GMHA Board Tackles RAD Conversion, Maintenance Hiring,
and Snow Removal Concerns
Geauga Metropolitan Housing Authority (GMHA) - 2/18/2025
Meeting Info: Regular Meeting on February 18, 2025 at 4:00 pm (EST) in the Conference Room at Murray Manor at 385 Center Street, Chardon, OH 44024. This meeting was in-person only.
Agenda: An agenda was provided at the meeting. It is not available online. The documented proceedings below follow the agenda and are presented sequentially.
Proceedings:
1. Call to Order - 4:00 pm
2. Attendance: Chair Jeff Markley and Board Members Susan Kemerrer and Michael Petruziello were present. Board Member Walter Claypool was absent.
Staff Attendance: Dawn Farrell, Executive Director, Carrie Carlson, Chief Financial Officer, and Todd Petersen, Legal Counsel.
Others Present: This observer and eight other members of the public were in attendance.
Observer Note: The Executive Director indicated they were recording the audio of the meeting.
3. Minutes: The board reviewed the minutes from the regular meeting held on January 21st, 2025. The minutes were approved unanimously.
4. Financial Statements & Write-Offs
The board reviewed financial statements for January 2025. A motion was made to accept the statements, which was seconded and approved unanimously.
Discussion followed regarding prior-year financial statements. Board Member Ms. Kemerrer noted that they had requested budget data spanning the past five years for review in the context of forward planning. It was confirmed that Chief Financial Officer Carrie Carlson would be providing this data to the board soon.
There were no write-offs to discuss.
5. Commissioners' Report - Nothing to report.
6. Report of Counsel
A note of a litigation matter was made by Mr. Todd Petersen and referred for executive session.
7. Report of the Director
Ms. Dawn Farrell, Executive Director, reviewed the report:
January Programs Report
The January Programs Report had been distributed to the board. Board members were given the opportunity to raise questions. A discussion ensued regarding rent collection rates, which were lower than expected. Two units remained offline due to UFAS (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) modifications, contributing to the decrease in rent revenue. Additionally, an expected policy change resetting the eviction notification period to 14 days was not enacted at the federal level. Maintaining the eviction notice period at 30 days impacted funds from rent delinquencies.
RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) Conversion
Ms.Kemerrer, Ms. Farrell, and Ms. Carlson reviewed a video presentation on the RAD process, which had been provided by Housing Heroes. The video outlined seven steps in the conversion process. A meeting with Mike Andrews, RAD consultant provided by HUD (Housing and Urban Development), initially set to discuss next steps, had to be rescheduled. Staff confirmed that the process of marking units as potential RAD conversion candidates had begun, though no final commitments had been made.
Mr. Petruziello asked for clarification on the selection process for RAD conversion units. Ms. Farrell explained that Murray Manor was chosen due to its unit count and community space availability, allowing it to meet federal requirements for the initial RAD conversion phase. Once Murray Manor is accepted into RAD, it is planned that other locations would follow.
Text Alerts Implementation
A new text alert system for emergency notifications and announcements was discussed. Residents had been opted in by default, with an option to opt out. The system will primarily be used for urgent communications, such as maintenance issues, severe weather alerts, and office closures.
NAHRO Washington Conference
The board discussed attendance at the NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) Washington Conference, scheduled for March 10–12, 2025. The conference includes meetings with HUD officials and elected representatives. The executive director is planning to attend.
Capital Fund Emergency Grant
The Capital Fund Emergency Grant deadline is March 27, 2025. Grants up to $250,000 are available. This money could be used for entryway modifications and door replacements to meet HUD NSPIRE (National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate) Inspection Standards. Ms. Kemerrer and Ms. Farrell are planning to author the application.
Funding Freeze Updates
Recent federal funding uncertainties had temporarily affected GMHA, but normal funding levels had been reinstated within days. Concerns remained over the possibility of future disruptions.
Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR) Community of Practice
GMHA received a $1,000 grant for participation in the SAFMR Community of Practice, supporting efforts to standardize and optimize fair market rent policies.
Old Business - Nothing to discuss.
New Business
Credit Card Policy Update
Revisions to the credit card policy were proposed by the Executive Director, particularly regarding emergency usage and return procedures. The board approved a modification requiring that cards be returned by the next business day.
Non-Smoking Policy
The board approved updates to the non-smoking policy, specifically addressing company vehicle usage. The revised policy aligns with Ohio’s Smoke-Free Workplace Act (ORC 3794), clarifying where employees may smoke and the consequences of violations.
Fire Watch Policy
A new Fire Watch Policy was introduced, formalizing procedures for handling fire alarm system failures. The board unanimously approved its adoption.
Strickland Arms UFAS (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) Extension
Construction delays at Strickland Arms, attributed to cabinet delivery issues, pushed the expected completion date to early March. The board approved a $0 change order extending the project deadline to March 7, 2025.
Snow & Ice Removal Concerns
Discussions on snow and ice removal contracts centered on service delays and excessive salt use. Residents reported sidewalks covered in thick layers of salt, creating accessibility hazards. Complaints also emerged regarding delayed snow plowing, particularly at Murray Manor.
The board authorized a contract amendment for up to 10 additional salt applications and 5 additional plowing events for each property (one board member, Ms. Kemerrer, dissented). It was also decided that once the maintenance team is fully staffed, GMHA employees would assume responsibility for these services.
8. Hearing of the Public
Resident Ms. Brown expressed concerns about excessive salt usage, sidewalk accessibility, and delays in snow removal, which were echoed by other attendees. The board acknowledged the concerns and committed to reviewing snow removal vendor performance. An immediate action was taken for the maintenance staff to clear all egress doorways of snow. Vendors will be expected to maintain this clearance and improve their performance.
9. Executive Session & Further Business
The board entered an executive session at 4:55 pm, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code (ORC):
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121.22(G)(1) was cited for discussions related to employment matters, including hiring, termination, and personnel management.
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121.22(G)(3) was used for pending or imminent litigation, allowing for confidential discussions with legal counsel.
Upon reconvening the public session at 6:30 pm, a motion was made and unanimously approved directing GMHA’s executive staff to hire two maintenance personnel within 30–45 days to address ongoing operational needs.
There was no further business.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:36 pm.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on March 18, 2025 at 4:00 pm at Murray Manor. This will be a regular board meeting.
More information about the Geauga Metropolitan Housing Authority can be found here.
Observer: David Lewis
Editor: Sarah McGlone
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 2/21/2025
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