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Fitchburg Housing Authority tables proposed tenant maintenance fee after resident concerns
Summary
A resident raised concerns about notice and the impact on low-income and disabled tenants, prompting the Fitchburg Housing Authority to table its proposed maintenance and lockout fee schedule for further Policy Committee review. Staff said the schedule is intended to recover part of the Authority's tenant-caused damage costs.
Adam Goodwin, chair of the Fitchburg Housing Authority, convened the board on June 17 and heard public comment from a resident about a proposed increase to tenant lockout and maintenance fees.
A resident of 214 Day Street, Patricia, told the board she and other tenants were not given advance notice of the proposed fee increases and expressed concern about how higher charges could affect low‑income households and individuals with disabilities. Chair Goodwin told residents that "consistent with Board policy, the Board does not respond to comments made during the public comment period," and the board accepted the public comment record.
During discussion of agenda item 7, Executive Director Douglas M. Bushman and Director of Maintenance Michael O'Connell described the rationale for revising the fee schedule. Bushman said the schedule was developed to better reflect the Authority's actual costs when responding to tenant‑caused damages and lockout requests, and O'Connell told the board the FHA "incurs more than $100,000 annually in costs associated with tenant‑caused damages and services such as lockouts." Policy & Grants Manager Brianna Boulay said the proposal excludes normal wear and tear and is intended to create standardized, transparent billable charges rather than individually calculated labor invoices.
Commissioners and staff discussed operational details, including how emergency access and master keys are handled after recent lock replacements; Boulay confirmed the Authority maintains master keys and that tenants would not be charged for lockouts resulting from Authority error. Commissioner David Basilio and others asked for clearer notice to residents and suggested additional review of whether other tenant‑caused damages (balconies, exterior doors, outdoor common areas) should be covered.
After a brief recess at 9:17 a.m., Commissioner Heidi Bogner moved and Commissioner Janice M. Spellane seconded a motion to table further action on the proposed fee schedule for additional review by the Policy Committee; the motion passed unanimously. The board directed staff to provide more detail to the Policy Committee on notice procedures, categories of chargeable damages, and exceptions for Authority errors.
