVE VIEW SHEDS, NAMELY EXISTING RESIDENTIAL USES.
WHILE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH HAS BEEN TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE LOCAL LAW AND RELATED POTENTIAL BEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN, THE LAW DOES RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS AND WOULD PROVIDE FOR SOME BEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN, WHICH WOULD ALIGN WITH NEW YORK STATE'S OVERALL GOAL OF 1,500 MEGAWATTS BY 2025 AND 3000 MEGAWATTS OF STORAGE BY 2030.
UTILIZING THE NYSERDA LOCAL LAW TEMPLATE AS A GUIDE AND FACTORING IN THE INFORMATION COLLECTED AS AS PART OF THE PROCESS, THE COMMITTEE'S DRAFT CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING, CONSTITUTING AN OUTLINE OF THE GREENBERG BEST LAW.
THE LOCAL LAW USES A TIER SYSTEM OF CATEGORIES FOR BEST.
TIER ONE INCLUDES THOSE SMALL SCALE SYSTEMS THAT MANY TOWN RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY HAD INSTALLED IN THEIR HOMES.
THE BEST POWER PACK SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN ONE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES ARE AN EXAMPLE.
TIER ONE SYSTEMS ARE THOSE THAT HAVE AN AGGREGATE ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITY LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 75 KILOWATT HOURS.
THE PROCESS FOR THESE SYSTEMS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN CURRENTLY
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EXISTS, WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIRING A BUILDING PERMIT AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE PERMITS.TIER TWO BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS HAVE AN AGGREGATE ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITY LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 2,400 KILOWATT HOURS.
DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN IS AN EXAMPLE OF A SYSTEM THAT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THIS SIZE AT 2380 KILOWATT HOURS.
SO YOU CAN HAVE A SCALE OF REFERENCE.
THESE SYSTEMS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL PERMIT AND SITE PLAN PROCESS SITES WITH A MINIMUM OF ALMOST TWO ACRES OR 80,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE TOWN.
IN THE TOWN'S COMMERCIAL AND MIXED USE DISTRICTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A BEST NOT TO EXCEED THIS 2,400 KILOWATT HOUR MAXIMUM.
THE MINIMUM THIS MINIMUM SITE SIZE WAS SELECTED AS THESE SITES CONTAIN LARGER FOOTPRINTS WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO MEET THE A HUNDRED FOOT PROPERTY LINE SETBACK THAT WAS SET.
THESE TYPES OF LARGER SITES, YOU SHOULD THINK LIKE CROSSROAD SHOPPING CENTER, WESTCHESTER SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER, HAVE LARGER ENERGY DEMANDS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE RETROFITTED WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.
THE MINIMUM SITE SIZE REQUIREMENT CREATES A LIMITED POOL OF SITES IN THE CA, D S U R AND OTHER MIXED USE DISTRICTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN MAPPED BY TOWN STAFF AND IDENTIFIED BY APPLICABLE FIRE DISTRICT.
WHILE THE SITES IN THESE DISTRICTS COULD LIKELY FACILITATE MUCH LARGER BEST SYSTEMS FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE, THE SMALLER SYSTEM, 2004 HUNT 400 KILOWATT MAXIMUM WAS DEEMED IMPORTANT AND CARRIES THROUGH IN THE LAW.
TIER TWO SYSTEMS IN THE GI, L I P D AND P E D DISTRICTS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL PERMIT AND SITE PLAN PROCESS.
BUT DUE TO THEIR GENERAL LACK OF PROXIMITY TO ONE FAMILY RESIDENCES, MAXIMUM SIZE OF 4,800 KILOWATT SYSTEMS WOULD BE PERMITTED BY SPECIAL PERMIT.
IN THOSE INSTANCES, AN ADDITIONAL 300 FOOT REQUIREMENT FROM THE NEAREST ONE FAMILY RESIDENCE WOULD APPLY FOR THESE DISTRICTS.
WHEN A SYSTEM IS PROPOSED TO EXCEED THAT NUMBER, TIER TWO BATTERY SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE LIMITED APPLICABILITY IN THE ONE FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICTS.
THESE SYSTEMS NOT TO EXCEED 2,400 KILOWATT HOURS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL PERMIT AND SITE PLAN PROCESS ONLY ON SITES THAT ARE AT LEAST FIVE ACRES IN SIZE AND CONTAINING AN EXISTING APPROVED MUNICIPAL BUILDING GOVERNMENT USE, BUILDING OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOSPITAL ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, AND SIMILAR USES ALL TWO TIER SYSTEMS REGARDLESS OF SIZE WOULD BE SCREENED FROM VIEW AND WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE AT LEAST 100 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES.
FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE DRAFT LOCAL LAWS COMPARED TO THE NYSERDA LAW, WHICH AGAIN WAS USED AS A TEMPLATE AND THAT WAS, UH, ESTABLISHED BY A NEW YORK STATE AGENCY.
NYSERDA RECOMMENDS DEFAULTING TO THE UNDERLYING SETBACKS OF THE APPLICABLE ZONING DISTRICT FOR BEST SETBACKS, WHICH CAN RANGE AS LOW AS 50 FEET OR LESS IN THE TOWN'S NON-RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
DRAFT LOCAL LAW, HOWEVER, SETS THE MINIMUM SETBACK AS 100 FEET.
NYSERDA RECOMMENDS A MINIMUM OF 10 FOOT SEPARATION FROM EXISTING BUILDINGS.
THE DRAFT LOCAL LAW SETS THE MINIMUM SETBACK AS 100 FEET, WHICH COULD BE REDUCED ONLY IF THE HAZARD MITIGATION ANALYSIS, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT OF SUBMISSION, IDENTIFIES THAT SAFE CONDITIONS WOULD EXIST.
NYSERDA DOES NOT REFERENCE A TRAFFIC SAFETY CIRCULATION PLAN.
THIS REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND IS PART OF THE LOCAL LAW.
NYSERDA CONTAINS NO MAXIMUM SIZE ALLOWANCE PROVISIONS.
THE LOCAL LAW ALLOWS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 2,400 KILOWATT HOUR SYSTEMS BASED ON THE TOWN'S USE OF A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT THAT ADVISED THE COMMITTEE.
THE LOCAL LAW ADDITIONALLY CITES THE FOLLOWING, THE NFPA A 8 55 STANDARD FOR INSTALLATION OF STATIONARY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANT FUNDED INDEPENDENT ENGINEER REVIEW REQUIRING APPLICATIONS INCLUDE TO INCLUDE A COPY OF THE UL 9 54 L LISTING, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SYSTEM MONITORING.
THE ADEQUACY OF THE SAFETY PROTECTION IS REQUIRED TO BE CERTIFIED AND UPDATED ANNUALLY.
ALL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CONSULTANT USED BY THE TOWN.
AS NOTED PRIOR, THE TOWN IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT CONTAINS TWO EXISTING CONED SUBSTATIONS.
ONE IS LOCATED IN THE, IN THE VILLAGE OF ELMSFORD ON ROUTE ONE 19 TARRYTOWN ROAD, AND THE OTHER IS LOCATED IN THE TARRYTOWN POST OFFICE SECTION OF THE TOWN LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE SAWMILL RIVER PARKWAY, SOUTH OF OLD SAWMILL RIVER ROAD.
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR A BEST CONNECTION FROM THESE SITES, BUT SIMILARLY PLACING SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AT THE FOREFRONT OF
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PLANNING.THE LOCAL LAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBSTATION IS AS FOLLOWS, A MAXIMUM OF ONE TIER THREE BEST NOT TO EXCEED 80 MEGAWATT HOURS CAN BE INSTALLED PER SUBSTATION.
SO THAT'S FOR A MAXIMUM OF TWO TOTAL IN THE TOWN.
IF APPROVED VIA THE SPECIAL PERMIT AND SITE PLAN PROCESS, THE HOST SITE MUST BE WITHIN 3000 LINEAR FEET OF THE SUBSTATION AND AT LEAST 25 ACRES IF CONTAINING AN EXISTING USE TO REMAIN WHERE 10 ACRES HAVE PROPOSED ON A STANDALONE SUBDIVIDED LOT.
WHAT THESE LIMITING CRITERIA DO IS REDUCE THE POOL OF AVAILABLE SITES TO ONE PRIVATE RECREATION SITE, ONE INSTITUTIONAL USE SITE, AND A FEW INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SITES.
AN ADDITIONAL 500 FOOT SETBACK FROM THE NEAREST ONE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE IS REQUIRED.
PROVISIONS IDENTIFYING A PREFERENCE FOR UNDERGROUND LINES AND A MINIMIZATION OF TREE REMOVALS IS ALSO ADDED.
SYSTEMS EQUAL TO OR EXCEEDING 80 MEGAWATT HOURS ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED IN THE LOCAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND PARTICULARLY REGARDING UTILITIES.
THE PLAN IDENTIFIED THAT NO ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED OTHER THAN MAY, AS MAY BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE APPROACH OF THE LOCAL LAW, WHICH PLACES SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AS THE PRIMARY ASPECTS OF THE LAW IS WELL BALANCED WITH THE TOWN'S OVERALL COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH IS ALSO A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TIME AND EFFORT PUT IN BY THE COMMITTEE.
IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED AND I FEEL THAT THE LOCAL LAW DRAFT IS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND A COMPREHENSIVE DRAFT THAT WILL BE SUBJECT OF ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, FIRE DISTRICTS, NYSERDA CON EDISON, EVEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS THAT WILL SU SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL LOCAL LAW IN THE TOWN.
WOULD ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING AND HIGHLIGHT, UH, YOU? YEAH.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK GARRETT FOR, UH, CHAIRING THE COMMITTEE, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK FRANCIS AND KEN FOR JOINING US ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THEY HAD THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS GOING AT THE SAME TIME AND IT, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO DO THAT.
AND HAVING THEM THERE ACTUALLY WAS, I THINK, EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND WILL BE HELPFUL AS WE HAND THIS, THIS LEGISLATION OFF TO YOU GUYS ON THE TOWN BOARD TO, TO DO IT.
IT WAS A REALLY GOOD COMMITTEE.
UH, EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER NOT WITH THE SAME POINT OF VIEW AND CAME UP WITH, I THINK OVERALL IS A GOOD, GOOD LAW.
UM, MY ONE CONCERN IS SOMETHING THAT I BROUGHT UP, UH, AT THE MEETING, AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON A LITTLE BIT MORE IS THE SAFETY OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE PREPAREDNESS OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO DEAL WITH, UM, A DIS POTENTIAL DISASTER.
UM, IF YOU READ THE STATISTICS, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT, THAT IT'S ONE IN 10 MILLION, BUT THAT'S PER CELL.
IF YOU HAVE A LARGE FACILITY, IT GETS DOWN TO LESS THAN ONE ONE TO OUTTA 1000 WHERE YOU COULD HAVE A PROBLEM.
SO, AND THERE'VE BEEN PEOPLE KILLED.
THERE WAS, UH, WALTER GRODEN SENT AROUND TODAY, UH, A REPORT FROM UL, THEIR RE THE FIREFIGHTER'S, UH, RESEARCH, UH, ARM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN ARIZONA A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
THAT SHOULDN'T PRECLUDE US FROM DOING THIS, BUT IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED.
WE'VE GOTTEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS FROM ELMSFORD WHO KIND OF SAID, OH, THIS IS FINE, NO BIG DEAL.
BUT THEN WE HAVE WALTER GRO GRODEN SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, MAKE SURE BE CAREFUL.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT LEAVING IT UP TO THE, LEAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY UP TO THE FIRE DISTRICTS IN THIS LAW, WHICH WE BASICALLY HAVE AT THIS POINT, IS AN AREA THAT I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD FOCUS ON AND CONSIDER.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER, WE YOU NEED HAZMAT PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW WHO HAS HAZMAT CAPABILITY IN, IN ACROSS THE FIRE DISTRICTS.
YOU NEED SPECIFIC TRAINING ACCORDING TO THE, TO THE UL, UM, ON BEST FACILITIES SPECIFIC TRAINING BECAUSE HOW YOU DEAL WITH ONE OF THESE FIRES IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN HOW YOU DEAL WITH A NORMAL FILE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY, IF THE, UH, FIRE DISTRICTS HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
GETTING THE CHIEFS OF EACH DISTRICT INVOLVED IN THE FINALIZATION OF THIS LAW, I THINK IS CRITICAL, UH, TO FINISHING THE LAW.
BUT IT, YOU KNOW, OVERALL, I THINK WE'RE, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN A
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GREAT DIRECTION.WE'RE HANDING IT OFF AT THE RIGHT TIME, BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK THE REAL KEY IS ENSURE THAT OUR FIRE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SAFE IF INDEED THERE'S A DISASTER.
ANYONE ELSE? I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT IT'LL REQUIRE A CERTAIN POLITICAL WILL ON THE TOWN, ON THE PART OF THE TOWN BOARD TO ENGENDER A CORPORATION OF THE FIRE DISTRICTS, BECAUSE AS YOU WELL KNOW, THEY ARE INDEPENDENT AGENCIES THAT YOU HAVE NO DIRECT CONTROL OVER.
BUT IT BECO IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE YOU CAN GET THE VARIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT, UH, UH, HUGH JUST OUTLINED BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND IT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITH EVERY FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, MAKING THEIR OWN RULES REGARDING TO A BISS FACILITY.
YOU HAVE TO BE A COORDINATED EFFORT.
ANYBODY ELSE? UM, SO I REALLY AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE COMMITTEE WORKED SO HARD AND TOOK A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE AND WAS ABLE TO, UH, COME UP WITH, UM, UM, SOME COMPROMISES AND, UH, SOME GOOD IDEAS.
AND YOU REALLY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AND WE THANK YOU SUPERVISOR FINER.
JUST, UH, AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, UM, THE LOCAL LAW WHEN, WHEN IT'S, UH, INITIATED BY THE TOWN BOARD WITH THE SEEKER PROCESS, WE WILL SEND IT OUT TO VARIOUS AGENCIES.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, UM, IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAW.
AND, UM, I, THERE'S GONNA BE MUCH OUTREACH AND AS I NOTED IN MY REMARKS, UH, THE LOCAL LAW WILL, WILL BE MODIFIED ONCE WE HEAR A LOT OF THE GOOD COMMENTS THAT WE KNOW WILL COME IN.
AND, UM, BUT I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD LAW AND I I IT'S A GOOD START, I SHOULD SAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FORMAL PROCESS STARTING AND, AND GETTING INPUT FROM ALL OF OUR, UH, IN INTERESTED PARTIES.
UH, ONE OTHER THING HERE, I DON'T THINK YOU NOTED IN HERE, THERE'S ONE OTHER PART OF THE LAW THAT WAS DONE.
UM, AND THIS SPEAKS TO OTHER NEXT STEPS.
THE, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN APPEAL STILL OF THE CURRENT CODE OF WHETHER OR NOT IT APPLIES TO BEST FACILITIES.
UM, IF YOU READ THE BUILDING INSPECTOR'S OPINION, THAT WOULD ALSO APPLY TO SOLAR AND WIND FARMS. UM, WE NEED TO, WHAT THIS LAW DOES IS, IS REDEFINE THAT SECTION OF THE CODE TO SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDE, UH, THE ENERGY BATTERY, ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES, WIND FARMS AND SOLAR FARMS. UM, THEY ARE COMING, UM, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT SUBSEQUENTLY, UM, IN THE, IN SEPARATE LAWS, BUT THEY WILL BE PROHIBIT AS PART OF THIS LEGISLATION.
UM, YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO CONSIDER PASSING THAT AMENDMENT FIRST AND, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH A NO-BRAINER TO PROTECT THE TOWN FROM BEING IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY REGULATIONS WHATSOEVER.
UM, REGARDING THESE KINDS OF FACILITIES, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU DO DO AND SPLIT THAT, THAT OUT AS A SEPARATE THING.
IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
I, SO THIS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW NIGHT.
I WAS GONNA SAY THE THREE SEPARATE PARTS OF THIS ONE'S AN AMENDMENT OF THE DEFINITIONS ONCE AN AMENDMENT OF WHAT HUGH WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, UH, UH, 2 85 DASH 10 AND ONE.
AND ONE IS THE WHOLE, UM, UH, BEST LAW.
UH, AND WHAT HUGH IS, IS SAYING, UM, AS, AND TEMBLE WAS GONNA REFER THIS TO, TO THE PLANNING BOARD.
THE PLANNING BOARD MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS JUST WHAT HUGH, UH, ASSUMING IT'S WITHIN THE, UH, OKAY.
MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS JUST WHAT HUGH SAID ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND GET THAT BACK TO THE TOWN BOARD FOR ALL THE REASONS HUGH SAID, UH, SO THAT WE'RE NOT
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FACED WITH SOME APPLICATION, UH, FOR SOMETHING WE'RE NOT YET PREPARED FOR.SO, UH, WE'RE NEXT, UH, GONNA HEAR FROM JOHN ME, UH, SOFTWARE PRESENTATION RELATING TO UH, UH, CLICK FIX, VERY EXCITING INITIATIVE.
IT OKAY IF I INTRODUCE HIM A LITTLE BIT, PAUL? SURE.
SO, UH, JOHN IS FROM A COMPANY, UH,
UM, WE IDENTIFIED, YOU KNOW, WHICH BOND AND, UH, D P W HAS BEEN WORKING TO COME UP WITH ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT SEPARATELY, BUT WE ALSO NOTED THAT WE AN INPUT MECHANISM FOR THE
JOE, COULD YOU LOWER YOUR VOLUME BECAUSE WE'RE PICKING UP ON YOUR MIC, YOUR, YOUR SPEAKERS.
IS THAT BETTER? THAT'S MUCH BETTER.
UM, SO WE, WE IDENTIFIED THAT WE NEEDED TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT WAS PURCHASED BY D P W WOULD ALSO WORK WITH ANYTHING WE WE PICKED UP ON THE PUBLIC SIDE.
AND THAT, UM, IT JUST SO HAPPENED AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE WERE WORKING ON THIS CIVIC PLUS PURCHASED, UH, ONE OF THE BIG PLAYERS IN THE MARKET, WHICH WAS C CLICK FIX.
AND THAT IS NOW ONE OF THE MODULES WITHIN CIVIC.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE QUICK ONE, AND I KNOW JOHN'S GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS QUICK, BUT WE, UM, IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WERE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COULD POINT OUT USING THEIR TELEPHONES SUCH AS POTHOLES, STREETLIGHTS OUT COULD BE DEAD ANIMAL OR DANGEROUS TREES.
AND I KNOW EVEN WALKING AMONG THE, THE, UH, TOWN PARK'S 600 ACRES, SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I AM AND, UH, HOW TO IDENTIFY IT TO ONE OF THE WORKERS THAT WE DO THIS SOFTWARE USES G P SS TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE PROBLEM IS AND BE ABLE TO RELAY THAT ON TO, UM, TO, TO THE USER ON OUR END INSIDE.
AND WITHOUT ANY, UH, FURTHER ADO, I'M GONNA INTRODUCE JOHN AND, UM, I THINK JOHN MAY NEED TO SHARE A SCREEN.
AND, UH, THANKS, UH, TO SUPERVISOR FINER AND, UH, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND EVERYONE ELSE JOINING TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN GREAT, YOU KNOW, LEARNING ABOUT GREENBERG AND KIND OF GETTING AN IDEA OF, UM, WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN TERMS OF, UM, COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CITIZENS.
SO, UM, THAT IS, UH, WHAT C QUICK FIX'S GOAL HAS BEEN, IS TO BE A, UH, OPEN UP A TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN, UH, YOUR CITIZENS AND THE TOWN TO, UH, GIVE THE CITIZENS VOICE FOR THE CONCERNS, UH, REQUEST THAT THEY HAVE AND GIVE, UH, THE TOWN, YOU KNOW, A WAY TO LISTEN AND A WAY TO HANDLE THE REQUESTS AND TO WORK WITH OTHER TOOLS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, C CITY WORKS ON THE BACKEND TO TIE INTO PIECES LIKE THAT.
UM, SO WE, WE ACTUALLY ARE LOCATED, SEE, CLICK FIX, UH, IS BASED OUT OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, SO NOT TOO FAR FROM YOU.
AND, UM, WE ARE NOW PART OF CIVIC PLUS, WHICH IS BASED OUTTA, UH, KANSAS.
UM, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST, UH, SHARE A PRESENTATION WITH YOU, GET YOU A LITTLE FAMILIAR WITH SQ CLICK FIX AND CAPABILITIES.
AND, UH, AND AT THE END I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT ARE, AND, UH, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME UP.
UM, SO I'M JUST GONNA SHARE THIS JUST A MOMENT HERE.
IS EVERYBODY ABLE TO SEE MY SCREEN? YEP.
UM, SO THE PROBLEM THAT WE SOLVE FOR, UH, WHEN WE TALK TO TOWNS, COUNTIES, UH, COMMUNITIES THAT WE WORK WITH IS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR CITIZENS OUT THERE AND THEY HAVE ISSUES THAT THEY SEE AROUND TOWN FROM, UH, ROAD ISSUES, BLIGHT ISSUES, MISSED TRASH PICKUPS, DOWN TREE LIMBS, TRAFFIC ISSUES, AND, AND, UH, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN COMFORT LEVEL OF HOW THEY'D LIKE TO REPORT AN ISSUE, WHETHER IT BE TELL SOMEBODY IN PERSON, GO ONTO THEIR SMARTPHONE, UM, CALL
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SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE, MAYBE TEXT OR EMAIL, OR POSSIBLY EVEN WRITE A LETTER.AND THEN THE TOWN IS LEFT WITH, YOU KNOW, GETTING THAT REQUEST TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT ROUTED APPROPRIATELY, YOU KNOW, HAVING IT INTO ONE SYSTEM AND THEN, AND THE BACKEND, YOU MIGHT HAVE OTHER SYSTEMS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH FROM ASSET TO PERMITTING SYSTEMS. AND, UM, THIS IS REALLY WHAT CCL FIX AIMS TO SOLVE FOR.
SO WE AIM TO BE THE, THE ONE HUB THAT WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, UM, I NEED TO MAKE A REQUEST, THERE'S A POTHOLE ON THE STREET, BUT THEY KNOW THEY CAN GO TO THE CCL FIX APP, THEY CAN CALL INTO TOWN HALL, IT CAN BE LOGGED INTO C CLICK FIX, THEY GO INTO THE WEBSITE, THEY CAN PUT IT RIGHT INTO THE CCL FIX MODULE, AND, UH, ON THE BACKEND, UM, IT CAN CCL FIX, CAN TIE INTO ANY OF THOSE OTHER SYSTEMS, GET IT ROUTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT, AND, UH, IT MAKES FOR A NICE, UH,
UM, WE DO THIS ON THE CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AGAIN WITH ENABLING, UM, WALK-INS.
SO IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO TOWN HALL, PROBABLY HASN'T HAPPENED THAT MUCH IN THE PAST YEAR, BUT WHEN IT DOES, UM, CAN HANDLE THOSE REQUESTS, UH, FROM THE MOBILE APP.
UH, SO FOR ANDROID AND IOS, UH, FOR FIELDING PHONE CALLS, UM, A CALL TAKER CAN TAKE THE REQUEST, LOG IT INTO THE CCL FIX SYSTEM, GET IT ALL IN ONE PLACE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO EMBEDDING INTO THE LIKES OF FACEBOOK, TWITTER, UM, WEBSITES, OF COURSE.
SO WE EMBED IT'S WEBSITES AND TO BE ABLE TO FIELD EMAILS THAT ARE COMING IN AND GET THEM ALL INTO THE C QUICK FIX SYSTEM.
UM, SO DEPARTMENTS THAT WE GENERALLY HELP RESOLVE ISSUES WITH.
THE TOWN HALL, OF COURSE, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, PARKS POLICE FOR NON-EMERGENCY, WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND USING IT FOR EMERGENCY, UH, NEEDS, UH, BUT UTILITIES, CODES AND PERMITTING.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE TIE INTO, INTEGRATE INTO JUST OVER 25 OF THE TOP GOVERNMENT, UH, SYSTEMS OUT THERE.
UM, FROM, UH, RGI I S TO, UM, CITY WORKS AS ONE BEING THAT, UH, GREENBERG USES, UM, IN THE ABOUT 15 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN AROUND, UM, WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE, UH, AN EXPERIENCE FOR, FOR, UH, USERS THAT'S VERY EASY TO REPORT ISSUES AND FOR THE TALENT ON THE BACKEND, YOU KNOW, VERY EASY FOR FOR YOU TO MANAGE IT.
UH, AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE, UM, JUST ABOUT 20% OF OUR INSTALLS HAVE COME FROM COMPETITORS.
AND, UH, THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY OFF.
WE HAVE, UH, NOT 125 CLIENTS, WE HAVE ALMOST CLOSE TO, UH, OVER 425.
SORRY ABOUT THAT ERROR IN THERE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE, WE CONSTANTLY WORK ON AND IS WHAT OUR COMPANY WAS STARTED OFF OF IS OUR MOBILE APPS.
UM, SO WE'VE WORKED HARD FOR A FOUR AND A HALF AVERAGE STAR RATING, UM, FOR IOS AND ANDROID.
UH, THAT'S BASED OFF OF A FEW THOUSAND, UM, FEW THOUSAND REVIEWS.
UH, WE REALLY DO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT THE CITIZEN EXPERIENCE MATTERS, WANNA MAKE IT EASY TO USE, WANT TO KEEP IT UPDATED WHEN NEW THINGS COME OUT.
AND THOSE ARE, UH, THINGS WE, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON.
UM, COUPLE UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES IN TERMS OF C Q QUICK PICKS ARE DUPLICATE DETECTION AND, UH, JURISDICTIONAL TOGGLING.
SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BOTH OF THOSE LITTLE DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, DO HAVE THE FULL LIFECYCLE, UM, C R M, WHICH INCLUDES REQUEST MANAGEMENT WORK, ORDER MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS GIVING THE TOWN A PERFORMANCE ANALYTICS ENGINE.
A WAY TO SHARE THE RESULTS, SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE'RE RESOLVING ALL THESE ISSUES.
UH, A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO UNNOTICED BY RESIDENTS OFTEN.
UM, AND WE ALSO WORK VERY HARD FOR, UM, INTEGRATION PIECES.
UM, SO WE HAVE JUST OVER 25 INTEGRATIONS CURRENTLY.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT NEW ONES TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER SYSTEMS NICELY.
