The Board of Commissioners of the New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority (NRMHA) held its monthly meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023, at 5:30 pm, both in person at 50 Sickles Avenue and virtually on Zoom. The website for the Authority has recently been updated, and information on when and how to attend the monthly Board meetings is posted. These meetings are open to the public and include time at the beginning of each meeting for public comment. 

NRMHA Executive Director Angela Farrish announced that, with the help of city staff, the accounting firm PKF O’Connor Davies has been hired to serve as the authority’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and may also function as its fee accountant.  “We finally have a CFO that understands public housing,” said Ms. Farrish.  Four members of the NMHRA Board were dismissed by the City Manager in late December, allegedly because of financial problems that occurred during the tenure of the authority’s previous city-appointed CFO, who did not have experience with public housing.

Ms. Farrish also announced that the NRMHA expects the city to allocate up to $500,000, presumably from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to Bracey.  How this money, which is restricted to capital improvements, is to be used was a topic for discussion, especially as it relates to the capital funds that HUD will not release to the NRMHA  until the last two items of the recovery agreement are completed..

The City of New Rochelle and HUD regional representative appear to be more supportive of the NRMHA now that the old Board of Commissioners has been purged. One can only hope that this new Board understands the longterm strategy of private development in our City and the transient nature of HUD support.  It is possibile that monies given by the City may also come with an expectations of repayment.