MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BERKS. June 27, 2017

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BERKS June 27, 2017 Chairman Glenn Yeager called the meeting of the Board of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks to order at 4:35 p.m. on June 27, 2017 in the Neversink Room, 14 th Floor, Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading, Pennsylvania. The following Board members were present for the meeting: Glenn Yeager, Chairman Eileen Kastura, Vice Chair Theodore Bassano, Treasurer Pellegrino Orlando, Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Chairman Yeager declared a quorum of Board members present. Also in attendance were: Kenneth L. Pick, Executive Director Kathy Miller, Fiscal Officer Kathy Heckman, Office Support Tom Dachowski, Housing Director Pamela J. Cala, Kozloff Stoudt, Solicitor Upon motion made by Chairman Yeager, second by Theodore Bassano, the members of the Board present voted 4-0 to approve the May 23, 2017 minutes of the Board of this Authority. Theodore Bassano presented the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending May 31, 2017, which included a Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet. A copy of

2 the Report is attached to these Minutes. Upon motion by Eileen Kastura, second by Pellegrino Orlando, all Board members present voted to accept the Financial Report. Mr. Bassano then presented the list of invoices to creditors through June 27, Upon motion made by Chairman Yeager, second by Eileen Kastura, all Board members present voted to approve the payment of said invoices. There were no communications to report. There were no Committee Reports to present. Tom Dachowski presented the ADD Program Report as written and attached, and reported that there was no new activity. Kathy Heckman reported on the Next Step Program and Rentals. Mrs. Heckman stated that this Program has two (2) participants with vouchers, eight (8) pending applications and two (2) residents with one (1) year left on their contracts. Ken Pick reported on the Colebrookdale Spur, and stated that he and Nathaniel Guest are continuing to work on specifications and plans for the station in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Pick advised that they will be ready to go out for bids in September, 2017 and that Mr. Guest has been successful in obtaining grants and private donations for this project. Mr. Pick added that the total project may cost approximately $1,000, to construct and, therefore, will be done in stages as money becomes available. Mr. Pick also stated that the building, once completed, will contain approximately 2,600 square feet of space. Mr. Pick continued to report that Mr. Guest has been meeting with people in Boyertown in regard to the construction of site improvements in the rail yard area. Lastly, Mr. Pick stated that bids for the

3 construction and installation of the brick walkways within the rail yard area are expected to be let by PennDot in July, 2017 and that UGI will be installing a gas line for the gas street lamps. Ken Pick reported on that there was nothing new to report on Armorcast. Tom Dachowski informed the Board that he would be making his report on the Housing Program projects at the meeting of the Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation following the meeting of this Authority. Tom Dachowski reported that the property located at 523 Greenwich Street, in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, which property was acquired by this Authority at a tax sale, has been demolished and a new three bedroom home will be constructed on the vacant property. Chairman Yeager called for an Executive Session to discuss a litigation matter. Following the conclusion of the Executive Session, under New Business, Kenneth Pick presented an Amendment to Lease Agreement between this Authority and the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness for the property located at 223A Mulberry Street in the City of Reading. Mr. Pick explained that the purpose of the Amendment was to include a restriction on the use of the leased premises during the initial term of the Lease for an emergency shelter, and for any renewal term for a homeless shelter. Mr. Pick added that the restriction was necessary in order to comply with the requirements associated with the use of Federal HOME Program funds for the rehabilitation of this property.

4 Mr. Pick then presented to the Board for approval an Agreement with Reading Area Community College ( RACC ) for the purpose of administering a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant in the amount of $500, for improvements for RACC s facilities. Mr. Pick added that this Authority would be charging a $10, fee for administering the said Grant. Upon motion made by Eileen Kastura, second by Chairman Yeager, all Board members present voted to approve the execution of said Agreement. Mr. Pick then presented to the Board for approval an Agreement with the Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation ( BCNDC ) for the purpose of providing a $50, PHARE/RTT Grant to BCNDC for the rehabilitation of low-income housing. Upon motion made by Chairman Yeager, second by Theodore Bassano, all Board members present voted to approve the execution of said Agreement. Mr. Pick then presented to the Board for approval an Agreement with the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness ( BCEH ) for the purpose of providing a $75, PHARE/RTT Grant to BCEH for the rehabilitation of low-income housing. Upon motion made by Eileen Kastura, second by Theodore Bassano, all Board members present voted to approve the execution of said Agreement. Then Mr. Pick presented to the Board a Collaboration Agreement by and among this Authority, the City of Reading, the Berks County Housing Authority and the Reading Housing Authority in regard to the cost sharing and participation in the Federal Assessment of Fair Housing, which Mr. Pick explained is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Upon motion made by

5 Chairman Yeager, second by Eileen Kastura, all Board members present voted to approve the execution of said Collaboration Agreement. Mr. Pick then presented to the Board of this Authority a Consulting Agreement with the firm of Tetra Tech, Inc. for a contract price of $54, Mr. Pick explained that Tetra Tech, Inc. would be engaged to conduct the Assessment of Fair Housing as described above and that this Authority would act as the contact agency on behalf of all of the parties to the Collaboration Agreement, also referred to above. Upon motion made by Theodore Bassano, second by Chairman Yeager, all Board members present voted to executed the said Agreement. Mr. Pick then presented a Second Amendment to the Agreement with the YMCA of Reading and Berks County, the purpose of which is to add $10, of Act 137 funds. Mr. Pick reminded the Board that the purpose of the underlying Agreement is to provide funds to homeless people to assist them with transportation costs to return to their families who are willing to provide them with housing. Upon motion made by Eileen Kastura, second by Theodore Bassano, all Board members present voted to approve the execution of said Second Amendment. Mr. Pick then presented an Agreement with the Berks Housing Opportunities, Inc. for a $66, grant from the Federal HOME Program to be used towards the construction of new low-income housing at the property located at 144 Broad Street, in Cumru Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Upon motion made by Chairman Yeager, second by Theodore Bassano, all Board members present voted to approve the execution of said Agreement.

6 Mr. Pick presented Resolution authorizing the sale of the property located at 2539 Fairview Avenue to the Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation for a purchase price of $20, and conditioned upon the Corporation paying all closing costs. Upon motion made by Chairman Yeager, second by Eileen Kastura, all Board members present voted to approve Resolution , as presented (a copy is attached to these minutes). Lastly, Mr. Pick and Solicitor Cala requested authorization to proceed with arbitration to resolve a contract dispute with the firm of RelTEK. Upon motion made by Chairman Yeager, second by Eileen Kastura, all Board members present voted in the affirmative. On motion to adjourn by Chairman Yeager, second by Eileen Kastura, and approved unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m. Theodore Bassano Treasurer