UPDATED Sept. 30: The Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) at its September board meeting approved security improvements, the executive director’s new salary and updated AHA guidelines and sustainability projects.
AHA Chair Brian Connor told the board Sept. 18 that the the authority has been seeking cyberinsurance coverage. In June, the town reported, unidentified hackers impersonating an Arlington High School vendor took $446,000 over four months in 2023 to ’24.
“We have been looking into cyberinsurance since before the incident in Arlington was made public,” said Jack Nagle, AHA executive director. “However, incidents like the one that took place in Arlington have also showcased the importance of certain protections such as cyberinsurance coverage.” He said he found Cabot Risk Strategies LLC to provide advice about a cyberinsurance policy.
$6,48 for policy
“In our groupwide program, we only have a 100,000 cases of cybercrime currently, because it is so hard to get that coverage. This policy provides the quote up to $1 million on computer fraud,” said Todd Ohanesian, Cabot Risk senior account executive. The board approved paying $6,458 for a cyberinsurance policy with Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America.
Voting in favor were Connor, Vice Chair Gaar Talanian, and board members Jo Anne Preston and Fiorella Badilla.
To improve the security of its community, the AHA has also updated its emergency-management plan. Chris Partridge, AHA director of maintenance, has worked with Nagle on the plan. “We brought in a summer co-op student from Massachusetts Maritime Academy for the emergency management program who was able to assist us,” Nagle said. The plan covers a number of situations, including floods to natural disasters, he said.
Over three months, the AHA came up with a comprehensive emergency management plan that encompasses an entire portfolio, according to Partridge. “It is essential to recognize the importance of cooperation with local law enforcement and state agencies,” he said. “The plan serves as a complement to the broader emergency-response framework and aims to encourage residents to take part in proactive measures to enhance safety.”
The board approved the plan unanimously.
Nagle’s salary at $169k
As to Nagle’s salary, Connor said the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) recommended an annual salary of $169,845, a $14,000 raise. “I work with Jack everyday. Personally I think he is well deserving of that. He earns every penny,” said Connor.
The new salary rate recommended by the EOHLC will take efect Oct. 1, mentioned Connor. The board approved the rate unanimously. His salary before Oct. 1 was $155,821.
With the goal to improve internal structure of AHA, Nagle proposed the first addendum to internal-controls policy. “There are a few key people on the maintenance team — the two forman and the electrician — that it is important for them to do certain amounts of purchasing, but we want to have a control and review process in place” for purchasing items, Nagle said.
The addendum would serve as a compliance for the internal-controls policy, he said. The board approved unanimously the policy regarding purchasing for AHA maintenance.
Sustainabiluty updates
As for updates on infrastructure projects, AHA is partnering with sustainability programs. Green Harbor Energy LLC is a corporation that aims to monetize financial incentives for commercial, industrial and institutional clients with clean energy investments in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency savings. “What we are looking at is alternative energy credits that would help install some of our properties. What we are getting is an exchange for these credits, which we are not able to use as a government entity. We will be getting a payment for that,” said Nagle. He said the proposed agreements would offer AHA $144,999 as a one-time check in February. The board unanimouly approved the agreement.
The EOHLC has funded $7,700 for the Hauser Building roof-replacement project. Hauser part of the Drake Village, an AHA propertys. Nagle said, “in certain instances, EOHLC sustainability programs will fund the difference between the sustainable or efficient option versus the standard option.” In this case, the $7,700 funded the difference between a regular black-top roof versus a white roof, Nagle said. The EOHLC Sustainability Funding was accepted unanimously.
The T-Mobile lease for the rooftop antenna spaces at Winslow Towers needs to be extended, Nagle said. “There is an initial lease for 10 years and two five-year extensions. We are going to be entering the second five-year option with T-Mobile,” he said. The board agreed and approved the T-Mobile lease extension for an additional five years from Sept. 24, 2024 to Sept, 24, 2029, for Winslow Towers.
The AHA began its Sept. 18 meeting at 7:05 p.m. on Zoom and lasted about 40 minutes.
Sept. 4, 2024: AHA OKs parking changes, discusses finances, updates projects
This news summary by YourArlington freelance writer Crystal Lin was published Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. It was updated Sept. 30, to report Nagle’s annual salary before Oct. 1.
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