[Year-Round Housing] January 26, 2011 meeting

[Mlongreene2 at aol.com]

Good Morning,  We will all step back this week, take a fresh look at  this 
and make sure that all concerns are handled in a professional  manner.  We 
have come so far along, let's make sure we do not harm the  integrity of our 
applicants, residents, and the future of this  program.   Obviously, I was 
not at the meeting so I cannot comment  intelligently about the meeting.  The 
YRHASC has been a tough job for all  involved in trying to balance the 
housing needs of applicants and worries of all  about privacy of sensitive 
information of our friends and neighbors.  We  will continue to grapple with that 
so that a balance is struck that insures that  necessary info is available 
to make sure we stay eligible for the grant monies  but with the utmost 
respect of the applicants.
I am starting my trek back today trying to beat the weather and  should be 
home Tues. Look forward to us resolving this matter.    Best,  Mark
 
 
In a message dated 1/30/2011 7:52:41 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
tomtam1997 at yahoo.com writes:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mark,  
I would like the letter that  follows to be forwarded to the members of the 
YRHC, but not the entire email  list.  Would you please forward it to the 
appropriate people?  Thanks! 
January 30, 2011,  
I would like to express my concerns  as to Year Round Housing Application 
and Selection Committee’s informational  meeting, held on January 26.  The 
co-chair of this committee, Mr.  Billings, began explaining the paperwork and 
process in no particular order,  leading to confusion amongst all those in 
attendance.  Finally, with  clarification from others on the committee, we 
were able to commence with  reviewing the documents. 
In the ensuing discussion, Mr.  Billings began speaking out of turn as to 
the requirement to "tell the truth"  on the application, and the committee's 
duty to be sure that the applicants  were doing so.  He went on to speak 
about applicants working under the  table, and the committee’s responsibilities 
to make sure that all income was  being reported.  It very quickly became 
confusing as to what  information was for review by the Financial Review 
Board, and what information  was to be reviewed by the Application and Selection 
Committee.   When a potential applicant raised questions as to the release 
form  included in the application packet, Mr. Billings stated that the 
committee  should be privy to all information that the Financial Review Board is 
privy  to.  He went on to state that the committee needs to be sure that not 
 only the applicant's rent is paid on time, but the applicant's other 
bills,  citing Long Island Gas as an example. Mr. Billings further commented to  
the committee that they should reconvene at another time, to discuss the  
information release when "those people aren't here", meaning the potential  
applicants.  In my opinion, nearly all of Mr. Billing’s  remarks were made in 
an argumentative and/or accusatory tone.    
As vice-president of the Year Round  Housing Corporation and potential 
applicant to this program, I question the  professionalism of Mr. Billings in 
the capacity of acting co-chair of this  corporation's selection committee.  I 
for one would not  be comfortable with him representing the committee in  
contacting the employer or landlord of any applicant including myself,  given 
his attitude toward "those people".  In addition, given the level  of 
professionalism he demonstrated at our most recent meeting, I am concerned  with 
his trustworthiness in holding details of applications  confidential. 
Finally, please keep in mind that,  on an island with a year-round 
population of only 196 residents, the  applicants are trusting 7 of them (4 percent 
of the community) with the  private details of their lives.  In a community 
where we share so  much with our neighbors already, it is difficult to give 
up what little  privacy we have.  Applicants must be able to trust that the 
private  details they submit on their applications will be kept 
confidential.   When the co-chair of the selection committee speaks to the applicants as 
he  did on Wednesday, and implies that applicants will be dishonest, it is 
my  opinion that he is not worthy of the confidence of this program or its  
applicants. 
Sincerely,  
Tammy Sharkey  Hohn








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