NEWS. Annual Conference Draft Agenda. Massachusetts Chapter National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials April 2009

Transcription

1 Massachusetts Chapter National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials April 2009 NEWS Published by Massachusetts NAHRO Boston, MA Vol. XLI No. 4 Zero Stimulus Funds for State Public Housing Despite concerted efforts by housing authority administrators and by officials at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), state-aided public housing will not be receiving any federal stimulus funds for badly needed repairs anytime soon. In December, 133 housing authorities filed over 1500 requests for federal stimulus funding with DHCD for shovel ready work items in an effort to address the $600 million backlog of capital improvements at state-aided developments. These requests were reviewed by the state but found by HUD to be ineligible for funding under the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as signed into law by President Obama on February 17, Beginning in mid-december, the state established a State Facilities and Courts Task Force as part of the mobilization for possible federal economic recovery infrastructure investments. Included were capital investments in buildings and facilities owned and operated by state agencies, state funded public housing, court buildings, and buildings under the control of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. It should be noted that none of the state entities participating in this particular State Mandated Wage Increases Wreck Housing Authority Budgets Housing authority officials across the state question the accuracy of the maintenance wage rate increases announced in March by the Commonwealth s Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Increases range from zero in western Massachusetts to between 6.5% and 16% for housing authority maintenance staff in eastern area. The total cost when annualized is estimated at approximately $4 million. Housing authority non-utility budgets have been capped for five out of the last seven fiscal years, including fiscal Given the downturn in the state s economy with layoffs and unemployment serious numbers escalating, the methodology used to generate the increases seems unrealistic and merits review by state officials. Housing administrators who bargained collectively in good faith now see the state exceeding locally negotiated increases. LHAs were urged to appeal their rate increases to the Division of Occupational Safety at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. There is a strong sense at LHAs that if the increases are required by the state, then, as a state mandate, the state should fund them through a supplemental appropriation. Legislators on the Ways and Means Committees need to know that housing authority rental income is dropping continued on page 3 Task Force were deemed to be eligible by the federal government. However, all is not over. In response, MassNAHRO wrote to Governor Patrick thanking him for stating that public housing was one of his priorities for stimulus funds, and requesting respectfully that, if future federal funds of any kind did become available, public housing be considered. It was noted that federal stimulus funds might go to housing authorities for shovel ready weatherization/energy conservation, expanded homelessness prevention, and roadway and sidewalk improvements already in the DHCD modernization pipeline. Also, it was suggested that any bonding freed up under the state bond cap, by the use of federal stimulus funds for capital improvements by other eligible state agencies, be transferred to DHCD for work in the modernization pipeline that are considered shovel ready now. MassNAHRO truly appreciates the joint effort extended by all housing authority administrators and the many folks at DHCD who worked nights and weekends in aggressively seeking federal ARRA stimulus funds for state aided developments. The federally-aided public housing developments continued on page 3 Annual Conference Draft Agenda MassNAHRO s Professional Development Committee has drafted an agenda for the 2009 MassNAHRO Annual Conference, May at the Sea Crest Resort & Conference Center in North Falmouth. The draft agenda, which is located on page 3, is intended to give potential registrants a sense of what topics will be presented on which days. The final agenda will appear in the May Newsletter and on the website. Invited speakers for Monday, May 18th include Congressman Barney Frank and Governor Deval L. Patrick. Scores of representatives from the various Divisions at DHCD will also be attending. Key officials from the HUD Office of Public Housing in Boston will also join us, hopefully along with the new HUD Regional Director, if named, and new the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing, rumored to be from Boston and very well known to MassNAHRO members. Delegates will be pleased to know also that the popular DHCD Resource Room will be available this year on both Monday and Tuesday. Given all the challenges facing local public housing and community development officials this year, the MassNAHRO Annual Conference is not to be missed. Registration materials including program book advertisement, hotel accommodations, scholarship information, sponsorships and golf tournament forms can be found at the or by calling the MassNAHRO office at

