Residents report a broken hand from a high step and other maintenance concerns; community groups outline food and tech support

Residents and resident leaders used the board's LTO comment period on Dec. 15 to raise maintenance and health concerns at several public housing sites and to highlight community services now available to tenants.

Doug, who identified himself as an LTO representative, described an incident earlier this year in which resident Andrea Gallano "stumbled and fell" on a concrete step that he measured as 9½ inches high (with an adjoining step of 6½ inches) and later broke a bone in her hand. "She just had an operation on that hand last Wednesday," Doug said. He told the board that maintenance staff previously inspected the step and called it "wrong" and that a promised repair in May or June has not been completed, and he expressed frustration about repeated unmet promises.

The Cahill Apartments' LTO president said residents still face problems with mold and pesticide applications they believe are unsafe. The president said residents "have been forgotten" and asked the authority to take action and to help the newly recognized LTO with orientation and grievance instructions. Chair Patricia Healy and the acting executive director told residents the appropriate route is to file a written grievance so the administration and the grievance committee can track and address issues; the administration offered to send grievance forms and to follow up directly with residents.

Community partners and resident commissioners also reported recent positive activity: a Fresh Van program from the Northampton Survival Center will resume in January with scheduled weekly stops (Hampshire Heights 11:30 a.m.–noon; a Meadow/Brooks Apartments stop at about 1:00 p.m.; Florence 1:00–1:30 p.m.), and GrowFoods Northampton and other volunteers have supported on‑site grocery distribution and installed temperature‑controlled lockers to allow after‑hours pickup. Northampton Open Media provided grant‑funded new desktop computers at Walter Sabo and continues to offer digital navigation and in‑person tech support at locations including the senior center, Holly Street site and Forbes Library.

Board response and next steps

Chair Healy and acting executive director Sharon Kimball emphasized that written grievances are important so administration can document, prioritize and pursue repairs. Kimball said she had not previously seen the specific complaint but offered to follow up and to coordinate with maintenance and the newly appointed grievance panel. The administration also noted that HUD inspectors recently visited several properties.

Qualifying details and evidence

The transcript shows the steps' measurements reported by Doug (9½ and 6½ inches) and that the resident referenced had surgery for a broken hand. The Cahill LTO president described ongoing mold and pesticide concerns but did not provide a documented complaint during the meeting; the chair and acting executive director asked that those issues be submitted through the grievance process so they can be officially recorded and followed up on.

The board also accepted brief site reports noting the installation of four computers in one community room and scheduled roof work at a property; residents asked for a meeting with the acting executive director to coordinate site work and follow‑up.