Hi everyone and thank you for coming and I hope you had a good lunch. We are from Rody and we're here today to talk to you about an easier way to get to a rich catalogue in backstage. What do we mean by rich catalogue? Well a catalogue that has the information that you're trying to look up, right? So I'm Sam and this is Irma. We're both engineers at Rody. Who's Rody? Well we've been there from the start of Backstage as an open source project. We're still top contributors to the project and we've released about 19 plugins and plenty more scaffolder actions to the open source community. But what does Rody actually do as a company? Well we have a hosted version of Backstage that is easily configurable and has a ton of extra features which is really oriented around making it easier to adopt Backstage and also a lot faster to adopt Backstage. So what's the problem that we're talking about here today? Well I imagine that plenty of you in the audience have either used Backstage regularly or have used it before and I'm sure that pretty much all of you will have seen something like this before when you've come to an entity and you're trying to find out some information but hey there's no annotation for it so we can't find any information for this entity right? So this can apply to all sorts of different plugins and all these plugins rely on some information in the YAML file to actually connect to the third party source of information and it's a very common that that is missing. So this is kind of a frustrating experience right? Now as a good citizen as I'm sure you all are your thought as developers might be well let's try and fix this okay? So you've come to find some information but hey I might as well just fix this while I'm at it. Now what does that journey actually look like in Backstage at the moment? So if we're talking about entities that are sourced from a YAML file in your SEM that's probably going to mean you need to open a pull request to the SEM to fix that YAML right? So what does that look like? Well first of all there's an easy way to open pull requests some of you might actually not know this so take notes and if you go to the about card and you click the pencil icon you'll go straight to a web-based editor for instance in GitHub it looks a bit like this and you can write your YAML annotation straight into there right? Now we know what the key to this YAML this annotation is so let's take an example say pager duty okay? So we want to fix the pager duty plugin and pager duty needs to know what service this entity is connected to so it's going to need to enter a pager duty service ID annotation so let's add that key but then hold on we need to know the value right? So what's the what's the service ID? Well we're going to have to go to pager duty right? So let's log into pager duty hopefully you know the address of your organization's pager duty instance and hopefully you've got access to it right? So we're going to sign in and we're going to go to services in pager duty and hopefully it's going to be easy to find that service for the entity that you're looking up. Now as you're probably aware in large organizations naming conventions aren't always strictly followed and so yeah you're going to have to maybe do some scrolling let's say you find that service so then we open up the service and we're looking for a service ID where is the service ID? Well in this case it's actually not there so we're going to click around some tabs you might go to the settings tab but it's actually not there and so as engineers if you're an engineer you might be familiar with looking at the URL right for an ID so in this case the URL looks like this so I'm going to be like well that looks a little bit like a service ID with that address let's copy and paste that and try that out so we're going to go back to github in this case and we're going to enter that service ID into our yaml then we're going to open up our pull requests we're going to give it a title description open it up and now we need to get someone to review that pull request so we'll have a look through a list of potential reviewers maybe assign some people or we might go into say Slack or some kind of team messaging service and ping a channel and say hey can you have a look at this pull request and review it for me and then we come back to backstage and what we see is still our missing annotation page and we might be seeing that for a few hours we might be seeing that for a few days we might be seeing that for weeks because we're not really sure when that pull request is going to get reviewed and we're not really sure when it's actually going to get merged and the likely hit is that it's probably quite low in your radar right to keep an eye on that pull request and make sure it gets merged and follow it up and so you might not even know when it gets merged so this is the problem that we have at the moment with backstage where you've got a catalog of information and it's often incomplete and the path to actually fixing that information is a fairly slow path that involves a massive context change from what you are actually doing which is trying to just find some information in the first place right you're actually going to have to go to the third party source where you could have got that information from anyway and do a whole bunch of steps in order to fix this and so the likely hit is that you're not going to bother right you're just going to carry on with your day and not going to fix anything and this is a problem right because your catalog is not going to be a rich catalog if your engineers are just navigating away from these problems because they can't be bothered and I don't blame people for not being bothered I can't be bothered most of the time either so this actually is the happy path of this whole scenario because you have a YAML file and you can actually add that information but a lot of entities in the catalog are not actually pulled in from YAML files as you might be aware for instance if you think about groups and users in backstage most most organizations are pulling those in automatically from a third party like github teams or octa or whatever it is and that's running through a processor right so sorry a provider so a provider is taking those that information from the API in github and creating entities in your catalog for you and that's great because it means you can build up a pretty good map of groups and users and they're all connected and that's nice but what happens if you want to actually add some information to those groups so this is like an example of a group that has been pulled in from github teams okay so we've got a title the name of the sorry the name of the group we've got a short description and then we've got the relationships like the users and the relationships so that's kind of okay but hold on a minute if you're coming to backstage to find the owner of some software and you end up in this on this page how do I contact that owner like I know I've got a team name that's all I've got to go off right it's not particularly useful so to fix this we would want to like add links maybe to slack we'd want to add some mark down to a bigger better description of what the team is actually responsible for etc and we would want to add to maybe some contact information like an email address but we can't actually do this in backstage at the moment this is actually not possible on a on a per in per entity basis and that's because it's sourced from a provider and that provider is automated and there isn't a way to individually update these these entities in the catalogue so I say there isn't a way I mean there is kind of a way like you can write a processor and this is true of the yaml files as well you can write a processor that tries to do some mapping from your third-party API so let's go back to the pager duty example we can go to pager duty say give me all the your services and let's try and make an educated