2 2 Massachusetts NAHRO Board of Directors VICE PRESIDENT - Large Colleen Doherty Taunton Housing Authority VICE PRESIDENT - Small Dan Ouellette Salisbury Housing Authority PRESIDENT Steve Merritt Norwood Housing Authority VICE PRESIDENT - Commissioners Robert Powilatis Commissioner Holbrook Housing Authority VICE PRESIDENT - Medium Roland Moussally Weymouth Housing Authority VICE PRESIDENT - CR & D Gene Capoccia Leominster Housing Authority TREASURER Peter Garbati Director - Comm. Devel. Malden Redevelopment Auth. DIRECTORS - Terms expiring 2009 Betty Burnham, Easthampton Housing Authority Lisa Collins, Franklin Housing Authority Robert Hill, Fitchburg Housing Authority Susan Horner, Easton Housing Authority Donna Killeen, Yarmouth Housing Authority Joanne Toomey, Dedham Housing Authority DIRECTORS - Terms expiring 2010 Daniel Kelly, Westfield Housing Authority Francine Kouis, Swansea/Seekonk Housing Authority Walter McGuire, Waltham Housing Authority Michael McLaughlin, Chelsea Housing Authority Robert McNabb, Woburn Housing Authority Mark Roy, Canton Housing Authority IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Joan Pimental Plymouth Housing Authority EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Thomas J. Connelly, Jr. OPERATIONS MANAGER Jennifer M. Polito DEPUTY DIRECTOR Donna M. Brown, Esq. ADMIN. ASSISTANT Michael P. Lazdowsky President s Corner April 2009 Daffodils and tulips poke through the earth, snow piles melt away, the crack of the bat is heard at Fenway and in sandlots across the Commonwealth - spring is here! The optimism of spring is tempered this year by an economy in near ruin, hopefully on its way to recovery. In a time when we are all trying to keep our home fires burning, our developments operating, and our residents served, we are faced with many challenges. Energy costs, even though not as drastic as we feared in the fall, have increased as much from the harsh winter as from increased rates. The budget presented to the Legislature by the Administration includes a small increase in the subsidy line item for LHAs, still nowhere in the neighborhood of the real cost of the program. We understand that in this difficult time in our country s and our state s economy we are fortunate to see any increase at all, and, as our members have done in the past, we will make do with what is available to the best of our abilities. With the arrival of spring we also receive the annual notification from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the Division of Occupational Safety (EOLWD). Local housing authorities have reported that these notifications come with minimum wage rates that reflect increases from zero to sixteen percent! The notice advised that these rates do not preempt higher rates that may result from collective bargaining agreements or individual employment understandings. It seems there is a major disconnect between the EOLWD and the reality of our business and perhaps the reality of today s economy. The subsidy does not increase under the Administration s budget enough to accommodate the increases as published. For those LHAs who are not currently subsidized, these increases can push them closer to that need at a time when the state does not have the revenues to respond. The results of these ill-conceived rate increases will likely mean reduction in forces across the industry and thus fewer resources to maintain a housing stock that is in documented need of millions and millions of dollars of capital improvements. This is not about paying well-deserved living wages to employees. Wage rates for maintenance personnel in Massachusetts LHAs are among the highest in the nation, and exceed those of most private property management entities by far. This is about fairness and reality of public budgets and the ability of the state bureaucracy to react to the realities of the economy in real time. Appeals have been filed with the Division of Occupational Safety by LHAs. We will be watching the results of those appeals with great interest, as will our administrative personnel! The MassNAHRO Annual Conference planning is well underway and our annual meeting at Falmouth will be filled with many timely and important sessions. Registration is underway; we hope to see you there. Registration forms are on the MassNAHRO website so make your plans now to join us.

