DRAFT
CITY OF NORWALK

FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION

OCTOBER 20, 2008

ATTENDANCE:        Rev. Ingraham, Chairman; Carol Frank; Nancy Burke; Barbara Hudgins.

STAFF:                       Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer.

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m. by the Chairman.

APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 MINUTES

**      MRS. FRANK MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS DISTRIBUTED.

**        MRS. BURKE SECONDED.

**        MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

FHO’S MONTLY REPORT

Ms. Suib read her written report. She said that she had ordered “Brick by Brick”, the independent movie, at a cost of $202, which she will submit for reimbursement.

OLD BUSINESS

DISCUSSION RE: FY2008-2009 FAIR HOUSING BUDGET

Discussion took place on the state of the economy on this budget and the effect on this Commission. Ms. Suib said that the Commission is already down to a bare bones budget. The following budget request was agreed to:

• Office expenses - $750
• Dues & Subscriptions – check with the Redevelopment Agency as to the amount
• Employee T&E - $900
• Seminars - $900
• Equipment Purchases (Computer) - $2,000
• Commission Fair Housing Activity - $2,000

Ms. Suib will meet with Mr. Hamilton. Mrs. Frank and one or two other commissioners will also attend this meeting.

Ms. Suib discussed the settlement reached in the landmark fair housing case. She also noted that Zoning is requiring that parking be placed behind or underneath new buildings. Housing is going up on Main Street . Flat housing is subject to the new regulations, but townhouses are not. She met with the architect, who said that there would be no flat units so they would be exempt from the fair housing laws. Ms. Suib would prefer to ask Zoning for an exemption. She will send a letter to Zoning explaining the problem.

DISCUSSION OF COMMISSION FY 2008-2009 WORK PLAN

Ms. Suib reviewed possible topics:

1. Workforce housing regulation
2. Educational seminar
3. Newspaper column
4. Outreach
5. Fair Housing event

Ms. Hudgins suggested that the newspaper columns go to NEON and the NAACP. Ms. Suib will e-mail the copies for the NAACP to Ms. Hudgins and the ones for NEON to Joseph Mann.

DISCUSSION RE: COMMISSION’S WORKFORCE HOUSING LETTER TO ZONING

This item was not discussed during the meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

The next meeting will take place on November 17^th at 3 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Telesco

Telesco Secretarial Services

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