guess about the naming convention that you're using for pager duty and try and map those to entities in your catalogue and you might be able to do that okay if your organization has a naming convention that's strictly adhered to that might just about work but the reality is for most organizations and most of these plugins the data does not map cleanly and furthermore you might well be making mistakes when you're actually trying to do automated mappings like this which is potentially even more problematic than not having the information there in the first place because you're going to be showing information for a third-party service which shouldn't be connected to this entity and that's kind of pretty painful right so processes okay might be a potential solution and similarly we could also just instead of doing it behind the scenes in a processor we might want to write a script and open a bunch of PRs to fix this but this is the same problem in terms of the mapping not being reliable and you've also adding in then the PR process right so you've got this like this delay in actually getting the information into the catalogue so what's our solution to this problem yeah so we were thinking about creating something efficient and something sustainable and we had to make easy and a straightforward solution so we were thinking of producing content switching and decreasing time you have to wait for your co-workers to approve any changes for example that you may make so we were also thinking from the point of which are the biggest pain for our customers and for ourselves and we came up with following so SM has mentioned and showed earlier this missing annotation screen is something that we all came across but solving it is energy consuming time consuming and very often you need to go to several places in order to fix it so that's naturally where we started so we worked on improving the pager duty plugin card and we basically wanted to allow users to automatically generate service id from pager duty retrieve through api so they don't have to go through the path that was described earlier and in action it looks like this so I think that we can all agree that this is much faster than going to pager duty obtaining service id and you know like going through all of the different kind of scenarios that you would normally need to go now furthermore furthermore just a second yeah so we were also thinking about the place where you end up most of your time and where you spend majority of your time and catalog seemed like a good place to start so we wanted to improve functionalities that you have there by allowing you to inline edit properties and it also relies on functionality that we worked on where we improved and modified the backstage catalog table so it can kind of yeah that we can expand the feature on it more so what you would be able to do is basically do an inline editing without a need to edit yaml files to create prs to go through the whole process but instead just change it here so as you could see in this video you basically just assign owner or any other property that you may need now of course in catalog you don't have all of the information that component has so there was a need to create something separately and we worked on a concept called entity decorator which is basically an editing form in which you can add or edit properties such as such as tags labels or annotations so things which you usually don't see in catalog so for example set of annotations seen here is generated directly from annotations using components across catalog that you use and enriched with some default ones that we have added for the plugins now the biggest impact we have seen is in decreasing time to change which now is a few seconds compared to day or even days before and that in addition to no context switching so ability to use the centralized approach in which you can change everything just at one place led us to our end goal which was having richer catalog which holds only information and actions so you actually need so how do we actually build this and what does it look like so I'll talk you briefly through the back end and what how you could actually implement something like this relatively easily so to start with we've got an API where we can post something we called fragments so a fragment is just an object with metadata and some spec a spec object and an entity ref that it's associated with right so we can post that and we created a new table in the database where we can store that information so we've got some auditing information and versioning as well there and then we've got our processor so we are talking about processors earlier right so this is just a processor that goes through each entity in your catalog and says hey do we have any do we have a fragment for this to decorate and if it finds one it's going to merge in that that information and the end result is you've got a working plugin within a few seconds so there's nothing particularly revolutionary here right we're just using processors which are a core part of backstage and already do a lot of decoration work on your entities and here instead of the source being a third party API and some automated service you're just using user inputted data right so that's what it looks like now i'm sure some of you in the audience who work on backstage have got some some questions in your mind already about this approach and one of them i imagine might be well we started off with a github's approach right with some yaml in an sem and now we've got this fragment in a database so we've got this hybrid right of data and two sources of information so you might be thinking well when i'm trying to update some information in the catalog how do i know what where to update it so we've got a partial solution to this which is trying to make it more visible to developers where this information is actually coming from so this is the entity inspector which you might be familiar with which shows you details about an entity and as you can see here that we've got some icons for stuff that backstage itself is actually injected these are kind of annotations which the rest of the process relies on we've also got some things that rodies added via this fragments decorator so in this case pager duty and sneak and we've got some things that came from third party source i.e the sem and yeah for for instance the github github annotations you can see that so this kind of helps people figure out where this information is coming from now another potential thing you might be thinking is hey this sounds a lot like vendor lock-in right you're taking my data and you're storing it in a database and how am i going to access that when i want to move well we give you an api and access to all of your entities so you can pull that data and do what you want with it so that hopefully addresses that that problem so we're pretty excited about this feature it feels like it unlocks a lot of new opportunities in backstage to do things in a way which feels much more natural for users right so we're going to give you a little idea about what kind of things we're building at the moment with this new functionality and this new approach so the first thing that we wanted to do is allow people to fix these annotations but on a much larger scale right so you can imagine that it's useful for individuals to be able to fix things quickly on a single entity but what if your organization coming in and saying hey i want to set up page duty for my organization i'm going to have to go and update thousands and thousands of entity yaml files all in one go and that's going to take potentially years right and that that is the experience of many of our customers it does take months if not years to get to this level of completeness in their catalog and so we're building features like this which will allow people to go through a list of entities and basically in a similar way to what we just saw we have a list of