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April 19 2023 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Date Posted: 04/19/2023
Category: Board Minutes

I. Regular Meeting
Chairman James Cloar called the regular meeting of the Tampa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners to order at 8:46 a.m. Other Board members present were Lorena Hardwick, Bemetra Salter Liggins, and legal counsel Ricardo Gilmore. The Chair indicated that the Board was not yet at quorum, thus action items were postponed until Commissioner Sul Hemani arrived at 9:11 a.m. Commissioners Ben Dachepalli and Parker Homans were not present for this meeting.

The Chair began by asking everyone for a moment of silent prayer and/or personal meditation; those in attendance were also asked to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance; recital of the agency's mission statement followed.

II. Minutes
A motion to approve the Minutes of the regular Board Meeting of February 15, 2023 was made by Commissioner Hardwick and seconded by Commissioner Hemani: 

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes  
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Present 

III. Public Forum (3 minutes limit allotted per speaker)

  • None to come before this forum.

IV. Employees of the Month

  • Administration - Yasmin Dilbert

V. Special Recognition (Geraldine Barnes Award)

  • Recipient - Sharoan Booker

VI. Resolution
The Director of Assisted Housing presented resolution 2023-4263. 

  • 2023-4263 Margaret Jones: A resolution approving the extension of Palm Terrace project based contract agreement. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins and seconded by Commissioner Hemani:

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes 

VII. President/CEO's Report

Finance and Related Entities
Sr. VP/CFO Ms. Susi Begazo-McGourty began her presentation with updates regarding the RAD properties. Subsidies for Assisted Housing were at $101 million; admin fees and expenses by the agency were also included in the report. The CFO stated that next year the agency will see separate budgets between the Virgin Islands and Florida. 

The Director of the North Tampa Housing Development Corporation, Ms. Layla Hartz updated Board members regarding the status of the Project Based Section 8 Contract Administrators for the State of Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, adding that the agency oversees 449 properties in Florida and 12 properties in the Virgin Islands, totaling 41,291 units.

The director informed the Board that the agency conducts contract renewals, processes rent adjustments, HAP vouchers, tenant inquiries, on-site management, and follow up inspections.

The agency was successful with HUD's reaction regarding the Draft Solicitation and any future competitions for PBCA does not impede Housing Finance Agencies (HFA's) or PHA's from competing on a state basis. The agency's current contract has been extended until July 31, 2023. On-site management reviews in the Virgin Islands will be conducted next month for half of the properties and the other half will be conducted in June. 

Operations and Real Estate Development 
Sr. VP/COO Mr. Leroy Moore began his report with the announcement of an upcoming event at Encore. The agency will host a documentary screening of "The Art of the Possible" at the Black History Museum, formerly the St. James Church at Encore.  

The COO also updated Board members regarding the closing of Lots 10 and 8 at Encore. Phase 2 of the Canopy at West River was also on a path to closing.  

The Villas and the Manor at West River were currently under construction, said Mr. Moore. The agency was waiting for HUD's approval to move forward with the relocation plan of Robles Park Village. 

VIII. Legal Matters

  • None to come before this forum.

IX. Unfinished Business

  • None to come before this forum.

X. Notices and Updates
President/CEO Mr. Jerome Ryans announced the retirement of his Executive Assistant and Office Manager, Ms. Irene Womack at the end of March and expressed how she will be missed by her THA family. 

XI. New Business

  • None to come before this forum.

XII. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before this Board, the Chair declared this meeting of the THA Board of Commissioners adjourned at 9:32 a.m.

Approved this 19th day of April 2023.