Housing Authority, Regular Meeting

1. 1:04I'm ready. Thank you all for being here on this chilly night. I know we all be in our beds comfortable with pajamas on. So, I appreciate you all being here. Tonight is our regular monthly meeting. It is Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. It is 6:04 p.m. and I will call the meeting into order. Jeff, can I get a roll call, please?
2. 2:07Commissioner Smith
3. 2:08here.
4. 2:09Commissioner Walt absent. Commissioner Black
5. 2:15here.
6. 2:16Commissioner Joiner
7. 2:17here.
8. 2:17Commissioner Decker
9. 2:18here.
10. 2:19Commissioner Zakos and Commissioner Young
11. 2:24here. And welcome.
12. 2:26Thank you and welcome.
13. 2:27Nice.
14. 2:29We have a call. I will move right on to all business. First, we have um an approval for the minutes for December 2025. Was everybody able to read those?
15. 2:41We did.
16. 2:43Is there any questions? Can I get a motion?
17. 2:46I make a motion.
18. 2:47Can I get a second?
19. 2:49A second.
20. 2:50All in favor?
21. 2:51I motion passes. Everybody speak up so we can control I.
22. 2:57Thank you.
23. 2:58Thank you for that. Mhm.
24. 3:00Next, we will approve accounts payable for December 2025. Has everybody been able to review that?
25. 3:07Yes.
26. 3:08Any questions? Can I get a motion?
27. 3:11I make a motion.
28. 3:12And can I get a second?
29. 3:14A second.
30. 3:15All in favor?
31. 3:18Motion carries. Next, we will move right on to the executive director's report.
32. 3:24Thank you, Commissioner. Happy new year Hudson Housing and John and uh all those who watch us. We thank you for being here tonight. Uh we have I just want to share with you um some tidbits of some information. Actually the first uh bit of information I want to share with you is a bit of correspondence from Homes and Community Renewal Housing Trust Fund Corporation whose date is December 12th, 2021. uh to Jeffrey Dodson, executive director, Hudson Housing Authority, 41 North Second Street. And this was in uh
33. 4:03reference to the New York State Homes Local Program Award. Congratulations on behalf of Governor Governor Kathy Holding Trust Fund Cooperation. It is my pleasure to inform you that the application is done.
34. 4:21There's not many way.
35. 4:41Sorry for the interruption. We will be and Nick and 17. So we will resume. Um so basically we did the approval of the minutes approval of accounts and now we're at the executive director. So, as I was reading a a letter from homes and commun community renewal, um, which says, "Congratulations on behalf of Governor Kathy Hokllo and the housing trust fund cooperation. It is my pleasure to inform you that the application submitted as part of the 2025 New York State Home Program funding round has been selected for a 1.25
36. 5:23million award. Office of Community Renewal staff will contact us shortly to outline the procedures necessary to advance the award and satisfy the conditions of the grant agreement. Please be advised that no work can be performed nor cost incurred prior to the execution of the grant agreement with uh housing trust for incorporation and environmental review. Again, I offer my congratulations and I look forward to working with you on the implement implementation of this and other important housing and community development projects in your community. Should you have any questions in the interim, please contact Stephanie Raleigh at Stephanie-Really
37. 6:04HCR.gov. And just for more um explanation, that is the temporary uh I'm sorry, tenantbased rental assistance program. Um that will as we when we get up and running, it will be administered. It is for individual households at 60% or below the area income. Um the assistance can move with the household and varies based on the income and the rent considerations. It can be used for rental assistance and utilities. It can be used for utility deposits in conjunction with rent and security deposits and security deposits up to one
38. 6:44month's rent. Um it is it cannot be coupled. So it was not for our residents that are currently receiving HCV section 8 or project based voucher. But this enables us to assist others with rental assistance up to two years and even some cases we will give an extension. So this is a good news um because it grows the housing authority adding an additional program uh to our portfolio. Um also I received a email message from the bank of Green County today just thanking us then for
39. 7:21submitting our an application for a charitable foundation grant. Uh we did apply for it last year and received it and we utilized those funds to uh put to to fund the tenant um the tenant day appreciation day part. Um so it's a grant that that comes out every year. Now that I know it's available, I will apply every year. We did get it last year and hopefully, you know, we plan to expand the program possibly doing maybe like a single dollar in December if we can, you know, if we can fit it in the budget, you know, other sponsorship. All