page duty services and we can just associate those with a few clicks and save it and that would then just update our catalog and we'll have working page duty plugins for these these entities within a few seconds what else are we doing so i mean this kind of unlocks some cool things like ownership okay so we've at rody we're very we're interested in this problem of richness like helping you get a rich catalog which has working plugins but we're also interested in helping you get a complete catalog right and part of that has been pulling in repositories as a kind to the catalog so that you can see immediately what what repositories you have in your scms and an important part of that is knowing who actually owns that repository right now we've this is our repository table in our catalog where which we automatically generate and we've added this button in the owner field which allows you to in one click just add an owner right and this we're pre-populating this based on figuring out who's contributing to the repository already and which teams have access to that repository and what level of access they have so we're making an educated guess on that in allowing you to just go through and just add ownership to these these entities here's a little clip of it in action so yeah i can just click these and we're going to update our catalog immediately so that's pretty cool and we're quite excited about the future of of this and expanding this into different areas of the product and we feel that it's much it's a it's a much more natural field to like see backstage as a as it kind of a place you can update information immediately right rather than having to go through these convoluted flows or being blocked completely because of where your entity happens to come from so i think i'm going to pause there and see if there's any questions from you guys great test yes we're on hello do you have any plans to add the some featured regarding closing the loop basically top are gating automatically the information back to the catalog yaml file yeah i think way yeah 100 yeah that's that's exactly what we're looking at at the moment is this idea of like raising pull requests so when you create a fragment you automatically raise a pull request to the sem that that entity is originally sourced from and you can have a series of numbered pull requests and you merge them in the right order and then you kind of you're reconciling your your other source but it yeah any plans to open stocks the plugin yeah at the moment we're not we're not going to open source it and we're still kind of building it out and i'm not sure about what that will look like in the future but for the moment unfortunately not but as you saw as i showed you with the back end it's it's relatively straightforward to build this i mean it's just a custom processor and an api and a new table in the database and so yeah any other questions one on the back best oh now it's working thank you for the insights for this plugin one question clarification because you mentioned about the vendor locking so there is no possibility of using the database that we are already having it has to be a database that is hosted somewhere by you no no this that you can anyone can build this just using existing database and we just added a table to the catalogue database and and that's all you need to do really okay thanks any others great all right oh no okay all right well thank you very much for listening um we hope you found that interesting um we're roadie and we're here helping people adopt backstage quicker and more effectively um we're just outside the entrance there so please come and say hi and chat to us um if you've got any interesting stories about your own adoption journeys um we're here for the whole conference uh booth d34 so yeah if you can't make it today see you later um we've got some nice little ducks which you might have already picked up um so yeah you can do some rubber ducking and thank you very much thank you


In the previous video, we learned how to use vectorized read underscore CSV function to ingest multiple CSV files at once. In this video, we'll introduce the PER library and the map underscore DF function to accomplish the exact same task. So while this may seem slightly redundant, it actually requires even more code. I just want to introduce the concept of using PER slash map functions and we'll learn more about those later. Watch all the videos to see how you can iterate custom functions in your R analysis workflow. All right. So the first argument here is actually a vector and it's that same vector of three elements that we saw up there. So we're going to iterate over each element of the vector and what we're going to apply to each element of the vector is the read underscore CSV function. Okay. The way map underscore DF works is the first argument is a list or data frame. Second argument is the function that you're going to apply to iterate over the elements of and then there are multiple arguments for that function. In this case, we're using a function from the reader library read underscore CSV and those functions that we've used earlier up in line 42. So the other thing I want to introduce is the notion that map has several different dimensions. Map underscore DF returns a data frame. Map underscore map all by itself is going to return a list which you see here and because the lists are automatically displayed in our studio, you see them as data frames. In this case, foo underscore DF is a list. If I add map underscore DF, I get a data frame back. If I use CHR, I get character back if it's relevant to whatever operation I'm doing, I could use LGL for logical or DBL for double numeric and it all just depends. We'll learn more about this later. But in this case, I want a data frame. So map underscore DF and I get back a 3000 row data frame just like I did in the previous video. So to recap, map allows you to apply a function to a list. In this case, the list is a vector or it could be a data frame but you're iterating over the elements of the list and you could apply the same arguments that we did in the read underscore CSV function up at line 42 where you can coerce data types to particular variables. So that's the brief introduction to map and the per library. We'll talk more about it later.


So I guess we are alive. Let me just slowly feel what it means to be alive because we are live now.  Welcome to our temple. This is our temple and adoption society, dream adoption society. We've been working hard to create this world and other worlds and it's Rob with standing here and recording this and the gym. It's Danusha. It's Isa. It's Anastasia. It's Krzysztof and it's Sebastian and it's Yannik. I hope I didn't leave anybody out of this list. We've been reading recently a huge that's been read by Philip K. Dick. You probably know him and if you don't you maybe you should probably read some of his books because they're really interesting and his book that we've been reading recently is called it's a very difficult title for me to to say but it's exergesis. I think that's the way I should spell it. It's exergesis and it's an amazing book. He wrote it when late in his life he had this experience, an amazing experience that changed his life and and I won't say much about this experience because this experience was was a huge one you know and I guess some of you and some of us we kind of have those experiences you know that those experiences that change your life completely you know completely so you live your life and you think that your life is this you know this and then suddenly something happens out of the blue and and then everything has changed and you know I still I'm still waiting for this experience you know most of us probably most of us we're still waiting for this experience but Philip K. Dick had this experience and and this is so it's a huge it's huge so what can I say what can I say other than that I'm just I'm just really