3 April Annual Conference Tentative Agenda Monday May 18 9:00 AM General Session: State Public Housing Overview: 2010 Budget, Housing Bills and LHA/DHCD Management Issues 10:45 AM DHCD Model Lease Requirements: Workshop for LHA Employees DTA/DHCD Homeless Housing Merger: An Impact Round Table Comprehensive Planning System: Training & Formula Funding 2:00 PM SHADO Workshop: Sample Authority Personnel Policies LHA Sustainability Program Update: Energy Committee Work Dealing Effectively with Hoarding by Residents 2:00-5:00 PM DHCD Technical Assistance Resource Center 4:00 PM MassNAHRO Annual Meeting and Election Tuesday, May 19 9:00 AM Leveraging HUD Capital Funds & RHF Funds with Fannie Mae GASB Pronouncement 45 Seminar: LHA Fiscal Responsibilities 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM DHCD Technical Assistance Resource Center 10:45 AM HUD Public Housing Management and Section 8 Update Worker Compensation Claims and Job Safety Audit Findings Imposing Discipline on the Public Employee 2:00 PM Small Authority Round Table Advocacy and the Legislative Process for New Officials Stress Reduction: Techniques That Really Work Wednesday, May 20 9:00-11 AM Interactive Issues Forum and Feedback Round Table 3 WAGE RATES from page 1 due to the recession, and that rising utility costs and substantial wage increases will result in layoffs and/or reduced hours. To spend $104 million a year on capital improvements while cutting local maintenance staff is counter productive. Some LHAs will be forced to make drastic budget cuts that will delay the repair and turnover of vacant units. MassNAHRO has asked DHCD to intercede with Labor and Workforce Development on behalf of all housing authorities. Housing authority administrative staff have received little or no increase in compensation for several years, thus fostering organizational discontent and unrest. It has been suggested that housing authorities check into the feasibility of contracting maintenance out to a private firm as public wages and benefits soar. STIMULUS from page 1 in the Commonwealth did receive over $81 million in additional capital fund allocations to supplement their annual appropriations using the existing federal capital fund allocation formula. Those funds will be utilized immediately at housing authority federal developments. The largest grant went to the Boston Housing Authority which received $33 million in ARRA stimulus funds. Cambridge H.A., New Bedford H.A., and Worcester H.A. each received over $4 million, while Lowell H.A. and Fall River H.A. received in excess of $3 million. Lawrence H.A., Malden H.A., Brockton H.A., and Springfield H.A. received $2 million each. The 34,000 units of federal conventional public housing in Massachusetts are owned by 67 local PHAs, mostly in the 40 cities, with developments dating back to the mid-1930 s anti-depression, slum clearance National Housing Act. Support MassNAHRO s Past Presidents Memorial Scholarship Fund Silent Auction at the 2009 Annual Conference Donations wanted - sports & show tickets, gift baskets, gift certificates, arts & crafts All proceeds go entirely to tuition assistance for deserving students. Contact Committee Chair, Roland Moussally at to donate or with any questions. Attention s! Have you been an for 25 years or more? We'd love to recognize you this year at Sea Crest! Jen at jpolito@massnahro.org or call

4 4 SMEDA Briefs Legislators at Annual Luncheon On March 20, the Southeastern Massachusetts Association (SMEDA) hosted its Annual Legislative Briefing and Luncheon at the Stone Forge Tavern in Raynham. A large delegation from the Massachusetts Legislature attended. The briefing provided local housing authority officials with the opportunity to outline their funding and legislative priorities for Support was sought for Governor Patrick s request for $71.1 million in operating subsidy in the fiscal 2010 state budget (line item ), and for speedy passage of several important housing bills left over from the last session of the Legislature. Among them were the expiring use bills, House Bill 3463 filed by House Housing Committee Chairman Representative Kevin Honan and Senate 666 filed by Senate Housing Committee Chairman Senator Susan Tucker. Also, the public housing innovations bill was refiled as Senate Bill DTA/DHCD Reorganization Update MassNAHRO has met with the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, Senator Brian Joyce of Milton and Representative Steve Walsh of Lynn, relative to the merger of DTA Emergency Housing into the Department of Housing and Community Development. Both Chairmen were very responsive to the needs of housing authorities. It was agreed that eligibility and qualification regulations would not be altered as indicated already by the Patrick Administration. However, adequate funding is a major concern of all state government, including DTA and DHCD. It was stressed that housing authorities are barely hanging on with operating budgets capped at zero for five of the last seven fiscal years. Both Chairmen advocated for the availability of the resources necessary to provide stabilization services to homeless families. They agreed that housing authority managers need to have a prominent role in the planning for implementation of the merger as full partners with DTA and DHCD. MassNAHRO reiterated that the key to housing placement success is to establish viable tenancies, with mandatory supportive services where needed. For housing authorities, eviction is the least desirable and most costly option, but in some cases necessary