UM, THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE CLIENTS WE CURRENTLY WORK WITH AND SOME OF THE CUSTOM BRANDING, UM, AS YOU HAD THE, UH, FIX IT GREENBERG, THIS IS, THESE ARE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF, UH, OF TOWNS THAT HAVE PUT THEIR NAMES TOGETHER.
UM, SO BEEN BEEN AROUND LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK WITH, UH, WON, WON A COUPLE AWARDS IN THE 3 1 1 INDUSTRY.
THAT PROBABLY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ANY ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF THAT, BUT, UH, WE ARE PROUD OF THOSE AS WELL.
UM, SO NOW TO JUST, UH, SWITCH GEARS, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU, YOU KNOW, AN OVERVIEW OF CCL FIX, HOW IT WORKED WITHIN THE TOWN WEBSITE.
UM, SO CCL FIX WOULD PLUG IN, IN THIS CASE ON CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.
THIS IS A REPORTING ISSUE, UH, BUTTON.
[00:30:01]
ON PORTLAND THEY HAVE SIMILAR, IT'S A, UH, A FIX IT PORTLAND.SO YOU'D GET FROM THE LANDING PAGE OF THE WEBSITE, WHEN YOU CLICK ON IT, IT WOULD BRING UP A PAGE LIKE THIS WHERE YOU CAN TYPE IN YOUR ADDRESS AND START A REQUEST.
AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE MOBILE SIDE OF IT, UM, WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT'S A UNIVERSAL FEEL FOR BRANDING.
UM, AND ON THE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS A LIST OF SOME SAMPLE CATEGORIES.
UM, EACH ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES, UH, ONCE YOU CLICK FIX IS IMPLEMENTED.
WE ASSIST WITH BUILDING OUT THOSE CATEGORIES.
SO IF IT'S A, UM, A PUBLIC WORKS ISSUE, IT'S ROUTED TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSON IN PUBLIC WORKS, IF THEY'RE IN THAT AREA THAT IS GONNA BE HANDLING IT AND, UM, MAKE SURE THAT APPROPRIATE PERSON IS GETTING IT.
AND ON THE WEBSITE WE CAN EMBED INTO MULTIPLE AREAS.
SO WE KNOW, UH, SOMEBODY GETS TO A WEBSITE, THEY MISS MAYBE THAT FIRST REPORT OF CONCERN AT THE FRONT PAGE, IN THIS CASE, THEIR RESEARCHING AROUND FOR A GRAFFITI ISSUE, UM, THEY CAN ROUTE BACK TO REPORTING A GRAFFITI ISSUE.
SO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GET LOST THERE.
UM, SWITCHING TO THE APP SIDE OF THINGS, UH, YOU CAN SEE AT THE TOP HERE, THESE ARE THREE, UH, OAKLAND 3 1 1 ELLIS COUNTY AND ST.
UM, THEY HAVE HERE A LIST OF ALL TIME, UH, ISSUES FIXED, SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY WANNA HOLD OFF.
WE CAN ALWAYS WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER BUILT UP TO, UH, START INCLUDING THAT NUMBER.
UH, JUST BELOW HERE, UM, THESE ARE CALLED MOBILE BUTTONS, WHICH IS AN EMBEDDABLE U R L.
UM, SO MANY OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE SWAPPED OUT THE TOP ONE IN THE PAST YEAR TO BE OUR COVID RESOURCES.
SO MAYBE FOR TESTING OR FOR VACCINATION.
UM, BUT YOU CAN LINK YOUR TOWN CALENDARS TO, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
UM, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IN HERE TO KEEP IT, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE HUB FOR THE CITY HERE OR FOR THE TOWN.
UM, AT THE BOTTOM HERE, UH, THIS IS THE C CLICK FIX, THE REPORT IT BUTTON RIGHT IN THE CENTER THAT'S GONNA LIVE ON WHATEVER PAGE YOU CLICK ON HERE, IT'LL STILL BE AT THE BOTTOM.
UH, TO THE LEFT IS GONNA BE HISTORY OF NOTICES OR ANY NOTICES THAT WERE SENT TO THE C CLICK FIX USER AND TO THE RIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE A MAP OF ANY ISSUES CURRENTLY.
OPEN, CLOSED, RESOLVED ISSUES, OH, WAS THERE A QUESTION THERE? OH, OKAY.
UM, SO TO KIND OF ZOOM IN ON, YOU KNOW, THE TYPES OF REQUESTS HERE, UM, OVER TO THE LEFT, AGAIN, JUST SOME SAMPLINGS OF DIFFERENT REQUEST CATEGORIES.
WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE KIND OF A TOP 10 15 LIST, UM, THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU.
BUT THESE CAN ALL BE CHANGED, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MAYBE SOMETHING NEW GETS ADDED OR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT STARTS USING CCL FIX.
UM, IN THE CENTRIC ERA IS AN EXAMPLE OF A, A DUPLICATE ISSUE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE USING THE PHONE FOR REPORTING AS, UH, JOE HAD POINTED OUT, UH, YOUR PHONE IS GONNA BE GEO LOCATED.
SO SIMILAR TO WHEN YOU'RE USING, YOU KNOW, AT A MAPPING, UM, APPLE MAPS ON YOUR PHONE, IT, IT KNOWS RELOCATED.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO RE REPORT AN ISSUE, YOU CAN TAKE A PHOTO OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO, UM, PUT NO PHOTO, BUT, UH, IT WILL LOCATE WHERE YOU ARE AND IT CAN POP UP AND SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE TRYING TO REPORT AN ISSUE FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING.
IS THIS ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU WERE TRYING TO REPORT? AND IF IT IS, YOU CAN JUST CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THE OPEN ISSUE VERSUS REPORTING A THIRD OR FOURTH OR FIFTH ISSUE.
UH, THAT WAY WHEN AN ISSUE'S CLOSED IT UP BY THE CITY, UM, ANYBODY THAT'S FOLLOWING IT WILL GET NOTICE AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED IT, IT'S CLOSED, HERE'S A PICTURE OF IT.
WE REMOVED THE, THE REFUSE THAT WAS OUT ON THE, THE GREEN THERE.
UM, DO, WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY MY ASSISTANT, UM, WANTS TO FOLLOW UP ON THESE, WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO GET REPORTS, UM, AS TO, UM, THE PROGRESS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UM, THE VISIBILITY FOR CURRENT ISSUES THAT ARE OPEN OR CLOSED CAN BE SEEN FROM THE CITIZEN EXPERIENCE SIDE.
AND ON THE BACKEND, THERE'S EVEN MORE DETAIL THAT I CAN GO INTO LITTLE, FEW, FEW SLIDES DOWN THE ROAD THAT, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE STATUS OF CURRENT ISSUES, UM, IF THERE ARE SLAS OR SERVICE LEVELS ATTACHED TO THEM, IF THEY'RE PAST DUE, OR HOW, HOW LONG AN ISSUE'S BEEN OPEN FOR.
UM, THERE'S WAYS TO SORT ALL, UH, SO SORRY, THERE ARE, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SORT BY THAT ON THE BACK END, BUT YEAH, WE COULD, WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
[00:35:01]
QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.SO THE, THE DATE, THE DATA THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU CAN GET STATUS UPDATES, SO IF WE PUT SLAS IN PLACE, UM, ARE WE GOING TO, ARE THERE GOING TO BE ALERTS SENT TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO SAY, YOU HAVE AN OPEN, YOU HAVE AN OPEN WORK ORDER THAT HAS BEEN OPEN FOR 10 DAYS, YOU'RE ABOUT TO, YOU KNOW, HIT ON YOUR, UM, OVER THE TIME THAT'S ALLOWED FOR IT TO BE OPEN OR TO BE REPAIRED.
ARE THERE, ARE THE, IS THE DEPARTMENT GOING TO GET SOME SORT OF NOTIFICATION FOR THAT? AND THEN THAT'S ONE QUESTION.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION, WHEN YOU SAY STATUS FOR, FOR A CUSTOMER OR RESIDENT, IF YOU WILL, UM, WHAT WILL THEY SEE? WILL THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, UM, ISSUE RECEIVED WORK IN PROGRESS COMPLETE? IS THAT ALL THEY SEE? OR DO THEY SEE THE STEPS IN BETWEEN? SO YEAH, THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS.
SO
UM, A LOT OF CATEGORIES ARE AN AUTO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS WHEN IT'S AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO WHOEVER IT'S GOING TO.
AND IT MAY HAVE AN EXPECTATION IN THERE THAT SAYS, THIS GENERALLY TAKES TWO TO THREE, THREE WEEKS TO RESOLVE.
UM, AT THAT POINT WHEN IT'S ASSIGNED TO SOMEBODY, YOU CAN HAVE INTERNAL COMMENTING.
SO THERE CAN BE INTERDEPARTMENTAL MESSAGING, MAYBE BETWEEN A SUPERVISOR AND THEIR EMPLOYEE THAT THEY'RE MESSAGING BACK AND FORTH, MAYBE I NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR THIS, OR THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY VISIBLE TO THE REPORTER.
UH, OR YOU CAN TURN THEM ON DEPENDING ON WHICH ONES YOU WANNA HAVE INTERNAL VERSUS DEPENDS ON HOW THEY PUT THE COMMENTS IN.
UM, BUT THEN WHEN AN ISSUE'S CLOSED OUT, THE REPORTER OR ANYBODY THAT FOLLOWED IT WOULD GET A RESPONSE THAT SAYS, THIS HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
UM, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE PICTURES OF IT.
AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE TO IT IN TERMS OF, UH, WE HAVE ESCALATIONS BUILT INTO C Q QUICK FIX.
SO IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED, THE SERVICE LEVEL WAS A WEEK MM-HMM.
AND, UM, IN RUNNING SOME REPORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT I COULD SHOW YOU, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT ARE PAST THEIR SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT OR ISSUES THAT ARE PAST TWO WEEKS.
YOU CAN JUST RUN REPORTS JUST BASED OFF OF THAT INFO.
SO IF YOU WANNA SEE THE MORE PRESSING THINGS THAT NEED TO GET QUICKER, OR MAYBE IT WILL HELP YOU MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON MAYBE A SERVICE LEVEL NEEDS TO BE SET A LITTLE, IT TAKES LONGER TO, UH, TO HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF REQUESTS SO YOU CAN CORRECT THE SERVICE LEVEL.
SO JOHN, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY KNOW, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK STATE LAW AND OTHER LAWS, UH, SURE REQUIRE, UM, WRITTEN NOTICE GENERALLY TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF, OF POTHOLES.
WE GET QUITE A FEW OF THOSE IN THE, UM, IN THE WINTERTIME WITH SNOW.
DOES THIS OBVIATE THE NEED TO ACTUALLY FILE SOMETHING FROM LEGAL PERSPECTIVE IF YOU'RE GONNA FILE A, A CLAIM AGAINST THE TOWN BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU DRIVE OVER A, A POTHOLE AND, AND YOUR TIRE IS SHOT, OR YOUR LIMB IS BENT, AND HAVE YOU DEALT WITH THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES AND WHAT HAVE BEEN THE OUTCOMES? UM, WE WORK WITH SEVERAL IN NEW YORK, UH, MUNICIPALITIES, MOUNT VERNON, UH, SOUTHAMPTON, SYRACUSE, ALBANY.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF, YOU'RE ASKING IN THAT, WOULD YOU STILL BE RESPONSIBLE OR WHAT, WHAT WAS THE WELL, THE LAW, THE LAW ACTUALLY REQUIRES THAT THEY, THEY PROVIDE PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE, YOU KNOW, SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CHANGES IN THIS AGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND OFTENTIMES AN EMAIL WILL SUFFICE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I I DON'T KNOW IF, IF TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS IS RECONCILED WITH THE LAW SO THAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DENY A CLAIM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DIDN'T GET NOTICE WRITTEN NOTICE, ALTHOUGH WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN IT THROUGH THIS DEVICE, YOU KNOW, UM, I WILL SAY I, I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO RUN THAT BY OUR LEGAL TEAM DIRECTLY, UH,
UH, YES, SINCERELY, IN CASE TIM, I DON'T, I DON'T, I, TIM, I, I ACTUALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
UH, MAYBE I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, SLOW ON THIS ONE, BUT RIGHT.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY MAKING A CLAIM OR JUST POINTING OUT THERE'S A POTHOLE THAT MAKING A, MAKING A CLAIM? BECAUSE OFTENTIMES SOMEONE WILL DRIVE THROUGH A POTHOLE, RIGHT? WE'LL MAKE A CLAIM.
AND SO WE'LL OFTEN DEFEND THAT CLIENT CLAIM BY SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DIDN'T HAVE PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATUTE.
[00:40:01]
WE WILL OFTEN DENY THOSE CLAIMS ON THAT BASIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T FIX A POTHOLE THAT WE NEVER KNEW EXISTED.AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OFTEN RELY ON BECAUSE WE GET QUITE A FEW, YOU KNOW, CASES LIKE THAT.
WELL, SO OF COURSE YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I HAVE READ UP ON SOME OF THIS STUFF, AND I DO KNOW THAT IF YOU PUT IN, UM, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU FEEL IS FINANCIALLY DOABLE TO FIX SOMETHING, THAT YOU HAVE THAT WINDOW THEN STILL, EVEN AFTER YOU'VE BEEN NOTIFIED, UH, I DON'T, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IF WE SAY IT TAKES US TWO WEEKS TO, IF WE, IF WE GO BEYOND THE TWO WEEKS, THEN, THEN, THEN I THINK WE'RE CROSSING OVER THE LINE ONCE TO DENY SOMEBODY.
SO I MEAN, AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN OF MINE IN TERMS OF INCREASING THE TOWN'S EXPOSURE.
I'M IN NO WAY SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT A, A GOOD IDEA IN TERMS OF BEING EFFICIENT, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD SHOULD BE AWARE OF, BECAUSE THAT IS A DEFENSE THAT WE OFTEN RELY ON THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE NOTICE OF THE, UM, OF THE CLIENT.
YEAH, I, I COULD CHECK IN WITH ALBANY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AS A CCL FIX CLIENT.
UM, I WOULD SAY THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THAT OR EXAMPLES THAT I COULD FIND OUT, AND I COULD CHECK WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM AS WELL.
I'M THE TOWN CLERK, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, AND I THINK THIS IS, UH, AN, AN AMAZING, UM, UH, UM, UH, OPTION HERE.
I HAVE BEEN, UM, REQUESTING, UH, FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO, UH, PURCHASE A SOFTWARE FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THIS EXACT KIND OF MONITORING OF FOIL REQUESTS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE, UM, BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN THE TOWN IS GETTING, UM, PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO FULL REQUESTS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND SO IF WE WERE TO HAVE A SOFTWARE LIKE THIS THAT WOULD REMIND THIS, DOES THIS ALSO, UH, ALLOW FOR, UM, THE MONITORING OF FLOOR REQUESTS, THE FLOOR REQUESTS CAN COME IN, IT'S SENT TO THE OFFICE OF RECORD, AND THEN THERE'S, UM, A REMINDER SENT TO THAT PERSON, UM, UH, ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S MANDATED TIMELINE, DOES, CAN THAT HAPPEN WITH SOFTWARE? YEAH, SO YOU COULD HAVE A, SOMEBODY HAS A FOIA REQUEST, YOU COULD HAVE THAT AS ONE OF THE CATEGORIES.
IT COULD BE ROUTED TO THAT TEAM, WHOEVER'S HANDLING IT THAT ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING IT TO THEM.
AND IT COULD BE ALL TRACKED THROUGH HERE.
SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, A ROAD ISSUE OR ONE OF THESE ISSUES THAT'S SHOWING TO THE LEFT HERE.
A LOT OF THESE ARE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS REQUESTS, BUT YOU COULD USE IT.
IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? IF YOU COULD USE IT TO ROUTE THAT REQUEST APPROPRIATELY OR, OH, YES.
TO ROUTE IT, BUT ALSO MONITOR THE TIMELINESS OF THE RESPONSE MM-HMM.
SO, SO IF IT'S NOT RESPONDED TO WITHIN FIVE DAYS, THEN A LOUD SOUNDING BUZZING ALARM GOES OFF ON THE PERSON'S DESK, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, RESPONDING ON THOSE FIVE WITHIN THAT, THAT TIMEFRAME? UM, WITH A, WITH A REMINDER, A RED FLAG THAT SHOOTS UP BELLS, WHISTLES, BELLS AND WHISTLES AND BALLOONS GO OFF SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU MUST, YOU NEED TO RESPOND TODAY,
SO, SO, YEAH, JUST THE SAME WAY ANY OF THESE OTHER REQUESTS WOULD GO TO PUBLIC WORKS OR WHOEVER THEY'RE GOING TO, UM, THEY COULD GO ASSIGNED TO A PERSON THAT'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
IF THEY DIDN'T GET TO IT IN TIME, IT'S GONNA, YOU CAN PUT IT INTO AN ESCALATION PROCESS, UM, THAT IT, YOU KNOW, ROLLS UP TO THEM OR MAYBE TO THEIR MANAGER OR HOWEVER, HOWEVER THAT NEEDS TO GO.
SO THIS WOULD BE A SOFTWARE THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO, UM, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST ONE.
PUBLIC WORKS IS GENERALLY OUR BIGGEST USER OF, OF C QLIK FIX.
UM, BUT WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS FROM, YOU KNOW, NON-EMERGENCY POLICE ISSUES TO DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, A A LOT OF, A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR CLOSE TO 15 YEARS OF USE NOW.
IF I COULD JUMP IN, THIS IS RICH.
I THINK AS EVERYBODY REMEMBERED A FEW YEARS BACK, WOODARD AND KERN DID, UH, AND BASICALLY, UH, A WHOLE LOOK AT THE D P W DEPARTMENT, AND THE TWO BIG THINGS THEY CAME UP WITH WERE A HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL, WHICH IS IN PLACE THANKS TO THE BOARD AND A WORK ORDER SYSTEM.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND,
[00:45:01]
AND I, I GOTTA TELL YOU HOW, HOW ABSOLUTELY HELPFUL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE, UH, JOE ESE IS WITH THIS STUFF, TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE TOWN AND TO HELPSO WE DON'T, EVERYTHING WE STILL DO IS ON PAPER OR EMAIL.
SO LAST NIGHT, OR YESTERDAY DURING THE DAY, PAUL GOT AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT ABOUT A POTHOLE OR A, A SINKHOLE.
UM, THE EMAIL WENT INTO THE FILE, WE OPENED IT UP, WE FORWARDED IT, TALKED TO THE GENERAL FOREMAN THEY WENT OUT TO TODAY TO, HAPPENED TO BE, THANK GOD SOMEONE SAW THIS AND LET US KNOW UNDER THIS SMALL LITTLE OPENING WAS A HUGE VOID ON EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD.
I THINK IT'S NINE FEET DEEP, THREE FOOT OPEN, OPEN ON THE SIDE.
SO THE, THE FASTER WE HEAR ABOUT THESE THINGS AND WE SEE WHAT THEY ARE, WE COULD ADDRESS THEM IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE GONNA, SOMETIMES YOU LISTEN, YOU GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PADDLES, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.
UM, THERE ARE SOME THAT AREN'T EMERGENCIES, AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
AND I, I, I, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH JOE AND OTHERS, THIS SEEMS LIKE THE ABSOLUTE BEST WAY FOR US TO GO AT THIS TIME.
AND IT REALLY TRACKS EVERYTHING.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR SOME REPORTING.
WELL, WHY DO YOU NEED THIS? WELL, THIS IS WHY WE NEED THIS.
WE REPAIRED X AMOUNT OF PUDDLES ON THIS ROAD.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PRIME FOR REPAVING OR RESURFACING.
THIS IS GONNA BE A TOOL PAST JUST NOTIFICATION OF A PROBLEM.
AND, UH, RICH, RICH, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, ON A SMALLER LEVEL FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE 600 ACRES.
AND WHEN, WHEN SOMEBODY GOES OUT THERE INTO THE PARKS, SOMETIMES THEY MAY SEE SOMETHING THAT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
I WANT TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT MOMENT, BUT IT JUST PASSES.
AND, UH, THEN THEY GO ONTO THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
BUT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE JUST LIKE OUR WORKERS WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE, IF THEY SEE IT AND THEY GET IT BACK TO US, YOU KNOW, THEN WE CAN ASSESS THE PROBLEM AND DECIDE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND WHERE TO PUT OUR RESOURCES.
UM, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT A LOT OF TIMES UNTIL WE SEE IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, RICH'S EXAMPLE IS A GOOD, IS REALLY A GOOD ONE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY REPORTED IT, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIDE FROM PEOPLE TELLING US STUFF TO DO.
NO, THIS WAS SOMETHING, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
THAT'S ALL NICE, BUT I WANNA KNOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S IN THE BUDGET WITH, WITH WITHOUT THE, UH, AND I, THESE PRICES COULD ALTER, BUT ONE OF THE INITIAL ONES WAS WITHOUT THE INTEGRATION INTO C WORKS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE YET, IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $15,000 A YEAR.
I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT, JOHN.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE
WAS THAT THE QUOTE? I THINK JOHN MM-HMM.
SO, SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE SAYING THIS IS GREAT, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS WITH EXISTING PERSONNEL, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.
'CAUSE THERE IS A POTHOLE AND THEN THERE'S A POTHOLE, RIGHT? SO IF SOMEBODY REPORTS A POTHOLE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A POTHOLE, SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE OR WHATEVER, HAVE A PICTURE.
UH, IT MAY BE THAT THE SINKHOLE MIGHT LOOK NOT LIKE IT'S NOT SO BAD UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THEN YOU FIND OUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY BAD.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD SEEM LIKE SOMEBODY WOULD'VE TO FOLLOW UP AND FIND OUT WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE, UH, INTENSITY OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S, IT'S A POTHOLE.
I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET QUITE A FEW PEOPLE SAYING THEIR STREET NEED TO BE, STREETS NEED TO BE REPAVED.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO CATEGORIZE THAT.
SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT.
SO I, I, I JUST WANT TO, BEFORE YOU KNOW, IT SAYS, SOUNDS REALLY GREAT, RAH, RAH, RAH.
AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, QUITE FRANKLY, AND I'M GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S EVOLVED TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONSIDER.
UH, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ENTIRE COST, NOT JUST WHAT IT COSTS TO MAINTAIN THE APP, BUT WHAT IT COST TO MAINTAIN THE PERSONNEL TO MAKE THIS, MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WELL, FRANCIS, I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, SURE.
WHEN THE TOWN BOARD APPROVED, UH, MONEY TO, UM, TO, TO CHECK INTO TREES AFTER THE TREE ACCIDENT AND, AND, UH, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, UM, WE GO OUT AND WE ASSESS THE TREES AND, AND WE CATEGORIZE 'EM EACH YEAR.
WE DON'T GET TO THEM IMMEDIATELY.
[00:50:01]
I MEAN, WE PUT 'EM IN ORDER AND THEN WE MOVE DOWN THE LIST OF DANGER.UM, WHICH I'M SURE THAT THAT'S WHAT D P W DOES WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S REPORTED TO THEM TOO.
AND IF SOMEBODY WAS TO BE INJURED BY ONE OF THE TREES THAT WAS REPORTED, AS LONG AS WE WERE FOLLOWING A METHODOLOGY THAT WE CAN DEFEND, THEN THAT'S REALLY, THAT WOULD HELP IN THE LITIGATION PROCESS LATER.
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT, AND I, I FULLY BUY INTO THAT AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK IS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO USE THE, UH, WHAT ARE WE CALLING IT? CLICK IT, WHAT? SEE IT, WHATEVER.
SEE, UH, WE'RE GONNA USE THAT, AND THEN SOMEBODY IS GOING TO CALL PAUL, AND THEN PAUL IS GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY GO OUT NOT ON THE CLICK IT.
AND THAT'S GOING TO DISRUPT THIS ORDERLY PROCESS OF, YES, WE MAY NOT GET TO IT FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT WE'RE GOING IN THE ORDER THAT THEY CAME IN.
AND AS LONG AS WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS REALISTIC, BUT AS LONG AS WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, I THINK WE'RE OKAY AS TO, OKAY, THIS POTHOLE WAS REPORTED ON MONDAY, SOMEBODY RAN OVER, SO A DIFFERENT PERSON RAN OVER THAT POTHOLE THE FOLLOWING WEEK, BROKE THEIR AXLE, THEY THEN LOOK AND FOIL THE RECORDS REGARDING WHAT DID C**T SAY? AND IT SAID, OH, THAT WAS REPORTED.
AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE GOING ONE AFTER ANOTHER TO SOLVE IT, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THAT COULD BE THEIR, THAT BASICALLY MEANS THERE CAN'T BE ANY DEVIATION UNLESS THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, UM, SAY RICH SEES A PHOTO, HE COULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THE POTHOLE SHOULD BE FIXED, YOU KNOW, FASTER.
A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, BICYCLING ON, UM, THE BRONX RIVER PARKWAY, THE BIKE, THE BIKE PATH, AND THERE'S NEAR THE COUNTY CENTER, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT A SINKHOLE, BUT IT'S A VERY BIG DEPRESSION ON THE, ON THE PATH.
SO I, I SENT A NOTE, UH, TO THE DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND, UM, AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DEPRESSION STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED, BUT YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY'S JOGGING OR BICYCLING AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION, THEY'RE DEFINITELY GONNA TRIP AND THEY'RE GONNA GET INJURED.
UM, IF, UM, IF WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM, UM, IT WOULD, UM, ENABLE THE, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE COUNTY TO IMMEDIATELY, UM, UH, LOCATE THE AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A SMALL LITTLE POTHOLE, IT'S ONE THING, BUT IF IT'S A MAJOR QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROBLEM, IT WILL GET, YOU KNOW, MORE ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP CUTTING IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL, YOU KNOW, EXIST.
SO WE WANNA HAVE AN EFFICIENT, UM, OPERATION.
SO THE, SO WE COULD TRACK, UH, THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE GIVEN.
UH, SO THE COMPLAINTS DON'T ONLY HAVE TO GO TO MY OFFICE, BUT THEY COULD GO, UH, DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO I THINK THIS WILL MAKE IT, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA GO, YOU KNOW, THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE GONNA GO DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE WHO COULD, COULD SOLVE IT RATHER THAN TO A MIDDLE PERSON.
AND I, I JUST THINK THAT THIS, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE USING TECHNOLOGY, UH, TO MAKE GOVERNMENT MUCH MORE, UM, EFFICIENT.