40. 7:59right. Um, uh, next I want to talk about the toys for tots that we had in December. Was a really good uh, turnout um, and a good event. Um, we need to take our Christmas tree down, but uh, Santa Claus did appear. I don't know where he came from, but somehow got in the spirit and he did come. There's pictures. I won't show them to you, but there are pictures and u it was a good event. A lot of children and smiled faces and and adults came in to pick up things for their um uh for their
41. 8:31children. And we want to thank the food pantry because it is because of them that we're able to use their uh they sponsor it basically. So, we sign up through them. we do all of that work, but they allow us to do that. So, they're giving their uh toys away to remember. All right. And lastly, um I want to read with to you the list of suggested names that have come in for the development. Um what we'll do after that is I'm going to read them today. Um but I'll email them to you and then we
42. 9:08can go through them. we can talk about how we uh uh want to vet them, but I figure we probably get to the top three um and and dwindle those down and then go through a procedure from there to see what we want. So um I don't I did I did put one in the hat, but I don't know the explanation for some, but there was some some explanation for some, but this these are the names. Uh the first was Bliss Gardens. The second was Harbor of Hope Homes. The
43. 9:40next was Har Hudson Gardens. There was another Hudson Housing Community, Legacy Commons, New Horizons, New Roots Community Homes, Pearl Place, Riverview Apartments, The Highend, The Hudson Collective. I was going to say that. figured that would happen. But the Hudson Collective, uh, the Pearl Collective, the Pearl of Hudson, um, Unity Project, and Vista Gardens. And, um, I don't think it's a problem with me saying that the all of those Pearl wasn't my suggestion. I don't know, but apparently um, Ida Pearl is a person that's in our community who was revered.
44. 10:29Um, so it it did come up several times. Um, and I did help with a permutational one that was suggested by one of the commissioners, but they're good. It's a good start. So, I'll send these out to the to to email and we'll go from there.
45. 10:44All right.
46. 10:45Thank you for doing that. I think that that's a good good little start off activity. Think about that.
47. 10:50I think it gives more life to our
48. 10:53I do have a question. I want to go back to the letter with Kathy Fogle. Um, yes. Because I what I don't understand is some the money that she's giving.
49. 11:02Can you speak up a little bit?
50. 11:03The money that she's gi
51. 11:05Yes.
52. 11:051 point something million.
53. 11:0825 million.
54. 11:09And that's for Okay. Everyone that comes into Blisstown is now either they're vouchered.
55. 11:14Yes.
56. 11:15Or voucher. It's just two different type of vouchers. It's HCV. Right. Well, they come into the programs that are administered
57. 11:23and they live here for a year or they just get a voucher and find someplace else.
58. 11:27So, let me clarify. The people that live in Bliss Towers are on project based voucher. That that voucher is attached to the unit.
59. 11:34That's one program we we run. It's for Bliss and Colombia partners. The other program we run is HCV, which people more uh know as section E,
60. 11:44right? Those are where they can take them and live anywhere in the city. Um, as long as they they get approval when they income qualify.
61. 11:52Right. Now, you're saying that the money that she's the grant that we're getting from her
62. 11:57does not cannot apply to any of those people.
63. 12:00No, it cannot because you cannot uh participate in in dual subsidy.
64. 12:04Okay. So, if they were in need, we could not use that money to help any one of them.
65. 12:10So, who would be the the other people? Um, we're going to we're going to establish this, but I just want to give you an example. Okay,
66. 12:18there we because we're gonna after I get
67. 12:21the approval to go and and to start get started, uh, we will open up a waiting list for it. But people on our waiting list currently that are not assisted that income qualify can be a part of the pro. They can apply for this as well. that are on our waiting list. They're not getting assistance.
68. 12:46But most of the people that are on our Oh,
69. 12:48they're not getting assist
70. 12:49and they don't have to have it's not assistance to come into this complex but assistance to
71. 12:55stay where they are.
72. 12:56They can stay where they are and they may need rental assistance and if they income qualify, we can help them.
73. 13:01Okay. Because most people that apply for here qualify for here.
74. 13:05Yes. Right.
75. 13:05Well, but we still have to go through the We have to do our due diligence. Um
76. 13:11I just wanted to make it clear
77. 13:12you would that would be the assumption but sometimes people are over the income limits
78. 13:18right so it would be like a third type of venue for people to apply.
79. 13:22Yes.
80. 13:23Okay.
81. 13:24But it'll be administered by us.
