Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority
Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
May 22, 2025 Minutes
The regular meeting for the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority was held May 22, 2025
at 3:00 p.m. in Senator Circle at 124 K Senator Circle, Houma, Louisiana.
Chairperson Hebert called the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 3:00 p.m. followed by the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairperson Hebert stated that this is the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
Upon roll call, the following Commissioners were recorded as present:
Commissioners: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou and C. Hebert
Absent: None
Also present: Mrs. Nikita Gilton, Executive Director, Ms. Naquada Jefferson, Assistant
Director, Mr. Jamie McDaniels, Sulzer Group, Mr. Brandon Decuir, Legal, Mrs. Tiffany Stokes, Housing Supervisor, Ms. Tamara Matthews, Procurement, Mr. Justin Coleman, Maintenance, Councilman Brien Pledger and Mr. Tyson Brown, XPSynergy.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #4, Order of the Day/ Approval of Agenda; Mrs. Gilton said there was a correction, Item #11. Instead of Houma Terrebonne Housing Authority that should say Duson Housing Authority.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #5, Public Comment; Chairperson Hebert called upon Patricia Howard. She has been a resident for 15 years. She has had a problem with the gate that has been put up. When they put the gate out, they sent a letter out to go get the card. She showed the card. She found out a replacement card is $25.00. They pay $5.00 for a replacement key. They were stuck back here two days, locked inside of the gate. It was two days before they came to put something on this side to swipe the card. It takes her 20 to 25 minutes to walk up there because she has to catch her breath. When it rains, and you close the gate, it is hard to get it back open. She said it’s been six years since the storm. They had not had a gate back there. She does not feel they need one now. She said it is not to protect their safety because no one cares about them. If the electricity goes out, where are they going to go? They will be stuck back there. She said it has been two weeks since the garbage man has been back here.
Mrs. Howard said she talked to Mrs. Nikita on the phone about it. She said, well you say, go get you a lawyer or call your Parish President. He said he is going to help her, which was told to her. He said it can’t be done. He said can’t nothing be done to her. There has only been two people working back here every day and she walks outside every day. That is the secretary Tiffany and the maintenance man, Justin. She said nobody else is back there, maybe three sometimes. She said Mrs. Nikita has not been back here in a whole month. They have not seen her. That is where the phone call comes in. That’s why the gate stays locked. Any board member calls, Tiffany idea is to call her and tell her.
She said she had mice but they had pest control. There was no problem. Pest control stopped. She had mice in her house. She was told by the office to get rid of them herself. Then they came and put boards up at the other apartments that has no refrigerators in any of them, if they were to take the boards done right now. She can bring them to a lot of them. There are no windows broke. It was done by a key. She says she has wood rats now. She can hear them in her attic. She seen one the other night when she left out of her bedroom to go to the bathroom, he standing down the hallway looking at her like what are you doing here.
Chairperson Hebert informed Mrs. Howard her time was up. Motioned by Commissioner Boykin to give her 2 minutes; seconded by Vice Chairperson Picou. Mrs. Patricia said when it rains and the gate be closed, they cannot get out. She said after she finally got up there, with her umbrella, to try to get out; she kept putting the card to it, it beeps and was doing nothing but spinning. Two of the workers, the two that did work that day, she is here to tell you, sometimes it’s three that work back there. That is the most that be back there every day, working. Nobody else. The tires just spin over and over at the gate, like it wants to open and is not gripping on anything but mud because there is nothing but dirt down there. She said if the electric was to go off, how can she get out of here if she is locked inside of a gate. She has not done a crime. She does not need to be put in jail. She said this is pure jail but they are at their house and able to get out their bed and walk out their door and move around because they aren’t locked behind a gate. They wait until she is up in her age to lock her up with a bad heart and the garbage can’t even be dumped. She said a garbage man can’t come back. It is ridiculous. It is sad. She said something needs to be done to the people back here because they are not doing their job. They are paying for people to be back here to do a job and they aren’t even here half of the time. They need to come up with a new solution to where they can show they are back here. She said find some kind of way because they are getting paid for something and they are not here. She is glad to see them today. All the workers are here today and that’s because they have that board meeting back here today. If it wouldn’t be for this board meeting, it wouldn’t be happening. They ride around. What do they need a truck, two SUV’s, a golf cart. She asked what was the golf cart for? They have to walk way up to that gate.