glad you're here and just enjoy the show enjoy everything that that's gonna happen here because no one knows really what's gonna happen because it's it's a pure journey it's a pure journey so just just do whatever you want and enjoy it thank you very much hello and hello Jim come here come here again let's enter the um there we go in listen we're going inside just want to look at it one more time yeah if we're we go hello hello okay there they go okay I'm coming I'm coming Jim yeah I'm coming let's go there we go hey let's make a let's make a breathing session let's meditate together to have a good beginning that's a very good idea yeah I think it's a good idea yeah it's a very good idea yeah it's a very good idea it's a very good idea try to feel your body try to feel your body physical body digital body and stretch stretch stretch as you would just get up from your bed and take a deep breath take a deep breath and exhale inhale and exhale beautiful by exhaling longer can you inhale your breath naturally slow and and calm down we should all calm down yeah so let's all calm down let's do this for a few breaths you can come in and try to feel free be with your breath you have a pleasant moment if you want to drive I'm excited but don't make a future breath be in a present moment when you're doing this notice your thoughts approach this exercise we're going to attention to simplify and to slow down allow your body to relax notice your thoughts and don't allow them to disturb you and now we will do and now we will do the qikong qikong is a traditional chinese asian exercise let's gather together closer yes don't be afraid and bend your knees and open your feet a little bit and at the front of your body put your hands here as you would grab a bowl yes exactly and by we're doing a deep breath again we bend to the sides to the right and to the left yes to the right to the left and we are breathing we're breathing so deep and now our hands are at the front of our body and we we wait and I want to hear you breathing don't forget beautiful and a few more and stretch to the sky and shake a little bit shake your body and breathing out anything that no longer serves you stretch to the sky let's gather together let's let's hug each other let's try to touch each other let's give a small massage to Yanan yeah give me a small massage I like small massage yeah just do it just just just be careful because my body is very sensitive I'm so sensitive yeah my eye you can massage yeah you can also try massage my belly yeah it's actually it's actually a bit likey and scratch him scratch but just don't stretch too hard just just be careful yeah yeah okay I love your body to surrender not yourself I love your body to surrender your roots your my roots yes I'm rooted to this ground I'm rooted to this ground I cannot move anywhere else even if I where is Jim? Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim is Jim Jim so let's come to Jim Jim welcome here come here come to the circle come to the top and tell us your story Jim this is Jim you know this is Jim everybody is Jim you know everybody's and that's everybody's Jim let's try to lift him I will try to lift him okay okay let's let's do our best yeah on three on three one one two three Jim you're different you're so different Jim you're different I'm not saying anything no I'm not saying anything I'm not saying anything it's okay to not say anything Exactly I agree with you 100% 100% man. Let's let's okay. Do you need a massage? No. Oh. Nothing. Oh. Oh. Oh. The trees and the plants flourish. The birds flutter in their marshes is uplifted in adoration to be. Oh. Listen guys.  I want to say, first of all, that the primordial source of all our knowledge is three, four, one. The ancestors of the Dogon people in western Sudan in Africa who got their cosmogony and their cosmology directly from the three-eyed invaders who visited a long time ago. The three-eyed invaders are deaf and mute and telepathic. They could not breathe in our atmosphere and they had the elongated skull of Akhenat. And they emanated from a planet in the star system serious. And although they had no hands, they had, they had a picture, picture like claws, like a crab. And they were, they were great builders who were to influence our history towards a fruitful end. Our world is still secretly ruled. Our world is still secretly ruled by the hidden race descended from Akhenat. And the knowledge that he has is the information of the macro mind of the macro mind. There is one mind. But under this one mind, two principles contend. The one mind lets in the light and then it lets in the dark. Let's in the light and that's in the dark. So, like I said, he doesn't let in the light and then take away the light. The one mind, and I said, I shouldn't say he, the one mind lets in the light and then lets in the dark. Have you ever let in the dark? The dark is something. It comes in. It's not the absence of light. So, think of the one mind. The one in the one mind. And I just want to say that I want to sketch out how, I mean, this, all of this is information. All everything in the world is, the phenomenal world doesn't really exist. It, we make it, we hypothesize it. Hypothesize it means we make it feel solid. We make it seem solid. We give it some sort of material foundation. We hypothesize it. This is information. And when an object in the phenomenal world moves or changes, that's the change in information and it's information inside the mind. It's not just information, it's a story. And this story is happening when we move. You see, I move my hand. That's something, that's the story. Now, the problem is we can't read the story. First, in the story, we're information in the story and the story is happening. But we can't read the story. Now, the story of the mind is not just a story. It's a story about, it's a story about the death of a woman. And so this story is not, it is the story we are in. And it's the story about a death of a woman. A woman who died a long time ago. And they say that one of the most tragic things, the one of the most tragic subjects is the death of a young woman. And this one was one of the primordial twins. She was half of the divine sysogy. And the purpose of this story is so that the mind doesn't forget her. The mind, which we're flowing information in. The mind doesn't want to forget this. So all of the work of the brain consists of a permanent record of her existence. And if the story could be read, it would be understood this way. All the information processed by the brain and experienced by us as the arranging and rearranging and moving of physical objects, this is, it's all an attempt at preserving her, more preserving her memory. And all the stones and the rocks and the sticks and the amoebas are traces. So the mind is not talking to us, but the mind is talking by means of us. And the narrative is passing through us and the sorrow of the story infuses us irrationally. We don't know why. We don't know why. There is a streak of the irrational in the world, soul, in the soul of the world. We should be able to hear this information or rather we should be able to follow this story as a neutral voice inside of us, but something has gone wrong. All of creation, all creation is a language and it's nothing but language. And for some reason we can't read it. We can't read it outside and we can't hear it inside us.   Thou givest him breath therein to preserve him alive when thou hast brought him together to the point of bursting the egg. He cometh forth from the egg to chirp with all his might. He goeth about upon his two feet when he had come from therefrom. How manifold are thy works? They are hidden from before us. Oh, soul God whose powers no other possesseth. Thou didst create the earth according to thy heart while thou wast alone.  