Fall River Housing Authority hears staffing and wait‑list concerns; approves contract awards and waivers

The Fall River Housing Authority on an unspecified January date heard an update from its executive director on staffing and resident services, continued concerns about a roughly year‑long wait for subsidized housing, and approved multiple procurement and planning actions before moving into executive session to discuss collective bargaining.

The executive director said the authority hired a custodian and an accounting clerk and will interview additional public‑housing clerks to support field operations. Resident‑services programming includes a piano class scheduled to begin at Sunset Hill Community Hall with about 10–11 residents signed up, the director said. The director also reported that the authority had held a public hearing on its annual plan and five‑year plan and said the board would submit the plans to HUD and EOHLC following tonight’s vote.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff described a persistent mismatch between demand and fixed public housing inventory, which board members said is driving long waits and increased local homelessness. The board approved contracts, waivers and plan submissions that affect operations and capital work and then voted to go into executive session for collective bargaining under state open‑meeting law.

Board and staff described wait‑list pressures and operational constraints. The executive director said average wait times are difficult to state precisely but estimated that, before the COVID pandemic, elderly applicants typically waited three to six months and that recent pressures have pushed waits to about a year. The director said the elderly wait list was “probably 1,000 to 1,100” several months ago and “closer to 1,500 now,” and warned that a lack of inventory and third‑party vetting (FBI background checks, landlord references) are significant bottlenecks.

Staff described several steps intended to reduce barriers to move‑in, including offering newly selected applicants a choice of two move‑in dates (early or mid‑month) to ease the burden of paying a current month’s rent and a first month for the new unit. The director said the authority aims to flip vacant public‑housing units in 29 days or fewer and noted that some units are turned around in as few as 15 days, but repairs and contractor availability can extend that timeline.

Deputy McCoy stressed the authority’s limited role and regulatory constraints, saying the authority is not designed to function as an emergency shelter and that its admission process is “highly regulated,” including criminal background checks and income verification. “We’re not an emergency shelter,” Deputy McCoy said, describing why the authority cannot simply hold vacant units in reserve for short‑term shelter needs.

Board actions and votes

In a series of motions taken on the consent and business calendars, the board approved routine minutes and financial reports and a set of modernization and procurement items (summaries below). Several items were moved and seconded from the dais and approved by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript provided. After those votes the board approved going into executive session to discuss strategies for collective bargaining under Chapter 30A, section 21(a)(3).

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept minutes of the Dec. 9 meeting — approved (voice vote). Motion text: “Motion to accept the minutes of the meeting held December 9th.” Mover/second: not specified in transcript. Notes: voice approval recorded.

- Motion to accept bills and communication vouchers — approved (voice vote). Motion/second: not specified.

- Motion to accept eight management reports (applications, occupancy reports, tenant accounts receivable, work orders, Section 8 voucher activity, personal account report, director of modernization report, bank investment and bond debt balances) — approved (voice vote). Motion moved/seconded on the record.

- Motion to accept financial reports for November 2024 — approved (voice vote).

- Modernization: Certificate of completion for the Sunset Hill unit replacement (contract value cited in packet as $849,900) — motion to approve certificate of completion approved (voice vote). Motion: “approve the certificate of completion consolidated for the replacement at Sunset Hill.” Mover/second: not specified. Note: packet referenced a contract amount of $849,900.

- Modernization: Permission to advertise for envelope improvements (north elevation) at Oliveira Apartments — motion approved (voice vote). Motion: “permission to advertise for envelope improvements, North Elevation Oliveira Apartments.” Mover/second: not specified.

- Procurement: Award two‑year security guard contract for Doolin Apartments and Corby Bishop(e) Apartments to low bidder Signal of South Coast, amount not to exceed $125,541 — motion approved (voice vote). Motion text in packet: award two‑year contract to Signal of South Coast not to exceed $125,541. Mover/second: not specified.

- Administrative plan submission: Approve FY2025–26 annual plan and five‑year plan certifications for submission to HUD and EOHLC/DHCD — motion approved (voice vote). Motion: “approve for submission.” Mover/second: not specified.

- Waivers: Approve waivers for units 29B, 50B and 35A at Maple Gardens to use two apartments as laundry rooms and one apartment as a Transitional Housing Program (THP) office for up to three years — motion approved (voice vote). Motion: “approve the waivers.” Mover/second: not specified. Note: waivers allow a three‑year term so the authority does not need to seek approval each year.

- Election of officers for 2025: Board voted to keep the existing slate of officers in place — motion approved (voice vote). Motion: “keep the offices the same as the past year.” Mover/second: not specified. For the record the meeting listed officers as chairman (as stated on the record during the meeting), vice chairman David Underhill and Treasurer Jason Burns; the transcript also included a statement naming Steven Wong as chairman in the record‑check segment.

- Motion to go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining (pursuant to Chapter 30A, section 21(a)(3)) and to adjourn from the meeting after executive session — motion approved (voice vote). Motion text: “go into executive session” and motion to “adjourn in executive session.” Mover/second: not specified. Notes: chair declared that open discussion would have a detrimental impact on bargaining position.

What remains discussion vs. decision

The most extensive discussion in public comment and on the dais concerned the wait list, inventory limits and the authority’s limited ability to act as an emergency shelter. That remained a policy and communications issue rather than a subject of formal new policy adoption at this meeting. Several commissioners urged continued public education and advocacy to state officials about regional housing shortfalls; the board did not adopt a new formal policy at this meeting on those points.

Looking ahead

Board members and staff said the authority will submit required HUD/EOHLC certifications following the votes and will proceed with the approved modernization and procurement contracts. The board moved into executive session to discuss ongoing collective‑bargaining strategy.