Commissioner Boykin said the young lady was saying they do have card for them to get out. What if a fire truck has to come or an ambulance, emergency vehicle. Mrs. Gilton said she spoke with the Fire Chief and Police Chief, there is a box and they have the code to give out to anyone that have to come back here. The key is in there.
Commissioner Boykin said she also brought up about two days she could not get out of the gate. Mrs. Gilton said the first day when they gave out the key, Mrs. Patricia called and spoke with Tiffany. Tiffany told her she wanted to speak with her in regards to not being able to get out. About a month ago Mrs. Patricia had called about something going on with her vehicle. There were two vehicles at her house and two at Mrs. Wallis house. Mrs. Telisa Clark said Robert Rules of Order and that she was going into personal aspects. Mrs. Gilton said her car was working. When she told them the car was inoperable because it had busted windows and no license plate. That is when she found out Mrs. Patricia vehicle was not working. She had to move it. It is part of the lease. She could not just have the car sitting there. Mrs. Telisa Clark said Robert Rules of Order, she was going into personal business. Mr. Decuir said a question was asked. Mrs. Clark said they cannot disclose personal information. Mr. Decuir said discuss the problem without naming the tenant. Mrs. Gilton said there were vehicles that she assumed were working. How the gate works, once they pull up, it is supposed to open. When she was notified by Tiffany that neither had working vehicles anymore. One of the residents called and said she was going to call you (Commissioner Boykin) and the Parish President because she could not get out of the gate because her vehicle had to be towed because it was inoperable. Mrs. Gilton called Drew with the Sulzer group, the vendor came to the site a day and a half later because when she notified Mrs. Gilton it was after 3. The part had to be sent overnight for them to be able to scan out on this side of the gate. The gate was put up for reason. The residents said they did not feel safe. A lot of stuff was being stolen, a car was broken into. Mrs. Gilton was asked what she was going to do about her car being broken into and why the cameras weren’t working. Living in a gated community, she never thought she was putting somebody in prison. She is thinking she has their best interest. They have called and said they have seen people back here. Staff has seen people back here before. Items have come up missing in the units. Why would people want to come back here and hang out, if they are not living back here. The gate was put up for their protection not to keep them in prison.
Commissioner Boykin asked what about $25.00 for a card. Mrs. Gilton said one of the residents called and said they had lost their card but it was found. The first key was free. If you go back to when Bayou Towers and Senator Circle was up and running a regular key was $5.00. The cards for the computer labs ran between $15.00 to $25.00, depending on how many times you lost it. The vendor who set up the gate gave prices. She can’t just keep giving free cards every time they lose a card. The Housing Authority has to pay for that. The first card is free and you lose it; you have to pay for the replacement. She found it. It is not lost.