YOU KNOW, PAUL, YOU COULD, UH, I POINT DIRECTLY TO YOU, PAUL, YOU COULD JUST HAVE KRISTA ENTER IT IN TO SEE CLICK FIXERS AND THEN, AND THEN IT WOULD JUST FOLLOW THE ROUTE AFTER THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST BASICALLY, AND THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE.
KRISTA IS GONNA WANNA, MY OFFICE IS GONNA WANNA JUST DOUBLE CHECK, SPOT CHECK, UM, THE COMPLAINTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE COMPLAINTS ARE ACTUALLY BEING FOLLOWED UP ON, BUT KNOWING THE WAY ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OPERATE, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT, UH, THERE WILL BE FOLLOW UP.
I MEAN, WHAT CAN ALSO, YOU CAN DO TOO IS THAT YOU, I MEAN, I BELIEVE JOHN SAID THAT THERE'S A DASHBOARD, YOU CAN POST A DASHBOARD RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON THE WEBSITE, SO YOU CAN GET IN, SO YOU CAN SEE IN REAL TIME THE STATUS OF THE, OF THE, UM, ISSUE.
SO WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO DOUBLE WORK WITH KRISTA OR, OR YOUR OFFICE PAUL, UM, HAVE TO TOUCH BASE.
IT'S EVERYTHING IS, IF, IF, IF WE'RE GONNA INVEST IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR INVEST IN ANY TYPE OF SOFTWARE LIKE THIS, IT HAS TO BE WHERE THERE'S SOME SORT OF DASHBOARD WITH METRICS, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT REAL TIME, WHETHER ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE OR THE, UM, RESIDENT'S PHONE.
I MEAN, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF, WE, WE EMPLOYING MORE AND MORE ENERGY WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY HERE, TO YOUR POINT, IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DO THIS, WE HAVE TO BE, IF WE DO THIS, WE HAVE TO BE ALL IN
[00:55:01]
ON THIS.AND THIS IS THE WAY IT GETS REPORTED, AND THERE'S NOT, HEY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS PERSON, SO RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, D P W GO OUT AND FIX THAT, AND THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
THAT'S GONNA, BUT WE'VE NEVER, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BASICALLY IN THE PAST, I, UM, I FORWARD EVERY COMPLAINT TO, UH, UH, TO RICH OR, OR BRIAN OR, UM, TO DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THEN THEY DECIDE, UH, THE YOU, THE PRIORITIES.
UM, THEY, THEY, THEY NEVER GIVE SPECIAL, THEY, THEY FAVORS OR, OR TREATMENT TO PEOPLE, UH, BECAUSE, UM, THEY KNOW ME.
THEY DO IT ON THE BASIS OF, UM, OF WHAT'S NEEDED, UM, IN, IN THE TOWN.
I DON'T, PAUL, PAUL, ONE OF THE THINGS JOHN WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, AND JOHN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IF SOMEBODY PHONES ME AT MY DESK AND TELLS ME THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM IN A PARK, I CAN GO INTO SEE, CLICK FIX, YOU CAN EACH ONE OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE CAN AND ENTER THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY THERE, AND THEN LET THE DEPARTMENT HANDLE IT FROM THAT POINT.
HOW WE TAKE IT IN, IF WE TAKE IT IN, BUT SOMEBODY, MEANING ANY ONE OF US THAT'S ON THIS PHONE CALL COULD, COULD ENTER IT TO SEE CLICK FIX, AND THEN IT STARTS THE ROUTING PROCESS GOING TO THE CORRECT DEPARTMENT.
JOHN, WAS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT.
YEAH, YOU, YOU CAN HAVE IT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY TELLS YOU OUTSIDE TOWN HALL THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE, UM, YOU CAN EVEN GO INTO YOUR PHONE AND REPORT IT FOR THEM, AND THEN YOU CAN ATTACH THEIR EMAIL TO IT AS SOMEBODY TO FOLLOW IT OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN PUT THEIR PHONE NUMBER ON THERE TO GIVE 'EM A CALL BACK.
NOW, JOHN, CAN I JUST, UM, UM, I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY, AND I'M ALMOST POSITIVE I HEARD YOU SAY, SO IF I CALL FRANCE, IF SIX PEOPLE CALL ON THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS GONNA SHOW UP THAT YOU RECEIVED SIX COMPLAINTS ON THAT ISSUE? NO, UM, YOU CAN DO, UH, IF YOU, IF IT'S SPOTTED, LIKE IN THIS CASE, YOU CAN SEE THIS IS FOR THE PHONE CALL INTERFACE.
IF SOMEBODY WAS TO CALL IN THE TOWN HALL, THEY START TYPING IN THE ADDRESS MM-HMM.
SO THEN IT'S JUST LIKE TAKING THAT ONE REQUEST EVERY TIME AN UPDATE'S DONE IT, IT JUST SENDS OUT THE UPDATE ALL AT ONCE TO EVERYBODY THAT'S FOLLOWING IT.
SO IF, SO ON THE BACK END FOR THE DEPARTMENT MM-HMM.
IT'LL JUST STILL BE ONE ISSUE.
THERE'LL SIX, IT'LL BE ONE ISSUE, BUT WITH SIX COMPLAINTS OR SIX, YEAH.
SIX, SIX COMPLAINTS OR FOLLOWERS, PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THAT TYPE OF ISSUE.
UH, I WAS JUST WONDERING, UH, WITH THIS SYSTEM, UH, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE, UM, DEPENDING ON GREATLY THE, UH, CITIZENS TO REPORT ANY KIND OF PROBLEM OR ANY KIND OF ISSUE, UM, AFTER THAT'S REPORTED, WILL THE CITIZENS BE ABLE TO MONITOR WHEN, UH, THAT ISSUE IS, UH, RESPONDED TO? AND ALSO, UH, THE SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, UH, HAVE YOU HAVE ANY, DO YOU HAVE ANY STATISTICS ON THE RESPONSE TIME TO ISSUES USING THIS SYSTEM? IS IT ANY QUICKER OR DO, DO YOU GET TO THE, UH, REPAIRS SOONER OR IS IT BASICALLY JUST, UH, JUST, UH, CATALOGING THE, UH, INCIDENTS INTO A SYSTEM? SURE.
SO, UM, THE CITIZEN, YES, THEY'LL GET NOTICE WHEN THEY REPORT AN ISSUE, UM, WHEN THE, WHEN THE TOWN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IT, WHEN THE ISSUE'S BEEN RESOLVED.
UM, OR MAYBE IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAD TO ASK BACK TO THE REPORTER.
UM, SO THEY, THEY'LL BE IN THE LOOP ON THAT.
ANYTIME THEY OPEN UP TO SEE QUICK FIXX APP ON THEIR PHONE OR ON THE WEBSITE, THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE STATUS OF THEIR ISSUE IS.
UM, AS FAR AS STATISTICS, UM, WE DO SEE IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY RUN REPORTS OF YOUR, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU'RE DOING ON THOSE ISSUES.
WHERE VERSUS NOW IF IT'S IN SPREADSHEETS OR IT'S OUT IN, YOU KNOW, EMAILS TO EACH OTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRACK THAT.
SO WHEN THERE IS IMPROVEMENT, YOU CAN SEE IT.
SO IT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPARE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE VISIBILITY TO IT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
I WAS HOPING THAT YOU HAD SOME STATISTICS ON YOUR CUSTOMERS THAT YOU ALREADY, YOUR CLIENTS HAVE ALREADY, THAT WE COULD, UH, MAKE, MAYBE MAKE SOME REFERENCE TOO.
YEAH, I MEAN THE, THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS USUALLY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE, UM, A WAY THAT THEY'RE MONITORING OR THEY DON'T HAVE VISIBILITY TO HOW THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
SO FOR STATS VERSUS, UH, BEFORE AND AFTER, IT'S DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TO HAVE THAT.
[01:00:01]
DOES THAT WORK? IF SOMEBODY SAYS, MY STREET SHOULD BE REPAVED, THEY, THEY PUT THAT IN TOWN, GOES OUT AND SAYS, NO, THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR, UM, THE NEED FOR HAVING REPAVING.ARE THEY GONNA KEEP GETTING A, A, A NOTICE THAT IT'S, IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS SINCE THAT REQUEST WAS, WAS, UM, PUT IN AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED? NO.
UH, YOU KNOW, IF ONE YOU DON'T, YOU CAN LEAVE PAVING OFF OF THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT AS A REQUEST CATEGORY.
UM, THE, BUT THE SECOND THING, IF YOU GET A REQUEST THAT IS NOT REASONABLE OR IT'S NOT COMING UP SOON, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
YOU CAN SIMPLY WRITE BACK AND SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RESOLVE EVERY ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT NOT BE, YOU CAN JUST WRITE BACK TO 'EM AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT EACH ROAD AS ONE OFF, WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS, AND YOU CAN CLOSE OUT THE ISSUE.
UM, AND ONE OTHER QUESTION I THINK THAT YOU HAD MR. SHE, UM, WAS, UM, IN TERMS OF LIKE A POTHOLE, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I HAD UP HERE BEFORE WAS YOU CAN, UM, FOR EACH TYPE OF REQUEST CATEGORY, YOU CAN ADD QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED FOR EACH TYPE OF REQUESTS.
SO WE WORK WITH A LOT OF ROAD COMMISSIONS IN, UH, MICHIGAN, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ON THERE, SPECIFICALLY FOR POT POTHOLES, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW GRANULAR YOU CAN GET WITH EACH OF THESE QUESTIONS, IS YOU CAN SAY, IS THE POTHOLE OVER A FOOT WIDE? YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE AN ESTIMATE OR IS IT TO HELP YOU DECIDE ONE, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT IT, HOW, HOW QUICKLY DOES THIS NEED TO BE, GET RESPONDED TO? AND THEN SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, HELP YOU TO GO OUT THERE WITH THE BEST SUPPLIES.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING ACROSS TOWN AND YOU ONLY BRING A SHOVEL, UH, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE NEEDED LIKE A COUPLE BUCKETS OF GRAVEL TO PATCH THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA HELP YOU MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING WITH YOU THERE.
SO YOU CAN BUILD OUT EACH CATEGORY WITH QUESTIONS PERTINENT TO THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES.
SO THIS CAN, AND THE PERSON WHO'S TAKING CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND UPLOAD A PICTURE.
THEY CAN ADD UP TO FIVE PICTURES.
AND SO WHO SURVEY, DOES THAT SIT ON YOURS OR OURS? UH, IT'S A CLOUD.
IT'S A CLOUD PAID FOR BY YOU OR US? YEAH.
OH, SO THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE, THE ANNUAL FEE THAT WE JUST MENTIONED ABOUT BEFORE, CORRECT? YEP.
IS IT, DOES IT IS UM, WHAT THERE LIMITS TO THE STORAGE SUCH THAT THE PRICING EXACTLY.
HAS THE DATA INCREASED? UH, NO.
NOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO CHANGE THAT, IF THAT'S THE CASE, BUT WOW.
AND HOW LONG DOES IT SAVE? HOW LONG DOES IT SAVE IT UNTIL IT'S RESOLVED OR IT SAVES IT FOR A PERIOD AFTER THAT? UM, WE HAVE JUST A CLOUD OPEN.
SO IT'S THE HISTORY THAT YOU WANT ON THERE.
IF YOU EVER WANNA CLEAN IT UP, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CLEAN IT UP, BUT IT'S ON THERE UNTIL YOU DON'T WANT IT ON THERE ANYMORE.
SO THE COST, AGAIN, BECAUSE DIDN'T, UH, RICH, DIDN'T WE PUT LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET FOR, IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THIS? SO IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S LESS THAN, THAN THAT WE DID.
NO, SO, SO, UM, UH, SO THE QUESTION IS, UM, LIKE THE TOTAL COST, UH, TO IMPLEMENT THIS WOULD BE HOW MUCH AGAIN? WELL, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE CITI WORKS THOUGH, RICH, RIGHT? SO THIS IS JUST, SEE, CLICK FIX THAT WE QUOTED.
THE PRICE ON CITI WORKS IS THE ASSET MANAGEMENT PRO PROGRAM THAT, UH, RICH IS WORKING WITH, UM, ON, UH, SO THAT IS MY QUESTION.
SO I, I SHOULD, I SHOULD KNOW THIS, BUT, SO CURRENTLY THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW, YOU'RE TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO ASSET WORKS? NO, WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
SO NOW, BUT THIS, BUT THIS, I'M SORRY, THE NAME OF THIS PROGRAM WILL INTERFACE WHAT? ASSET WORK ASSET WORKS.
ASSET WORKS IS MORE THE E R B OR THE RE REPAIR SHOP.
SO THAT, THAT'S A SPECIFIC SYSTEM.
BASICALLY GAS AND REPAIR WORK FOR THE E R B, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW.
WE GET CALLS, WE GET EMAILS, UH, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SEND US THINGS VIA MAIL, REGULAR MAIL.
AND WHAT FRANCIS SHEENA SAID IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
EVERYBODY'S GOTTA BUY INTO THIS.
I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? I SAID FRANCIS.
EVERYBODY SAID EVERYBODY'S GOTTA BUY INTO THIS.
SO WHEN PAUL'S ON, AND PAUL DOES IT, DOES THIS REGULARLY, PAUL WILL BE ON THE STREET ON HIS BIKE AND HE'LL PASS SOMEBODY
[01:05:01]
AND THEY'LL GRAB HIM AND THEY'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS ISSUE.AND THEN PAUL WILL CALL OR EMAIL SUPERVISOR.
FINER IS NOW GONNA HAVE TO GET USED TO TAKING OUT THE PHONE, THE APP, SHOWING THE RESIDENT, WELL, WE HAVE THIS NEW SYSTEM AND THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE.
'CAUSE THEN WE HAVE A TRACKING, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK US, WELL, HOW MANY, UH, CATCH BASINS DID YOU FIX LAST YEAR? RIGHT? HOW MANY OF THIS DO YOU DO? WE CAN COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH SOME REAL REPORTING.
YOU COULD DO A DASHBOARD POLICY AND PROCEDURE.
SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THOUGH, THAT THE, THAT THE SOFTWARE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE FRONT END, THE PART THAT THE CITIZEN SEE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, RIGHT? THE BACKEND IS THIS A DIFFERENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM CALLED CITY WORKS THAT RICH IS GONNA BE WORKING WITH TO TRY TO COLLECT A LOT MORE DATA WHEN IT COMES TO ASSETS AND, UH, WORK ORDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, RIGHT? SO TO TIM'S EARLIER QUESTION, THIS IS DEFINITELY GONNA CONSTITUTE NOTICE LEGALLY, I WONDER WHETHER WE'D HAVE TO CHANGE THE LAW TO REFLECT THIS AS NOTICE, OR IF IT WOULD JUST, THAT THAT MAY BE TOO IN THE WEEDS FOR THIS CONVERSATION, BUT YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S A STATE LAW, RIGHT? IT'S NOT A, A LOCAL LAW.
BUT YEAH, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS AN ISSUE THAT IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE, THESE POTHOLES OR OTHER ISSUES IN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME, IT POTENTIALLY EXPOSES THE TOWN TO LIABILITY.
YEAH, BUT I THINK THAT'S, I THINK IF FOR THAT, I MEAN, I REMEMBER DEALING WITH THIS IN MY PRIOR LIFE THAT I REMEMBER.
THAT'S WHEN YOU PUT YOUR S L A IN PLACE.
SO, AND THEN WE CAN SAY S L A IS WHAT'S SLA? SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT.
AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THAT WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, PER, PER OUR AGREEMENT IS THAT THIS IS A TIMEFRAME IT TAKES TO, UM, FIX A POTHOLE OR FIX WHATEVER ISSUE YOU HAVE.
AND IT'S DIFFERENT LEVELS AT WHATEVER ISSUE.
IT'S OH, THAT, THAT, I MEAN, THAT IS DEFINITELY AN, AN OFFLINE CONVERSATION.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, UNLESS THE RESIDENTS WANT TO LEARN ABOUT WORK ORDER SYSTEMS AND SERVICE LEVEL, MY UNDERSTANDING, WE, WE WOULD BE FINE WITH THIS SYSTEM AS LONG AS WE FOLLOW A DEFINITE PATTERN IN USING OUR RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY TO HANDLE THEM THE ISSUES THAT COME IN, IN THE ORDER THEY CAME IN.
EVEN IF THAT ORDER MEANS, NO, THIS ONE'S NOT IMPORTANT, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT.
UH, BUT THAT'S THEN TAKING A POSITION.
IF A POTHOLE, IF A AXLE THEN BREAKS ON THAT ONE THAT YOU JUST PASSED BY, YOU'RE ON NOTICE YOU DIDN'T FIX IT, WOULD BE LIABLE.
BUT IT'S WHEN YOU HAVE A SECOND SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT KEEPS YOU FROM ADDRESSING THE ONES THAT ARE REPORTED YOU, UM, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE A BIT OF AN ISSUE.
BUT THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE GOTTA WORK OUT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
RIGHT, FRANCIS, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW YOUR OWN RULES.
I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT?
AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE SOMEWHAT OF A LEGAL DEFENSE IF YOU FOLLOWED THOSE RULES.
IF YOU, IF YOU, YOU VEER FROM THAT, THEN THAT, THEN THAT'S DIFFERENT ISSUE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I'M BASICALLY LIKE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING THE RULES.
AND I'M ALSO, WAIT, NOW, I, NOW I I I, MY HEARING IS
I KNOW OUR HEARING DEFINITELY I, SOMETHING SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MY HEARING, SO I DIDN'T HEAR THAT EITHER.
I WAS GONNA, I CAN SEE PAUL TOTALLY GETTING INTO THIS BECAUSE IT, IT GIVES HIM A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE RESIDENT QUICKER AND TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM EVEN FASTER THAN SAYING, I'LL, I'LL MAKE A CALL FOR YOU.
SO I COULD TOTALLY SEE YOU GETTING INTO THIS, PAUL.
WELL, I DID, UH, I WAS ON OLD TAR, I WAS ON OLD TARRYTOWN ROAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
I WAS BIKING TO THE TOWN HALL THERE.
I SAW SOMEBODY, UH, UH, UH, ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE TOWN HALL.
I WAS, UH, AT THE TOP OF THE HILL.
AND, UM, I SAID, WHAT'S BOTHERING YOU? AND HE SAID THERE WAS A POTHOLE.
SO I TOOK A PHOTO ON MY IPHONE, UM, I, UM, SENT IT TO RICH AND, UM, UM, EIGHT MONTHS LATER IT WAS, NO.
AND, AND, AND, UM, AND THE NEXT DAY IT WAS FIXED.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I CALLED, WHAT I DID IS I CALLED RICH, I TOOK A PHOTO, HE SAW IT, AND HE SENT A CREW OUT WITH THIS TYPE OF THING.
UM, I WOULD'VE SENT THE PHOTO, I WOULD'VE TAKEN A PHOTO ON MY IPHONE.
I WOULD, AND THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN HAD TO BOTHER HIM AND CALLED HIM.
I WOULD'VE JUST TAKEN THE PHOTO AND, UM, AND IT WOULD'VE GOTTEN DONE.
UM, SO IT, IT WILL MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE INSTEAD OF ME CALLING RICH EVERY 15, 20 MINUTES WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM, UH, I'LL JUST TAKE A PHOTO AND IT WILL, AND IT WILL BE, UH, SENT TO THE RIGHT PERSON.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE COULD TRACK DOWN TO SEE IF THE COMPLAINT WAS ACTUALLY, UH, YOU
[01:10:01]
KNOW, RESOLVED.SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, RICH WILL BE, AND BRIAN WILL HAVE A LOT MORE FREE TIME.
YOU'D ALSO BE ALSO PAUL, I THINK, I THINK THIS WOULD, THIS WOULD, UH, ELIMINATE THE, UH, THE SENSE OF INEQUITY ACROSS THE TOWN.
THAT SOME PEOPLE GET SERVICE FASTER THAN OTHERS.
IF YOU FOLLOW THIS, UH, UH, PRINCIPLE.
SO I, I'M, I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON THE LIMB AND SAY FRANCIS'S WRIGHT AGAIN,
OH MY GOD, IN ONE NIGHT WE STILL HAVE AN AGENDA TO GO THROUGH, PLEASE.
BECAUSE SOME AREAS, SOME, SOME PEOPLE THINK SOME AREAS GET TREATED, UH, QUICKER OR BETTER THAN OTHERS.
AND I, I AGREE WITH THE BISHOP.
THERE, THERE ARE, THERE, WE'VE HEARD, AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS, SOME OF THE MAPPING THAT BRIAN'S DONE ABOUT WHERE WE PAVE AND DUNK CURBS.
BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S THE PERCEPTION THAT CERTAIN AREAS ARE GETTING, UM, MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHERS, AND HE'S A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT.
WELL, I'M TELLING YOU, IF IF WHATEVER, WHATEVER SOFTWARE WE DO GO WITH, IF WE START PUTTING THIS STUFF IN A FORM OF A METRIC, SO WE CAN, IN A, IN A FORM OF DASHBOARD, EXCUSE ME.
SO WE CAN WATCH THE STATUS OF EACH OF THE, THE RE THE RE UH, THE REQUESTS THAT COME IN, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FIVE OPEN REQUESTS, SOME ARE SCHEDULED, SOME ARE IN PROGRESS, AND SOME ARE COMPLETE.
LIKE, THE RESIDENTS SHOULD NEED TO NEED TO SEE THAT SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE EXACTLY, UM, THEY'RE GOING AND WHERE, AND AT WHAT STAGE THE PRO IN THE PROCESS, THEIR REPAIR IS GOING TO BE MADE.
AND THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, WELL, WE DON'T, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO, TO SHOW ANYBODY.
SO IT, BUT THIS IS GOOD THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, GINA, I'M GONNA SEND YOU GUYS, UM, A LINK TO AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, WHICH THEY HAVE A REALLY, UH, NICE SETUP WITH CCL FIX.
AND THERE YOU GO THERE AND THERE'S A MAP, AND IT SHOWS YOU WHAT'S BEING WORKED ON.
IT SHOWS YOU THE STATUS OF OTHER PEOPLE'S REQUESTS ALSO.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, UM, A PRESENTATION IS ONE THING, BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT AND HOW IT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ANOTHER CITY, UM, LOCATION, UH, IT, IT REALLY, IT'S EASIER TO, TO, TO PUT YOUR HAT AROUND IT, I THINK.
AND THAT'S, AND I'M SPEAKING FROM MY EXPERIENCE WHEN I WORK FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTA AND DEPARTMENT OF WATERSHED AND HOW WE TRACKED ALL OF OUR REPAIRS FROM WATER LEAKS TO, UM, RESURFACING INTO EVERYTHING.
SO THIS IS WHY I AM SPEAKING TO THAT.
AND, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO, AND, AND WE HAD HANDHELDS AS WELL.
WE IMPLEMENTED HANDHELD, SO I'M NOT SURE DOWN THE LINE, THAT'S SOMETHING, BUT THAT'S ALSO A BIG PLUS AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT, IT'S REAL TIME.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH REAL TIME.
BUT AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY CAN INVESTIGATE.
WOULD THIS TYPE OF PHONE APP TAKE THE PLACE OF A HANDHELD? NO, HANDHELD FOR HANDHELD FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
THE HANDHELD FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
SO WHEN THEY GO, WE ARRIVE, THEY FIX IT.
SO IT'S, EVERYTHING IS IN REAL TIME.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE GONE PRETTY, PRETTY OVER, UM, I, I HAD MORE, IF YOU WANTED TO SEE IT, I COULD SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY.
UM, I, WHAT WOULD MAKE SENSE DURING THE, IN THE, UH, RESPECT TO TIME, I HAVE A QUICK, JOHN, CAN YOU SEND AN EMAIL TO ME WITH, UM, A LIST OF, UM, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SHOW OFF? AND THEN I CAN FORWARD THAT TO THE BOARD.
AND THEN THEY CAN CHECK THAT AT THEIR LEISURE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF, UH, WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, HOW THEY IMPLEMENT THIS.
AND I GUESS I SHOULD SAY TOO, ON THE OTHER CITY WORKS, AS JOE HAD SAID, WE, WE PARTNER WITH CITI WORKS.
THE INTEGRATION WOULD BE THAT WE'D BE THAT CITIZEN FACING, JUST TO HAMMER, HAMMER DOWN ON THAT POINT AGAIN.
UM, YEAH, THE, THE ANALYTICS ON THE BACKEND IS MAYBE SOMETHING I'LL JUST SKIP TO QUICKLY IN TERMS OF DECISION MAKING.
UH, YOU KNOW, KNOWING WHEN A ROAD NEEDS TO GET PAVED OR THINGS LIKE THAT, AND KIND OF WHAT WE WERE, WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THEIR ISSUES ARE BEING RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T BEING NEGLECTED.
UM, WE HAVE A, A DISCOVERY MAP WHERE YOU CAN SEE HISTORY OF ISSUES PULLED BY, UM, CLOSE DATES, PRIORITY, UH, BUT THESE CAN HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS BASED OFF OF, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU SEE A ROAD THAT HAS 10 POTHOLES IN A ROW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO REPAVE THAT AT THE NEXT TIME INSTEAD OF JUST TO, UH, PATCH IT.
SO THAT'D BE A GOOD
[01:15:01]
OUR ROAD.UH, OR, UH, MAYBE THERE'S A, A LOT OF GRAFFITI IN ONE AREA.
MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE, UH, MORE POLICE PRESENCE IN THAT AREA.
SO A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS CAN KIND OF USE IT TO MAKE SOME, SOME DIFFERENT DECISIONS THERE.
AND, AND THAT MAP, AS YOU SAID, IS ALSO VISIBLE TO ANYBODY USING THE CCL FIX APP.
SO THEY CAN SEE THEIR NEIGHBOR'S COMPLAINTS, THEY CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY LOOK ON THE APP AND SAY, OH, THERE'S A POTHOLE HERE, UM, THEY COULD JUST CHOOSE TO FOLLOW, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE THAT'S ALREADY IN THERE.
WOULD THIS BE USED ALSO FOR, WOULD THIS BE USED ALSO TO REPORT, UM, LOUSY LEAF BLOWER, UH, NOISY, LOUSY, UH, NOISY LEAF BLOWER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY, PRETTY WIDE RANGE FROM, YOU KNOW, YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS A COUCH ON THEIR FRONT YARD FOR A WEEK.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REPORT THAT ANONYMOUSLY SO THAT YOU KNOW, THE, THE TOWN CAN SEE WHO IS REPORTING AND YOU CAN GET AN UPDATE ON IT.
