The Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) met Wednesday, Dec. 16, and, among other agenda items, introduced Fiorella Badilla, a 25-year-old tenant at Menotomy Manor.
At a joint meeting of the Select Board and the AHA, Badilla was elected to fill the seat vacated by Richard Murray. In an email, Sheri Baron, a member of the Human Rights Commission, called Fiorella “a highly intelligent, motivated young woman who is eager to bring her enthusiasm and commitment to fulfilling the responsibilities of her new position. She understands the needs of the residents of all of the housing authority’s properties and will definitely help change the focus and work ethic of this board.”
Baron noted:
- The state requires that each housing property have a tenants’ organization, with officers elected every three years. Four of the Housing Authority properties have a tenants’ association. Menotomy Manor has not had a tenants’ organization in nine years. Elections are to be run every three years. The League of Women’s Voters has offered to run these elections as a neutral party.
- At [the Dec. 16] meeting, the new budget will be discussed. This new budget includes the raise for the executive director, John Griffin, which increases his salary to $165,000 yearly. There is no formal evaluation of his job performance. The AHA is not accountable to the town manager or Select Board.
Baron writes: “The AHA has, for decades, had fewer than 10 people at their 15- to 30 -minute meetings; last month, the meeting lasted well over an hour, with more than 45 attendees. “
May 27, 2020: Daly named AHA board’s first tenant chairman
This news announcement was published Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.