and must not be diluted or impeded. It was suggested that the effects of the merger should be reviewed by a special commission of the Legislature to determine its strengths or any shortcomings after one year of operation. It was clear that, based upon the assurances of the Patrick/Murray Administration, the Committee on State Administration was supportive of this innovative reorganization legislation in an effort to deal with homelessness in a meaningful way. 624 by Senator Harriette Chandler. The mandated increases in housing authority maintenance wage rates were discussed at length. The increases will undermine the already stretched housing authority budgets beyond the breaking point, and efforts to bargain collectively with meaning. The ineligibility of state public housing for federal stimulus funds, despite the efforts of the 133 LHAs that applied, was also addressed. The possible benefits of the merger of the Department of Transitional Assistance Emergency Housing and Shelter programs into DHCD were explained along with a review of the related issues that need resolution before July 1. The Legislators all expressed their collective appreciation and support for all that housing authorities do to house the truly needy constituent seniors and resident families of the Commonwealth. Representing the Massachusetts Senate was Majority Whip Senator Joan Menard April 2009 of Fall River and Somerset. The delegation for the House of Representatives included Representative Pat Haddad from Somerset, Representative Susan Gifford from Wareham, Representative Matthew Patrick from Falmouth, Representative Kevin Aguiar of Fall River, Representative Stephen D Amico of Rehoboth, and Representative Steven Canessa of New Bedford. Also attending were numerous Legislative aides including those representing Senator Montigny, Senator Joyce, and Representative Quinn. MassNAHRO thanks these legislators and aides for attending and being responsive to the needs of their local housing authorities. Thanks and congratulations to Susan Horner and all the SMEDA members in attendance for hosting another timely and informative legislative briefing. Also attending were Jeff Haggerty and Neil O Brien of Brian S. Hickey Associates, MassNAHRO s excellent legislative consultants. DHCD Bond Cap Increased In what could be termed the only good news lately, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance has informed the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that the bond cap for public housing capital improvements has been increased by $5 million. The total cap is now up to $109 million annually, including the $5 million received each year by law from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In the more than two years that the Patrick/Murray Administration has been in office, the bonding available for housing authority capital improvements has increased from just over $50 million a year, not all of which was allocated, to more than double that amount with every penny put out on the street to fund local work items as quickly as possible. In May of 2008, Governor Patrick signed into law the largest housing bond authorization in the history of the Commonwealth. The bill authorized $500 million in state bonding for capital improvements over the next five years with a gradual conversion to a formula system of grant allocations to housing authorities. It is hoped that the cap may be raised even further as other state agencies free up their bond allocation under the cap, favoring instead funding they received from the federal stimulus act. Given the fiscal situation of the state, the issue now is the possible downgrading of the state s bond rating, which effectively slows the issuance of bonds as they become more costly to finance in the bond markets.

5 April 2009 Professional Development Update The Professional Development/Member Services Committee of MassNAHRO met on March 12th to discuss such topics as the 2009 Annual Conference. Members of the Committee in attendance included Chair Lisa Collins of Franklin, Vice-Chair Dan Kelly of Westfield, and members Annette Flammand of Ware, Susan Horner of Easton, Connie Desbiens of Dartmouth, John Zambarano of Attleboro, Carol Young of Wilbraham, Jean Leonard of Palmer, Pat Murry of Chicopee, President Steve Merritt of Norwood, Maura Hamilton of DHCD and Jennifer Polito of MassNAHRO. Board Member Certification & MPHA Feedback An update of all sessions that have been offered was discussed for both the Massachusetts Public Housing Adminstrator Certification Program (MPHA) as well as the Board Member Certification Program. The Advocacy piece of the Board Member Certification Program was discussed. The committee agreed to offer a session at Annual Conference on Advocacy instead of a half day module as part of the Board Member Certification Program. The committee also agreed to present those Board Members and Administrators who have completed the certification with their plaques at the Annual Conference and Fall Conferences each year. DHCD Training Update - Ms. Hamilton talked briefly about the trainings that DHCD is currently hosting. There will be three upcoming trainings on Trespass Notices and Practices in Medford, Ludlow and Shrewsbury. Maura will online registration information. Annual Conference Draft Agenda The Committee reviewed the draft agenda. A few items were taken off such as USDA Programs and Regional Chats with Housing Management Specialist. Regional Chats can be done in the DHCD Resource Room. It was also suggested to have DHCD do their Resource