BUT IF YOUR NEIGHBOR WAS TO LOOK ON THE CCL FIX APP, IT'S NOT GONNA SAY YOUR NAME ON IT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT, UH,
UH, THERE'S A PRETTY, PRETTY WIDE RANGE THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF DROPDOWNS THAT SAY ILLEGAL DUMPING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, SO YOU CAN, YOU, WE DON'T HAVE TO INVENT THE WHEEL.
A LOT OF THESE CATEGORIES ARE ALREADY MADE FOR US BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
IT WOULD ALSO BE NICE TO SET UP SOME KIND OF A SANDBOX THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY PLAY AROUND WITH.
SO, UH, WITH SEE QUICK FIX, YOU GOT A SANDBOX ENVIRONMENT, UH, BUILT OUT FOR YOU TO LAUNCH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO LIVE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PLAY AROUND WITH IT, SEE, SEE HOW REQUESTS WORK.
UM, WE HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION TEAM THAT'S ASSIGNED TO YOU AS WELL AS A, A CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER FOR ONGOING TRAINING AS WELL.
SO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF KNOWS HOW TO USE IT.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE USING IT IN THE FIELD, AND IF THERE'S STAFF TURNOVER, WE OFFER TRAINING AT, YOU KNOW, AT NO CHARGE ANYTIME.
SO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S UP AND COMFORTABLE USING IT.
WAS THAT IT? I THINK SO, UM, YEAH, I, UH, FOR, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I, I HAVE A ONE OTHER PIECE I CAN SHOW YOU AS WELL.
UH, I THINK WE COVERED A LOT OF IT, BUT ONE OTHER PIECE IS OUR NOTICES.
UM, SO WITHIN CCL, FIX ANY OF YOUR CCL FIX USERS, IF YOU HAVE, UM, A PARKING BAND COMING UP OR A ROAD CLOSURE OR EVENT COMING UP, UM, YOU CAN SEND OUT NOTICES TO ANY OF YOUR CCL FIX USERS, UM, THAT CAN SAY, HEY, BETWEEN THESE DAYS THERE'S GONNA BE A, UH, A PARKING BAN, UM, AND YOU CAN PUSH THAT OUT TO ANY OF THE C CLICK FIX USERS AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, IT WOULD POP UP ON THEIR PHONE, UM, WITH A NOTICE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE.
YOU CLICK ON IT AND IT GOES INTO THAT TAB WHERE IT SHOWS THE DETAILS OF IT AND THE HISTORY OF ALL THESE NOTICES WILL BE THERE AS WELL.
SO ANOTHER WAY TO ENGAGE, YOU KNOW, BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS, DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS YOU COULD DO OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
UH, BUT YEAH, I THINK WE COVERED A LOT OF THE OTHER STUFF AND QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, YEAH, FOR THE, UH, SAKE OF TIME, I, UH, WANNA THANK EVERYBODY AND I THINK THERE'S, FEEL FREE TO, UM, REACH OUT TO ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, BUT I WILL SHARE WITH JOE, UM, SOME OTHER, UH, OF OUR CLIENTS THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITES AND GET A BETTER IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'RE USING IT IN OTHER OF OUR OTHER, UH, MUNICIPALITIES.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN HOW IT ACTUALLY INTEGRATES INTO OUR SYSTEM SO THAT IT'S SEAMLESS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO NOT HAVE INCOMPATIBLE SOFTWARE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT APP, IT'S FANTASTIC, BUT IT DOESN'T TALK TO ANYTHING ELSE.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL HERE FOR INTEGRATION.
CITI WORKS HAS BEEN A LONG, ONE OF OUR LONG TIME INTEGRATIONS, UH, WHERE THE REQUESTS TRANSFER SEAMLESSLY.
SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE LIVING IN CITY WORKS, DOING THOSE REQUESTS THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO SEE CLICK FIX.
THEY CAN OPEN AND CLOSE TICKETS ON THE CITY WORKS SIDE AND NET THOSE REQUESTS, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CAME THROUGH, UM, CCL, FIX THAT, ANYBODY WILL BE NOTIFIED ON THAT SIDE, UH, WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO LIVE IN TWO SYSTEMS. IT JUST, IT'S A SEAMLESS, SEAMLESS FLOW THERE.
AND WE HAVE, UH, OH, YEAH, NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT, THAT, UM, I THINK, WHO WAS THE, UH, CONSULTANT YOU HAD? WAS IT WARD RICH, WOODWARD AND CURRENT? WOODWARD AND CURRENT, WHEN THEY CAME DOWN,
[01:20:01]
THEY ACTUALLY NARROWED IT DOWN TO TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES BEFORE THEY PUT, UH, PUT, UH, CITI WORKS ON TOP.AND BOTH OF THOSE COMPANIES WE MADE SURE WOULD ACTUALLY, UM, INTEGRATE WITH CCL FIX.
SO THAT FRANCIS, WE WERE DEFINITELY, THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US TOO.
WHAT'S THE NEXT, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS? WONDERFUL.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET YOU PAPERWORK.
SHOULD WE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK? I MEAN, UH, FOR THE WORK SESSION? THIS WAY, THE PAPERWORK FIRST, SO WE CAN SIGN, GET THE PAPERWORK, WE'LL MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND RIGHT.
MOVE ON FROM THERE, JOHN, JOHN, AND RICH AND I WILL HAVE A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION IN PROBABLY THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
WHY DON'T WE, I'M JUST SAYING, WHY DON'T WE PUT, JUST LEAVE IT ON THE AGENDA THIS WAY.
IF WE'RE NOT READY, THEN WE'LL JUST PUT IT ON THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE JUST PUT IT ON THERE WHEN WE'RE READY.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE NOT GONNA SCHEDULE THINGS FOR NEXT TUESDAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS OTHER, YOU KNOW, LARGE ITEM TO DISCUSS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE NOT READY.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN EFFICIENT USE.
LET'S SEE HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE TO DO THAT.
NEXT, THE NEXT AUTHORITY DISCUSSION.
SO WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE BISHOP.
UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU AGAIN.
UH, UH, UH, MS. JACKSON, UH, WANTED ME TO COME ON TONIGHT TO KIND OF CLEAR UP SOME ISSUES OR QUESTIONS START CONCERNING, UH, THE TEMPORARY, UH, PLACEMENT OF THE RESIDENTS AND THEIR, THEIR, UH, ABILITY TO RETURN.
AND, AND I, UH, SPOKE TO OUR CONSULTANT, MS, UM, WALTON, AND SHE IS ON, I DON'T SEE HER, BUT SHE SPOKE.
AND, UH, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE HER, HAVE HER EXPLAIN THE, UH, THE DETAIL.
I THINK SOME OF THE INFORMATION KIND OF PIECEMEALED OUT TO, UH, TO MS. JACKSON AND I THINK, AND THAT'S WHY I HAD MS. ABRAHAM TO SEND OUT THE, THE, UH, COMPLETE NINE PAGE, UM, UH, TRANSFER AGREEMENT.
SO, UH, I'LL LET MS. WALTON, UH, EXPLAIN AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, MR. ABRAHAM IS ALSO ON, AND WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT BE, UH, NECESSARY TO ANSWER.
I'M, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME KICKBACK.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S, I GOT KICKED BACK AND I, I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'M, I'M, I'M TRANSIT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF THIS IS BETTER OR GOOD.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GEN, THE GENERAL INFORMATION NOTICE THAT WENT OUT.
AND IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS IN ADDITION TO THOSE, UM, I WANT YOU GUYS TO LET ME KNOW AND I'LL ANSWER THEM.
BUT AS IT RELATES TO THE GEN, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS WHO PROBABLY DIDN'T COME TO THE MEETING OR PARTICIPATE IN IT, THAT WHEN THEY GOT THE GEN DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THE GEN.
WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, WE HELD OFF PUTTING THAT GEN OUT THERE FOR WEEKS SO THAT WE COULD GET AMPLE NOTIFICATION OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO MEET WITH THEM, TO DISCUSS THAT THIS NOTICE, THIS GENERAL INFORMATION NOTICE, WHICH IS A HUD REQUIREMENT THAT IT WAS COMING OUT, BUT THAT IT'S THE FIRST OF THREE DIFFERENT NOTICES THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD RECEIVE OR, OR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FROM HUD.
THE GENERAL INFORMATION NOTICE IS JUST A NOTICE THAT THAT SAYS IN GENERAL, YOUR PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT'S UP FOR TRANSFORMATION.
THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE AS A RESIDENT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT MOVE RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU MOVE, YOU MIGHT, YOU MIGHT, IT DIDN'T SAY YOU WILL, BUT THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE YOUR RIGHTS.
SO DON'T GO ANYWHERE, RIGHT? DON'T JUST TAKE OFF AND MOVE.
UM, YOU'LL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NOW, THAT'S WHAT HUD REQUIRES US TO TELL THE RESIDENTS AT THE GEN STAGE.
SO WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR IS SOMETHING THAT SAYS YOU ARE GUARANTEED A RIGHT TO RETURN.
[01:25:01]
MAN MANDATED LANGUAGE.AND, AND IF YOU ALL HAVE HAD ANY KINDA DEALINGS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY HUD, YOU HAVE TO TAKE HUD'S FORM AND HUD'S FORM LANGUAGE AND NOT PLAY WITH THAT SO THAT YOU CAN BE, UM, UH, COMPLIANT WITH F H E O AND HUD AND ALL THOSE RULES.
AND THAT'S WHERE THAT GEN NOTICE COMES IN.
AFTER THE GENERAL INFORMATION NOTICE, THE RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE WHAT IS CALLED A 90 DAY NOTICE.
AND IN THE 90 DAY NOTICE, THAT'S WHERE WE START TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY AROUND, UM, THAT FAMILY OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RELOCATION AND RIGHTS OF RETURN.
BUT IN THE DETERMINATION LETTER, AND THAT'S THE THIRD AND THE FINAL ONE, THAT'S WHERE THEY GET A SIGNED DOCUMENT THAT IS A CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENT THAT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO RETURN.
NOW, WE HAVE EXPRESSED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UM, IN MANY MEETINGS AND MANY PUBLIC FORUMS ON PHONE CALLS THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RETURN.
WE'VE ALSO EXPRESSED THAT, UM, THE HOUSING, THE NEW YORK STATE HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY MADE IT CLEAR THEY WOULD NOT FINANCE THIS PROJECT UNLESS WE MADE SURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT, EVEN THE OVER INCOME RESIDENTS, HAD THE GUARANTEED RIGHT TO RETURN TO THE SITE IF THEY WANTED TO.
AND SO WE'VE CLARIFIED THAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL, PROVIDED ALL OF THAT, UM, IN WRITING IN A PRESENTATION TO THEM.
AND SO I THINK THE NEXT THING THAT THEY CAN GET AND SHOULD GET IS THAT CONTRACTUAL PIECE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED RIGHT TO RETURN.
YOU HAVE ELECTED TO RELOCATE TEMPORARILY AND YOU WANT TO RETURN, AND WE GUARANTEE YOU THE RIGHT TO RETURN.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT MAY NOT ELECT TO RELOCATE TEMPORARILY.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAY WANT TO GO PERMANENTLY.
AND WITH THIS, UM, THIS INVENTORY REMOVAL ACTION, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT FOR RESIDENTS.
I, I LIKE TO CALL IT THEIR CHOICE AND THEIR VOICE.
THEY CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
THEY GET TO DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THEY WILL GET TENANT BASED VOUCHERS IF THEY TAKE THEIR SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATE AND GO WHEREVER THEY WANNA GO.
OR IF THEY TAKE THEIR SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATE AND COME BACK TO US.
AND THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE OVER INCOME WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATES BECAUSE IT'S A U R A ACTION, UH, UNIFORM RELOCATION ACT ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM AND HELP THEM TO GO WHEREVER IT IS THEY WANNA GO.
AND WELL, LEMME SEE WITHIN REASON, UM, IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO AWAY TEMPORARILY, AND I, AND I, I THINK THE NUMBER'S 42 MONTHS, I THINK FOR 42 MONTHS, WE HAVE TO CARRY, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO CARRY WHATEVER INCREMENTAL INCREASE AND COST THERE IS FOR LIVING FOR THEM IF THEY OPT NOT TO COME BACK.
OUR HOPE IS THAT, AND, AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH HOUSING ACTION COUNCIL TO DO IS THOSE HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE SUBSTANTIAL INCOME.
AND BY THE WAY, WE HAVE RESIDENTS LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING THAT ARE MAKING WELL OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.
WE HAVE HOUSEHOLD, AT LEAST, AT LEAST ONE, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THAT'S MAKING NEARLY $170,000 A YEAR LIVING IN A PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.
WHAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO OFFER TO THEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE MOVE INTO HOME OWNERSHIP.
NOW, HOME OWNERSHIP MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAPPEN RIGHT THERE IN GREENBURG BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THE VALUE PROPERTY VALUES ARE SO HIGH.
I DON'T THINK MANY OF US CAN AFFORD TO LIVE THERE IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY LIVE THERE OR INHERIT A PLACE THERE.
BUT THERE ARE PLACES, GREAT PLACES WITH NICE HOMES THAT IF A RESIDENT IS INTERESTED IN, WE CAN HELP TO GET THEM INTO HOME OWNERSHIP.
I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY FAMILY RECEIVES COUNSELING INDIVIDUALLY, UM, AROUND THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
SO THEY GOT A NOTICE, ULTIMATELY, THEY GOT A NOTICE.
MOST DID NOT JUMP UP AND COMPLAIN BECAUSE MOST HEARD AND KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
THERE ARE A FEW WHO DID NOT POTENTIALLY ATTEND ANY OF THE MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND SO WHEN THEY GOT THE NOTICE, MAYBE THEY, THEY GOT A LITTLE, UH, SPOOKED
[01:30:01]
AND CALLED YOU GUYS.THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING.
UM, MUST HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH OUTREACH, UM, WAY MORE THAN IS EVEN NORMAL IN THESE SITUATIONS TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AND WE'VE GOT A MEETING COMING UP THAT WE'RE SCHEDULING TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT, UM, UM, MATERIALS, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE UNITS ARE GONNA LOOK, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE EXTERIOR, THAT KIND OF THING.
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH PLAYGROUNDS.
ALL THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT, UM, WE HAVE COMING FORWARD FROM RESIDENTS WHO ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY'RE NOT CALLING ABOUT FEARFUL THAT THEY WON'T HAVE A RIGHT OF RETURN.
THEY'RE CALLING TO UNDERSTAND NOW, UM, WHEN CAN WE HAVE A MEETING ABOUT FIXTURES AND FINISHES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WILL WE HAVE CENTRAL AIR? AND YES, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE CENTRAL AIR NOW THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UH, WINDOW UNITS HANGING OUT AND NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, YOU KNOW, NEW CABINETS.
I MEAN, THESE UNITS ARE GONNA BE TAKEN DOWN BASICALLY TO THE STUDS AND THEN, UM, COMPLETELY, UH, RENOVATED.
SO THERE'LL BE BEAUTIFUL UNITS FOR OUR RESIDENTS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO COME BACK.
AND THOSE WHO DON'T, IT'S THEIR CHOICE AND THEIR RIGHT TO TAKE THEIR, THEIR VOUCHER AND GO WHEREVER THEY WANNA GO.
SO NOW I'M, I'M CERTAINLY FREE FOR WHATEVER QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU PUT THAT LETTER THAT YOU, UM, HAD UP EARLIER, PLEASE? CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THAT UP ON THE SCREEN? TERRY? TERRY, WHEN YOU SAY THEY CAN GO WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO, DO YOU MEAN THEORETICALLY IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GO TO PUERTO RICO OR HAWAII? THEORETICALLY, WHEREVER THERE IS PUBLIC HOUSING, AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT INCLUDES PUERTO RICO, HAWAII, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.
THEY CAN GO THOSE THAT, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND HOW REALISTIC IS THAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANTED TO GO THERE, UM, WE, THEY COULD PORT IN.
YOU CAN'T, THE WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WENT TO THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER MODEL FROM THE SECTION EIGHT MODEL.
UM, THEY, THEY ALLOWED FOR PORTABILITY.
AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THIS TOO 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA BE, YOU KNOW, BOG YOU GUYS DOWN WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION BECAUSE I CAN BE TOO MUCH OF A TECHNICIAN AT TIMES.
BUT, UM, THE OLD PROGRAM, YOU, AND, AND EVEN THIS PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO WAIT ONE YEAR BEFORE YOU CAN DO WHAT'S CALLED POURED OUT WHAT YOUR VOUCHER, RIGHT? BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A SECTION 22, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THE DAY THAT THEY GET THEIR VOUCHER.
THEY CAN DO WHAT YOU CALL POURED OUT.
THEY CAN SAY, WE WANNA GO TO HAWAII.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED A PLACE IN HAWAII THAT WE WANNA GET TO.
UM, AND, AND WE CAN'T STOP THEM.
WE CAN ALLOW THEM TO GO THERE.
NOW THE GOVERNMENT PUTS, WE COULDN'T, LIKE, I COULDN'T SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SEND A PERSON TO HAWAII, BUT WITHIN REASON, WE CAN PROVIDE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR THEM TO MOVE TO HAWAII.
IF THEY'VE IDENTIFIED A PLACE THAT THEY WANNA GO IN HAWAII, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY, UM, THREE OPTIONS FOR THEM FOR RE WE PERSONALLY HAVE TO IDENTIFY THREE OPTIONS FOR THEM, UH, TO RELOCATE THAT ARE COMPARABLE OR BETTER THAN WHERE THEY CURRENTLY ARE, EVEN FOR TEMPORARILY, EVEN FOR TEMPORARY RELOCATION.
AND HUD PREFERS THAT WHEN YOU OFFER RELOCATION OPTIONS, THEY ARE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT, UH, BURDENED BY, UM, DISTRESS, UH, ECONOMIC DISTRESS OR TOO MUCH DENSITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT, UH, WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO.
AND THEN THINGS LIKE GUYS LIKE, UM, UH, PACKING, UM, THE MOVING COMPANY, UH, UTILITY HOOKUPS, UH, ANY, ANY OTHER KIND OF SERVICE FEES, LIKE IF THEY HAD A, IF CABLE COMPANY THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, AT AND T OR WHATEVER, THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING DISCONNECTION FEES AND RECONNECTION FEES FOR THEM, EVEN IF THEY DO THIS TEMPORARILY, WE'RE GONNA END UP DOING THAT, UH, FOR, FOR THEM TO LEAVE AND GO TO THE TEMPORARY LOCATION, LEAVE THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION, AND COME BACK TO THE PROPERTY PERMANENTLY.
WE PAY FOR ALL OF THAT AND ALL OF THOSE RELOCATION FEES, THOSE ARE ALL THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR SO THAT WE DON'T, UH, UM, UNNECESSARILY OR UNDULY IMPACT THE RESIDENTS WHILE WE'RE WORKING TO BRING THEM BETTER PLACES TO LIVE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, FOR THAT EXPLANATION, BISHOP.
UM, SO WHEN I CONTACTED BISHOP, I CONTACTED BISHOP BECAUSE I RECEIVED THIS LETTER, UM, FROM A RESIDENCE WHO WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE
[01:35:01]
OF THEIR RESIDENCY UNDER, UH, SECTION EIGHT OR, OR AS IS DESCRIBED AS PUBLIC HOUSING.SO AS I'M READING THIS LETTER, MS. WARDEN, UM, WHEN I READ IT, I WAS VERY CONCERNED AND I WAS TAKEN BACK.
NOW IT JUST SAID THAT IT, IT READS AND EVERYONE CAN READ IT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET TO A, A AS DISCUSSED AT RESIDENT MEETINGS, PUBLIC ASSISTANT AND PROJECT IS BEING CONVERTED TO SECTION EIGHT, TENANT BASE ASSISTANCE IN ACCORDANCE TO SECTION 22 OF UNITED STATES HOUSING ACT 1937.
UM, LEMME JUST KNOW THE PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NO LONGER BE USED AS PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND YOU'LL BE, AND YOU MAY I'LL BE CLEAR ON THAT, YOU MAY BE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF CONVERSION OF PUBLIC HOUSING ASSISTANCE UNDER SECTION 22.
SO WHEN I READ THIS AND, AND YOU KNOW, I'M JUST, I'M VERY CONCERNED AS IS, UM, AS, AS THE RESIDENT WHO RECEIVED THIS LETTER.
AND SO I'M JUST, AND I KNOW THAT BISHOP, YOU HAD RAJU SENT ME ANO SEND ME ANOTHER LETTER.
HOWEVER, THAT LETTER WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THIS LETTER AND IT WAS NINE PAGES.
SO LET'S JUST START WITH THIS LETTER FIRST.
CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THIS LETTER MEANS? SO THIS LETTER, WHAT THIS LETTER IS SAYING IS THAT, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE LETTER, YOU ONLY HAVE PIECE OF IT SHOWING RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS LETTER IS SAYING THAT WE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO OPERATE THE DEVELOPMENT AS LOW INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING.
THE HOUSING THAT THE PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING, UH, FUNDS, UH, SUBSIDIZES IS MAYBE A BETTER WORD, FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES.
THERE IS SECTION NINE, WHICH IS YOUR TRADITIONAL, CONVENTIONAL PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND SECTION EIGHT, WHICH IS YOUR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER, PORTABLE AND PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER, UH, UNITS.
SO THIS IS TELLING YOU THAT UNDER THIS SECTION 22 ACT, WE ARE NO LONGER GONNA FALL UNDER SECTION NINE OF THE HOUSING ACT.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE MOVING TO SECTION EIGHT OF THE HOUSING ACT.
AND FOR THE RESIDENTS, THE ONLY DISTINCTION IS THAT BECAUSE THEY STILL PAY 30% OF THEIR GROSS ANNUALLY ADJUSTED INCOME, WE ARE STILL PROVIDING A SUBSIDY FOR THEIR HOUSING.
THE DIFFERENCE AND THE DISTINCTION IS NOW THEY CONTROL THAT SUBSIDY.
IT, IT IS CONTROLLED BY THEM AND NOT BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND IT IS NOT STUCK JUST TO THE UNIT.
I THINK THAT, UM, GINA IS SAYING, AND YOU KNOW, I SPOKE TO BISHOP PRESTON, UH, UH, YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS, IS THAT THE LETTER, WHEN YOU READ IT WORD FOR WORD TO THE AVERAGE, IT'S ALL LEGALESE AND IT'S A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SCARY FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO GETS IT.
SO THE SUGGESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE, UM, AND I AGREE WITH UM, GINA ON THIS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A FRIENDLIER, UM, EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, UM, LETTER TO THE TENANTS I THINK WOULD BE, UM, APPRECIATED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WHEN I READ IT I THOUGHT, OH MY GOSH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE, YOU KNOW, NOW THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, MOVE OUT OF, UH, GREENBERG AND YOU, THIS IS IT.
YOU'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE LEGAL, UH, REQUIREMENTS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF THE WAY THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE LETTER IS WRITTEN.
SO A SUPPLEMENT LETTER SHOULD REALLY BE SENT.
SO CAN WE CANCEL? SO BEFORE, SO CAN WE PUT UP, SO THIS IS ONE LETTER, SO CAN WE DO THE, WE CAN COMPARISON OF THE OTHER LETTER TOO, BECAUSE THIS IS, WHILE YOU'RE, WHILE YOU'RE PUTTING THAT UP, AND THIS IS TWO DIFFERENT, HOLD ON, MS. WALDEN, I JUST WANNA JUST POINT THIS OUT REALLY QUICKLY.
SO THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME FROM BISHOP, UM, I'M SORRY I TAKE THAT BACK FROM RAJU, I BELIEVE AND SIGNED BY RAJU WAS FOR DIFFERENT PROPERTY.
THIS IS FOR A A, THIS IS TWO DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
SO I'M SORRY FRANCIS, CAN YOU JUST PLEASE BRING UP THE OTHER LETTER? DO YOU HAVE THAT OTHER LETTER? I HAVE TO PULL THAT UP AT A MOMENT, BUT OKAY.
BUT BEFORE WE GET THERE IS, WHEN DID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DECIDE THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE PUBLIC HOUSING ANYMORE? I, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE A LOT OF CHANGES ON MANHATTAN AVENUE, BUT THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE SCATTERED SITE HOUSING AND IT SAYS WILL NO LONGER BE USED AS PUBLIC HOUSING.
I NOW HEAR THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAKE $170,000 IN INCOME IN OUR PUBLIC, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS LOW INCOME HOUSING.
UH, THAT'S NOT, DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT HAD TO HAVE HAPPENED PRIOR
[01:40:01]
TO THE TRANSITION.I, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THIS POINT.
BUT WHEN SOMEBODY GETS A LETTER THAT SAYS IT WILL NO LONGER BE USED AS PUBLIC HOUSING WHEN THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN KNOWN FOR, ACTUALLY LOW INCOME HOUSING, UH, THAT IS VERY CONCERNING.
AND WHAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME IS WHAT WE'VE HAD THESE MEETINGS BEFORE AND WE SAID BEFORE YOU SEND OUT ANY KIND OF A MAJOR NOTICE, LET THE TOWN BOARD KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES THAT GET THE CALLS.
AND THAT AGAIN, DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE, BUT WE GOT THIS ONE FIRST AND THEN AFTERWARDS WHEN WE STARTED TO SAY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, THEN WE GOT THE NINE PAGE ONE.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THAT WAY 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WASN'T AGREED TO IN THE PAST.
AND WE'LL SAY, I'M SURE, OH YES, WELL, IN THE FUTURE WE'LL DO THIS.
BUT THEN WHEN I HEAR IN THE FUTURE I, THERE'S A LETTER THAT SAYS THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NO LONGER TO BE USED AS PUBLIC HOUSING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU NUANCE THOSE WORDS TO MEAN ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NO LONGER BE USED AS PUBLIC HOUSING.
WHAT'S ALSO UNCLEAR ABOUT THIS, IT'S ALSO UNCLEAR ABOUT LETTER, WHAT'S ALSO UNCLEAR ABOUT THIS LETTER IS IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH, THE STATEMENT YOU MAY DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE CONVERSION OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNDER SECTION 22.