Chairperson Hebert called upon Mrs. Telisa Clark. Mrs. Clark passed out pictures to the Board of Commissioners and Executive Director. She said her name was Telisa Clark, Concerned Citizen of Terrebonne Parish. She said her first thing is listening to this resident of Senator Circle, when they had residents in Senator Circle, there was not a gate put up. She asked where are these funds coming from to put up a gate when you have no tenants back here. She said number 2, she gave each board member, she was not trying to omit anyone, but she has several issues she is coming with today. On one of those photos, you see a snake. Several of the photos you see concerned citizens, one being herself. She said residents came back to this site because this was our community. They came back here. She said they got people all of Terrebonne Parish that is concerned about public housing. They came in and cut grass. Her organization feed everyone that gave back to cleaning up this community. Not a janitor, not a staff member, no one came out and picked up a broom, dust pan, cut grass. They weed-ate, trimmed trees, they did it all. Mrs. Clark said another thing; all these meetings are in Senator Circle. She asked why they aren’t in various areas. Why are they all back here? When she was the President of the Resident Council, they made a motion and it is on record that these meetings would be held on conspicuous places to give people throughout the Parish a chance to engage in these meetings. She asked why are they at 3o’clock? People work. People throughout the Parish want to know what is going on. This agency is ran on federal dollars. She asked, do you know what that mean? She is a tax payer. It is being ran off tax dollars. She wants to know. She has an interest here. She lived here. She has grandkids. She has kids. Any of them may want to come back into public housing. As they once knew it, when you ride through here, you do not see that no more, sadly. She said it is time to hold some people to the fire. There is no reason why staff is not here. Another thing, she heard them say about the time. As person, she needs to see a physical clock because she does not know what kind of time they a keeping. She wants to make sure every minute is accounted for. Chairperson Hebert said the clock is pointed this way (towards the Commissioners). Mrs. Clark said OK. She is being vocal. She said, “you know me, Cheryl”. Nothing has changed about her. She worries about people, it is not about Telisa. At the end of the day, it is about people. These two residents are human beings. If they don’t want rats and rodents and snakes as they see on those papers, parading around their community, why should they have to live like that. It is no reason, it is unfounded. She asked if there is a key for the gate, why would you go to the highest level when it is low-income housing. Why wouldn’t you take the lowest after they have misplaced so many keys?
Motion to extend for 2 minutes by Commissioner Boykin, seconded by Commissioner Sherman.
Mrs. Clark said another thing, she is going to personally write to her Parish President, she wanted to make that clear. This board needs to be revamped. They do not have to second her motion but no one thing, her penmanship works. She thinks this board is outdated and it needs to be replaced, including staff. She said staff needs to be replace, that is correct. The face does not need to be said, what she said, she meant what she said and she said what she meant. This board needs to be gone. She said everything from the previous parish administration, there is a new parish administration, dismantled. She said that is her time and to have a good day. Chairperson Hebert thanked Mrs. Telisa.
Chairperson Hebert called up Mrs. Effie Wallis. Mrs. Wallis said she worried about the gate. She has Doctors/people that come see her. They came her house the other day. She gave them the number to the office back here because she could not walk up there to open it. She said they put her healthcare people on hold and never answer their phone call back. She had a doctor’s appointment she had to cancel. She could not go have a procedure done. She could not get her medicine. Chairperson Hebert asked when did that happen? Mrs. Wallis said last week, Wednesday and Thursday. They can’t even bring her medicine. She said it so happen they came today because they were going to go around and ride on the property just so they can talk to her. She said so happen the gate was open. The only reason the gate was open is because of the meeting they have back here today. She does not think that is fair. Chairperson Hebert asked if she knew who she talked to. She said she is the only one that is always here. Chairperson Hebert said there is several people that answer the phone. She said that is who she assumed it was. Mrs. Tiffany said she is not the only one that there. Mrs. Wallis said she does not know who she talked to. She just gave them the number to the building and they called “up here”. They called her back and said they put them on hold. Then they called her back and said nobody does not want to come open the gate. Chairperson Hebert asked how often do they come. Mrs. Wallis said they usually come see her three times a week. Chairperson Hebert asked if she always have a designated time. Mrs. Wallis said no, she has different times. Chairperson Hebert asked if she knew the time ahead of time. Mrs. Wallis said no. Chairperson Hebert asked if they come when they feel like it. Mrs. Wallis said she just know they come during the week. Chairperson Hebert said that’s the problem. If they had a designated time. Mrs. Wallis said that is too much walking. Sometimes she has three different people coming. Chairperson Hebert said she is not suggesting she walk, what she is saying is if they had a designated time, they could notify the office. Mrs. Wallis said she figures since the office could have their gate open until they close, why they can’t have the front gate open until they close, until 5 o’clock. She could see anything after 5.