Room from 2-5 on Monday because the first three sessions are DHCD staffers. They will then return on Tuesday from 9-2 to be available to members. It was also recommended that SHADO do their workshop on Personnel Policies. Small Housing Authority Task Force The Small Housing Authority Task Force will meet on Thursday, April 9 th at the Natick Housing Authority. Laura Taylor will join us at 11AM to discuss current small agency issues. Please Jen at jpolito@massnahro.org or call the MassNAHRO office at to register. s with 25 years or more of service The committee agreed that it would be a good idea to acknowledge those s who have more than 25 years of service. If you have been a Director at your agency for 25 years or more, please notify Jennifer Polito at jpolito@massnahro.org with your information. The Directors will be presented with their awards at the Annual Conference. Bill Numbers for State Legislation Fiscal 2010 (7/1/09) Budget Items: - Operating Subsidy of $75.1 million - The need is documented in DHCD s Real Cost Study of Public Housing, the Harvard Cost Study, the State Auditors Report on the Adequacy of Funding for Public Housing, and the Report of the Public Housing Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Legislature. Utility consumption is up due to the frosty January and February; snow and ice removal costs and overtime are also up. Maintenance wage rates by law are up as much as 16% (est. cost $4M), while housing authority rental income is dropping due to recession job loss among residents. $71 million for fiscal 2010 is now not enough. $75 million is needed just to fund frozen budgets at zero. - Funding for Supportive Senior Housing and Mixed Pop Service Coordinators - $5 million for the expansion of this outstanding program line item (received $4,202,915 in FY 09), and $1 million for the expansion of the Service Coordinators program line item # (received $490,401 in FY 09). Both programs greatly enhance the quality of life for low income seniors. Bill Numbers of other Housing Bills Supported: - (House 3573) An Act Preserving Publicly Assisted Affordable Housing. Authorizes housing authorities to be Designated Purchasers of expiring use properties locally. - (Senate 624)An Act Relative to Public Housing Innovation. Calls for a demonstration program to reduce and streamline the regulatory and statutory requirements for not more than 10 applicant local housing authorities. - (House 2216) An Act to Provide Additional Protection to Housing Authority Residents and Property From Entry By Persons After Being Forbidden as Trespass. Seeks to keep disruptive and threatening persons away from public developments using penalties in Ch. 266, sec (House 3685) An Act Further Enhancing the Operations of Local Housing Authorities. Authorizes a local option for charging reasonable utility surcharges. It also would authorize the establishment of a commission to recommend how to best protect housing authority employees from violence and harassment while doing their jobs. - (House 1199) An Act Relative to the Recommendations of the Report of the State Auditor. Institutes rent verification measures to ensure fair rents by: a. Authorizing the Bureau of Special Investigations to undertake rent fraud cases upon referral by an LHA; b. Establishing an Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) program for state units as HUD requires currently; c. Implementing the Revenue Intercept Program law. 5

6 6 Sustainability Spotlight: Water & Energy Savings Water Conservation/ Low-Flow Toilet Program. DHCD funded 44 housing authorities to install more than 3000 lowflow toilets with $1 million in FY 2009 bond funds. Kudos to the 100 housing authorities who applied! DHCD will keep all these applications active, in order to fund more low flow toilets early in FY The water savings pay back for this investment is expected to be 9-14 months. Used toilets will be recycled, and either donated for charitable use or ground for construction aggregate. Agawam Amherst Andover Arlington Bedford Brockton Concord Dennis Duxbury Easthampton Easton Everett Fairhaven Fall River Gloucester Grafton Greenfield Groton Holliston Lenox Malden Mansfield Methuen Middleborough Milton North Andover North Attleboro Northborough Norwell Norwood Orange Pepperell Rowley Salem Sharon Swampscott Taunton Walpole Westfield Whitman Wilbraham Williamstown Winthrop Woburn Utility Energy Efficiency Programs. Electric and gas utility energy efficiency programs have been expanded this year, so it s a good time to ask for an energy audit. Debra Hall from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is serving on a state advisory council that is overseeing the development of 3-year plans for energy efficiency programs, so please let her know how programs could better meet your needs. She and affordable housing advocates are proposing that efficiency programs take a whole development approach, blind to whether landlords/lha or tenants pay utilities and number of meters, and addressing both electric use and whatever energy source is used for heating. Federal Stimulus Funding for Energy Efficiency. DHCD is still pursuing various sources of federal stimulus funding aimed at energy efficiency, and will provide more news on this in next month s newsletter. Send your suggestions, questions & success stories to Debra Hall, DHCD Sustainability Program Developer, at debra.hall@state.ma.us. Board Member Certification Program Legal Issues April 25th Auburn H.A. 9 AM - 1 PM Ethics May 16th Sea Crest Resort & Conference Center 9 AM - 12:30 