THAT WOULD BE VERY ALARMING TO ME HAD I RECEIVED THIS LETTER, IS IT, IS IT CLEAR TO THE RESIDENT, UH, WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE THAT THEY, UNDER WHICH THEY MAY BE DISPLACED? THIS IS A FRIGHTENING STATEMENT, RIGHT? SO THAT'S, I JUST WANNA SAY ONE THING BEFORE YOU GO ON, WHICH IS THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE CAMPAIGN OF, OF, OF MEETINGS WITH TENANTS BEFORE ANY OF THESE LETTERS WENT OUT.
SO, SO THIS IS WHAT THEY DIDN'T GET THE LETTER COLD, RIGHT? WE'VE THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN MEETINGS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, FOR MONTHS, YOU KNOW, SO THEY DIDN'T, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT GOT LOST BECAUSE I SAID THAT WHEN I, IN MY OPENING COMMENTS THAT WE HELD OFF SUBMITTING THAT LETTER SO THAT WE COULD GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS AND HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS JUST BEFORE TO SAY, THIS IS COMING TO YOU GUYS AND THIS IS WHAT THIS MEANS.
I EVEN HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT I'VE DONE THREE TIMES NOW WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT NOTICES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RECEIVE AND WHAT THOSE NOTICES MEAN.
AND I NEED YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I TRIED TO EXPLAIN, AND MAYBE IT DIDN'T COME OUT CLEAR, BUT THE LANGUAGE IN THAT NOTICE IS THE LEGALESE THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE IN THAT NOTICE TO BE COMPLIANT WITH WHAT HUD SAYS WE NEED TO EXPLAIN TO THE RESIDENTS.
SO THAT WAY, WHATEVER I'M SAYING, THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT IN WRITING AND THAT'S WHAT THAT NOTICE DOES.
AND SO I CAN'T, I CAN'T MI AND BY THE WAY, THE LAWYERS, UM, WERE REQUIRED TO LOOK AT THAT LETTER, WRITE IT, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DID EVERYTHING HUN AND F H E O WOULD REQUIRE FROM US.
THAT NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE US FROM GUARANTEEING RESIDENTS THE RIGHT OF RETURN.
WHAT IT DOES IS THAT IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS TO THE RESIDENTS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THEM ABOUT.
BY THE WAY, LET ME ALSO SAY THIS TO YOU ALL LONG BEFORE WE COULD DO THE SECTION 22 ACT, WE CAME AND WE HAD TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EVERYONE.
NOW, WHETHER THAT KIND OF GOT LOST, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT, OKAY? IF I CAN SAY THIS, WE'RE
IS THAT, IS THAT SOMEBODY AM AM I, AM I OKAY TO STILL KEEP GOING? I'VE DONE THIS.
I I, I'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR 30 YEARS GUYS, AND I DO THIS IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN PUBLIC HOUSING IS AN ATROCITY.
IT IS UNFAIR NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, BUT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING UP IN IT AND PUBLIC HOUSING.
LIKE GREENBERG'S IS THE KIND OF PUBLIC HOUSING THAT NEEDS TO BE REDEVELOPED.
HUD NO LONGER WANTS TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF SECTION NINE HOUSING.
SO WE DO SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.
WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS PUT VULNERABLE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET AND NOT SUBSIDIZE THEIR HOUSING OR HOUSING
[01:45:01]
COSTS, BURDEN THEM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY ARE, THEY ARE, UM, HURTING IN A WAY THAT THEY WEREN'T BEFORE.SO WE ARE STILL, WHAT SECTION NINE PUBLIC HOUSING DID WAS IT GAVE FOLK A SUBSIDY THAT SAID YOUR HOUSING COST BURDEN SHALL NOT EXCEED 30% OF YOUR GROSS ANNUALLY ADJUSTED INCOME SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE SOMEWHERE AND NOT HAVE TO BE HAND TO MOUTH IN TERMS OF, BECAUSE OF THE COST OF YOUR LIVING.
THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM DOES THE SAME THING.
THE PROBLEM WITH SECTION NINE IS THAT IT FORCED A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE POOREST OF PEOPLE TO ALL LIVE TOGETHER TO BE DISTINGUISHED AS THE POOREST OF THE PEOPLE AND TO BE STIGMATIZED AS THE POOREST OF THE PEOPLE.
SECTION EIGHT GIVES FOLK AN OPPORTUNITY TO CH TO CHOOSE, I DON'T WANNA LIVE AROUND ALL THE OTHER POOR PEOPLE.
I WANNA LIVE WHERE I WANNA LIVE.
AND IT GIVES THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
NOW WE ALSO ARE NOT TEARING DOWN AND DOING AWAY WITH THE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE.
SO LAYERED ON, IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THOSE SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATES IS WE HAVE TAKE, WE ARE TAKING THE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE, WE ARE PRESERVING IT AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE LONG TERM AND PROVIDING THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT ON IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSING CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS LOW INCOME HOUSING.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GET RESIDENTS IN THERE THAT ARE WAY OVER INCOME.
THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES OVER TIME.
RESIDENTS START OUT BEING, UH, INCOME ELIGIBLE MAKING BELOW AT OR BELOW 80% BY THE WAY OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME 80.
AND WE SHOULD PULL WHAT YOUR NUMBERS ARE LIKE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT WHAT, 80% OF A M I LOOKS LIKE, BUT THEY START OUT INCOME ELIGIBLE AND WHILE THEY'RE LIVING THERE, SOMETIMES THEY GET JOBS, THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THEY START TO DO BETTER, THEY START TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND THEY DON'T MOVE, THEY DON'T GO, THEY STAY IN THAT HOUSING INSTEAD OF MOVING ON AND MOVING OUT AND MOVING UP.
AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE ON AND MOVE OUT AND MOVE UP OR THE OPPORTUNITY HASN'T PRESENTED ITSELF FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE ON AND MOVE OUT AND MOVE UP.
THIS ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING RIGHT NOW IS A PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE NOW WE CAN SUPPORT 'EM, WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME SUPPORT AND A LITTLE BIT OF WIND, THOSE WHO WANNA GO TO GO ON AND THEN OPEN UP THAT, THAT RESOURCE FOR SOMEONE WHO REALLY DOES NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN IF THEY STILL DON'T WANNA GO AND THEY'RE MAKING 160,000, $170,000 A YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE MUST GUARANTEE EVERYONE THE RIGHT TO RETURN THE NET $170,000 FAMILY IS GONNA BE LIVING IN ONE OF THOSE SORELY NEEDED AFFORDABLE UNITS.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE GUARANTEE THAT WE HAVE FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE.
NOW IS THAT GUARANTEED THROUGH THE RECERTIFICATION PROCESS? BECAUSE I GUESS I'M HERE, I'M HEARING A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO YOU SAID THAT EVENTUALLY AT SOME POINT THEIR, THEIR INCOME LEVEL WILL CHANGE RIGHT OVER TIME, BUT I ALSO HEARD THAT YOU HAVE TO BE RE-CERTIFIED.
SO IF YOU HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AND YOU MAX OUT AS FAR AS THE INCOME REQUIREMENT, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY? ARE THEY GIVEN A, A TIMEFRAME AS TO OKAY, UNFORTUNATELY, OR FORTUNATELY IN THIS CASE THAT YOU KNOW, YOU DO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON.
HOWEVER, IN HOWEVER WE WILL, WE WILL FIND YOU A PLACE IN ONE OF OUR OTHER UNITS, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER AREA, ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE WITHIN GREENBURG.
'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA LIVE LEAVE GREENBURG.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? NO, HOW DOES NO COMMISSIONER OBJECT? I'M SORRY.
LET ME JUST, HOW DOES THE PER, HOW DOES THE PERSON GET WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT AT $40,000 A YEAR AND NOW ALL THE WAY UP TO $170,000 A YEAR WITH NO, IS THERE ANY COMMUNICATION, IS THERE ANYTHING CORRESPONDENCE TO THEM? NO, NO.
THE PROGRAM DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT MS MS. JACKSON, UNFORTUNATELY, THE, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE GAPS IN THE LOW INCOME PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM IS WE HAVE TO RECERTIFY YOU EVERY YEAR.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO, BUT IF YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE NO LONGER, UH, PUBLIC HOUSING ELIGIBLE IN TERMS OF INCOME, THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO REMOVE A PERSON FROM A PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT.
THERE'S NO MECHANISM TO DO THAT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEIR RENT GOES UP, COMMISERATE WITH THEIR INCOME, BUT IT ALSO GETS CAPPED BY WHAT ARE CALLED CEILING RENTS, RIGHT? SO LET'S SAY,
[01:50:01]
LET'S SAY YOUR RENT, IF WE WENT BY YOUR INCOME, YOUR RENT WOULD'VE BEEN $4,000 A MONTH BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE MAKING.BUT THE CEILING RENT IS THE FAIR MARKET RENT AND THE FAIR MARKET RENT IS $1,800, THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA PAY MORE THAN THE CEILING RENT.
SO, SO, SO IF I'M A RESIDENT, WHY WOULD I LEAVE? WHY WOULD I LEAVE? BECAUSE SEE, THEY GET TO CHOOSE THAT TOO.
THE, THE HUD REQUIRES US AS A PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ALLOW THE RESIDENT TO SELECT ONE OF THE TWO OPTIONS.
YOU GET TO CHOOSE TO PAY THE LOWER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT OF THE, THE CEILING RENT OR YOUR, UH, WHAT'S CALLED YOUR FORMULA RENT.
AND THAT'S THE RENT THAT'S YOUR 30% OF YOUR GROSS ANNUALLY ADJUSTED INCOME.
SO OF COURSE IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT, YOU'RE GONNA CHOOSE THE LOWEST RENT.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE MAKING THAT KIND OF MONEY, THE CEILING RENT IS LOWER THAN THEIR FORMULA RENT.
WE HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.
AND, AND I DON'T, I I I THINK THAT UNDERSTANDING HOW PUBLIC HOUSING WORKS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT RECERTIFICATION VERSUS RESCREENING BECAUSE HERE'S THE OTHER MISNOMER THAT I HEAR IS BEING BATTERED AROUND THERE IN GREENBURG RECERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED BY HUD.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE YOUR INCOME.
YOU MUST, YOU ARE REQUIRED, IT IS IN YOUR LEASE TO BE COMPLIANT WITH PROVIDING US YOUR INCOME INFORMATION.
THROUGH THAT INCOME INFORMATION WE PUT, WE POST THAT UP TO HUD'S PICK SYSTEM AND HUD DEFINES AND DETERMINES HOW MUCH SUBSIDY WE GET, WHAT THE TENANT PAY PORTION OF THE RENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
IF YOU DO NOT RE-CERTIFY, YOU ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO BE LIVING IN THAT UNIT.
AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO MOVE TO EVICT.
A LOT OF HOUSING AUTHORITIES DON'T DO THAT.
THEY DO OTHER THINGS THAT I JUST, I DON'T EVEN WANNA REALLY GET INTO IT HERE IN THIS FORUM IN, IN ORDER TO, TO MAKE HUD THINK THAT THESE RESIDENTS ARE RECERTIFYING TO KEEP 'EM IN THE UNITS, BUT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BEING EVICTED.
BUT NOBODY WANTS TO EVICT A PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SUPPLYING THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR INCOME INFORMATION AS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BY LAW WITH HUD.
NOW A RESCREENING IS DIFFERENT.
A SCREENING IS TIED TO THINGS THAT ARE LIKE, UM, UH, HOW WELL YOU PAY YOUR RENT, UM, WHAT YOUR CREDIT SCORE LOOKS LIKE.
UM, UH, IF YOU'VE BEEN EVICTED FROM ANOTHER PLACE, DO WE TAKE YOU INTO OUR UNITS? WELL, HUD DOESN'T MANDATE AND DICTATE OUR SCREENING CRITERIA.
CRITERIA THEY DID, THEY USED TO DO MORE OF IT.
THERE ARE A FEW LITTLE THINGS THEY DO.
UM, BUT WE USED HAVE ONE STRIKE POLICIES AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE GOT IN TROUBLE WITH.
UH, UN UNLESS YOU'RE A PEDOPHILE AND SOME A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, WE CAN'T SCREEN YOU.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SCREEN YOU OUT.
AND WHAT THIS HOUSING AUTHORITY GREENBERG HAS SAID IS THAT THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN SCATTERED SITE WILL NOT BE RESCREENED.
IF THEY WANT TO RETURN, THEY WILL GET TO RETURN.
THEY MUST PROVIDE THEIR INCOME INFORMATION, THEY MUST RE-CERTIFY CERTIFICATION WILL NOT KEEP THEM FROM LIVING IN THE UNITS BECAUSE THE UNITS ARE, UM, ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
THE HOU, THE STATE HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY SAID IDENTIFY EVERY OVER INCOME RESIDENT AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A UNIT AVAILABLE FOR THEM IF THEY WANT TO COME BACK.
SO WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO UNDERWRITE ALL OF OUR UNITS AS TAX CREDIT UNITS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE STOPPED OR CAPPED AT THE TAX CREDIT RENT LEVELS THERE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UH, REMAIN AFFORDABLE.
SO I HOPE THAT ALSO KIND OF DISPELS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESCREENING AND RECERTIFICATION.
THE AGENCY IS NOT RESCREENING.
YOU CAN HAVE A POOR RENT PAYMENT HISTORY, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
YOU CAN OWE THE AGENCY, UH, SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BACK RENT, WHICH MOST OF THEM DO BECAUSE THEY DECIDED TO STOP PAYING THEIR RENT.
EVEN A HUNDRED THOUSAND, $160,000 FAMILY JUST NOT PAYING RENT.
THAT DOESN'T STOP THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO COME BACK TO THE UNIT.
THEY ARE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT OF RETURN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW BETTER, HOW MORE CLEAR TO SAY THAT SO THAT ULTIMATELY, UH, FOLK LIKE YOURSELVES CAN SAY, NO, YOU GUYS ARE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT OF RETURN.
IT'S CLEAR YOU GUYS ARE GUARANTEED IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK, YOU CAN COME BACK AND IF YOU WANNA GO, YOU CAN GO.
AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN GOING OVER NUMEROUS TIMES.
UH, MANY OF THE OCCASIONS OF THE MEETINGS, UH, KEN WAS
[01:55:01]
THERE TO GO OVER WITH US.UM, AND, AND WE'VE, WE HAD EXTRA MEETINGS SO THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE CLEAR.
UM, AND, AND ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS WERE AT MEETINGS.
THERE WERE A FEW, MAYBE TWO, THREE THAT DIDN'T SHOW UP.
BUT UH, AND THAT WAS THEIR CHOICE.
BUT EVERYBODY HAD AN INVITATION.
EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO BE INVITED TO THE MEETING, BUT ASK QUESTIONS.
EVERYBODY WILL BE, UH, INTERVIEWED ON A INDIVIDUAL BASIS SO THAT MY BUSINESS IS NOT YOUR BUSINESS.
YOUR BUSINESS IS NOT MY BUSINESS.
MY NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR, SO I NEED TO GET MY NEEDS MET.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IN INCOME ARE ARE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE MUST DO BY HUD REGULATION AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UH, THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE TREATED IN A FAIR AND E EQUITABLE WAY.
THE THE OTHER THING IS, UH, WE GIVE THEM THREE UNITS TO CHOOSE FROM.
THEY CHOOSE THE UNIT AND ONCE THEY CHOOSE THE UNIT, THEN AN AGREEMENT IS MADE FOR THAT UNIT THAT THEY CHOSE.
AND IT IS NOT THAT WE PUSHED THEM INTO A UNIT.
WE HAVE HAVEN'T GET DONE THAT WITH ANY OF THE PEOPLE WE USE.
WE MOVED OR TRANSFERRED FROM MANHATTAN AVENUE UP AND ONE, ONE PARTICULAR PERSON, WE UH, SHOWED THAT PERSON LIKE NINE OR 10 UNITS BEFORE WE COULD GET THEM TO MOVE.
THAT IS THE EXTENT OF OUR EFFORT.
AND MANY OF THEM FOUR AND FIVE UNITS WE SHOWED BEFORE THEY CHOSE THE UNIT.
SO WE HAD, WE ARE GOING OVER AND ABOVE WHAT'S REQUIRED AND IN ORDER TO MEET THEM OVER HALFWAY SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE, BE, UM, UH, UH, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING ALSO WITH THE SCHOOL SITUATION.
AND WE ARE, IF WE CANNOT FIND, SAY A FAMILY NEED A FIVE BEDROOM AND FIVE BEDROOMS ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, BUT IF THEY HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE CATCHMENT AREA OF GREENBURG AND THERE ARE NO BUSES TO TAKE THEM TO THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY'RE REGISTERED, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO GET.
SO, SO WE ARE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS, ALL OF THIS GOING, WE, WE HAVE TWO NUMEROUS TIMES WITH THE RESIDENTS.
OKAY, SO IS THAT OUTLINED? RIGHT? RIGHT.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T FIND THAT IN THE POWERPOINT.
THAT'S, AND THAT'S LISTED ON THE, YOUR, YOUR WEBSITE, THE G H A WEBSITE.
SO EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN WHICH, UM, ABOUT THE BUSING AND THERE WASN'T.
THERE WAS I DID, I DID, I DID SEE THAT THERE WAS A PIECE ABOUT THAT YOU HAD TO BE RE-CERTIFIED.
SO I GUESS, I GUESS FOR ME, AND, AND BISHOP, YOU AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT CLEAR AND, AND, AND I JUST, IT IT JUST NEEDS TO BE LIKE CLEARLY NOT LIGHT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE OUTLINED CLEARLY IN BULLET POINT FORM BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT YOU JUST EXPLAINED AND YOU EXPLAINED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SECTION SECTION EIGHT AND SECTION NINE AND SECTION 22, AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, I'M NOT A HOUSING PERSON, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THIS LEGALESE.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS LIVING IN A SCATTER SITE TO RECEIVE THIS LETTER, AND MAYBE, AND TO, TO YOUR POINT, YOU SAID YOU DID GIVE SOME, YOU DID GIVE ORIENTATIONS AND, AND, AND UM, UH, AND HAD EVENTS TO EXPLAIN THESE ISSUES OR EXPLAIN THE CHANGES THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPE, HOWEVER, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS? WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR WHATEVER REASON JUST COULD NOT GET THERE? UM, I MEAN THERE'S NO WAY.
NO, YOU CAN NEVER OVER COMMUNICATE.
AND, AND CLEARLY AND CLEARLY WHEN I RECEIVED THAT AND CLEARLY WHEN, YOU KNOW, I, I SHARED IT WITH THE BOARD THAT THERE WAS CONCERN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND I GET LEGALESE CAN BE VERY HARSH AT TIMES.
BUT IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS LIMITED INCOME OR MAYBE HA OR MAYBE CHALLENGED IN SOME SORT OF WAY AND TO RECEIVE THAT LETTER AND FELT THAT THEY ALMOST ARE GONNA BE TAKEN, BE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, THEN THAT, THAT CAUSES UNNECESSARY OR, OR SOME SORT OF FEAR AND STRESS.
SO THIS IS WHY, THIS IS WHY AT SOME POINT WE JUST NEED TO BE CLEAR AND BISHOP, AS YOU PROMISED US BEFORE THAT ANY TYPE OF, ANY TYPE OF NOTIFICATION THAT IS BEING COMMUNICATED TO THE RESIDENTS, IF WE COULD GET A COPY.
SO WE ARE FULLY AWARE AND WE ARE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON TO 'CAUSE TO RECEIVE THIS.
I MEAN, BISHOP, I CALLED YOU ON A SATURDAY AFTER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I GOT THIS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS WELL, FIVE MINUTES AFTER.
I MEAN, AND I WAS LIKE, AND GOT ME IN TROUBLE AND GOT YOU IN TROUBLE.
BECAUSE I CAN'T, I, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, RECEIVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND NOT BEING CLEAR AND JUST AS IT WAS UNDERLINED THAT YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOUSE, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOUSE.
AND WE ALL, ALL OF US, ALL OF US ARE UNDER ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS WITH
[02:00:01]
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON TODAY.SO TO HAVE THIS LETTER COME THROUGH, I MEAN YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE HOW SOMEONE WOULD FEEL I KNOW HOW I FELT.
WELL, LET ME
I LET, CAN I, CAN I JUST SAY THIS? YES, GO AHEAD.
MAJOR RELO, MAJOR RELOCATIONS PERIOD ARE JUST GOING TO CAUSE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS.
WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE GONE SO PAINSTAKINGLY TO MEET WITH THE RESIDENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND I HAVE EVEN GIVEN MY PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER, PUT IT UP IN THE CHAT IN OUR ZOOM MEETINGS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THE TIME TO TAKE IT DOWN.
AND I HAVE SOME WHO EXERCISE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER AND CALL ME.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, I'M HERE IN THE SOUTH RIGHT NOW.
I'M IN ALABAMA AND I GET CALLS AND I WAS JUST UP IN ATLANTA WITH THE LAST CALL.
THEY CALL ME, THEY ASK ME, THEY HAVE QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I'M ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE TO WAIT.
IF THEY COULD I GET CALLED AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, EIGHT O'CLOCK, NINE O'CLOCK BECAUSE A HOUSING AUTHORITY MAY BE CLOSED AND YOU GOT A BURNING QUESTION, I'M AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
IT'S JUST IS 80 HOUSEHOLDS IS REAL EASY FOR ME TO ANSWER ALL OF THOSE CALLS.
IF, IF ALL 80 CALLED ME, I COULD ANSWER BECAUSE I GET THAT IT'S SCARY.
AND NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TELL THEM WHAT I'M TELLING THEM, THERE ARE STILL GOING TO BE THE GOING TO BE THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS, WHO ARE GOING TO BE AFRAID, WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE ANYTHING UNTIL IT IS AN ACTUALITY FOR THEM.
AND ALL WE CAN DO IS JUST CONTINUE TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE OUT IN THE COLD WITHOUT A UNIT.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE BURDENED WITH YOUR HOUSING COSTS.
YOU CAN COME BACK TO THIS PROPERTY WHEN IT'S DONE.
WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WE EVEN PUT THE SECTION 22 IN PLACE, THAT WE DIDN'T JUST GET A SECTION 22.
WE'VE BEEN GOING AT THIS FOR HOW MANY YEARS NOW? WHEN DID I FIRST COME IN? 20, I THINK ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW.
THAT'S, THAT IS HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS.
THAT IS HOW LONG THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH ME INITIALLY, DO YOU EVEN WANNA DO THIS? RIGHT.
THEY HAD TO SAY IN MASS, IN MY FIRST MEETINGS, WE DID GET ABOUT 99, 90 8% OF THE RESIDENTS THAT COME OUT AND THEY JUST KIND OF STARTED DWINDLING AWAY.
THEY WERE COMFORTABLE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECTION WE SAID WE WERE GOING IN.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS WE HAVE ONE OR TWO HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE BEEN HIDING THEIR INCOME.
THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING, THEY HAVE BEEN NOT TELLING, BEING HONEST ABOUT THE INCOME THEY HAVE PAYING A $50 A MONTH RENT WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE.
AND THEY ARE FEARFUL THAT NOW THEY'RE GONNA BE UNCOVERED AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SUBMIT THEIR INCOME INFORMATION NOW.
AND SO INSTEAD OF SUBMIT THEIR INCOME INFORMATION AND LET'S DEAL WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, THEY'D RATHER TRY TO STOP THIS PROJECT FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE OF SOME PERSONAL, VERY, VERY PERSONAL NEEDS THAT ARE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST AND NOT IN THE INTEREST OF EVERYONE ELSE, THE MASS OUT THERE.
AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND I'M ALSO GONNA TELL YOU THAT THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT WE GOT FOLK WHO JUST, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY'VE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR INCOME, NOT PAYING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING.
AND NOW THEY KNOW THAT THE GIG IS UP AND THEY'VE GOTTA SUBMIT THEIR REAL INCOME AND WE'VE GOT REAL PEOPLE REALLY LOOKING AT THEIR INCOME AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF RENT.
SO INSTEAD OF 50, MAYBE YOUR RENT SHOULD BE 400 OR 500 OR 600 OR WHATEVER IT IS, BUT YOU WANNA JUST PAY 50.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE UP THESE STORIES AND TAKE 'EM TO THE TOWN BOARD AND GET THE TOWN BOARD ALL UPSET.
LEMME GO BACK FOR THAT MS. WARDEN.
BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I, MY FRUSTRATION AND, AND WHERE, WHERE MY, WHERE I WAS UPSET ABOUT IS JUST READING THE LETTER AND JUST SEEING THE LETTER AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME.
AND THEN THE LETTER THAT CAME BACK AND I WANT, I WANT TO GO BACK ON, HOLD ON BISHOP.
AND THE LETTER THAT, AND THE SECOND LETTER THAT, THAT RAJU SENT ME, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT APPEARED TO BE TWO DIFFERENT LETTERS AND JUST, JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT IT.
SO I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW BEHIND THE SCENES WHAT'S HAPPENING AS FAR AS RECERTIFICATION AND ALL THAT.
I'M JUST ADDRESSING THE LETTER THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME FROM A RESIDENT THAT WAS VERY CONCERNED.
AND THIS IS, WE ALSO GOT, I'M SORRY.
AND THIS IS THE CONCERN WE ALL HAVE TO BE, AND WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE
[02:05:01]
SAYING THAT ONCE THEY LEAVE THEY'RE WHOLE, THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE THAT'S FINE.BUT I ALSO AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, AND I, AND I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU WERE CHANGING FROM SECTION EIGHT TO SECTION NINE, OR MAYBE I HAVE IT BACKWARDS, MAYBE SECTION NINE TO SECTION EIGHT, AND THEN YOU HAVE A, AND THEN YOU HAVE A SECTION 22.
AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT CLEAR AT, WE'RE NOT CLEAR AS A BOARD.
SO WHEN WE DO RECEIVE THESE LETTERS THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO THEM FROM WHAT, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND AND, AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS.
CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION? UM, JUST, OH, I'M SORRY.
NO, WAS ACTUALLY, IT WAS FRANCIS.
FRANCIS, UH, FRANCIS WAS NEXT, ACTUALLY.
NO, NO, I WAS TRYING TO JUMP IN FROM FRANCIS, BUT GO AHEAD, FRANCIS.
I WANTED TO GO BACK AND, AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE, UH, WITH THE, GETTING THE NOTICES TO YOU.