There is no other that knoweth thee, save thy son, Iknatan. Thou hast made him wise in thy designs and in thy might. The world is in thy hand. Locust, which was comparable only to Eden itself. Yeah, yeah, well it's exactly how it was before the Locust, you know, came and... You also live here? You live here? In this neighborhood? Yeah, I'm a neighbor. Which house is yours?  In the poor section. In the poor... Well, that's how you call it.  He got his house from his father. He doesn't work neither. We bought our house with our own money. My husband works very hard. I was working here very hard. He deserved your respect. My father respected your father. I was good in not going to school. For me. So what do you know? Your hats? What? A dog. A dog? A dog? My dog. I never had a dog. Hey you, did you have a dog? You see? He got a puppy from Mr. D. You can't put that story about your puppy. That was very mean. Oh, I wonder what's happened to that puppy. He sometimes goes into other walls a little bit, but he's normal. Oh, you don't see, huh? You want to see? I mean, I'm gonna try to... So let's go here, right? I didn't keep her. Maple acres. Maple something. Something changed here. You see, then something changed. A great tornado hit here. Here is a tornado. You don't see it? No. Buck's mother began to feel what? To feel what? Unsafe. She felt unsafe, man. Crazy stuff. Crazy stuff. I'm telling you. And from that day on, from that day on, she started to feel unsafe, you know?  Do you remember the tornado? I didn't realize it was a tornado. Life is so hard and square. I have a very sensitive body. I have very sensitive, because my brains, I have a very sensitive heart. Say goodbye to your father. Say goodbye to your mother. Being there, it's like a playground. The 24th of June, I slept like a tree with a face of devil. On the other side of me, I have many visions around my neck. The loop tightens. Winter is coming, and the empire never ended. It doesn't matter that I've only seen you there. I love you anyway. I can't live without you. I'm hiding within you. I follow you through so many worlds. I have nowhere else to go. I clean, and I clean. Where does all this dust come from? Listen to the newly installed shower? There. Pizza. Black birds. Beach ball. Diamond. Black flip. Windmill. Picnic. Softness. Hypnosis is what he knows best. I only remember that. Here. I was pregnant. I had twins. One of them dissolved in my body. When I look at the floor, I can only think about the carpenter. The guy who made sure there was a floor that I could walk on in this house. What if he is dead or sick? You only live once, they say. I saw this on TV. That's why I decided to go there. Try to help stop the war. While I was sitting in taxi, I noticed the driver was looking at me and realized he thought that he was cute. So then I asked if he wanted to have sex with me. And he did. Then he got to. And unfortunately, I miss my plane. So I never made to Syria. I don't even recognize her on the street because she just looks like like an avatar. Oh, I get it. I get it. I get it. So maybe this is her actually in new body. Isn't he now she died, though? What if she just respawned, man? Respawned. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Respawned. Respawned. Because I don't think so. Yeah.  You just respawned.   You know, the different world. Maybe she's a cat in the kitty's world. I think that might be possible. I mean, do. This is reality. How do you think is our fantasy? Yeah. We have to wave goodbye to our fantasies because they are always going.  You never mind. What are you doing here? Do you want to talk? I just look. You just look? Oh, that's fine. You want to hear some story? Yeah. You want to hear the most touching story? Yeah. Yeah. Because this woman, this woman has an amazing story. Just really, really touching. I was, you know, I was 30 something and it was morning and I woke up one morning and my bed was in a red bed. And I slept. But instead of standing up, I fell flat onto my face. And my whole left side was numb. I couldn't feel anything. Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down. And I was. I was brought to the phone before 911 and then by the time I got there, the feeling came back on my left side. And I called my name and I told her what happened. And she said, I'd probably had a son over the time. And then I went to a young man's house for the first time.  And her to let. Danusha, Danusha. The doctor said that she probably couldn't live. I'm your sister. I'm your sister. I'm calling. I have to tell you something really terrible. I don't know how to say this. I already know that. But what do you know? I already know with my life. I am your sister. And then two days later, she died. Oh, such a bad person. And I just called me again. And I went out. And I was walking around something's for a part. And then I started on a trip. And I was crying. And this homeless man with no teeth had an accident. And he said, what's going on? And I said, what's going on? And I am afraid I won't be able to handle this funeral. He asked, when is the funeral? When is the funeral? I said, I'm sorry. And he said, you're right. But the funeral is not today. It's here. And I went home. I booked the flight to Poland. And then on Saturdays, I got on the plane. And when I got on the plane, I was afraid that in the middle of the flight, I'm going to fall apart. And that I'm going to want to run out. But then I sat in my seat. And next to me was this Polish middle-aged man. And he started drinking vodka. And I said, great, an alcoholic. And then every time sadness came over me. And I was panicky. He touched my shoulder and said, look out the window. Look how amazing this is. Speak to me. And then I told him what was happening.  And then... And then I got home. And I was still afraid that I'm not going to be able to handle seeing my wife. I'm not all right. And we decided as a family to have a colosty. So we went to pick up the body. And the more. And so only the family could see her. And our whole family was standing around the house. The house was on the ground. And my sister and I sat down on the ground. And I was afraid to look at my mother. And our family was crying and hysterical. And then suddenly I felt this incredible bliss. That engulfed me. Like someone was kissing my insides and hugging. My heart. My liver. My thoughts. My everything. And then I looked at my sister. And my sister was screaming. Trying to hug it. I'm trying to hug it. Are you from the same school? And she said yes. What is that? I think it's your love. And then I looked at my mother's body. And she looked horrible. Because they don't make people up in Poland. Like they do in the US. She was burned. Because when she had a stroke. She was smoking a cigarette. And there was a little fire. What I felt was that I looked at her. And she was no longer there. It was very clear to me that she was no longer there. And it was like an alien. It can be pretty scary. You're not. My mother just left this body. Because she didn't live anymore. Fantastic. And I realized I wasn't even sad about it. I just never imagined that I will be feeling this blissful joy. During my mother's school. Just visiting. You don't live? Oh, so you're not from here? No. You're from far? Another galaxy. Another galaxy. So you've traveled. You've traveled a long way. A long way. Was it worth it? Yes. Yes. Hello. Hello. Hello. I love you. Thank you. Thank you. Do you want to join me? We're dancing a little bit. Hey, let's do some story dance. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Let's do some street dance. Hey. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I like your outfit. Dancing. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, yeah. Love. That's pretty. Yeah. You want to come to the zoom? I'm going to the zoom now. Don't go yet. Yeah. No, no. Just finish the stream. Like I know. You're still streaming. You guys are live now. We are live. We're live. We're live. We're live. We're live. We're live. We're live. I think it's great. Yeah. End of something. End of the topic.