Mrs. Gilton said three to four weeks ago, a lady was test driving her vehicle through Senator Circle. She knocked the bricks down at the front of the Circle. She did close the gate. Mrs. Effie and Mrs. Patricia walk to the office back and forth. Justin is on the golf cart doing inspections that could have been anybody that she hit. This property is not for people to test their vehicles. She said her breaks went out and lost control of the car. When they leave out, they will see the bricks and the signs knocked over. About two weeks ago she did close the gate because of that. Mrs. Gilton said when she was leaving out, the lady had called for two guys to pull her out and she called the police. They had pulled her out and were about the leave. This is Housing Authority property. The police were called. She did a police report. She said she is not doing it to make it feel like they are in prison. Mrs. Wallis said there aren’t but two of them back here, what they should have did, like they did when they close the circle when they were working in the back, barricade that off in the front. That way no one has no business to go around the circle. Barricade it off and stop it at the building. That way they do not have to worry about nobody coming in going through all that because when they come in, they can only go one way and that is straight.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #6, Approval of Minutes from March 27, 2025 regular board
meeting; motioned to approve by Commissioner Boykin, seconded by Vice Chairperson Picou. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #7, Bills and Communications, Item #7A, Approval of Pay
Vouchers for the period of March 15, 2025-May 9, 2025; motioned to approve by Commissioner Boykin, seconded by Commissioner Sherman. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #7B, Monthly Financials-January 2025; Item #7B1, Memo from Fee Accountant to Board of Commissioners; Item #7B2, Balance Sheet for January 2025; Item #7B3,Income and Expense Statements for January 2025; Item #7B4,Public Housing Financial Assessment Score for the month of January 2025; Item #7B5,Bank Reconciliation.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #7C, Monthly Financials-February 2025; Item #7C1, Memo from Fee Accountant to Board of Commissioners; Item #7C2, Balance Sheet for February 2025; Item #7C3,Income and Expense Statements for February 2025; Item #7C4,Public Housing Financial Assessment Score for the month of February 2025; Item #7C5,Bank Reconciliation.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #8, Report of the Secretary / Executive Director–Agency Update; Mrs. Gilton reported on the schedule for the forty units that they are going to put out to bid to rehab here. Jamie will elaborate a little on the forty units and where they are now. They did start inspecting the forty units that they withdrew from FEMA to rehab.
Mrs. Gilton said she wanted to give them an update on the wreck and the closing of the gate. It has been discussed but the reason of the closing of the gate was because of the wreck. She said someone asked where did the money come from for the gate, the agency still receives Capital Fund funds. Capital Fund is money they receive for updates at either one of the sites. You cannot use Capital Fund money to rehab the units because they have insurance proceeds and then FEMA bridge the gap. She still applies for Capital Fund every year. They did receive money for the gate, for security, and it is listed in the five-year action plan.
Mrs. Gilton reported that FEMA requested that the refrigerators and stoves be inspected that is in the remaining units. She is not sure why they are asking for this inspection now. She reported that the police were call so many times because the units were being broken into. A lot of the stoves and refrigerator were removed out of there. They are working on the scope of work right now. They have to go out and it is reimbursable but they are requesting that someone is hired to inspect the stove and refrigerators in the remaining units.
Mrs. Gilton reported that the paperwork at their station tells the timeline about the forty units that they are trying to rehab and says how many buildings left with FEMA.
Mrs. Gilton reported that they demo plan for Bayou Towers that Broadmoor was tasked with is still not complete. Nothing has been received from Terrebonne Parish in regards to removing their emergency equipment. Until their plan is received, HTHA plan cannot be completed.
Mrs. Gilton called upon Mr. McDaniels.
Mr. McDaniels said he wanted to make one more and it was mentioned earlier. As far as the security gate, when you are in the FEMA reimbursement process, things are covered that is damaged as of the event, Hurricane Ida. If they are not, then they are generally not covered. For example, a lot of the air conditioners have been stolen, if there is nothing to safeguard that then there is no way to be reimburse. Actually, they mentioned it pretty early in the process to get a security gate. That is a way to show you are safeguarding the property.
