By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to approve revisions to several policies and procedures regarding rent collection, Section 8 Housing vouchers and repair and maintenance charges for housing units.

The commissioners approved revamped policies for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Housing Authority Residential Lease Agreement and the rent collection policy.

The board also approved adoption of the agency’s EZ-Rent Reasonable Rent Determination Policy, which is a system utilized to assist Housing Authority staff with conducting reasonable rent analysis. The system automatically selects the best comparable units for a potential renter based on objectivity. It determines a reasonable rent that is suitable for both the renter and the agency.

Commissioners also voted to approve policies that standardize charges for repair and maintenance of housing units as a result of damage caused by the residents. The new policy establishes continuity in how the agency charges for labor and how it processes claims. The burden shifts from the maintenance department to the finance department.

Finally, the board voted to approve the Public Housing Authority Certification of Compliance with federal public housing guidelines to accompany the St. John Housing Authority public housing agency standard annual plans for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years.

Housing Commissioners Art Smith, Iona Holloway, Jo Maxent and Mercadel Cosey voted in favor of all of the proposed resolutions. Commissioner Melissa Faucheux was absent. All new policies and procedures willgo into effect July 1. The next Housing Authority meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 9 at 5 p.m. at the agency’s main office, 152 Joe Parquet Circle, LaPlace.

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