All right, we're going to begin our regular meeting. The Island Housing Authority is 10 past seven, it's November 16, 2022. Roe call to Ann. Yeah. Nick, here, Brian is here, and Lerilla is sick and garr is in the building. I'm well. I'm excited, yeah. So we'll move on to the Executive Director's report. Yeah. First of all, this thing here is a Zoom thingy and it's recording audio and visual. And if and when you speak, the little thing goes around and looks at you and puts you on the TV screen, yeah. So it's high tech. So we do have, I assume we have some folks in the Zoom, so be careful, it's listening to you. So, all right, go ahead, yeah. So some updates at Drake Village, the roof project, electrical panel, fire alarm upgrade at the cottages and electrical panel upgrade at the Houser Building or in the design phase. The creative place making project will go out to bid in January. We hope that the door project at the cottages will go out to bid soon. Additionally, we signed the contract today for the Houser Building fire alarm upgrade. Additionally, there's going to be, there's going to need to be an electrical shutdown as part of the required testing for the electrical panel upgrade at the Houser Building and at Chestnut Manor. Arrangements have already been made for residents to be able to spend the day at the community center for the Chestnut shutdown. And the council on aging will be providing transportation. That shutdown at Chestnut's gonna be tomorrow. We've also made arrangements for a paramedic to be on site for the duration of the shutdown in case some residents decide to stay so that we can check on them and make sure they're okay. At Chestnut Manor, we have been able to lease out four units as part of the fire, the units that were offline in Manor are gonna be coming back online. And we will be making at least three additional offers effective for December 1st, but we hope it's gonna be even more. And just also we had, we should have had some additional lease ups but we had a few people refuse offers. We are committed to filling these units as soon as possible. We have not received a start date for the window replacement or air source heat pump project at Chestnut Manor yet, but are hopeful that it will begin in the next few months. The air source heat pump project at Winslow's Towers has started as many of you in attendance know. And we'll continue to update you as far as access that's needed or anything else. And if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Manor office and we can always discuss it. If needed, we can set up a meeting. I'm an autonomy manor the designer selection for the window replacement slash deep energy retrofit project is currently out to bid. I will be providing the board a breakdown of the phases and costs associated with the entire deep energy retrofit. Our focus is on the first phase, the window replacement. Additionally, I'd like to congratulate the board for our High Lap Brand Award. The AHA is being awarded $2 million in High Lap funding by DHCD for the Manor deep energy retrofit project. We are waiting for a start date for the weatherization work in the Manor Q-SAC Terrace and the Great Cottages, but we'll continue to follow up and try to get scheduled as soon as possible. In regards to the chapter 689 special needs development, DHCD conducted a site evaluation to determine the best location for that development based on the two potential locations that were available. Initial conversations have indicated that the area in front of 54 Medford Street will be the recommended location by DHCD staff architects. They will be providing an official recommendation in the coming weeks. Once received, I will share it with the board. Additionally, the request for proposal for the purchase of a condo is currently out to bid and the bid opening will be on December 8th. We're hoping to receive some proposals we have not yet received any. And then also, I had been asked to provide an update related to the maintenance meetings, the monthly maintenance meetings and over the past several months, we have been meeting with local tender organizations on a monthly basis at their developments. We have found some real success in these meetings while DHCD mandates a quarterly meeting and recommends that it lasts at least a half an hour. We focus on having an hour meeting at each location. We feel that this has improved communication, helped us identify and address issues before they grow. It has also been a great tool for us to communicate upcoming events and projects while receiving feedback. Based on some feedback from local tender organizations and our own staff, we have some recommendations for the next six months of maintenance meetings, continue to have monthly meetings with the tender associations at their sites, have two of these meetings per year at the main office with all LTOs present, and that's our local tender organizations. The Q-SAC Terrace Tenants Association indicated that meeting with the other tender organizations creates bonds and connections with their fellow tender organizations which will lead to sharing ideas and creating a support system. We understand that that's a very difficult job and I think it's a great idea and we'll definitely support that. Additionally, we will be requesting tender organizations to provide an agenda, 48 hours before the meeting so that the housing authority can prepare for the meeting and ensure that we have an agreed upon list to work on. This will help us prepare for the meeting and ensure that agenda items are addressed and or answered. An update for resident services, there will be tree lightings and other holiday themed events at the different developments for the coming month, which we will be sending invitations out to the Board of Commissioners for. Fidelity House has started their programming on Thursday afternoons at Minotomy Manor. The Council on Aging is scheduling blood pressure and diabetes education programs at senior developments. The resident services coordinators are also working to assist residents seek rental assistance, fuel assistance and assistance with other utilities like internet. If you're interested in any of those, obviously Winslow Towers, the housing authority pays for the electricity and heat but if you're interested in potential options related to internet, reach out to Tricia Horgan who might be here, might not be here, but you can reach out to her at extension 340. The Allington Fire Department will be having fire safety sessions at each development over the next month. And we've also ordered some more COVID test kits through MEMA, which we're hopeful will arrive soon and then we can distribute to residents. I also wanted to provide an update on the conference we went to this week, Mass Narrow, our advocacy group, they held a conference for housing authorities in the state of Massachusetts. Many of the AHA administrative staff attended the conference for at least one day and there were a wide variety of sessions that covered topics related to opportunities to grow and enhance our programs and developments, meet resident needs, improve