Columbus, Georgia

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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR MEETING

OCTOBER 20, 2004

10:00 A.M.







The Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Columbus, Georgia met in

Regular Meeting in Columbus, Georgia at the place, hour and date duly

established for the holding of such meeting.



Chairman Douglass called the meeting to order and on roll call the

following Commissioners answered present:



Franklin Douglass

Larry Cardin

Sharon Douglas

Beatrice Grant

Wade Tomlinson



The following Commissioners were absent:



Roxanna Campbell

Emilia Troche



In attendance from the Housing Authority staff were J. Len Williams, Executive

Director; Alonzo Rivers, Director of Management; Chris Butzon, Director of

Technical Services; Jim Cardin, Human Resources Manager; Amy Moore, Manager of

HOPE VI and Redevelopment Services; Carolyn LaValley, Director of Housing and

Occupancy; Jeff Morton, Director of Finance; Carole Ravenhill, Executive

Assistant. Also present were Authority Attorney W. M. Page; Ed Harbison,

Public Relations Consultant; Chuck Williams representing the media.



INVOCATION:



The invocation was delivered by Chairman Douglass.





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APPROVAL OF MINUTES:



The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 22, 2004, upon motion

made by Commissioner Douglas and seconded by Commissioner Grant, were

unanimously approved.

CHARGE-OFF OF TENANT ACCOUNT BALANCES:



The following Resolution was introduced and duly considered:



RESOLUTION NO. 2948



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHARGE-OFF OF

TENANT ACCOUNT BALANCES TO COLLECTION LOSS FOR

THE AUTHORITY?S PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS

FOR THE MONTH ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004



(The original of this Resolution is filed in the Resolutions Binder.)



After discussion, upon motion made by Vice-Chairman Cardin and seconded

by Commissioner Douglas, the Resolution was adopted unanimously.



PURCHASE OF MAINTENANCE VANS:



Mr. Butzon stated that these five vans are replacements for vans

purchased in 1990 and 1991 and are included in our FY2005 operating budget.

Following discussion, upon motion made by Commissioner Douglas and seconded by

Commissioner Grant, purchase of five maintenance vans was approved unanimously.



REVISED CAPITAL FUNDS PROGRAM BUDGET:



Mr. Morton explained that because of the Authority?s participation in

HUD?s Capital Funds Financing Program, the Capital Funds Program Budget must be

revised to include debt service payments. He further explained that any of the

work items being deleted or scaled back in the budget to offset the addition of

the debt service payments will be completed in a subsequent year.



After discussion, upon motion made by Vice-Chairman Cardin and seconded

by Commissioner Douglas, the Revised Capital Funds Program Budget was approved

unanimously.



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AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR AUDIT SERVICES:



Mr. Morton reported that Requests for Proposals for Audit Services were

sent to eight firms following the decision of our current auditor, Darnell and

Thompson, not to accept the option of extending their contract for an

additional year. The only proposal received was from Rector and Moffitt, P.C.,

based in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The other firms declined or did not respond.



Rector and Moffett responded to our RFP three years ago and was rated

second to Darnell and Thompson by our evaluating committee. Mr. Morton stated

that Rector and Moffett have the qualifications and experience necessary to

perform audits for the Authority and recommended that the Board award the audit

contract to this firm.



After discussion, upon motion made by Commissioner Douglas and seconded

by Commissioner Grant, award of the contract for audit services to Rector and

Moffett was unanimously approved.



AMENDMENT TO HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY:



Mr. Cardin stated that the requested change in policy would allow

employees to donate limited sick leave to another employee who has exhausted

his/her leave because of extensive or catastrophic illness.



Following discussion, Commissioner Tomlinson made the motion to approve

the change in policy provided taxation and other factors are resolved before

implementation. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chairman Cardin and

unanimously approved.



EXECUTIVE SESSION:



No further business remaining on the Regular Meeting Agenda, Chairman Douglass

requested that the meeting be closed for discussion of pending litigation and

real estate matters in Executive Session.



Motion for such closure of the meeting was made by Vice-Chairman

Cardin, seconded by Commissioner Tomlinson, and duly carried with all

Commissioners present voting affirmatively.









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Thereupon, all persons except said Commissioners, Executive Director Williams,

Manager Moore, Director Butzon, and Attorney Page retired from the room and the

doors were closed. The meeting proceeded in closed session for approximately

20 minutes. Thereupon, the meeting was resumed in open session, with doors

open to the public. The Chairman?s affidavit regarding the closed session is

filed with these Minutes as required by law.



There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was

adjourned.













___________________________________

Franklin Douglass, Chairman





___________________________________

J. Len Williams, Secretary-Treasurer