CITY OF DANBURY
 Danbury Housing Partnership
 155 Deer Hill Avenue
 Danbury , Connecticut 06810

Minutes of the December 6, 2007 Meeting

Attendance: Barrows, Lemme, Scalzo, Schierloh, Zaborowski, Sistrunk, Sangut, McLachlan, Nolan, Rodano, Valeri

Absent: Coelho, Elpern, Lima, Payton, Pitts, Shepperd, Yamin

The meeting of the Danbury Housing Partnership was held in City Hall, conference room #3c, on December 6, 2007. Vice-Chairperson C. Sistrunk called the meeting to order 3:03pm. The minutes of October and November, 2007 meetings were reviewed by all present members. A motion to accept the minutes of October/November 2007 meetings was made by P. Schierloh, seconded by S. Zaborowski, passed unanimously and placed on file.

There were no public comments.

Committee reports were provided to Partnership members:

  1. Housing and Community Development Committee report was given by Chairperson P. Scalzo. The committee met this afternoon, but with two members absent, there is nothing of significance to report.

  1. Social and Supportive Services Committee report was given by D. Valeri. The committee met prior to this meeting. Discussion and wrap up entailed Project Homeless Connect event held yesterday, December 5th. The committee looks forward to next year’s event. Karl Meyers and P.J. reports monthly on Dream Homes.

  1. Financial Resources and Fundraising Committee report was given by P. Schierloh. The committee was focusing on practical ways to produce veteran and senior housing. The chairperson would like to receive and get input from various potential developers and participants for housing and also the committee will hold a special focus meeting regarding these issues. The committee is also looking into resources within the community and interested in pursuing senior housing, veteran’s housing, transitional housing for veterans leading to permanent housing, and affordable housing.

  1. Public Relations, Marketing and Education Committee report was given by P. Schierloh. The committee did not have a quorum for their scheduled meeting. Wade Anderson is still working on the Housing Partnership website.

Vice-Chair Sistrunk has moved item #8 on the agenda to the next item for discussion involving the Homeless Connect event that was held yesterday. Ms. Sangut reported that yesterday’s event was very successful. There were 82 clients in attendance, with actual statistical data available on 67 people. Other information reported were 2 clients who had connection with services for emergency shelter. These two individuals will be placed in the shelter this evening instead of sleeping on the streets. There was positive feedback and comments regarding the event. Some suggestions made for next year’s occasion is to include dental and immigration services. Vision services had approximately 46 clients, with 45 needing glasses. The Lions Club will provide follow-up.

Ms. Sangut indicated to the Partnership that an article should be in Sunday’s newspaper regarding Project Homeless Connect. 57 agencies attended the event, out of 60. The opening ceremony was well attended by Common Council members, elected officials, taskforce members, department heads, etc. The Danbury Elk’s has been reserved for the first Wednesday in December of 2008. Ms. Sangut indicated to the Partnership that next year’s event planning will be started in February to allow more time for preparation.

Mr. Schierloh reported that Mr. Sullivan from MCCA indicated that 4 guests were immediately placed into treatment after interviewing and counseling. Ms. Sangut stated that the biggest service that was utilized was medical. Flu shots were given with the assistance of the WOW van. Next year’s event will need to be publicized more in obtaining the target population. Fliers for this year were sent to different shelters, the library, agencies, city organizations, etc. The event was well handled and organized. Ms. Sangut is to be commended for her hard work in making Project Homeless Connect a success.

Chairman Nolan reported on the Senior and Veterans Housing feasibility study. The Non-Profit Development Corporation would like to look at utilizing their resources with regards to the Housing Authority’s commitment in the ten year plan. One of the items that the Non-Profit has discussed was being available to recycle the Housing Authority’s housing stock with the Non-Profits resources. In response to the feasibility study, Mr. Nolan stated the non-profit would like the best scenario to utilize their money or to see if the State has monies available to use as pre-development which the corporation can then recycle as a process. Mr. Valeri would like to have a meeting to see if the Non-Profit can combine these two projects in which the City of Danbury will benefit.

At this point in time, there is no time frame in which to initiate the study. The corporation has to meet, but they also have the opportunity to get involved with the Housing Authority and the units available and to make sure that not all their resources are used up. The prospect of assisting the Housing Authority and continuing to make those housing units affordable would utilize some of the Non-Profits resources, in addition to the feasibility study.

Mr. McLachlan suggested that if the feasibility study will be delayed, perhaps the City, with the assistance of the real estate community and other entities could do the study to facilitate the information to the Partnership.

After much discussion regarding the feasibility study, it was decided to conduct a meeting on December 20, 2007 with the following Partnership members: Scalzo, Schierloh, Yamin, Shepperd, Nolan, Payton, Elpern and Sistrunk. Mr. Schierloh will send out notices of the time and place for the meeting.

Mr. Nolan reported on DECD holding a meeting at Western Connecticut State University on Thursday, December 13th from 5-8:00pm at the Westside campus. The meeting will entail discussion and strategic planning for economic growth. On November 14th United Way sponsored a meeting regarding predatory/sub-primed lending practices that is affecting the housing industry.

Ms. Sistrunk addressed the Partnership on the Housing Authority’s plan of action regarding the selling of housing stock. There will be 32 units on the market, in which 28 of those affordable units having land lease commitments. If these units do not have the lease agreement, they will revert back to the Housing Authority. A public hearing is scheduled for March 19, 2008 at the Ives Manor regarding the Authority’s position with their selling of property.

Mr. Schierloh made a motion that the Danbury Housing Partnership support the proposed disposition plan of the Danbury Housing Authority involving its scattered site properties and authorize the chair or his designee to communicate the Partnership’s support either verbally or in writing. The motion was seconded by G. Lemme. Discussion followed. The motion was carried unanimously.

Continuing on the agenda regarding updating the Mayor’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness progress report, Ms. Sistrunk reported that comments were taken from each of the subcommittee, adjustments were made, but not brought before the Partnership meeting today. A timeframe is not indicated in which the Partnership needs to report our yearly results. Each subcommittee will get a copy of the report, and then make a decision as to what subcommittee should update what portion of the report.

Mr. Schierloh indicated that Counsel advised that since there is no specific timeframe noted in the City Ordinance, that his ruling is that the Partnership should submit the annual report at the time of the City budget request. Mr. McLachlan provided information on the time frame for the City budget requests from all entities. Mr. Schierloh stated that Counsel indicated that the only language that hinted at a time was if the annual report includes any projected administrative and budgetary needs for the next fiscal year. The process needs to be facilitated as soon as possible, if the Partnership is requesting funding. The request for a grant writer may want to be presented to the Partnership for the coming year.

Discussion regarding filling members for the Partnership included the new Director of Welfare, Caitlin Radano. Requests were submitted to the Mayor including recommendations of representatives from the Danbury Hospital, Western Connecticut State University, Dream Homes, the banking community, the Housing Development Fund, etc.

Mr. McLachlan provided copies to the Partnership regarding a letter from Mayor Boughton to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affair in West Haven, officially asking for assistance to reach Danbury’s goal to end homelessness in our veteran population. The Mayor would like to appoint John Sullivan to the Partnership. A focus group needs to be appointed and discuss what the needs are regarding the veteran’s population and pick a short and long term program that can be started immediately. Those who should be on the focus group include: Paul Valeri, Bob Botelho, the Housing Authority, social service agencies, Pat Waldron, and John Sullivan.

The next meeting of the Housing Partnership is scheduled for January 3, 2008. Suggestion was made and agreed that the meeting be changed to January 10, 2008. A motion to adjourn was made by P. Schierloh, seconded by C. Radano, passed unanimously.