April 16, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

WAUKEGAN HOUSING AUTHORITY
REGULAR MINUTES
April 16, 2025

The Board met in a live meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 @ Harry Poe Manor, 300 S. Lake Street, Waukegan, Illinois @ 5:30 p.m. Those present were as follows:

ROLL CALL

PRESENT
Eleanor Murkey
Kittie Harden
Michelle Obleton
Jesus Gerena

ABSENT
None.

ALSO, PRESENT
Charles Chambers, CEO
Martin Walker, Attorney
Sharful Haq, Finance Director
Celester Rodney, Director of Human Resources

1. ROLL CALL:
   5:39 PM There being a quorum present, the Acting Chairman Eleanor Murkey called the meeting to order. There was a motion to seat Pauline Redd at 5:44 PM by Gerena, second by Harden, approved by voice vote.
   
   
2. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED REGULAR MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 2024:
   Motion by Gerena and seconded by Harden to approve Amended Regular board minutes for November 2024, passed and approved.
   
   
3. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 2025:
   Motion by Harden and seconded by Gerena to approve Regular board minutes for February 2025, passed and approved.
   
   
4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
   Presented as written, Chambers that the WHA received 100% of funds approved last year for the new year's budget.
   
   
5. SECTION 8 REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2025, MARCH 2025:
   Presented as written.
   
   
6. HOUSING MANAGERS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2025 & MARCH 2025:
   Presented as written by Chambers.
   
   
7. DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT REPORT - BLUFFS AT SOUTH SHERIDAN FOR FEBRUARY 2025 AND MARCH 2025:
   Per Chambers the Bluffs are complete.
   
   
8. DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT REPORT - ARMORY TERRACE FOR FEBRUARY 2025 AND MARCH 2025:
   Presented as written, Armory Terrace is complete.
   
   
9. DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT REPORT - RAVINE TERRACE FOR November 2024, December 2024, January 2025:
   Per Chambers Ravine Terrace is going into Phase 2 to move residents from the old portion to the completed portion of the asset to start on the second half.
   
   
10. FSS COORDINATORS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2025 AND January 2025:
    As written per Ms. Rodney.
    
    
11. COMMUNITY OUTREACH REPORTS FOR FEBRUARY 2025 AND MARCH 2025:
    Presented as written by Ms. Rodney.
    
    
12. TENANTS OWING ONE OR MORE MONTHS RENTS:
    Presented as written by Chambers, Gerena asked whether funds were recoverable. Chambers stated that most will be written off outside of what can be recovered.
    
    
13. VACANCY REPORTS:
    Presented as written by Charles, keeping certain units vacant aka "swing space" for RAD procedures, still wrestling with HUD.
    
    
14. WAUKEGAN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION UPDATES:
    None.
    
    Motion to accept reports and updates as written and otherwise presented by Obleton, seconded by Redd. Passed and approved by voice vote.
    
    
15. NEW BUSINESS:
    
    
    1. APPROVAL OF CASH RECEIPTS FOR February 2025 and March 2025:
       Motion by Harden and second by Obleton.
       
       Roll Call:
       AYES
       Eleanor Murkey
       Kittie Harden
       Pauline Redd
       Michelle Obleton
       Jesus Gerena
       
       NAYS
       None.
       
       Motion Passed and approved.
       
       
    2. APPROVAL OF MONTHLY DISBURSEMENTS FOR February 2025, March 2025:
       Motion by Obleton and second by Harden.
       
       Roll Call:
       AYES
       Eleanor Murkey
       Kittie Harden
       Pauline Redd
       Michelle Obleton
       Jesus Gerena
       
       NAYS
       None.
       
       Motion Passed and approved.
       
       
    3. DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF NEW WEBSITE DESIGN COST $30,375.00.
       Discussion ensued, vote tabled after additional Executive Session discussion.
       
       
    4. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM TO ACOP AND ADMIN PLAN HOTMA UPDATED 3/1/2025.
       Discussion ensued all staff trained on HOTMA. Motion by Redd, second by Obleton to approve Addendum. Passed and approved by voice vote.
       
       
    5. DISCUSS WHA NOW ACCEPTS ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR CLIENTS.
       DocuSign, BluInk discussed. Attempting to motivate tenants to utilize more consistently.
       
       
    6. Discussion of Landlord Flyer
       
       
16. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
    N/A
    
    
17. COMMISSIONERS TIME:
    Harden- discussed the upcoming Block Party and contributions from Board, each giving $100. Gerena congratulated on successful run for College of Lake County Board. Murkey mentioned an odd smell in the room, Chambers mentioned that the building sewer line had recently been rotted out.
    
    
18. EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS SAFETY AND PERSONNEL CONCERNS:
    
    
    1. The Board did enter executive session @ 6:29 PM under Motion by Gerena and second by Redd.
       
       Roll Call:
       AYES
       Eleanor Murkey
       Kittie Harden
       Pauline Redd
       Michelle Obleton
       Jesus Gerena
       
       NAYS
       None.
       
       Motion Passed and approved.
       
       
    2. Tabled Vote to Approve new website design. It was Motioned by Harden and second by Redd to approve agreed and adjusted costs of $49,880.00 for a new website design bid.
       
       Roll Call:
       AYES
       Eleanor Murkey
       Kittie Harden
       Pauline Redd
       Michelle Obleton
       Jesus Gerena
       
       NAYS
       None.
       
       Motion Passed and approved.
       
       
19. ADJOURMENT:
    Motion by Obleton and second by Gerena to adjourn. Oral vote was had. Motion Passed and Adjourned at approx. 6:50 PM.

Charles J. Chambers, Jr., Executive Director/CEO
Eleanor Murkey, Chairman