82. 13:26Okay.
83. 13:28Um and if that is all the with the rest of my time I will give that to Mono who just wants to provide a brief update of development.
84. 13:37Sure. I don't know is John he is on D. I don't know John you want to say any words you want me to take it from here.
85. 13:44No why don't why don't you take it and then I'll uh I'll have some comments maybe at the end. Thanks Carlos.
86. 13:50Well thank you for having us again. We just wanted to provide a brief update on what's happened in the past month. Um so we've gotten confirmation from the state on the pro housing um award that we submitted. Uh that was for $3 million. We got, you know, confirmation from the state that we got awarded that um that award. That's great. Um we also met with uh HUD and ACR to just give them a status update of where the project was. Um and discuss logistics of, you know,
87. 14:24sort of moving forward and pushing the project forward. Um that meeting went well. HCR on that call sort of permitted us to be on their October 2026 uh closing schedule which is
88. 14:38great. I mean we were pushing for June. Um but you know having a confirmed date is you know is great. That means they're going to be working with us you know moving forward. So that's you know that's good news to us. Um, subsequent to that meeting, um, we wanted to have further dialogue with the mayor. Um, I know Jeff, you know, has had him here and toward the the property. But now that we have a commitment from HUD and from ACR, we wanted to make sure that
89. 15:09the city's also behind us and pushing the project forward. Um, as a result of that, tomorrow there's going to be a meeting here with representatives from the city, HUD and HCR to sort of, you know, give them a a a timeline of, you know, how the the project is moving forward. Um, and making sure that the city's committed, you know, behind us. Um, we have something with the city uh planning board for approval, which is our site plan is the only, I think, item that we're going to need the city to approve for us. Um, it's in there for their
90. 15:43approval. Obviously, there's there's been some change in the uh city planning being board. Um, I think Jeff will be meeting with uh the chair uh sometime next week.
91. 15:52Thank you. Because I was going to add to that. It's actually tomorrow as well.
92. 15:55Okay.
93. 15:56Um and he's going to Oh, no. Next Tuesday, he's going to come down and um the chair, Mr. Bo is going to come down and um I'm going to give them a tour of the building and help him understand a little bit more about our initiative and how it's going to impact the community. Um so that's really good because they'll have firsthand knowledge of why it's so important.
94. 16:19Is it the chair or the entire board?
95. 16:21I did invite the entire board but the chair has confirmed.
96. 16:24Okay. And the crucial part is that we just want them to make, you know, to understand the project where it stands moving forward and we don't want any delays, you know, moving forward. So, um, that's where we are. I think it's great progress. I think we're we're we're aing our milestone. So, that's that's good.
97. 16:44Yes, we are.
98. 16:47John, did you have anything to add? Yeah, the only thing I would say to emphasize um the the commitment from the state to slot us for an October closing. Uh I can't emphasize enough how important that is. Uh I think all the board members know uh we're effectively in competition with all the other housing authorities in the state and all the developers in the state who um who also have projects uh and and worthy projects uh that they're looking for the state to fund. The state can only fund a
99. 17:21certain number of projects. They fund them three or four times a year. So to actually get on um the state's closing schedule is significant. Um and uh it's not a you know it's not a locked up deal that's done. No more discussion. We still have a lot of work to do to show the state that by the time we get to October we'll have our site plan approval, our building permits, um all the other funding sources that we told them about. All those things are falling into place. uh but getting that uh
100. 17:56initial commitment uh is is really very significant. Um I think Carlos also touched on um the issue of uh the site plan. That is the major approval that we need from the city. Um I think you all know that there's been a change in the planning board and it's not uncommon when you have a change in the planning boards um for um for a new administration to come in and and change planning board members and uh they often then change the consultants. Um sometimes that can take several months
101. 18:32before the planning board is then ready to begin reviewing applications. And one of the main purposes of the meetings in the course of the next couple of uh this week and next week which uh which Jeff and Carlos talked about is to impress upon um the planning board and the mayor that if if the planning board is not going to begin review of our application for a couple of months um then that October date is uh is you know really in jeopardy. And I'm not saying that that's what their plan is, okay? Uh I'm just I'm just
102. 19:13saying I know of cases where in sort of worst case scenarios it takes a while for a planning board to get going again. So we have every our application is set. It's ready for review. As soon as the planning board has their engineering consultants and have their legal consultants, it can be reviewed. Now, we want the planning board to designate itself as the lead agency. So, we're going to be talking to the mayor and the um and the planning board chairman about the importance of um of moving the
103. 19:44application quickly. We're not asking for any favors. We're not asking, you know, the planning board has rules and regulations that they have to adhere to and that's fine. Uh and we think we've given them everything that they need to review the application, but we need to have them review it expeditiously. we may need to ask them to have a special meeting so we don't have to wait uh more than a month if if you know depending on the timing of certain things. So it's important just to convey that urgency to the to the mayor and and to the planning board chair. But uh as Carlos said uh
104. 20:19you know Jeff and and the board has made tremendous um progress particularly in the course of the last couple of months um and uh you know we're in we're in as good a shape as we can be. So, uh fingers crossed but that's where we are.
