Commission on Aging

WHEATON HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING April 14, 2016 The regular meeting of the Wheaton Housing Commission was held in the Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall, at 303 W. Wesley Street, Wheaton, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 7:18 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2016 by Housing Commission Chair, Tom Hudock. Present: Chris Ellerman Absent: Joe Kreidl - City of Wheaton William Gilbertson Nancy Harding Thomas Hudock Jeannie Iseman Stuart Johnson Jan Kay Andrea Petti Mike Rybinski Raj Salgia Robert Willock Special Guests: Four students from Wheaton North High School for the purposes of observation. Public Comment: None. Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Willock moved and Commissioner Johnson seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2016 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Communications: ● 2015/2016 Wheaton Housing Assistance Summary ● 2016/2017 Wheaton Housing Assistance Summary ● Housing Assistance Interview Form - OLD VERSION ● Housing Assistance Interview Form - NEW VERSION ● Wheaton Housing Commission March 2016 Minutes Old Business: Chair Hudock discussed his presentation on March 12, 2016 budget workshop city council meeting, and had good attendance by additional commissioners and a proposed increase in the annual budget for the housing commission. The council discussed an increase to the housing assistance program budget by $40,000 to $140,000 for the 2016/2017 fiscal year. The budget will be approved this Monday. New Business: The 2016/2017 Wheaton Housing Assistance Summary document shows that with the current 50 applicants, an additional $16,010 remains within the budget (based on the proposed increase from the March 12, 2016 budget workshop meeting). Four applicants were withdrawn from the pool based on factors that did not meet the requirements. 1 Chair Hudock discussed the possibility that the city may not approve the additional budget. The commission will approve the 2016/2017 Housing assistance summary presented at the meeting with the acceptance of the 50 applications at the current monthly assistance of $210 a month for homeowners and $190 for renters, pending approval of the city council. If the budget proposed at $140,000 is not approved, the commission will plan on holding a special meeting before May 1, 2016 (the start of the new fiscal year). Commissioner Iseman moved and Commissioner Ellerman seconded the motion to approve the current 2016/2017 Wheaton Housing Assistance Summary based on these assumptions. Commissioner Ellerman noticed that three applicants on the waiting list for the 2015/2016 Housing Assistance Summary list may qualify. The commission does not have a policy currently to send a new application to those on the waiting list for the new fiscal year. Chair Hudock presented the concern of late applications. The current policy and procedures manual does not have a policy regarding this. Co-Chair Johnson requests that the waiting list from 2015/2016 that did not re- apply reconfirm their status. The commission would like to know if the city sent an application to the waiting list, and if they were given an application, if follow-up would be needed as to why they did not apply again. The commission would like to allow for late applications throughout the fiscal year. Commissioner Rybinski motioned and Commissioner Gilbertson seconded the motion. Commissioner Hudock proposed that there be some language in the application to ensure honesty and eliminate fraudulent applicants. Currently, the application does not have this kind of language, but in order that applicants not defraud the city, the commission would like to consider the option of stronger language in the application. The commission also discussed the change of required documentation for future applications, such as a 1040 or full tax return. This will be discussed again in the near future by the commission. Special Recognition: Chair Hudock was recognized for his efforts in presenting the need for a budget increase for the Housing Assistance program. Those that attended applauded his efforts in speaking on behalf of the commission. Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda: The Commission will hold the election of Housing Commission officers for 2016/2017. Commissioner Hudock was nominated for Chair, Commissioner Johnson was nominated for Vice-Chair, and Commissioner Iseman was nominated for Secretary. Commissioner Petti would like to revisit the monthly schedule for the commission in the future. Adjournment: Commissioner Gilbertson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. and Commissioner Petti seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. 2