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6. NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd <br />has to be repaired, the homeowner is receiving assistance that should <br />allow them to hire a contractor on their own, and that's a part of <br />what the program is attempting to do, is to help people assume respon- <br />sibility for their own home. <br />Commissioner Donaldson asked if our inspectors make the Housing Allow- <br />ance inspections? Mr. Crighton advised our inspectors do not make <br />the actual inspections of the dwelling. In our other projects, we <br />have the massive 10 -page inspection sheet filled out;'in the HAO program <br />our inspectors do not. <br />Mr. Crighton added that most of the people in the program are elderly. <br />We have a few handicapped persons under the age of 62; however, most <br />are over 62 living on rather limited incomes. In all probability, <br />the subsidy they get will not be sufficient to pay for a new roof <br />and they are not in the particular income group where they can readily <br />go to a bank and get a large loan for the repairs. That's the problem. <br />Commissioner Wiggins said he would like to suggest, that perhaps in <br />these instances we approve the change orders, but we need to have some <br />sort of an understanding, or meeting, with the Housing Allowance <br />people so that this business is a little better refined, or at least <br />for his own understanding, if that is a possibility. Mr. Brownell <br />said one of the things he might bring to the Commission's attention <br />is that HUD has stated that Community Development can no longer do <br />this sort of thing. These two sets of HAO contracts will end it. <br />HUD has ruled that city -wide repair of houses for Housing Allowance <br />is an improper expenditure of funds for Community Development. They <br />can only do it in selected neighborhood areas where they are attempting <br />to stop deterioration, so the Commission is facing the last of the <br />two sets of HAO contracts for rehabilitation. HUD has agreed they <br />will pay these to meet their obligations they have incurred on these <br />applications. <br />Commissioner Wiggins said in view of the circumstances he will make the <br />motion that the previous Change Order No. 6 that was tabled, (6g), and <br />this Change Order No. 7, (6h), be approved in the amounts as stated. <br />The Chair asked for a second to the motion. Commissioner Cira asked <br />why approve them now, if there is only going to be the two they are <br />going to be making. If you don't really approve of it, why approve <br />them just because it is going to be the last two? Mr. Crighton said <br />they will not be the last two. Mr. Brownell's statement was that <br />we will only have the last two contracts. There will be 36 more <br />houses on the last HAO contract set that will be having construction <br />work performed on them during the next three months; the Contract <br />above has 17 houses on that contract set, and discussions are on <br />Contracts 7 and 14 of that set. The last contract set has been <br />awarded but is not in effect yet. <br />Commissioner Wiggins said his concern was really in determining policy <br />insofar as the Housing Allowance people are concerned; if this kind <br />of operation is not going to proceed or go forward, then there is no <br />real problem in determining policy. The policy for a non - existent <br />program doesn't mean much. In these terms, do we hang up these <br />people or not? <br />- 12- <br />