105. 20:35And if I could add one last thing, it is uh you know important because we don't want to miss the deadline but the criticality that we don't want people to miss is that this building is beyond
106. 20:49repair like it's not viable and we need to move as quickly as possible. I want to let people forget that to get people, you know, into something new, better, and stable. And as you know, housing stability is everything. Um, it affects everything in your life. And so you uh uh just right when we begin to start the meeting, the elevator went down.
107. 21:12So these are these are the type of things that happen often that we don't talk about. Um, but I don't want to let anyone forget that, you know, the building was declared obsolete, like beyond its usefulness, I should say, uh, about 10 years prior to becoming. Um, and we just, you know, we're doing our best to keep it together. Uh, but we don't want it to be a situation where, uh, we've done too little too late. So,
108. 21:41can I just clarify? Maybe you said it, but just to repeat it if you did. If we're looking for an October closing, which HDR is telling us is possible, and we need to get site plan approval from the planning board prior to that. We need to get site plan approval by September.
109. 21:59Well, needs to be
110. 22:01No, the goal is I'll let you.
111. 22:03I I I think uh site plan approval needs to be before we get close to Right.
112. 22:09How like what what are we talking about for like an actual And John, what would you say? I mean, I would say
113. 22:14I I would like Nick. Yeah, it's a it's a good question, Nick. I would like to see if we could get site plan approval by May. I think we've given It's an aggressive schedule, but I don't think it's unreasonable uh given the material we have. In fact, I'm I'm sure you all remember because most of you have been to the meetings and certainly uh uh one of our our new board members on the housing authority knows this probably better than anybody is that we've been before the planning
114. 22:44board numerous times over the course of the last year. We've showed them the intended design. We've spent a lot of time. We've we've uh reduced the number of units. We've reduced the height of the buildings. We've got a lot of public input into into the overall design. So, it's not as if um you know, this is coming to the planning board, you know, out of the blue. Uh there's been a lot of work that's been put in. So, uh it's a matter of the planning board consultants having the opportunity to
115. 23:16review uh to review it uh to focus on the site plan aspects. Uh but uh you know, it's something that can be done and that's what we're pushing for. Thank you so much. And that concludes the uh executive director and development report.
116. 23:34I just wanted to add in I know a few tenants have been asking me about the next tenant meeting.
117. 23:40I was just wondering about anything.
118. 23:43I don't right now, but I'll get back to you for on that and I'll make sure that it's advertised. Okay.
119. 23:48Um we had a reduction in staff, so that's changed some some activities a bit, but I'll make sure that I'll get that in. And did you also was it just a ten meeting a regular tenant meeting or yes with the development
120. 24:02with the yeah because doing it with you like every few months later just
121. 24:07so we'll get back to that
122. 24:09now the meeting tomorrow are any of us invited? Oh yeah, you guys that you're speaking at the the with the city and the developers and
123. 24:23Oh,
124. 24:23that's just with the planning. You're talking about the one with the planning board chair.
125. 24:27No. Are you talking with the planning board chair?
126. 24:33Yeah.
127. 24:33Um well, it's going to be the developing I would say no. I would say no. It's going to it's going to be with the HCR, the state, the mayor.
128. 24:42Right. That's the one I'm talking about.
129. 24:48Yeah. I think
130. 24:49I think what our our goal of that meeting is, Jeff, and you can point me in the right direction if I'm going the wrong way, is we really want the the mayor um and um you know, the planning board chair to hear from the state and from HUD that they're committed to this project. They've got a closing date. uh and you know they really need the the city to to get on board and to help expedite it. So we're you know you know we're hoping that really the that HUD
131. 25:22and HCR are really going to take the lead in that meeting. Uh and and certainly based on the meeting that we had a a week or so ago with them. They were very very clear in articulating that and I and I think it's uh
132. 25:36Oh, we lost you a little bit, John.
