The Warren County Housing Authority took action on a number of pending issues at its meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Members approved adding two new positions to the authority staff. Authority Executive Director Tonya Mitchell-Weston was authorized to hire a part-time janitor and a part-time receptionist. Staff reported cleaning duties were interfering with maintenance completing repairs in a timely matter and phone calls were interrupting office staff. The new positions will bring authority staff to 14 positions.
Mitchell-Weston reported security cameras at the Rouse Manor were not living up to expectations. According to staff members, the cameras provide incomplete coverage of the site, fail to provide consistent clear picture and regularly go off-line. Mitchell-Weston noted of the 21 cameras at the site, a maximum of 19 were working at once for a period of a few hours while on average approximately nine were functional at any one time.
"The cameras are not meeting our needs at all," Mitchell-Weston said.
ADT Security is the service provider for camera security at the Rouse Manor site.
The authority's U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) evaluation score was raised. The change was a result of national HUD policy to compensate for changes to the evaluation format many housing authorities were unable to compensate for. HUD evaluation scores effect funding for the authority.
Board members approved a deposition authorizing sale of authority equipment no longer being used. Sale of the equipment including tractors, snow plows, chippers and other miscellaneous items will be held at the Warren County warehouse building in Starbrick, tentatively on Thursday, June 28.
Mitchell-Weston said difficulties over smoking locations at the Conewango Towers are being resolved.
"We've been talking to the tenants about smoking," Mitchell-Weston said. "Where they can smoke and where they can't smoke has been an issue."
According to Mitchell-Weston, residents who smoke suggested establishing some sort of smoking area behind the building. The proposed site, Mitchell-Weston said, would be roofed for protection from the elements and a ramp would be installed to provide ease of access to the site for the disabled.
Board members approved paying $84,729.04 in bills.