communication, address conflict and maintain tendency. There were many sessions and networking opportunities that will lead to improved efficiencies and better processes related to various laws and regulations that govern us. There were also important updates related to upcoming changes from HUD and DHCD. A few takeaways that especially excited me were, DHCD is procuring an agency to centralize the screening or priority and preference for the wait list. This will allow the Allington Housing Authority to fill units more effectively by reducing the staff and man hours needed to fill a unit. The entity that DHCD prepared is set to take this over in September of 2023. So we're really excited about that. It's gonna save us a lot of money, a lot of man hours and it's gonna lead to a better process for applicants. And also as a result of the mass rental voucher program and the AHVP voucher program being added to CHAMP, the centralized wait list, there could be opportunities to add more MRVP and AHVP vouchers at the Allington Housing Authority. We will be looking into this so that the Allington Housing Authority can be considered for this and we can better serve the community. The Economic Development Bill was recently passed, which will lead to additional flexibility for the Allington Housing Authority to preserve and create affordable housing. There have been some innovative projects at some of the housing authority, Chelsea Housing Authority, that preserve public housing units while adding affordable housing units. This new bill will help other housing authorities like the Allington Housing Authority consider similar projects in the future. Thank you. Any questions yet? Go ahead. Go ahead. Thank you. So the way it was explained at the conference was because they're gonna centralize the voucher programs, they're gonna have a better idea of usage and need and communities, which is gonna result in us being able to advocate more effectively for these vouchers. And there's been a large increase in the funding that's been earmarked for that type of program at the state level, but most of those vouchers have been going to nonprofits through the centralized system. The hope is that they'll be able to now give more of those vouchers to housing authorities. So, yeah. Oh, good. Yeah, the globe's put an article in every day for the last three or four days. Yeah, the globe has put an article about housing. The day was brought three or four days. Some of them are pretty good. Any other questions for Jack? So do we have a motion to accept the Executive Director's report? Move. Second. Sandy is online. That's right. Yes. So that was moved by Nick and seconded by Joanne. All in favor, Joanne? Nick? Yeah. Carr? Yes. And Brian, so yes. So we're going to number four. Do you need signatures on this behind us? Whatever it is. I'll send it. I'll be signed after. Okay. We need to approve the, we do this hand really, the certificate of compliance for the lead pain loss. Anything to say about it, Jeff? We are complying with those notifications at least up. It's part of the, part of what we do for new residents and we are in compliance. Yeah. Pretty simple. Our family housing is, our family housing is de-wedded. So do we have a motion for that one? Seconded by? Second. That was moved by Nick, seconded by Gar. All in favor, Joanne? Yes. Nick? Yes. Carr? Yes. Brian, so yes. Certification of the top five compensation form. In your packet here. This is just the reporting thing. It's not from the, we just send this to the CHD? Yes. Yeah. It's part of one of the annual reports that we required to submit to the state. Any questions on this? We got a motion to approve. Then we'll approve the top five compensation form. Seconded by? Second. That was moved by Gar, seconded by Nick. All in favor, Joanne? Yes. Nick? Yes. Carr? Yes. Certification of year and financial statements and tenant account receivables data. Rich? Yes. You all have your packet for the reserve? Which is our CPA for the AHA's been with us for 30, 40 years? 40 years. I don't want to look at you with 35. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. We have a packet, but go ahead. What we have is our results of operations in our fiscal year in September 30th. We have to report to both HUD and DHCD on financial conditions on each program. Now our second aid program actually ran a profit of 33,143 dollars this year. And we have operating with their balance of 947,850 dollars. Now our state 400 program, we had a surplus of 269,298 dollars. We did extraordinary work over and above with the regular budgeted and the amount of 236,601 dollars. And we were able to transfer a restricted reserve amount that we had set aside for some work in the future into our operating reserve 104,409. So after we did all the work and did the transfer, we made a profit of 137,106 dollars. And our reserve balance is 1,321,853 dollars, which ends up being 52% of the reserve that DHCD allows you to have. We can't go below a 35% reserve level, but we can stand between the 35 and the 52%. But if you go below the 35, they could send your budget packet and try to make the count. So we're watching that. And you'll have that next month when we do the operating budget. State 689 program lost 48,533 dollars. And that was only because they made a contribution to the ESOC pump job for the office. They contributed some money into that. But their operating reserve is 150,447. The state MRVP program made a profit of 874 dollars and has an operating reserve of 8,900 dollars. We have our affordable housing program, which had a net income of 358 dollars. We did both $1,200 worth of extraordinary work, but we had a net loss of 822 dollars, which left us with a reserve of 859,842 dollars. And then we have our services trust program, which had a net income of 120,120,112 dollars and has an operating reserve of 160,609. And that's basically because of the antenna money that's on the buildings goes into that account. So that account makes money and we make payments for the services from the tenants. Now we normally do a recommended equity transfer in that program year to year so that we can buy affordable housing. So I'm recommending to the board that we actually transfer 100,000 from that account and put it back into the affordable housing program, which would give us a reserve of 959,842 dollars to be used in the future to buy affordable housing. Hopefully the price of real estate will come down, we'll be able to buy something, but it's okay if you keep building your pot of money when something comes up, you can buy it. And that would still leave us a reserve on the services trust of 60,609, which is that. And then each program, we attach the cost comparative, which showed you the income of each program, the expenses by line items, and it comes down to the net surplus that I just discussed. You'll see it on the line there, compensated absence line item, which has no budget amount. And that's the unused second vacation time that's on the books that we have to expense based on what DHCB, how DHCB wants us to do second vacation time that's unused. Other than that, everything