PM Personnel May 16th Sea Crest Resort & Conference Center 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM April 2009 Insurance Group Files Annual Report On March 25th the MassNAHRO Insurance Group, Inc. filed the required reports with the Financial Management Division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington. The reports include the financial statements, and statements of loss and members surplus for the group years ending December 2008 and December The reports were compiled by Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. and filed also with the Mass. Division of Insurance in Boston, as required by state regulation and law. Also submitted to HUD was a statement of actuarial opinion for the period ending December 31, 2008 as rendered by Practical Actuarial Solutions. The third report to HUD, required only every third year, was the Management Review on the Group s Third Party Administrator, CMS Associates of Chicopee. All reports showed no weaknesses. These statements are required in order for the MassNAHRO Insurance Group to maintain its exemption from both the federal and state competitive bid requirements. The Group has been exempt continuously since Group Chairman Ed Santos of Natick indicated at the Group s quarterly meeting that all reports were in order and, additionally, the Group s investment portfolio, managed by Opus Investment Management, has a market value of $7 million as of February 28, The Board of Directors was very pleased that the conservative investment strategy adopted years ago has protected the portfolio from any losses during the current downturn in the economy. Congratulations to the Insurance Group upon its completion of another successful year of providing affordable Workers Compensation Insurance coverage to the 204 member housing authorities. Attendance carries credits towards LHA Board Member Certification. For information including registration materials visit the 'Upcoming Events' page at

7 April NAHRO Names Honan State Legislator of the Year In ceremonies in Washington, D.C. on March 17, as part of the National Legislative Conference, Kevin G. Honan, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, received the first annual State Legislator of the Year Award from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Chairman Honan was gracious in his acceptance remarks, acknowledging the dedication of local housing authority officials from across the county in their tireless effort to provide those less fortunate with decent, safe and sanitary low rent housing. Chairman Honan was cited for all his work in helping pass the 2008 Housing bond bill, the annual hearings on the state of state public housing conducted each spring for several years in the state house, the establishment of the Housing Subcommittee Study on Conditions in Public Housing, and his advocacy with Ways and Means for additional operating subsidy for underfunded housing authority budgets. Chairman Honan was commended for his lifetime dedication to providing affordable housing opportunities across the Commonwealth. Joining Chairman Honan on the dais were as NAHRO National President Renee Rooker of Washington state, Senior Vice-President Akinola Popoola of Alabama, and National Legislative Network Chairman Jim Inglis of Michigan. Congratulations to Representative Kevin G. Honan upon his award as the national NAHRO State Legislator of the Year, and for all his continued advocacy on behalf of affordable and public housing. Chairman Honan was named MassNAHRO s Legislator of the Year in He is a true friend to all in public housing. (from left to right) National Legislative Network Chair Jim Inglis, NAHRO Vice-President Akinola Popoola, MassNAHRO's Tom Connelly, Chairman Kevin Honan, NAHRO President Renee Rooker. New England Regional Council NERC/NAHRO 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition June Mount Washington Resort Bretton Woods, NH Session topics will include: HUD IG Detecting & Prosecuting Fraud, Federal Labor Standards, IRS Compliance Audits, New GASB 45 Accounting Standard, The New HUD, Basic Training for Commissioners, Section 8 Issues, Legislative Update, Effective Advocacy, and more... Visit Upcoming Events at MassNAHRO Past Presidents Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament Sunday, May 17, 2009 Falmouth Country Club 9:00 AM Shotgun Start NERC/NAHRO Scholarship Golf Tournament Sunday, June 21, 2009 Mount Washington Resort, NH 11:00 AM Shotgun Start Visit for more info.

8 c a l e n d a r trainings, conferences & events APRIL 9 Small Housing Authority Task Force Natick H.A. Join us to discuss current small housing authority issues. Please notify Jen at or jpolito@massnahro.org if attending. APRIL 25 Board Member Certification Program: Topic: Legal Elements Auburn H.A. Presented by Attorney Jeffrey L. Driscoll. Information can be found on the "Upcoming Events" page at April 2009 MAY 7 Massachusetts Public Housing Administrator Program: Topic: Occupancy Cycle Franklin Housing Authority Karen O. Ahlers, Esq. will present Occupancy Cycle. Register today at MAY Annual Conference & Exhibition Sea Crest Conference Center Falmouth, MA You can now find hotel accommodations, registration information, sponsorship forms and golf tournament information at JUNE NERC/NAHRO Annual Conference & Exhibition Mount Washington Resort, NH Register today at Massachusetts Chapter National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials 11 Beacon Street, Suite 722 Boston, MA ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED