Columbus, Georgia

5624



THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR MEETING

DECEMBER 15, 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

Wade Tomlinson

Roxanna Campbell

Ruhnell Bankston



The following Commissioner was absent:



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; Carolyn LaValley,

Director of Occupancy; Amy Moore, Manager of HOPE VI and Redevelopment

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

Assistant. Also present were Authority Attorneys W. M. Page and James C.

Clark, Jr.; Ed Harbison, Public Relations Consultant.



INVOCATION:



The invocation was delivered by Commissioner Douglas.





NEW RESIDENT COMMISSIONER:



Chairman Douglass welcomed Ms. Ruhnell Bankston to the Board of

Commissioners. Commissioner Bankston was appointed by the Mayor to replace Ms.

Beatrice Grant, whose term expired November, 2004.



APPROVAL OF MINUTES:



The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 17, 2004, upon motion

made by Commissioner Campbell and seconded by Commissioner Douglas, were

unanimously approved.

CHARGE-OFF OF TENANT ACCOUNT BALANCES:



The following Resolution was introduced and duly considered:



RESOLUTION NO. 2952



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHARGE-OFF OF

TENANT ACCOUNT BALANCES TO COLLECTION LOSS FOR

THE AUTHORITY?S PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS

FOR THE MONTH ENDED NOVEMBER 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.





SELECTION OF FIRMS FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES:



Mr. Butzon stated that seven firms responded to our Request for

Qualification Statements from architectural firms for modernization work and

other assignments. The Authority?s Review Committee concluded that three of

the respondents met the required minimum qualifications. These are Hecht,

Burdeshaw, Johnson, Kidd and Clark of Columbus, Georgia; Bradfield, Richards,

Rhodes and Associates of Atlanta, Georgia; Carlsten Sanford of Atlanta,

Georgia. Mr. Butzon recommended that the Board authorize selection of

architectural firms for the upcoming modernization projects from those

qualified, based upon the specific work to be designed and the negotiation of a

satisfactory fee.



Following discussion, upon motion made by Commissioner Douglas and

seconded by Vice Chairman Cardin, selection of architectural firms as

recommended was unanimously approved.





CONTRACT FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE:



Mr. Cardin summarized the responses to the Authority?s Request for

Proposals for Workers Compensation Insurance for the new contract effective

January 1, 2005, and recommended that the contract be awarded to Georgia

Municipal Association (GMA), the low bidder with a proposed premium of $169,672.



After discussion, upon motion made by Commissioner Tomlinson and

seconded by Commissioner Campbell, award of the contract for Workers

Compensation Insurance to GMA was unanimously approved.



SOUTH COLUMBUS HEALTH CENTER REQUEST:



Valley Healthcare System has requested a six-month deferral of rent on

the building at Baker Village which it leases from the Authority for operation

of the South Columbus Health Center. After discussion of this request, motion

was made by Vice Chairman Cardin that this item be deferred to the next meeting

so that a representative of the Health Center can be present to discuss the

financial statements. Commissioner Tomlinson seconded the motion which was

unanimously approved by the Commissioners present.



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 Commissioner

Douglas, seconded by Vice Chairman Cardin, and duly carried with all

Commissioners present voting affirmatively.



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

Director Butzon, and Attorneys Page and Clark retired from the room and the

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

30 minutes. The Chairman?s affidavit regarding the closed session is filed with

these Minutes as required by law.



OPEN MEETING RESUMED:



Upon conclusion of the closed session, the Board reconvened into

regular session and the doors were opened to the public.



In open meeting, upon motion made by Vice-Chairman Cardin, seconded by

Commissioner Campbell and unanimously carried, the Authority was authorized to

negotiate the purchase of certain real estate.



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

adjourned.













___________________________________

Franklin Douglass, Chairman





___________________________________

J. Len Williams, Secretary-Treasurer