UH, AND, AND THAT WAS OUR AGREEMENT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BUT ONCE WE GOT TO THE, TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOW, THE, UM, THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION IS THE, IS ON THE CON IS THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH, UH, HOUSING ACTION, HOUSING ACTION COUNSEL.
AND THEY SENT, ACTUALLY SENT THIS FIR THIS FIRST LETTER OUT.
AND WHEN I, WHEN YOU CALLED ME GINA ON SATURDAY EVENING, I WAS OUT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND.
DON'T TELL MY WIFE, UH, I'M NOT GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.
I, UH, I, I GOT ON THE PHONE WITH RAJU AND, AND THE FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND UH, I ASKED RAJU, I SAID, WELL, DID THIS, DID THIS, UH, NOTICE GO OUT TO THE TOWN? HE SAID, NO.
I SAID, IT NEED TO GO TO THE TOWN.
AND NOT ONLY THIS LETTER, BUT THEY THE ALSO THE, THE LOAN, THE THE NINE PAGE LETTER.
SO WHAT WE GOTTA DO, WHAT WE GOTTA DO IS GO BACK AND, AND FILL IN THAT GAP WITH, UH, WITH THE CONTRACTUAL AGENCY SO THAT YOU WOULD GET THE NOTICES AS WELL AS THE RESIDENTS.
SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UH, JUST A LAPSE THAT HOW, UH, WE, UH, FILL, I GUESS I SAY WE FAILED TO COMMUNICATE TO, UH, ROSE NOMAN AND HER TEAM TO SEND OUT TO THE TOWN, CC THE TOWN ON, ON ALL THE NOTICES THAT GO OUT.
SO WHAT, WHAT CONCERNS ME AND WE, WE GOT AN EMAIL, AND I'M GONNA PUT IT UP HERE AND YOU CAN TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG.
UM, 'CAUSE NOW'S THE TIME FOR US TO TRY AND TRY AND CLEAR UP ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
BUT WHEN WE WERE ASKED FOR THE SCATTERED SITE HOUSING ON SEACOR ROAD WHERE THE RENOVATIONS WERE GONNA BE DONE AND WE HAD TO MEET, YOU KNOW, IN A RUSH, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, ASSURE THAT IT WAS TAX EXEMPT AND IT WOULD CAN STAY TAX EXEMPT, UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD ASKED IS, IS THIS GOING TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF DEAL THAT HAPPENED ON, OR SIMILAR TYPE OF DEAL THAT HAPPENED ON MANHATTAN AVENUE WHERE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS TO GIVE UP ITS RIGHTS BASICALLY.
AND, AND, AND I WAS ASSURED, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY DID THERE AND THEY JUST OWNED THE LAND.
AND I WAS ASSURED, NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THIS IS SOLELY TO DO RENOVATIONS.
THEN AS FOR SOMEBODY WHO SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND, YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU REMEMBER THAT PAUL, I DO REMEMBER.
SO THEN WE GET, UH, AN EMAIL AND I, I JUST WANNA PUT UP ON THE SCREEN AND LET'S GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO APPARENTLY THINKS THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
AND IF YOU COULD JUST TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT EACH ONE OF THESE, THESE SENTENCES SLASH PARAGRAPHS ARE TRUE.
UH, UNDER SECTION 22, PUBLIC HOUSING, A AUTHORITIES SUCH AS THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY CAN USE A VOLUNTARY CONVERSION PROGRAM THAT GENERATES INCOME FOR PRIVATE INVESTORS WHO GET TAX CREDITS OR THEIR INVESTMENTS.
IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? OKAY.
THE INVESTORS PROVIDE THE CAPITAL FOR THE RENOVATIONS BY INVESTING IN A FUND THAT WILL OWN ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE BUILDINGS.
THE G H A WILL CONTINUE TO OWN THE LAND THE BUILDING RESTS ON AND WILL LEASE THE LAND TO THE INVESTMENT FUND.
IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? YEAH, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT, THAT, THAT'S A GOOD DESCRIPTION.
WELL, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WERE TOLD.
UNLESS C IN THIS C IN THIS, IN THIS, IN THIS, IN THIS PROJECT RIGHT HERE, THE DIFFERENCE, UM, UM, MR. YOU, YOU ARE NOT MR. FINER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I, I, AS I I MENTIONED I'S OKAY, I KNOW YOU GUYS,
[02:10:01]
THOSE ARE TWO IMPORTANT NAMES ANYWAYS.SO ONE OF A MAJOR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MANHATTAN PROJECT UNDER THE SECTION 22 PROGRAM AND THE SCATTERED SITES IS THAT UNDER THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PARTNERED WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
AND THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPER HAS, UM, IS THE MANAGING MEMBER OF THE, IS THE SOLE, IS THE, IS THE MANAGING MEMBER OF THE MANAGING MEMBER OF THAT PROPERTY IN THIS PROJECT.
IT IS 100% THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHO WILL MANAGE IT.
THEY ARE THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE MANAGING MEMBER AS THE OWNER ENTITY.
THEY ARE ALSO THE PROPERTY MANAGER OF THIS PARTICULAR, UM, UH, PROJECT.
SO I THINK THAT'S A MAJOR DISTINCTION BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY IS DOING THIS BY THEMSELVES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF TAX CREDITS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE TAX CREDITS, OR I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE ENOUGH OF THESE, THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BENEFICIAL MEMBER AND THEY ARE ONLY THERE TO TAKE THE TAX CREDITS.
AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH THE TAX CREDITS, THEY'RE OUT.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY RETAINS THE LAND, THE ENTITY THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SETS UP THAT THEY OWN AND ARE THE SOLE MEMBER OF A, UM, RETAINS AND OWNS THAT PROPERTY ON TOP OF IT AND WILL MANAGE IT.
THE BENEFICIAL MEMBER IS THERE TO TAKE TAX CREDITS AND TAX CREDITS ALONE.
AND THEN THEY GO ON THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, THEY HAVE A, A PRIVATE DEVELOPER THAT'S IN THERE THAT'S BENEFITING FROM IT AS WELL.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE BIG DECISION.
SO, SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHEN DO THEY GET THEIR TAX CREDITS, UH, EXHAUST, THEIR TAX CREDITS? WHEN DOES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY GET BACK THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY OWN IT AS OPPOSED TO THESE INVESTORS? HOW MANY YEARS? WELL, THE INVE, THE, THE INVESTORS ARE JUST A BENEFICIAL MEMBER IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN OWNING THE LAND.
BUT THE WAY THE I R S WROTE THOSE RULES, AND WE NEED THE LAWYERS ON HERE TO REALLY KIND OF HELP EXPLAIN THE NUANCES OF THAT, UM, THEY HAVE TO BE AS BENEFICIAL.
REMEMBER THEY HAVE TO HAVE 99.9% OWNERSHIP OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE LAND IN ORDER TO TAKE THE TAX CREDITS.
WHY DID I R SS SET THAT UP? I, UM, UH, MR AND SOMEONE ELSE WOULD'VE TO EXPLAIN THAT I I, WHEN THE, WHEN IN THE 15 YEAR IS SOMEBODY ON AS A LAWYER, BECAUSE WHEN THE 15 YEAR IS UP, WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT WINDOW IS UP, THEY EXIT THE PROGRAM.
IN THIS SITUATION, THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES, UM, NOT-FOR-PROFIT RETAINS THE RIGHT AND THE OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY.
IN THE OTHER SITUATION, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A ROLE FOR A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY, UH, THE THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY BACK.
BUT IN THIS SITUATION, THERE IS NO PRIVATE DEVELOPER, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE INVOLVED.
IT IS ONLY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IT IS THEIR DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, THEIR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
I'M SORRY, DID YOU MUTE YOU TERRY? OH, OH, EXCUSE ME.
AND, AND ONCE THE TAX CREDIT IS SATISFIED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, IT COMES BACK TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WITHOUT ANY KIND OF NEGOTIATIONS.
IT NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN THIS WITH THIS, WITH RESPECT TO THE SCATTER SITE DEVELOPMENT, IT NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IT NEVER LEAVES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SO IS IT THE ENTIRETY IT GOES OR IT'S IT NEVER LEAVES? LEMME LEMME EXPLAIN, LEMME EXPLAIN.
THE TAX CREDITORS WILL TAKE WHAT THEY CALL A A, A TEMPORARY OWNERSHIP UNTIL THEY GET THE TAX CREDITS PAID UP, WHICH IS PRO, UH, 15 YEARS.
IT'S A, IT'S JUST A SHAKE HAND DEAL.
WE FINISH, WE WE'RE GOING ON TO GET TAX CREDITS ON ANOTHER PROJECT HERE.
HERE'S YOUR, HERE'S THE PROPERTY.
SO IT NEVER REALLY LEAVES OUR HAND IN THAT RESPECT.
BUT THE OTHER, WITH THE MANHATTAN AVENUE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, UH, OR THE FINANCIAL BACKING AT THAT TIME, WE HAD TO GET A PRIVATE DEVELOPER TO PARTNERSHIP WITH US.
AND, AND, AND IN ORDER TO GET IT, ONCE THE 15 YEAR CREDIT, UH, TAX CREDIT, UH, IS, UM, COMPLETE, WE'VE GOT TO GO INTO A FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL WITH OUR PARTNER TO GET IT BACK TO US.
AND, AND THAT'S ALL IN THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THE PRI THE PRICE OF THAT, UH, US GETTING IT BACK AND EVERYTHING IS ALREADY, UH, UH, ALREADY CALCULATED IN, IN, IN THAT PROCESS.
WELL, VERY NICE TO SEE THAT IN WRITING.
'CAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER, THE MANHATTAN AVENUE STARTED OFF AS 15 YEARS, BUT IT DIDN'T
[02:15:01]
END UP BEING THAT WAY.AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S A DIFFERENT PROCESS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE, WHEN WE DID THE TAX EXEMPTION ON THE C R HOME SCATTERED SITE, BUT, OKAY.
I JUST LIKE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE THAT'S ACTUALLY, UH, WRITTEN.
THE PROPERTIES WILL MOVE FROM PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE G H A, UH, IN WHICH G H A RECEIVES THE SUBSIDIES TO TENANT-BASED ASSISTANCE, WHERE THE TENANTS USE TENANT-BASED SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS TO PAY THE OWNERS TO SUBSIDIZE PORTION OF THE RENT.
IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? AS FAR AS I KNOW RAJU IS ON, I THINK, AND HE CAN MAYBE, UH, HELP ME OUT.
THE L L C, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY, KEEPING IT UNDER GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY UMBRELLA.
THAT IS, THAT IS A CORRECT STATEMENT.
YES, THAT IS A CORRECT STATEMENT.
THE VOUCHER GOES WITH THE TENANT RATHER THAN WITH THE PROPERTY.
THE VOUCHERS WILL BE USED FOR THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION AND CONTINUE WHEN A PERSON EITHER RETURNS TO THE RENOVATED UNIT OR CHOOSES TO LIVE, LIVE ELSEWHERE.
YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND, THERE'S ONLY TWO KIND OF VOUCHERS, PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS, WHICH JUST STAYS WITH THE PROJECT OR TENANT BASED VOUCHERS, WHICH THE TENANT WILL RECEIVE, AND THEY CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT RECEIVES SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS.
THEY WILL GET A TENANT BASED VOUCHER.
THE CONVERSION FOR THE SCATTERED SITES IS FROM PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITIES TO PRIVATELY OWNED ONES MANAGED BY A NEWLY FORMED PRIVATE COMPANY.
GREENBERG HEIGHTS, L L C, THAT IS A SUBSIDIARY OF GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? YES, THAT'S A CORRECT STATEMENT.
SO, SO THIS IS, ISN'T THIS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED ON MANHATTAN AVENUE WHERE YOU SET UP THIS COMPANY THAT, UH, SIMILAR YES, VERY SIMILAR.
BUT, BUT THE DIFFERENCE, AS MR. WALTON WAS SAYING, THE DIFFERENCE IS WE HAD TO GET AN OUTSIDE OR A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
WE HAD A, WE HAD, WE HAD A DEVELOPER, THE CO-DEVELOPER THERE.
HERE, THERE IS NO CO DEVELOPER, UM, GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY IS A SOLE MEMBER THERE.
LLCS ARE USUALLY SET UP SO THAT WHO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, AREN'T DISCLOSED.
BUT THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S A TAX CREDIT REQUIREMENT.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF DISCLOSURE.
THAT'S A TAX CREDIT REQUIREMENT REQUIREMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY CAN'T GET THE TAX CREDITS OR PARTNER IN WITH THAT.
WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET THE LAWYERS ON TO EXPLAIN SECTION 42 OR THE I R S I I, I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY ALL OF THOSE, BUT THAT, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT.
SO, WELL, THE FACT THAT IT'S A REQUIREMENT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT, IT CAN'T BE DISCLOSED, RIGHT? NO, IT CAN BE NO, IT'S, IT'S A REQUIREMENT TO BE AN L L C.
RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DISCLOSED.
IT'S THE GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE GREEN HOUSING AUTHORITY SOLE MEMBER.
THIS IS, SO WE DISCLOSED THAT.
WE DISCLOSED THAT BY SAYING THAT THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE L L C.
RIGHT? OH, SO THAT'S IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT IT'S SOMEWHERE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT HERE.
IT, IT SAYS IT'S A SUBSIDIARY OF THE G H A AND THERE SOMEWHERE, I'M SURE YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION THAT SAYS THAT THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE SOLE MEMBER.
SO GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE, IS THE, UH, SUBSIDIARY, I MEAN, THE LLL C IS THE SUBSIDIARY OF THE GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SET UP AND WE OWN.
AND, AND THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR UNDER UNDERTAKING FOR LITTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT THEY WERE, THEY WERE, UH, DETERMINED NOT TO BRING A PRIVATE DEVELOPER IN.
THEY WERE DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAN MAINTAINED, MANAGED AND CONTROLLED THIS PROJECT.
AND I'M PROUD, I'M PROUD, LOOKING, LOOKING FORWARD TO BE QUITE HONEST.
AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S MUCH BETTER THAN THE MANHATTAN AVENUE PROJECT.
SO I'M, I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH, BUT YOU KNOW, LET'S FACE IT, THESE ARE WORDS ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY CODIFIED OR, OR DOCUMENTED SOMEPLACE IN SOME KIND OF AN AGREEMENT.
UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, THE TOWN BOARD FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS BY SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, EMAILING A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, EMAILING IT.
I THINK THIS
WE, WE WENT THROUGH THIS BEFORE ALL THIS.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THIS BEFORE WITH WITH THE TIME, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, PENN, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING
[02:20:01]
ME IS THAT WHEN I ASKED THE BISHOP OR WHOEVER IT WAS AT THE TIME, SWEENEY MAY BE ON THE, ON THE SCATTERED SIDE HOUSING, IS IT GOING TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF A THING WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO OWN THE BUILDINGS AND WAS TOLD, NO, THIS IS THE RENOVATION.WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OWN IT.
AND YOU WERE SITTING THERE, YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU KNEW AT THAT TIME THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE, THE ARRANGEMENT AND DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
WELL, HE DIDN'T, THEY CONTINUE TO OWN THE BUILDINGS.
THEY CONTINUE TO OWN THE BUILDINGS WE'RE RIGHT, EXACTLY.
I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A TECHNICALITY THAT THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET, SO WHAT SWEENEY SAID, MR. SHEEN WAS THE TRUTH.
THAT WAS, IT WAS THE TRUTH THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE.
THEY ARE THE SOLE AND ONLY MEMBER OF THE MANAGING MEMBER OF THAT ENTITY.
SO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL CONTINUE TO OWN, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MANAGE, AND THE BENEFICIAL MEMBER IS THERE FOR THE TAX CREDIT PURPOSES.
AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN RAISE THE FUNDS TO DO THE WORK THAT IS NECESSARY IS THROUGH THIS TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
AND THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT WE SET UP THESE L L CS SO THE BENEFICIAL MEMBER CAN TAKE THE TAX CREDITS FOR THE MONEY THEY GIVE US, BUT NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY.
THEY'RE NOT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF IT.
THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT, THEY, THEY JUST WANTED TO RUN, FUNCTION, OPERATE, AND CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE THE CREDITS FOR THE 15 YEARS AND THEN THEY'RE OUT OF IT.
SO IT'S A WAY, IT'S A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE PUBLICLY WE CANNOT FUND THROUGH OUR TAXES THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT ANYMORE.
THE RENOVATIONS TO, UH, TO PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND WHAT SWEENEY WAS SAYING WAS, UNLIKE MANHATTAN, WHERE THEY'RE TEARING EVERYTHING DOWN AND REBUILDING, WE ARE NOT TEARING ANYTHING DOWN.
WE ARE GOING IN AND WE ARE GUTTING AND RENOVATING THOSE UNITS IN PLACE, BRINGING BACK SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE AND THEN BRINGING THE RESIDENTS BACK TO THOSE UNITS.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS WHAT WE DO IN MANY PLACES, BY THE WAY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S NO, THERE'S, THERE'S, I DON'T WANNA SEE THE TENANT'S LIVING CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE.
AND THE CONCERN THAT, THE CONCERN I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICES BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES WITH THE FUNDS THAT THEY NEED TO RENOVATE.
SO WE HAVE VERY OLD, UM, UNITS THAT ARE DETERIORATING.
AND IF WE, AS A TOWN BOARD SAID TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, DON'T DO ANYTHING, JUST KEEP IT AS IT IS.
THE CON THE QUALITY OF LIFE WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE.
AND WE WOULD BE GETTING MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FROM TENANTS SAYING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ISN'T DOING THEIR JOB.
LIVING CONDITIONS ARE HORRIBLE.
WE'RE TREATING PEOPLE, UM, IN SUBHUMAN CONDITIONS.
UM, MEANWHILE, UM, IN MY OPINION, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY'VE REALLY TAKEN STEPS, UM, TO FIND, UM, COMFORTABLE TEMPORARY LIVING CONDITIONS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE, I WROTE AT LEAST TWO LETTERS TO EVERY SENIOR CITIZEN, UM, WHO LIVED IN MANHATTAN AVENUE.
I'M BEGGING PEOPLE TO CALL ME IF THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GETTING, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GETTING, UH, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINTS.
I'VE GIVEN THEM MY CELL PHONE NUMBER AS MY HOME PHONE NUMBER, MY OFFICE CELL PHONE NUMBER.
I'VE TOLD THEM THAT ANY MINOR PROBLEM, I WILL, I WILL RESOLVE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I GOT A, A NOTE FROM A SENIOR SENT ME A PICTURE OF HER VIEW, YOU KNOW, WASN'T COMPLAINING.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU MOVE TEMPORARILY, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, IT'S STRESSFUL AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY LIKES THE INCONVENIENCES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERY SENIOR IS GONNA BE BETTER OFF THAN THEY ARE.
NOW, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE TOWN BOARD IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THE HOUSING, AND THIS IS MY PERSONAL FEELING, I FEEL THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS BEING PICKED ON.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSING, THAT EVERYBODY, UH, BEFORE, UM, UH, A POINT WAS RAISED THAT, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, UM, IS FOLLOWING UP ON THE LAW RELATING TO CERTIFICATION.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO THEY BELIEVE ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE LAW AND ARE NOT GIVING THE RIGHT INCOME, AND THEY WANNA TAKE ACTION.
I'M WONDERING RIGHT NOW, IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE TOWN BOARD WHO DISAGREES WITH THE, UM, APPROACH THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS TAKEN.
DO, DO YOU WOULD, IS, WOULD BOARD MEMBERS PREFER THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY?
[02:25:01]
THERE'S TWO OPTIONS.AND, UH, IF SOMEBODY'S PAYING $50, WHEN THEY SHOULD BE PAYING $400, SHOULD THEY CONTINUE TO PAY $50? OR WOULD THE, OR IS A BOARD BASICALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE POLICIES, UH, THAT THE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS TAKEN? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, YOU KNOW, TO CRITICIZE THEM IF, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEAK UP, YOU KNOW, NOW, OKAY, SO PAUL, I JUST HAVE, I, PAUL, SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS REALLY QUICKLY.
I WILL, I DO TAKE A LITTLE OFFENSE TO YOU SAYING THAT WE ARE PICKING ON THE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE ARE NOT PICKING ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE ARE TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION.
SO IF A RESIDENT BRINGS SOMETHING TO OUR ATTENTION, IT IS OUR DUTY TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT IS WRITTEN IS CORRECT AND THEY UN AND IS, AND THEY FULLY UNDERSTOOD ON WHAT'S ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER AND INVESTIGATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE INVESTIGATE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
AND, AND, AND RIGHT NOW I'LL SPEAK FOR GINA.
NO ONE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TURN OUR BACK IF PEOPLE ARE NOT MEETING THE QUALIFICATIONS.
I THINK WHAT I THINK THIS IS THE REASON WHY THIS MEETING IS HAPPENING, AND IF QUESTIONS ARE UP ON THE SCREEN, IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING, THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE RESIDENTS IS TRUE.
AND THEN THAT, AND THEN NOW THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT IT OUT AND THAT YOU HAVE CONFIRMED, AND YOU SAID THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THAT'S ON THE SCREEN HERE IS IN WRITING.
AND WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN FIND IT AND WE CAN BRING IT TO THE RESIDENTS.
BUT IT IS OUR DUTY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMETHING IS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, BISHOP BRINGS SOMETHING TO MY ATTENTION.
IT IS MY DUTY TO MAKE, TO ADDRESS IT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PICKING ON SOMEONE.
THIS IS ABOUT ADDRESSING AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WELL, LEMME SAY WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND, AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET CLARIFICATION.
AND THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HEARS THE EXPLANATION FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BASED ON THE NOTIFICATIONS THAT WAS RECEIVED TO US, AND HAVE CLARIFICATION.
AND ON TOMORROW NIGHT, IF THEY HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THEY CAN, THEY CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN, IN PUBLIC HEARING.
BECAUSE TONIGHT IS JUST TO BRING THIS TO ATTENTION AND TO SAY, YES, WE HEARD YOU, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BRING AN EXPLANATION TO YOU, AND IN CASE YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.
'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT PICKING ON AN AN A, AN A, UM, AN AUTHORITY.
IT'S ABOUT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE THAT IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
THIS IS ABOUT SLAPPING ANYONE HANDS OR SAYING, BISHOP, YOU DID THIS WRONG, OR, OR THIS, BUT BISHOP, IF YOU RECEIVED THAT, AND YOU, IF, IF I CAME TO YOU, YOU WERE SITTING IN MY CHAIR, I PROMISE YOU, AND I KNOW FOR SURE YOU WOULD HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DEFINE THIS AS PICKING ON SOMEONE.
I THINK IT'S DEF I THINK HOW YOU DEFINE IT AS MAKING SURE THAT WE INVESTIGATE THAT THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND OF EXACTLY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR THOSE WHO MADE THE MEETINGS AND FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE THE MEETINGS.
BUT LET ME JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING.
THE WORD PICKING ON IS UNFAIR.
I JUST FEEL THAT WHEN I USE THAT WORD, I, THAT'S THE WRONG WORD.
I JUST FEEL THAT AT EVERY MEETING FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MAKING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOT, NOT YOU.
UH, AND I'M, I'M JUST SAYING THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, IS, IS, IS, IS DOES NOT HAVE THE INTERESTS OF THE TENANTS AT HEART.
NOW I SHOULD MENTION THAT I FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERY BOARD MEMBER TO FOLLOW UP ON EVERY, UH, COMPLAINT THAT IS RAISED.
AFTER I SAW THE LETTER I CALLED BISHOP PRESTON YESTERDAY, I SAID, YOU KNOW, MY READING OF THE LETTER, I THOUGHT IT WAS, I DIDN'T LIKE THE WORDING OF THE LETTER.
I SUGGESTED THAT THERE'D BE A SECOND LETTER THAT WOULD BE MORE CUSTOMER, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE FRIENDLIER BECAUSE PEOPLE READ IT AND THEY, THEY GET PANICKY EVEN IF THEY'RE TOLD A THOUSAND TIMES.
YOU, YOU COULD COME BACK, YOU COULD COME BACK, YOU COULD COME BACK.
I THOUGHT THE LETTER, WHICH IS A LEGALESE LETTER, WAS, WAS WRONG.
AND THERE SHOULD BE LIKE A FOLLOW UP.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WRITE, BUT TRUST US, WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA INVITE YOU BACK AFTER WE HOPE THIS IS GONNA BE, WE HOPE TO MOVE QUICKLY, UM, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO, UH, RENOVATE THE UNITS AND WE WANT YOU BACK.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING A LITTLE NICER, UM, WOULD EASE PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMBERS, THEY WANT, UH,
[02:30:01]
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE TENANTS.AND THEY, THEY, THEIR HANDS ARE TIED FOR YEARS.
EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY APARTMENT, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE, I'VE BEEN DISGUSTED BY SOME OF WHAT I'VE SEEN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T REALLY FEEL THAT THE, THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSING, IT, IT, I DON'T FEEL IT'S BEEN MAINTAINED AS, AS I WOULD'VE, AS I PERSONALLY WOULD, WOULD LIKE.
AND I'M, I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS TAKING STEPS TO GIVE PEOPLE MODERN, CONVENIENT, QUALITY, UH, CONDITIONS.
I'M PLEASED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS WORKING WITH THE TOWN.
UM, WE ARE APPLYING FOR C B D G GRANTS TO GET THE BROADBAND, WHICH I THINK IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, I I REALLY FEEL THAT, UM, AT THE END OF THE, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT MOST, IN MOST COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WOULD BE THRILLED THAT A HOUSING AUTHORITY IS, YOU KNOW, CARES ENOUGH ABOUT THE TENANTS, THAT THEY WANT THE TENANTS TO LIVE IN A MODERN, UH, NEWLY BUILT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, CONDITION.
I WOULD NOT WANT A FAMILY MEMBER TO LIVE IN THE CURRENT SCATTER SITE UNITS.
SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THE, THE, THE CONDITION THAT YOU FIND THE HOUSING UNITS IN IS NOT ATTRIBUTABLE DIRECTLY TO THE, UM, THE NEGLECT OR MISUSE OF FUNDS BY THE GREENBERG.