133. 25:38Okay. Sorry. I I think
134. 25:40you were very clear. What were your last words?
135. 25:42Yeah, the very clear we it was very clear from the meeting last week that that HUD and HCR uh you know are ready to move and and want to move and want to assist it. I think it's really important and Jeff had a really good call to set this up is to let the mayor and the planning board chair hear that from the state agency and the federal agency, not just not just from us locally.
136. 26:10The mayor first.
137. 26:15Any questions from anybody on the board? We will move right on to resident public comment. Any residents that have a comment?
138. 26:32Okay. Do we have any movement?
139. 26:36No resolutions. Any executive session?
140. 26:39Public comment is just in a couple things. So, you'll get you'll get a chance.
141. 26:42And now we're on to public comment.
142. 26:46Oh. Oh, yes. I just wanted to verify that um Office of Community Rule Renewal at 1.25 billion dollar
143. 26:57million.
144. 26:58I wish it was a billion.
145. 26:59I wish it was a million.
146. 27:021.25 billion.
147. 27:03Yes.
148. 27:04Yeah. Yeah, that's what I said.
149. 27:05Okay. Okay. I thought I thought you saidion
150. 27:09billion dollars. Um what is that um award for special? Um it's a tenants based um tenant based rental assistance program
151. 27:20tenant based rental assistance program right and that I
152. 27:24officially it's called the New York State home local uh local program award but Tbra which we refer to as or tenant based rental assistance is the program that um the grant is for um okay so it and it's Um, and it's um going to be like it's going to be for people who don't live in Bliss Tower
153. 27:54and they don't have the tenant the section 8 bers. So, it's going to be for another ring of people,
154. 28:03right? So, for example, if someone lives, let's just say across the street in an apartment and they're on they're on the list um and they qualify that um income qualify and they need a rental assistance, we can assist.
155. 28:19Okay. And so this is it's tenant based rental.
156. 28:24Yes.
157. 28:24All right. So, but will the the people who are on it, will they also be able to vote in tenant elections for the the HHA tenant elections? And
158. 28:35that's a good question. Um um um I would off the top of my head I would say no. They might be able to be provisions for that. I have to look into the program a little bit more, but I right now I would say no. And about how many people you can get covered?
159. 28:57That's also a good question. I don't know. I need it depends on the rent the rent and the type of assistance that people need. So, you know, rent is based on bedroom size in some cases. Um, and this is not just for rent. It's also for utility allowance. It's a security deposit. So, it's really based on the new Great. Well, thank you. Y
160. 29:27any other public comment? We have anybody online?
161. 29:31Anybody online that has any public comment?
162. 29:37Commissioner's time. I got a question. When was the last time you updated the website?
163. 29:44That's a very good question. U and we haven't. However, I literally um have connected with a uh vendor um who sent me a proposal recently that I'm reviewing today and um because of the disconnect um that I've been having. Um this is somebody that's going to update it and give us a fresh new look. Uh are you have a microphone in my office because I
164. 30:12No, be looking on the website. Um, no, it needs to be updated, but that we're having an access problem. So, we're going to get a an entirely new um website. Hopefully, we'll be done in the next 8 to 10 weeks. So, very good question.
165. 30:31Do you have features in mind that you want?
166. 30:33Oh, no. Because I was on the website the other day. Um, KA is still up there. Um,
167. 30:38there's some old information.
168. 30:39Yeah. some other stats not even
169. 30:41there's some commissioners that have not been updated for our record but I'm having access issues and that's why
170. 30:47I'm making a change.
171. 30:50Okay,
172. 30:51it's great.
173. 30:51Yeah, that's the world of municipal website service providers.
174. 30:56They are very nice websites.
175. 31:01Make sure there's no other questions from the public. Any other commissioners that don't add anything? Can I get a motion to adjurnn?
176. 31:11Motion to adjurnn.
177. 31:12And I'll second it.
178. 31:13All in favor?
179. 31:15Thank you all.
180. 31:16Thank you all.
181. 31:17See you next
182. 31:17night everybody.
183. 31:19Good night.
184. 31:20Good night. Yes.

Timestamps link to the corresponding moment on YouTube. Auto-transcribed, contains speech-recognition errors. Not an official record.