Mr. McDaniels said as far as the FEMA process goes, like Mr. Bergeron said on HTV, the FEMA process is long and lengthy. Just like the Parish, they have X amount of dollars to rebuild. Without FEMA funds, they can’t complete that process. HTHA is in the same situation. If you start before you get the FEMA funding or get approval from FEMA then you do not get the FEMA funds. They are really working hard with FEMA to get that process even with senior leadership. As late as two weeks ago, they were talking to senior leadership in the region and at the state level. They are trying to get them to expedite this a quick as possible. With the renovations of the units, the A&E firm is finishing up the scope of work. It’s took a little longer because they shifted from totally replacing all the units in Senator Circle to trying to get as many units possible open in Senator Circle. Once they get the scope of work, they will get that out to bid and once that happens, they will understand the full scope of what that work is and how much it is going to cost and will work through the process. He said everything else will be through the FEMA process. Part of that they will have to get HUD’s approval for any demolition that need to happen at Senator Circle. Bayou Towers has already been approved to be demolished. They are working on plans for that. They still have to go through the process, in order to get the money to proceed with that
Chairperson Hebert asked if there was a projected timeline to start the renovations in Senator Circle, the forty units. Mrs. Gilton said it was on the paper that was at their station. Mr. McDaniels said they are working through that process and timeline was in front of them if they need further information he would be happy to answer. Mr. Decuir said the project date of start would be August. She asked of this year, he said yes.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #9, Discussion and possible action relative to HTHA Hurricane/Emergency Preparedness Plan for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season; Mrs. Gilton said it is an updated plan. Chairperson Hebert said it’s the same plan pretty much. Motioned to approve by Vice Chairperson Picou, seconded by Commissioner Sherman. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #10, Discussion and possible action and calling a public hearing relative to Resolution No. 1078-25 the Houma Terrebonne Housing Authority’s 2025 Annual Action and 5-Year Plans; Mrs. Gilton said it is in the packet. It is a five-year plan that has to be completed every year. It is where the Capital Fund money comes from. Every year she put in the capital improvement and management fees. She also added demolition because she knows there will be demolition at Bayou Towers and Senator Circle. It lists each year and every line item is accounted for. Motioned by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Commissioner Burke. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #11, Discussion and possible action and calling a public hearing relative to Resolution No. D-1079-25 the Duson Housing Authority’s 2022 Annual Action and 5-Year Plans; Mrs. Gilton reported that was is dated 2022 because no plans have been completed at that agency for a while. HUD tasked her with doing that. It is the same thing they have here. It is line item by line item. Everything is accounted for regarding the plans for the next five years. Motioned by Vice Chairperson Picou, seconded by Commissioner Burke. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #12, Discussion and possible action relative to adopting an Inventory and Equipment Policy for Houma Terrebonne Housing Authority; Mrs. Gilton said she does not know if they remember, but the agency had an audit with GOHSEP in February. There was no inventory plan for FEMA funds. One of the recommendations was to develop an inventory policy for when we start to use the FEMA funds. Motioned by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Vice Chairperson Picou. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #13, Discussion and possible action relative to pay increase for the Executive Director; motioned by Vice Chairperson Picou to go into Executive Session, Motioned by Vice Chairperson Picou, seconded by Commissioner Sherman. Chairperson Hebert called for roll call vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
Commissioner Burke: Yea
Commissioner Boykin: Nay
Commissioner Sherman: Yea
Vice Chairperson Picou: Yea
Chairperson Hebert: Yea Motion carried
Houma Terrebonne Housing Authority Board of Commissioners convened into Executive Session at 3:37 p.m.
Chairperson Hebert said no votes or motions were made will in executive session.
Commissioner Sherman motioned to go back into regular business; seconded by Vice Chairperson Picou. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Chairperson Hebert asked if there was a motion or possible pay raise of 4% for the executive
director; motioned by Commissioner Sherman; seconded by Commissioner Burke.
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: J. Boykin
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item 14, Commissioner Comments; Commissioner Sherman thanked everyone who came out. He said a prayer.
Continuing with the agenda, Item 15, Next Regular Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025; 3:00 p.m., 124 K Senator Circle; Houma, LA 70363.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #16, Adjournment; Motioned to approve by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Commissioner Burke. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.