IT'S, IT'S A LACK OF MONEY FROM HUD, UM, OVER THE YEARS FOR UPKEEP AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM THAT'S PLAGUING PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WHY MOST OF THEM ARE OPTING OUT OF A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HOUSING MODEL AND GOING INTO THESE TAX CREDIT MODELS THAT THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY IS GOING INTO TODAY.
AND LEMME SAY THIS, I THINK, I THINK YOU HAVE TO ALSO CONSIDER, AS THE BOARD MEMBERS, ONCE WE GET THIS DONE, THOSE KIND OF CONCERNS ARE GOING TO GO AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA MAKE THE WHOLE TOWN LOOK BETTER.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT THE WAY THE HOUSING IS NOW IS A REFLECTION ON THE WHOLE TOWN, ESPECIALLY THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE LEADERS OF OUR TOWN.
SO WE ARE GOING, WE, WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS NOT JUST FOR US.
I MEAN, I, I'M, I'M LIVING, OKAY? I MEAN, I'M, I DON'T LIVE IN A ION, BUT I'M LIVING OKAY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS LIVE LIKE THEY'RE LIVING.
AND, AND IF WE GO BACK WHEN WE STARTED THIS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I SAID, I, I WAS, I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD DO ALL OF THE SITES AT ONE TIME.
AND BOARD MEMBERS SAID, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
WE CAN'T BITE THAT MUCH OFF AT ONE TIME.
BUT NOW, UH, UH, SINCE WE ARE IN THE MOOD, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD TO SAY, LOOK, WE GOT TO GET THIS DONE.
BECAUSE THEY WANT, THEY, THEY WANT, AND THEY SEE THE PLAUSIBILITY OF, OF MAKING LIVING A TOP PRIORITY IN GREENBURG.
GREENBURG IS NOT WELL REPRESENTED BY WHAT IS, WHAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN AS FAR AS THE GREENBURG HOUSING PORTFOLIO RIGHT NOW, IT'S A REFLECTION ON ALL OF US.
AND I THROW MYSELF IN THERE BECAUSE I'M, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
IT IS NOT A GOOD REFLECTION OF PAUL.
IT'S NOT A GOOD REFLECTION FOR GINA.
IT'S NOT A GOOD REFLECTION FOR FRANCIS SHEEN.
IT'S NOT A GOOD, GOOD REFLECTION OF DIANA JET.
AND, AND, AND IF THE PEOPLE COULD COME TO US WITH THE QUESTIONS, WE COULD ANSWER THEM, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY DON'T GO TO US.
I DON'T REM SEE, NOBODY SAID THIS, SAID FRANCIS, HAVE ON SCREEN NOW TO US.
YOU CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
AND THEN THE IN THE LINE THAT SAYS THE INVESTOR PROVIDES THE CAPITAL FOR THE, UH, RENOVATION BY INVESTING IN A FIRM THAT WILL OWN ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT, I CAN GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER, THEY WILL OWN 99.9% KEEPING THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY AS PART OF THE OWNER.
SO THAT AT THE END OF THE 15 YEARS, THERE IS NO TRANSITION OF WORK THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
THEY JUST BACK OUT AND IT'S TOTALLY GIVEN OVER, OVER TO THEM.
SEE, THIS PERSON DIDN'T PUT THAT IN.
IT SEEMED LIKE THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF GRIP OR SOME KIND OF COMPLAINT OR SOME KIND OF QUESTION THAT THEY SHOULD COME TO US WITH.
IF THEY ARE AUTHORITY ON KNOWING WHAT HOUSING IS, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE PUT THAT THERE.
BUT WHEN I ASKED, WHEN I ASKED, AND YOU KNOW, AND PAUL IS VERY GOOD AT DEFLECTION, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO, TO LIVE IN AN APPROPRIATE HOUSING.
THAT, AND PART OF THE PROBLEM WE ALSO HAVE WITH THE BUILDINGS IS NOT JUST HUD, BUT IT'S JUST THE AGE OF SOME OF THE BUILDINGS.
UM, BUT WHEN, WHEN I'M DEALING WITH, WHAT DID YOU TELL ME THEN, AND WHAT DID YOU TELL ME? NOW I DON'T FORGET WHAT YOU TOLD ME BEFORE.
AND PAUL, UH, PAUL AGREED THAT
[02:35:01]
YOU TOLD US THAT YOU WOULD OWN THE BUILDINGS.NOW YOU'RE SAYING IT'S TECHNICALITY.
BUT THAT'S WHY I WENT THROUGH THIS STEP BY STEP AS TO ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE? AND WE WENT THROUGH THAT.
THE INVESTORS WILL OWN ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE BUILDINGS, AND THAT'S A TRUE STATEMENT.
THEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I, BUT FRANKLY, WHEN, TELL ME WHEN, WHEN YOU, WHEN I WAS TOLD WE WERE GOING TO, THEY WERE GOING TO OWN THE BUILDINGS, OWN THE LAND, NOT LIKE MANHATTAN AVENUE.
AND THEN WHEN I SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHICH AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, WHOEVER THIS PERSON IS, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO BE MISLEADING.
I THINK IT'S THE MOST ACCURATE STATEMENTS I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN TONIGHT IS FROM THIS, THIS PERSON.
BUT FRANKLY, THE BOARD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LEARN THIS FROM RESIDENTS.
AND WE DO THIS, WE'VE DONE THIS REPEATEDLY.
WE SHOULD NOT SEE ONE OF THESE TYPES OF LETTERS THAT'S GOING TO GET THEM UPSET.
THAT STILL GETS ME UPSET THAT IT SAYS WILL NO LONGER BE USED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.
NOW YOU CAN SAY THAT'S A TECHNICALITY, BUT THAT'S A TECHNICALITY THAT WHEN PEOPLE READ THAT, AND IF THEY'RE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, THEY'RE WORRIED RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A LINE IN THE NINE PAGE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO COME BACK, BUT IT'S BURIED IN PAGE FOUR OF BRAID IN THE MIDDLE OF A PAR LONG PARAGRAPH IN THE MIDDLE OF A PAGE.
THAT SHOULD BE IN BOLD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTER.
BUT IF YOU WOULD'VE SHARED THIS TYPE OF A LETTER WITH US, WE, WE WE'RE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT, ABOUT, ABOUT SEEING WHERE THERE MIGHT BE POTENTIAL LANDMINES AND, AND WORKING WITH YOU.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE GET INFORMATION GIVEN TO US BY RESIDENTS.
AND, AND FRANKLY, I'M HOPING WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN, BUT IF, IF WE KEEP GETTING WE'LL COMMENTS FROM RESIDENTS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ACT ON IT BECAUSE THERE ARE RESIDENTS TOO.
WE HEAR THAT WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOT CLEAR OR THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING FORTHCOMING, RIGHT? THOSE ARE JUST STATEMENTS.
BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS TO US DIRECTLY, NOT TRUE, YOU KNOW, I THINK I, I HAVE TO STOP.
I THINK THERE'S A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, IS EXPECTED OR ANTICIPATED AND MAYBE THAT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING IS NOT THERE.
AND SO WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION AND YOU GET AN ANSWER, THERE CLEARLY ISN'T A MEETING OF THE MINDS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S INTENTIONAL.
I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE TERMS OF ART, SOME THINGS ARE FOR OUR INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE, WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION, I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE GIVING YOU THE CORRECT ANSWER.
THE INTERPRETATION OF THAT ANSWER MAY NOT BE THE SAME OR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE QUESTION, BUT NO ONE INTENTIONALLY.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THE LETTER YOU PUT UP THAT CLEARLY STATES THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH.
SO THERE'S NO ATTEMPT TO MS. LEE OR COVER UP ANYTHING WITH THE TOWN BOARD.
AND I CAN, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THIS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THE RESIDENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO PUT MY PHONE NUMBER OUT THERE AND YOU WILL CONTINUE.
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S GONNA WORK UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THEY GET BACK TO THEIR NEW, THEIR, UM, THEIR NEWLY RENOVATED UNIT OR THEIR PERMANENT PLACE THAT THEY WANT TO GO TO.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.
PEOPLE CALL THE TOWN BOARD FOR THESE KIND OF THINGS WHERE THEY DON'T ALWAYS ANOTHER PLACES.
THE ONLY OTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN LET YOUR PUBLIC HOUSING FALL DOWN ON PEOPLE.
'CAUSE THAT'S ABOUT WHERE THIS PUBLIC HOUSING IS.
IT'S GONNA CAVE IN ON SOME FOLKS 'CAUSE DOESN'T GIVE 'EM ENOUGH MONEY.
OR YOU CAN FUND THE RENOVATIONS.
IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY AND THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO FUND THESE RENOVATIONS, AND THEY ARE ABOUT $200,000 PER UNIT, THEN YOU DON'T NEED AN INVESTOR.
YOU DON'T NEED A TAX CREDIT, YOU DON'T NEED AN INVESTOR, YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT.
YOU GUYS CAN PAY FOR IT AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR PUBLIC HOUSING AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENCE.
AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY BECAUSE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS STILL IN THE GAME.
THEY ARE STILL GONNA BE THE OWNER
[02:40:01]
OF THIS THING.THEY'RE STILL GONNA MANAGE IT, MAINTAIN IT, STILL GOT THE GROUND LEASE.
THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THE NECESSARY RENOVATIONS.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY MECHANISM AVAILABLE TO US TO DO THAT.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANNA DO IT, I KNOW THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THEY PROVIDE SOME SUBSIDY, THEY CAN'T EVEN PROVIDE ENOUGH.
AND I THINK THEY PUT ABOUT 40, $50,000 PER UNIT WORTH OF SUBSIDY INTO, UH, PRES PRESERVING THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
CAN YOU PUT MONEY INTO IT? IF NOT, THEN THOSE ARE YOUR TWO CHOICES, SIR.
IT IS EITHER TO LET IT STAND AND I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE PE PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW.
OR ALLOW US TO FIND THE PRIVATE INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED SET UP THE, THE ENTITIES THAT HAVE TO BE SET UP IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE PRIVATE FUNDING AND THEN CONTINUE TO MANAGE, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE THOSE UNITS AS SUBSIDIZED UNITS.
SO THEY ARE PUBLICLY, THEY ARE STILL PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE THE TENANT PROTECTION VOUCHERS AVAILABLE.
THEY ARE JUST NO LONGER OWNED BY HUD.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THE UNITS ARE OWNED BY HUD AND THEY'RE HELD DEED AND TRUST BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
HUD AND I, I WANNA JUST MENTION ONE IES.
I REMEMBER BISHOP PRESTON WARNING US AT LEAST MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IF WE DID NOT TAKE, UH, THIS ACTION, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY OF, UM, OF GOING UNDER.
AND I REMEMBER, UH, THE COMMENTS WHERE BISHOP PRESS AND I, I, I DO REMEMBER BISHOP PRESTON SAYING THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE THE PRIVATE INVESTORS WERE GONNA HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE OF A ROLE.
SO I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY, THAT HE WAS MISLEADING THE, THE TOWN BOARD WHEN THE, WHEN WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS OVER THE PAST FIVE, YOU KNOW, OR SIX YEARS.
SO WHEN I DECIDED THAT I SPEAKING FOR MYSELF THAT I WAS GONNA VOTE, UH, FOR, UM, THESE RENOVATIONS, I DID SO BECAUSE I, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT, UM, RESIDENTS, HOUSING AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY TENANT DESERVES QUALITY HOUSING.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION OVER THE YEARS FOR BEING BETTER THAN PRACTICALLY ANY OTHER LOWER INCOME, UH, HOUSING COMPLEX ANYWHERE.
WE, SINCE I'VE BEEN SUPERVISOR, WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD PROBLEMS, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WITH HOUSING.
I FEEL THAT THEY WERE STARTING TO GET RUN DOWN, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO I FEEL THAT THIS APPROACH IS OUR ONLY OPTION AT THIS TIME.
NOW, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IN A COUPLE YEARS OF CONGRESS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD CHANGE THE LAWS AND THEY COULD HAVE DIFFERENT, UH, FORMULAS.
BUT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, IMMINENTLY.
SO, SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THE TOWN BOARD TO WORK WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO, UM, TO REASSURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY REASSURE ALL THE TENANTS WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, GO BACK, UH, TO OFFER, TO PROVIDE, UM, HELP TO PEOPLE DURING THE RE RELOCATION, UM, YOU KNOW, PROCESS TO MAKE THIS AS, UM, AS, UH, STRESSLESS AS POSSIBLE.
THE WHOLE, UH, THE WHOLE, UM, YOU KNOW, TRANSITION.
AND I FEEL THAT IF WE ALL DO THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS, AND YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, THE, WHEN I WAS SAYING PICKING ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHAT, THAT'S THE WRONG WORD, BUT WHAT I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, AT EVERY MEETING FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT.
EVERYBODY'S BEATING UP ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND, AND, AND NOT, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BOARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT, AT MEETINGS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IN, UH, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, INVESTORS, UM, IF, IF WE WANT, UH, RENOVATE THE HOUSING, THE HOUSING UNITS, AND WE DEPEND ON INVESTORS TO INVEST, THEY MAY, WE MAY BE SCARING PEOPLE.
UM, WE MAY BE SCARING POTENTIAL INVESTORS.
THEY MAY WANNA RUN AWAY FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND NOT EVEN INVEST MONEY, UH, INTO THIS.
NOW, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PRIVATE INVESTORS DECIDE TO WALK AWAY FROM, FROM THE PROJECTS? WE ARE GONNA HAVE RUNDOWN DILAPIDATED UNITS AND, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE AT SOME POINT CRITICIZE FOR LETTING PEOPLE
[02:45:01]
LIVE IN SUBHUMAN CONDITIONS.I DON'T WANT THAT ON MY WATCH.
AND THAT'S WHY I I, AND I DON'T WANT THE INVESTORS SCARED OFF.
I WOULD RATHER THAT THE TOWN BOARD AND, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
UH, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE TRY OUR BEST, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, TO HELP THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, SUCCEED.
YOU KNOW, THIS REMINDS ME WHEN THE GREENBERG HEALTH CENTER, UH, WANTED TO, UH, UH, BUILD THEIR NEW FACILITY.
THEY HAD SUCH A HARD TIME, UH, IT TOOK THEM, I THINK, FIVE OR EIGHT YEARS TO GET THEIR APPROVALS WHEN, UH, UH, UH, UNION BAPTIST CHURCH WANTED, UH, TO EXPAND.
UH, THERE WERE, THERE WERE LENGTHY DELAYS.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT IF WE REALLY CAN, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT THE TOWN BOARD SHOULD SIDE WITH, UH, THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR PEOPLE IN THE FAIRVIEW COMMUNITY FAIR.
I THINK THE TOWN BOARD SHOULD, I THINK THE TOWN BOARD SHOULD INVESTIGATE.
IF SOMEONE COMES WITH A CONCERN, I THINK THE TOWN BOARD SHOULD FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, THIS, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PICKING ON SOMEBODY.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CRITICIZING THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES HAS NOTHING TO DO.
IF YOU BRING A CONCERN TO THE TOWN BOARD, IT IS OUR DUTY TO INVESTIGATE IT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE FACTS.
AND THIS IS WHAT THIS FORM IS FOR.
AND THIS IS WHAT THIS, SO WE CAN, SO BISHOP, I PROMISE YOU, I PROMISE YOU, IF THERE'S ANOTHER RESIDENT THAT CONTACTS ME, I'M GOING TO CONTACT YOU.
AND IF ANOTHER RESIDENT NEEDS CLARIFICATION, I'M GOING TO BRING YOU HERE IN THIS FORUM TO CLARIFY THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS.
WE, SOME RESIDENTS MAY FEEL THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA BE LISTENED TO.
SO WHEN I'M NOT GONNA CALL THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR MAYBE HAD, MAYBE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE AND FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE CALLING THE BOARD.
SO EACH TIME I'LL CALL YOU AND I'LL CALL RAJU AND I'LL CALL ANY ANYBODY FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET CLARIFICATION.
IF SOMEONE HAS CONCERNS, AND I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S, I'M SITTING HERE AND I'M TRYING MY BEST NOT TO GET AS UPSET AS I AM NOW FOR THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
SO, SO BISHOP, YES, YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID IT 10 AND 20 TIMES, SO MAYBE THEY DIDN'T, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND OR DIDN'T HEAR IT.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO, TO, TO RIDICULE OR, OR COME AT YOU AND SAY, YOU'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND SO WE CAN BETTER ASSIST THE RESIDENTS.
OKAY? SO I WASN'T PRESENT AT THE MEETINGS AND I WASN'T THERE.
SO I CAN SIT THERE AND SAY, OKAY, OKAY, UH, UH, MICHEL, THIS IS WHAT THIS MEANS.
THIS IS WHAT I INTERPRETED AS IT IS, AND THIS IS WHAT I HAVE CONFIRMED FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS TO WHAT IT'S MEANT.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL TO WHAT THE THISES MEAN.
THIS IS MY ROLE, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.
AND, UH, AS WE TALKED ON SATURDAY AFTER, AFTER YOU EXPLAINED WHAT THE SITUATION WAS, I SAID, WELL, LET'S, LET ME LOOK INTO IT AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN ADDRESS IT WITH THE BOARD.
AND YOU INVITED ME TO THIS MEETING.
I, I DON'T WANT TO TO STOP THAT.
THERE IS A CONTINGENCY AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I, I COULD CALL THEIR NAMES, BUT I WILL NOT IN THIS FORUM, THAT, THAT IS TRYING TO STOP THE PROJECT WITH FICTITIOUS INFORMATION.
AND WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE STATED THAT PUBLICLY AND THEY HAVE USED IT AS THEIR PLATFORM.
SO, SO, SO WE GOT, WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL HOW WE COMMUNICATE, BUT LET'S KEEP THIS COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD OPEN.
ANYTIME WE HAVE A QUESTION, WE GOING TO BE HERE.
I'LL CALL, UH, TERRY, I'LL CALL MR. ABRAHAM.
I'LL CALLED, UH, BRIAN SWEENEY.
I I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR, UH, FOR, FOR ROSE NEWMAN GETTING AHEAD OF US ON THAT, GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
NOW, UH, BUT I WANT TO KEEP THIS OPEN BECAUSE I THINK COMMUNICATION IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN SUCCEED IN GETTING WHAT WE WANT.
AND WHEN WE ALL ARRIVE AT WHAT WE WANT, WE'LL ARRIVE TOGETHER.
I JUST WANNA, SO THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING REGARDING THIS MEETING TOMORROW, MICHELLE? TOMORROW.
TOMORROW, MICHELLE, I, I, I JUST WANNA, I, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING FROM THIS MEETING.
WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT THE INVESTORS WILL GET THEIR TAX CREDITS, THEY'LL BE EXHAUST THEIR TAX CREDIT BENEFITS IN 15 YEARS.
IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? IS IT 15 YEARS, TERRY?
[02:50:04]
OH, AM I ON MUTE? OKAY.I, I TOOK, I TOOK MYSELF OFF A VISUAL MUTE, BUT I DID TAKE MYSELF OFF OF AUDIO MUTE
THIS IS A, THIS IS A TRADITIONAL 4% TAX CREDIT DEAL, MR. SHEEN.
AND, AND IF YOU WANT THE INS AND OUTS OF HOW THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WORK, THEN ALLOW ME TO, YOU KNOW, BRING BACK ONE OF THE LAWYERS, CODY BANNON OR ONE OF THOSE GUYS, SO THEY CAN EXPLAIN HOW THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM WORKS TO YOU.
BUT IT'S 15 YEARS THAT THEY TAKE THEIR CREDITS AND THEN THEY'RE OUT.
THEY DON'T OWN THESE PROPERTIES AFTERWARDS.
THEY ARE JUST, THEY'RE, THEY ARE WHAT ARE CALLED BENEFICIAL MEMBERS BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE JUST SOLELY FOR THE TAX CREDITS.
THEY'RE NOT OPERATING NONE OF THAT.
NO, THAT, AND THAT SOUNDS THAT, AND THAT'S, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE GROUND LEASE IS FOR 15 YEARS? NO, THE GROUND LEASES ARE GENERALLY LONGER THAN THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SHOW HUD WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION WHY EXECUTIVE GROUND LEASES ARE AS LONG AS THEY ARE, BUT THE GROUND LEASES ARE NEVER 15 YEARS.
THEY'RE ALWAYS 99 YEAR GROUND LEASES, OR 40 OR 50 YEAR GROUND LEASES, AND THEY GENERALLY RUN WITH THE AFFORDABILITY CLAUSES.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING AROUND THAT, THAT, THAT REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN AS LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY THAT REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE THOSE LONG-TERM GROUND LEASES TO THE PROJECT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE OWNER, THE, THE, THE, THE BENEFICIAL MEMBER.
THAT'S, THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY ON THE PROJECT IF YOU GET TAX CREDITS.
SO, SO THAT LEADS ME TO, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS HERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S DOCUMENTS THAT SHOW THIS, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE MANHATTAN AVENUE PROJECT, AND IT WAS A 99 YEAR GROUND LEASE THAT AFTER BEING TOLD THAT AFTER 15 YEARS, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD GET, YOU KNOW, GET THE, THE PROPERTY BACK BASIC, BASICALLY.
BUT THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE 99 YEARS.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE 15 YEARS, IF THERE'S A GROUND LEASE FOR 99 YEARS, AND MAYBE THAT'S ALL WORKED OUT BECAUSE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ONE IN CONTROL, AND THEY COULD DECIDE MAYBE TO CEASE IT.
BUT I, I WOULD REALLY, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REASSURE PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE WHATEVER THAT GROUND LEASE IS.
SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS BACK AND FORTH.
SO HE WANTS A COPY OF THE GROUND LEASE.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET, UH, MR. SHEEN A COPY OF THE GROUND LEASE.
AND, BUT, BUT I, MR. AND FRANCIS, I DON'T, I DON'T, I, I'M, I'M, I, DID I HEAR YOU CORRECT THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WON'T GET MANHATTAN BACK FOR 99 YEARS? 99? NO, THE GROUND LEASE IS 99 YEARS.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE LEASED THE PROPERTY, YOU OWN THE LAND FOR 99 YEARS.
RIGHT? WE RELEASED THE LAND TO, TO THE, TO THE L L C FOR NINE, NINE YEARS.
YOU HAD THE OPTION OF GETTING IT BACK AFTER 15 YEARS IF YOU COULD AFFORD IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IF IT, AND THEN THEY CHANGED THE CONTRACT SO THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE THE MANAGING PARTNER AGENT, WHICH MEANS YOU WOULDN'T GET THE REVENUE.
SO THERE WAS NO WAY YOU WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT BACK IN 15 YEARS.
AND THAT'S HOW THAT WHOLE THING SNOWBALLED.
BUT IS THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT THE GROUND, IS THAT THE GROUND LEASE OR IS THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS UPON THE GROUND LEASE THAT WAS NO, IT WAS THE GROUND LEASE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BRING IN, I MEAN, I DON'T SEE WHY, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE GROUND LEASE ON THE PROJECT, LET'S BRING IN GROUND LEASE.
I, I HAVE ALWAYS, I'M NOT THE LAWYERS, BUT I'VE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE GROUND LEASE WAS A HUD REQUIREMENT AS A PART OF THE RELEASE OF THE DECLARATION OF TRUST THAT WE HAVE THOSE LONG-TERM GROUND LEASES TO PRESERVE, I'M SORRY, MY PHONE IS NOT, I'VE BEEN ON THIS TOO LONG.
BUT, UM, THAT, THAT GROUNDS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY, LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY TO GUARANTEE THAT.
SO HUD REVIEWS THAT GROUND LEAKS, THAT GOES TO HUD, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY LOOK AT AS A PART OF THE RELEASE OF THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, RIGHT? AND MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE LONG TERM STABILITY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THAT BECAUSE WE'RE IN DIRE SITUATION NOW BASED ON CONDITIONS, WHATEVER, THAT WE DON'T GIVE UP OUR FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER WELL THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INVESTING IN RIGHT NOW BY DOING THIS PROJECT BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW PRIVATE THIS MEETING IS, BUT THAT THOSE PROPERTIES ARE IN DIRE NEED OF MAJOR,
[02:55:01]
MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE OF THE QUESTION, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY 10 O'CLOCK ALMOST.AND WE HAVE ALL THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO I'VE BEEN WAITING, IF WE WANNA CONTINUE THIS, WE SHOULD JUST TELL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THEY COULD LEAVE.
AND, UH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS TO BE LISTENING TO THIS.
AND AT THREE IN THE MORNING WE'LL HAVE THEM TALK ABOUT, UH, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, UH, THEIR ISSUES.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD JUST MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ISSUE RIGHT NOW, AND WE COULD ALWAYS, UM, REVISIT THIS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR.
WELL, WELL IN, IN, IN RESPONSE TO THAT, PAUL, WE ARE HERE ANYTIME.
WE, WE'LL BRING, I'LL BRING MY TEAM IN.
I'LL BRING, UH, WE'LL GET, UH, JOHN SAVAGE WHO IS PROFICIENT IN THESE MATTERS.
WE'LL, WE'LL, AT YOUR B CALL AND I, I, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE WHILE WE COULD ALSO DO AT SOME POINT IS WE COULD, UH, TAKE LIKE A, A A SITE VISIT OF SOME OF THE UNITS AND THEN WE COULD, AND THEN THE BOARD COULD SEE FOR NO, THAT'S DEFLECTION.
NO, IT'S NOT A DEFLECTION DE TRUTH THAT'S TOTALLY DEFLECTION.
WE NO, BECAUSE IT, WE NO, NO, I'M SAYING FOR, I'M SAYING I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE DOING IT.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE, WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING IT.
RIGHT'S, ALL WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN ADVANCE OF US GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.
AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAY, PAUL, ABOUT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN PROPER CONDITIONS, LIKE AS IF THE REST OF US DON'T IS ABSURD.
BUT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY OF DOING IT.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY OF DOING.
IT'S, IF YOU DON'T WANNA CONTINUE, YOU DON'T CARE WHETHER OR NOT THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOUSING, LIVING IN PROPER CONDITIONS BECAUSE IT'S LATE.
YOU SEE NOW THAT'S A TOTALLY ABSURD STATEMENT I JUST MADE.
