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                                                   LEE HOUSING AUTHORITY

                                                        155 MARBLE STREET

                                                              LEE, MA 01238

Minutes of Regular Lee Housing Authority Board of Directors meeting, September 22, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Cozzaglio at 4:30 p.m.

Members in Attendance: Sandra Cozzaglio, Chairperson

                                        Hilda Jongkind

                                        Kathy DeVarennes

                                        Deborah M. Pedercini, Executive Director

Members Absent:            Lisa Sloane

                                        Jennifer Heath

1. Public Comment (two minutes) on any Agenda Item

None.

2. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 18, 2026

The director presented the minutes of the August 18, 2026, meeting.

Member Jongkind made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 18, 2026. Member DeVarennes seconded the motion. Vote 3-0.

3. Programs

667 Currently there are two (2) vacant units at Brown Memorial Court. Units #1 which was vacated at the end of August; however, a current second floor tenant will be transferring to this first floor apartment that should be ready for October 1. Unit #36 which currently has a waitlist and is screening for tenants, should be ready for occupancy within 30 days. Current Waitlist: 2597

705 Currently, there are three (3) vacant units at Clarke Court, #30, which will need extensive renovation, #35, which was recently vacated on September 2, and #47 which should be ready for occupancy within the next 30 days. We currently have a waitlist and are screening applicants. Current Waitlist: 10,020

689  Both properties are running well. 

4.  Old Business

a. FISH #150513 Paint Exterior North and West Buildings, Brown Memorial Court Contract with Apiary Painting, LLC. 

At our last meeting we approved a contract with Gentlemen's Painting pending a decision from the Attorney General's office. The AG's office agreed with the protestor, Apiary Painitng, that technically, the low bidder, Gentlemen's Painting was not in compliance with the bid document. Therefore, the board will need to approve the new contract with Apiary Painting, LLC in the amount of $94,700.

DeVarennes made a motion to approve FISH #150513 Paint Exterior North & West Buildings, Brown Memorial Court. Member Jongkind seconded the motion. Vote 3-0.

5. New Business

Appointment of a Lee Housing Authority board member to the Community Preservation Commission

Sabrina Touhey from the Town of Lee contacted our office in late July regarding the vacancies on the Community Preservation Commission that will need to be filled by a member of the Lee Housing Authority.

A motion to nominate a board member was in order.

Chairperson Cozzaglio made a motion to nominate Kathy DeVarennes as a member of the Community Preservation Commission. Member Jongkind seconded the nomination. Vote 3-0.

6. Financial

      a. Monthly check register for August 31, 2026

The Monthly Check Register for August 31, 2026, was presented to the board. After review, a motion was made by member DeVarennes to accept the check register for August 31, 2026, as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jongkind. Vote 3-0.

     b. Monthly Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2026

The balance sheets for the month ending July 31, 2026, were presented to the board. The reserve level as of July 31, 2026, for the 4001 program is 70.37% $198,762.05. The 689-program reserve level is at 322.08% $116,250.44 as of July 31, 2026.

     c. Monthly Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2026

The balance sheets for the month ending August 31, 2026, were presented to the board. The reserve level as of August 31, 2026, for the 4001 program is 70.37% $198,762.05. The 689-program reserve level is at 322.08% $116,250.44 as of August 31, 2026.

7. Executive Director’s Report 

     a. Executive Director’s benefit balance as of September 21, 2026 

                      Vacation: 48     Personal: 13.5       Sick: 301.80

The director informed the board that she attended the MA NAHRO Annual Fall Conference in Falmouth on Sunday, September 13, 2026, returning Wednesday September 16, 2026. She stated that the conference was a good tool to meet with other directors and discuss strategies to assist with mutual agencies. The seminars were somewhat similar to the Spring conference and will reconsider the Spring conference in March if they are again similar. She stated that due to the short number of hours allotted for the director's position, she felt her time was better served in the office. 

The director informed the board that an advertisement for an eight (8) hour per week assistant has been posted. Shannon, the current Administrative Assistant/Tenant Coordinator, has been working 8 hours per week of the allocated 16 over three years. This has left the director to fill in the gaps. Shannon has agreed to share the job and train a new person to assist in CHAMP applications and screening which takes up an exorbitant amount of time. We will be taking applications up until October 2, 2026.

8. Adjournment

With no further action to come before the board, a motion to adjourn was in order.

Member Jongkind made a motion to adjourn; member DeVarennes seconded the motion. Vote 3-0

The meeting was adjourned at 4:48 pm

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 20, 2026

Submitted by:

Deborah M. Pedercini

Executive Director