NO, BECAUSE BASICALLY, OH, LEMME JUST FINISH.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY OF, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH A DOCUMENT THAT IT, IT IS AT LEAST MISLEADING, RIGHT? AT LEAST MISLEADING THAT IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, AND WE'RE, WE'RE USED TO THESE KIND OF THINGS, HOW IS IT WHEN SOMEBODY GETS HIT, WHO'S ACTUALLY IN A UNIT SUPPOSED TO REACT WHEN THEY SEE, YEAH, BUT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THAT, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.
AND EVERY TIME WE TRIED TO WORK THIS OUT, AND I THOUGHT AT THE END WE WERE GETTING TO A KUMBAYA MOMENT THERE, AND THEN YOU, YOU'RE, YOU JUMP IN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING.
WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING.
SO THAT ISN'T MAYOR, WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
YES, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU CARE ABOUT THE HOUSING AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE HERE TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE YOU CARE.
I WANT TO THANK GINA PERSONALLY AND, AND, AND, AND AND PERSONALLY TO, UH, KEN JONES.
UH, KEN JONES AND I HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
GINA IS, HAS, UH, UM, UH, CREATED A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN COMING TO ME, AND I WANT TO KEEP THAT, UH, THAT LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE OPEN.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, DON'T HESITATE.
IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM, CALL ME.
I PROMISE YOU WE'LL ADDRESS AND, AND WE'LL ADDRESS IT.
AND IF WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS KIND OF MEETING, WE'LL DO IT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE, BECAUSE I LOVE GREENBURG.
I, I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH GREENBURG SO MUCH SO OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS SINCE I MOVED HERE, THAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT I CAN RETIRE AND STAY IN GREENBURG AND NOT MOVE BACK TO VIRGINIA TO MY HOMETOWN.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S HOW COMMITTED I'M TO THIS TOWN AND TO THIS PROJECT, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUE AND ANY CONCERN THAT ANY RESIDENCE HAS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
'CAUSE THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE.
OKAY, NOW, THE G B A APPEAL FEE, THE COUNCIL OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, UM, REQUESTED, UM, THAT WE, UM, UM, WE GIVE BACK THE APPEAL FEE AND I WANTED TO, UM, ASK THE BOARD WHAT THEY, UM, WHAT, UM, THE BOARD, UM, WOULD LIKE TO DO ON THAT REQUEST.
WELL, THE, THE TERM FEE, APPARENTLY IN SOME REVISION, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WAS APPROVED, BUT IN SOME REVISION LISTING FEES, UH, IT LISTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF FEES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE GENERALLY DON'T CHARGE, UH, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS FEES.
UM, AND SO, UH, TRANSCRIPT FEES AND, YOU KNOW, MAILING FEES AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING,
[03:00:01]
I DON'T THINK THAT WAS EVER ENVISIONED THAT WE WOULD CHARGE, UM, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.UM, I DO MAKE A DISTINCTION THOUGH, ON THE PUBLIC NOTICE, UM, AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.
BUT EVEN THERE, I THINK IT WAS LISTED UNDER, UNDER FEES.
AND SO, UM, I, SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, UH, THAT'S, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE CHARGING THEM.
I MEAN, SOMEBODY'S PAYING FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR IT IF THE, IF THE APPLICANTS AREN'T PAYING FOR IT.
SO THE, UM, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE WAY THAT I'VE SEEN IT LISTED AT, AT EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE A FEE.
SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD, UH, WE SHOULD BE CHARGING 'EM THE FEE IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE.
DID ANYBODY ELSE, UM, HAVE ANY, UM, THOUGHTS ON THAT? NOPE.
SO THE FEE, ANYBODY, SO ANYBODY ELSE? OH, IT'S FINE.
SO THEN THE FEE HAS BEEN WAIVED.
SO GEORGE IS COMING TOMORROW? YEAH, I THINK SO.
WELL, ELLEN JUST SAID YES, SHE'S SHAKING HER HEAD YES.
ARE WE READING THIS OUT OR WHAT DO WELL, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT TOWN BOARD MEETINGS, UH, MOMENT OF SILENCE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER SEEMS TO BE SLOWING DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL AWFUL.
UM, THE INCREASE RATHER SLOWING DOWN.
UH, THEN WE HAVE GEORGE, UH, LAIR COUNTY EXECUTIVE TALKING ABOUT COVID 19, UH, HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SO THEY'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE RELOCATION EFFORTS SIMILAR TO TONIGHT.
IS THAT WHAT THAT'S ABOUT? THEY WERE EXPECTED.
I ASKED BISHOP TO COME THIS EVENING.
UM, I'M SURE, I'M SURE THERE'S PROBABLY BE QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S PLANNING ON PRESENTING KEN, YOU KNOW, IF HE'S PLANNING ON PRESENTING TOMORROW.
I, I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT JUST HAPPENED I WASN'T AWARE OF, SO I'M, I, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TEXT HIM NOW AND ASK HIM.
THE WESTCHESTER COLLABORATIVE THEATER PEOPLE OF COLOR FESTIVAL, 20, UH, 21.
THAT'S A PRESENTATION OR AN ANNOUNCEMENT? IT'S A, A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
AND THE C A C, THAT'S A BRIEF PRESENTATION ALSO.
DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT? THAT THEY WANNA TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH ISSUES OF THE LEAF BLOWER? OH, THEY WANNA TALK ABOUT IT UNDER PRESENTATION INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE, UH, UH, THEY INDICATED THAT THE PROFESSOR IS, UM, IS WELL RESPECTED IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THEY SAID IT COULD GO MAYBE 10 MINUTES OR SOMETHING.
BUT THAT'S WHY I HAVE PUT IT, YOU WOULD THINK THEY'D WANT IT UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT YEAH.
IF WE DO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, YOU KNOW, WOULD LET HIM SPEAK AND WOULDN'T KEEP TO THE TIME PERIOD, I'D BE HAPPY IF YOU'D PREFER THAT.
OKAY, THEN WE'LL, THEN WE COULD DO THAT.
UH, DISTINGUISH HIM FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE MAY WANNA SPEAK TOO.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN ISOLATING OUT ONE PARTICULAR PERSON ON BEHALF OF AN ADVOCACY GROUP TO ALLOW THAT PERSON TO SPEAK ON THE END, UH, THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY C USUALLY THE PRESENTER IS AT, UM, AT A HEARING, UM, HAVE THE, HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE TIME THAN, UH, THAN THE, THE CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE, SO I FEEL THAT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE, THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS PUT LIKE A LOT OF TIME INTO THIS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HEAR AND THEN PEOPLE COULD COMMENT AND ASK
[03:05:01]
QUESTIONS.JUST WANNA BE CONSISTENT RIGHT HERE.
SO THE PRESENTATION THAT'S ON THE SCHEDULE FOR BISHOP AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THAT WILL BE, UH, MOVED TILL THE NEXT, UH, BOARD MEETING.
IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO, UH, TOMORROW EVENING WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
I DUNNO IF YOU WANNA CROSS THAT OUT OR, YOU KNOW, SO YOU YEAH.
OR CHANGE READY FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.
SO I UPDATED THE, UH, BOND RATINGS, THE DATES OF THE BOND RATING, AND WE HAVE A DECISION ON THE GOLF COURSE.
I THINK THEY'VE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS REGARDING WATER USAGE AND IT'S, IT'S DOESN'T REALLY AS MUCH TO DO THAT.
THEN WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND A LONG AWAITED LEAF BLOWER DISCUSSION.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW WE GET ALL OF THE EMAILS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AS PART OF THIS RECORD ON THIS.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY RANGE FROM DON'T DO ANYTHING TO BAN THEM YEAR ROUND.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE A VERY DIFFICULT TASK.
YOU HAVE TO FIND THE TERM FOR, UH, JASON MALDOON APPOINTMENT OF PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE UNDER BOARDS AND COMMISSION.
THE APPOINTMENT OF TERENCE SHOULD NOT BE UNDER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE'LL LOOK TO SEE HOW WE DID IT FOR THE, UH, D P W AND PUT IT THERE.
UH, IF I COULD ALSO JUST BRING UP, SINCE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, UM, I BELIEVE IS COMMISSIONER OF DEPUTY, UH, EXCUSE ME,
DOOR D, YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
YOU OKAY? FRANCIS? YOU'RE NOT FEELING GOOD? WHAT'S THAT? YOU OKAY? YOU'RE NOT FEELING GOOD? WELL, WHAT'S MATTER? I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN PERFECT ALL THIS LONG.
OH, YOU THINK I TYPED THAT ON? YOU HAD A FEVER OR SOMETHING? DID SOMETHING HAPPENED? YOU HEARD WHAT I SAID? NOPE.
ARE YOU THROWING OTHER PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS? NO, I WOULDN'T DO THAT.
AND FRANKLY, THIS WENT OUT TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR REVIEW IN ADVANCE OF POSTING AND UH, IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY KNEW THAT.
RIGHT? OH, I LIKE HOW YOU DID THAT.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I'LL SHOW YOU.
AND THE BUS ONLY HAS FOUR WHEELS.
ALRIGHT, SO WE, UH, THE P B A CONTRACT, WE'VE SETTLED THE, UH, P B A CONTRACT.
THAT'S THE, TO REMIND ME TO REMIND JOAN THAT ON AGENDA QUICK, UH, THE LETTERS ARE TRANSPOSED.
SO TO MAKE THIS WORK, YOU SEE I EXTRACT THE AGENDA OFF OF AGENDA QUICK, ENLARGE IT, WHICH MEANS CHANGING ALL THE FORMATTING SO IT CAN FIT.
SO PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY READ THIS ON A TV MM-HMM.
AND, UH, SO, BUT THIS IS WHAT I GO WITH FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.
'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA REDO IT, SO, OKAY.
SO THEN WE HAVE TAX ARY, UH, A TAX ARY, A TAX TERTIARY, A TAX ARY, A TAX TERTIARY, A TAX TERTIARY, A TAX TERTIARY.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REBOUND, UH, TAX ARY? UM, ONE AFTER THE OTHER.
UH, WE CAN GET AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS, THIS, UH, IS STILL HAPPENING.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MANY RECENTLY, AND I THINK IT JUST SO HAPPENS THE COURTS ARE MAYBE OPENING UP AND SETTLING.
[03:10:01]
IS IT? WHAT TIME IS IT? IT'S, UH, ONE MINUTE AFTER 10.YOU, YOU GOTTA PUT THE KIDS, YOU GOTTA PUT THE CHILD TO BED.
UH, A PROPERTY RELATED, UH, CLAIM.
WE WILL BE MORE SPECIFIC HERE.
THIS DOESN'T REALLY HELP THE PUBLIC MUCH.
EXTENSION OF F MOORE SEWER DISTRICT.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET SOME STREET ADDRESS IN THERE.
GARRETT, DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT C D ONE?
JUST REAL QUICKLY, UH, I DID HAVE AN E A F SENT OVER AS WELL AS, UM, THE, THE CORRESPONDING RESOLUTION.
SO THAT'S ALL READY TO BE POSTED.
SO, TIM, DO YOU WANT US TO INTRODUCE THIS NOW, OR WE COULD INTRODUCE IT BEFORE WE, UH, GET IT BACK AND HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING? I'M SORRY, YOU TALKING ABOUT INTRODUCING, UH, THE BEST, THE WHAT, WHERE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA TO REFER TO THE PLANNING BOARD? OH, NO, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO THAT JUST BEFORE WE, UM, BEFORE WE CONSIDER A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LOCAL LAW.
AND WE HAVE THE CONTROLLER, SHE KEEPS PLAYING AROUND WITH MOVING MONEY AROUND
I KNOW
WHAT'S THAT? HE'S KEEPING THAT IN THE BACK EXACTLY.
IS
UM, SO HERE THE COURTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AUDITED, AND WE'RE SIMPLY JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY, THEY WERE, UH, WANNA TALK ABOUT C O THREE, ROBERTA C OH THREE.
IT'S, IT'S TO ACCEPT THE GRANT, WHICH IS, THIS IS A GRANT THAT THEY GET EACH YEAR.
SO WE SHOULD DO THAT, RIGHT? I THINK YOU SHOULD.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE WILL BE POSTED UP ON THE WEB.
WELL, THE, THOSE ARE AMENDMENTS.
BUT THE DETAILS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEB.
YEAH, WE JUST, WE WENT OUT TO BID FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, GROUND MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES, AND IT'S, UH, NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL COST OF $24,000.
UH, IT'S JUST, UH, IT'S, IT'S OUR ANNUAL, UH, BID THAT, UH, WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, UH, PR TWO.
I THOUGHT HE WASN'T COMING BACK.
WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT HE WAS ON A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT AND HE, HE, HE WITHDREW BECAUSE, UH, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND, UH, HE WOULD'VE HAD TO PAY OVER $14,000.
UM, WE DID GET, UM, TWO OTHER VENDORS, UH, SERIOUSLY CONCERNED, BUT THEY BACKED OUT FROM SUBMITTING, UH, A PROPOSAL, UH, BECAUSE IT, THEY FELT IT WAS TOO RISKY.
AND THEY SAID NEXT YEAR WHEN WE BEGIN THE, UH, ANOTHER R F P FOR THREE OR FIVE YEARS, UH, THE ONLY ONE THAT DID SUBMIT, UH, WAS, UH, O'NEILL CONCESSIONS.
AND, AND THAT CAME IN FOR $6,000, UH, FOR THE LICENSE.
PLUS $1,200 FOR, UH, ANNUAL, UH, ELECTRIC, UH, UTILITY SERVICES.
COMMISSIONER, HOW ARE YOU, YOU KNOW, OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE CALL RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, PW ONE IS A CONTINUATION OF OUR CONTRACT WITH, UH, C B R E.
THIS IS FOR THE, UM, POLICE AND COURT FACILITY.
UM, I DID SEND OUT AN EMAIL TONIGHT.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO MEET, UH, PROBABLY
[03:15:01]
AN EXEC SESSION TO TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS.UM, BUT THIS IS FOR THE, THEY HAD TO REDO THE PLANS.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT WAS TO LOOK AT THE COST, WHICH WE NEED TO DISCUSS.
SO THAT ONE'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT SHOULDN'T THIS BE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $10,000? THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE ACCURATE.
NOW, WE, WE SCHEDULE AN A MEETING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NEXT WEEK OR, YOU KNOW, AT AN EARLIER HOUR WHERE WE COULD REALLY GIVE IT, YOU KNOW, ATTENTION.
YEAH, IT COULD BE ZOOM IT, YOU KNOW.
UM, THE NEXT FEW WE PUT OUT, UH, ANNUAL, UM, EMERGENCY CONTRACT BIDS.
UH, I WILL TELL YOU, WE, WE WERE, WE GOT A LOT OF RESPONSES, UM, TO THESE CONTRACTS.
AND THESE ARE THE, UH, THE LOW BIDDERS.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, LIBIDO.
THIRD IS GENERAL CONSTRUCTION TO MOHEGAN PARK.
UH, THE FIFTH ONE, VERY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THINGS POP UP AND, UH, ESPECIALLY ON THE CENTRAL AVENUE CORRIDOR THAT ARE WAY MORE THAN, UH, WE COULD HANDLE AT DEPTH.
IS HE STILL ON? HE CAN TALK TO YOU ON THAT.
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
HE WANTS TO KNOW WHY YOU HAVE A PARKS UNDER PW SIX.
WE, WE HANDLE ALL THE PAPERWORK.
I KNOW
UH, WERE ANY MAJOR PROJECT LIKE THAT.
WE ALWAYS HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION THROUGH D P D P W.
AND THIS IS CHANGING OUT THE, UH, THE SURFACE, RIGHT? NO, UH, THIS, THERE WAS TWO THINGS WE'RE ADDING, UH, A NEW SWING SET PLUS WE'RE DOING A RUBBERIZED SURFACING, UH, FOR THE ENTIRE PLAYGROUND.
AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, DO THAT WITH, WITH THE MATCHING FUND AND WITH THE EXISTING BUDGET THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WELL, I KNOW PW SEVEN IS D P W.
AND, AND BRIAN IS ON, AND, UH, I'M GONNA LET HIM DO THIS.
'CAUSE HE REALLY WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE, UM, THE WATER ADVISORY BOARD, WHO'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT HELP.
BUT I'LL, I'LL LET HIM EXPLAIN THIS ONE.
UM, SO GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
UM, SO RECENTLY, UH, THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, UH, PERFORMED THE ANNUAL SANITARY, UH, SURVEY ON THE GREENBERG CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT.
UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS NOTED AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM WAS THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE FAIRVIEW STORAGE WATER TANK, AND THEN THE NORWOOD, UM, STORAGE WATER TANK, UH, BOTH OF WHICH WERE, UH, NOTED AS BEING, UH, OR DETERIORATING AND, UM, SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
UH, SO THIS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT IS FOR THE DESIGN, THE BIDDING, CONSTRUCTION, AND SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF, UH, IT WOULD BE A NEW FAIRVIEW, UH, WATER STORAGE TANK.
UH, THE EXISTING TANK IS OVER 90 YEARS OLD.
IT'S AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE, AND IT IS COMING VERY COSTLY TO MAINTAIN.
UM, IN ADDITION, THE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT IS SEEKING TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE TANK TO PROVIDE, UH, REDUNDANCY AND RELIABILITY TO THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, UM, AND TO MEET SOME OF THE PROJECTED DEMANDS IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO DUE TO THE TECHNICAL SKILL, THE TRAINING, UM, AND THE TIMELINE OF THIS PROJECT, THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, AND TOWN ENGINEERING STAFF REVIEWED H TWO M'S PROPOSAL.
UM, AND BASED ON THEIR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, UM, SERVICES, UH, WE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSAL BY H TWO M, UH, PROVIDES THE TOWN WITH THE, UM, HIGH QUALITY ENGINEERING, UH, SUPPORT AND DESIGN SERVICES, UH, FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
SO, SO AS, AS I READ THIS, THIS IS JUST FOR THEIR SERVICES, RIGHT? THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE ACTUAL, THE ACTUAL INSTALLATION OF THE TANK? CORRECT.
[03:20:01]
IS FOR THE, THIS IS FOR THE DESIGN OF, OF THE, THE, THE REPLACEMENT TANK.UM, THIS IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION, UM, THE BIDDING, UM, THE OBSERVATION AND THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING TANK AS WELL.
AND THE, THE PURPOSE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION IS TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BUILT RIGHT IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE, THE, UH, THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDELINES WITH THEIR APPROVALS AND THEIR STANDARDS.
SO IT'S A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE'S TOO MANY WAYS OF DESIGNING A WATER TANK, UH, THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ALREADY.
WELL, SO THIS INCLUDES, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS.
UH, FIRST IS THE DESIGN, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A, A REPORT OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
IF YOU GO THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS WITH THEM, UM, YOU THEN HAVE TO PROVIDE THE, THE DESIGN DRAWINGS, RIGHT? 'CAUSE EACH TANK IS SITE SPECIFIC.
SO FOR THIS PROJECT IN PARTICULAR, IT'S THE FAIRVIEW TANK.
UH, THERE'S AN EXISTING TANK THAT IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE THERE.
THE INTENT, UH, AT THIS POINT FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW TANK, UM, WHILE LEAVING THE, THE EXISTING TANK IN SERVICE.
SO THERE'S SOME COMPLICATIONS THERE, SOME ENGINEERING, UH, CHALLENGES THAT, THAT ARE FACED THERE, WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE BASICALLY HAVING A, A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GOING ON NEXT TO AN TANK.
AND THEN ONCE THE NEW TANK IS BUILT, TRANSITION OVER SERVICE TO THE NEW TANK AND AT, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THEN BEGIN THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING TANK.
SO THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO TAKE, UH, UP TO, THEY'RE EXPECTING ALMOST 12 MONTHS.
UM, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY THAT THEN, YOU KNOW, SIGNING OFF ON EVERYTHING AND GETTING THE APPROVAL TO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, PUTTING SERVICE FROM THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
DO YOU KNOW IF THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? SO THIS PROPOSAL, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'VE BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS POINT, BUT THIS PROPOSAL DOES INCLUDE, UM, WHEN THEY SAY SUPPORT, UH, WE DO IN INTEND TO HAVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION ON, ON THE PROCESS WHAT TO EXPECT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF NEED BE, YOU KNOW, PRESENT TO THEM.
AND SO WE DID REQUEST, AND AT THE REQUEST OF, UM, THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, WE HAD H TWO M ALSO INCLUDE THAT AS WELL, BO THE WATER BILLS KEEP GOING UP AND UP AND UP.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE DOLLARS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, TAXPAYER MONEY.
IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL COMING OUT OF OUR RESIDENTS POCKETS.
SO IT IS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, SO THIS TANK IS OVER 90 YEARS OLD, RIGHT? SO THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS, UM, WITH THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU, YOU KNOW, REPAINT THE EXISTING TANK OR WHETHER YOU CONSTRUCT A NEW TANK, THOSE TWO OPTIONS WERE ANALYZED.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST DIFFERENCE, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT PAYS TO ALMOST REPLACE THE TANK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, FUTURE PROJECTIONS AND WATER DEMANDS GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
WHERE IF WE WANT TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE TANK, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE, THE ANALYSIS THAT WAS RUN, THE FACTS THAT WE HAD, THIS WAS THE, THE, THE, THE CLEAR CHOICE.
IF, IF I COULD JUMP IN REAL QUICK.
THE, THE WATER COMMISSION, UH, VERY SENSITIVE TO THE WATER RATES.
AND WE WENT, ACTUALLY WENT BACK WITH PERMISSION FROM THE BOARD TO, UM, HAVE RALPH TELLIS RE-LOOK AT THE, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WHICH ROBERTA'S BEEN HELPING US WITH, UM, COMBINING CERTAIN THINGS.
BUT WE'RE REDOING THE, UH, WHAT WAS THE RATES THAT WERE APPROVED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY RE-LOOKING AT THIS.
UH, WE'RE ALSO VERY SENSITIVE TO OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE HOPING THAT, UM, WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND SOME OF THE, THE STUFF THAT THEY'RE PUTTING FORWARD, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE SHOVEL READY FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
AND MAYBE WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PACKAGE AS IT COMES FORWARD.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO, WATER IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS IT.
AND WHEN THEY GET IT, IT'S, IT'S SAFE.
YOU KNOW,
SOMEBODY HAD A QUESTION? UH, WHERE'S THE WATER TANK LOCATED? FAIRVIEW? IT'S ON WOOD.
[03:25:01]
BETWEEN WOOD AND FOREST.BETWEEN WOOD AND FOREST? YEAH.
UH, IT'S WOODLANDS AVENUE, RIGHT? SORRY.
IT'S RIGHT BY THE INTERSECTION OF WOODLANDS AVENUE AND CREST.
DID WE DO AN R F Q OR AN R F P? DID WE DO ANY COST COMPARISON OR DID SOMEBODY JUST PICK H TWO M ARCHITECT? SO WE DID NOT DO AN R F Q, UM, BASED ON THE, THE TECHNICAL SKILLS THAT WERE REQUIRED FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, THE EXPERIENCE, THE TRAINING, UM, H TWO M, YOU KNOW, BEING THAT THEY, THEY, THEY'VE DONE PROJECTS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS.
LIKE THEY'RE DOING ONE, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION I BELIEVE THAT THEY MADE TO THE BOARD A FEW WEEKS AGO IN ELMSFORD, UM, BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE ON THE PROJECT, UH, WITH THE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S RECENT ANNUAL SURVEY.
UM, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN'S, UM, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL POLICY AND, AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, WE FELT BECAUSE OF THOSE FACTORS, UM, THAT H TWO M WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE A CONSULTANT THAT, LIKE I SAID, THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH A VERY HIGH QUALITY DESIGN THAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR PROCESSES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD, WOULD, UH, WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST US IN THIS.
BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S COMPETITIVE? I MEAN, THEY MAY BE GREAT, BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S COMPETITIVE? I WOULD SAY BASED ON, LIKE I SAID, BASED ON THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE DONE, BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE, BASED ON PRIOR PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE HERE.
NOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY REPLACED THE TANK OF, OF, OF RECENT.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE ONLY DONE THE, THE WATER, UH, WHERE WE'VE, WE'VE GONE AND WE'VE, WE'VE PAINTED TANKS.
UM, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT, IT WAS REALLY BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE, THE TIMELINE, AND THEN ALSO, UH, PRIOR PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE TOWN.
THEY'VE, THEY DID COMPLETE A WATER MAIN DESIGN FOR US BACK IN, UH, IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT YEAR.
UM, YOU SAY, SO THEY, THEY HAVE DONE PRIOR PRO PROJECT FOR US.
AND, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THAT, ON THAT EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE WORK AND DESIGN WORK THAT THEY'VE PERFORMED FOR US.
COULD, COULD YOU SEE WHAT, UH, FOR THE ELM TREE TANK, SINCE THAT'S A REPLACEMENT, LEAVING THE OLD ONE, PUTTING UP ANOTHER ONE, AND THEN TAKING DOWN THE OLD ONE, VERY SIMILAR.
UH, COULD YOU SEE WHAT THE, THE, THE COST IS THAT, UH, ALFRED IS PAYING FOR THE DESIGN AND MONITORING FOR THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO NOW WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, I MEAN, IT'S GETTING LATE, YOU KNOW.
DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO AN, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S FOR THE DEPARTMENT HAS, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER OFF DOING IT ANOTHER TIME, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AT THIS HOUR.
YOU KNOW, I DID HAVE A CORE OF ISSUES, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF, UM, SANITY, I GUESS WE SHOULD NOT DO IT.
YEAH, I, WELL, I, I, I DON'T, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST DO IT AT ANOTHER TIME, BUT WAIT A MINUTE.
BUT, BUT, BUT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT, I MEAN, TIM, TIM IS ONE DEPARTMENT HEAD, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS? IS THERE ANY PRESSING MATTERS THAT NEED TO GET, UM, ADDRESSED TONIGHT? E P W HAS NOTHING AT THIS TIME.
SEE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO THEN I'D MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN, RIGHT? UM, I JUST, I I HAD ONE THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, RIGHT? YES.
DO YOU NEED ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS OR NO? NO.
IS ROBERTA STILL HERE? OH, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING.
I STILL HAVE, YOU STILL HAVE TO MOVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE SAYING GOODNIGHT.
NO, YOU ARE YOU GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS? YOU HAVE TO MOVE AND SECOND IT.
I'LL MOVE THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL IN FAVOR? WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? PERSONNEL INVOLVING INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.
SO IT'S, WAS IT MOVED AND SECONDED? I SECONDED.
ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[03:30:01]
EVERYBODY.