else within the parameters that DHCB allows we were within 2% of our spending will at the end of the year would be great. We did do, like I said, we did do extraordinary work of 181,912 dollars, switched just some items to let you know, we do renovations when the apartment become vacant, we do ADA clients, we do elevator repairs when they come down, we do a lot of plumbing work, we do a lot of extermination work. We did securing cameras and we did a fire alarm system and we did a lot of hot top, patching and all the things. And then in the next section below, when kitchen appliances go, we have to buy new kitchen appliances, we put them in there, we bought some computers for the office, we always buy the maintenance men, whatever equipment they need. So they bought snow blowers and a snow brush to help out and they bought a floor scrubber to do with floors. On the 689 program, as I said earlier, we spent money basically for the air source heat pump. Other than that, we did minor repairs over that building of $3,465. We've been spending money on that program for years. We keep that building up. The section eight program, again, we made $33,143. There was the only number in there is the compensated assets, their share is $8,509. And you'll see at the bottom of that, we have HUD gives us the money to pay the landlords. They advanced us an extra $124,000 this year, which they'll use in the next fiscal year. You never get to keep it, they just advanced. And then they'll just lower the next one. Again, they did the air source heat pumps for the $87,570 this year. The mass rental voucher program, again, $874 profit. Everything was in line with what the budget amongst worth. And then the local affordable housing program, a lot of data, $32 which is fantastic. We really want that program to break even. And we didn't do any repair work over there of any significance. And then we have a ROS program which is a grant program for HUD, which works with our section eight funds. And we got a grant amount of $89,841. We spent a full grant amount. So that's nice. When you get it, then you have the experience that you can track that program. And that's why the other program can make the right years. We don't make money, but this year we had a very good year. Joe, how do we stack up, because you honestly do the work for all, a whole host of housing authority. How do we stack up to the most? Very good. You're right. We're in the top five. 10% I would say. But you're on top. Not 5%. No, no, no, no. I don't want to boy that up. Yeah. Move that one to the end. No, we're considered large. Five. Yeah. Size. You know, the size of the units within the housing community. Yeah. We have a lot of second aid program, over 400 units of applicants into the large category. Yeah. That debt. That's what we wrote off this year. Really? Yeah. It was on page two. Yeah. We brought in $4,125,000 in rents for the same program. We wrote off $26,351 on full money. That's excellent. That's very good. So what do we do? If you don't pay your rent, we call you. Yeah. All right. And that was through, you know, out of the pandemic we did that, right? We tried it. If you want to collect your rents, so otherwise you can't do it here. Yeah. Excellent. Any other questions for it? In fact, $100,000 for the move. Is that what is on the number seven? I think that is number seven, yeah. So do we need to? We need to approve these financials first. And then you can do it. So do we have a motion to approve the financials number six? Move. Second. So that was moved by Nick, second by Gar, Alan, David, Joanne, Nick, Gar, Brian as ES. So now we go to number seven to approve the transfer of the $100,000 that we just mentioned. So do you have another question on that? I think we're on that one. But I move to transfer the tenant service to a board. There's a second. That was moved by Gar, second by Nick, Alan, David, Joanne, Nick, Gar, Brian as ES. Number eight, approval of the Nation of the Holiday Health Program, Jack. So this is something that we've done in years past. The Holiday Health Program provides gifts to children in need in the Allington area or in the town of Allington. In years past, I believe the donation was $1,000. So I would recommend a donation again this year for at least $1,000. When does it go again? To the Holiday Health Program, which is managed through Health and Human Services. She did run it for many years, but Colleen Ledger is running it now. And she's with AYCC. So do we have a motion? Are there any questions on that? Yeah, I move to the Nation of the Holiday Health Program. If I was you, can I have a question? That was moved by Gar, second by Joanne. Alan, David, Joanne, Nick, Gar, Brian as ES. And number nine, Approval of the Collection of Green with Assurance Recovery Solutions. Not going to write us. Well, you have a question? Yeah, I have a question. I hope so. Yeah, about the thing we just asked. Oh, I'm not aware of what collection agency was used in the past. I mean, did you? Yeah, I would imagine we did, but I don't know who was. Yeah. And we do not have one right now. But in this wouldn't be for we're not pursuing current residents, but this is former residents who left without with a with a rent balance. That's the intent right now, you know, the language in there might be more inclusive of other actions if needed, but the intent at this time is to pursue it with residents that have vacated. I think I think this is an open agreement that management would tell the firm to collect one. We would give them a list of individuals. So like you just said, we're only going to go after the people that leave. Don't live here anymore, but always balance. But it wouldn't be in this. Yeah, it wouldn't be in this. We can work with our excellent residents who are coordinated to look for more things that are known that can carry their ways, get over it, follow the easy job, and turn another into that. Hand to the ground. And also, in terms of this, I mean, it's 60% of it. 40% of it. There are many, many sources that are going to find that they don't know where to go and what to do. And see if you can get them to do the build. The idea of having these people, there's three more students, all in a few places, nursing places, wherever. Now they're going to get some kids. And that's going to make sure that we do that. Now we have really, really, really easy to do. We're putting the same number of best people to know about what's called the planning department. Certain amount of money to help. I hope that you can come to that with me. There are all sorts of religious groups that have money. And I think that that's what we need to kind of put these people out there, and it's a number of kids that are going to go to something that doesn't take that means too many times. And I think this is, again, Jackson tents is to go out to people that leave us and leave us with a big balance. We just wrote out 27,000 votes because of that. So we do have a duty. We do. Well, that's a lot in my book. It's $7,000. But we do have a duty to try and collect monies that are wrong. And we have that fiduciary duty. So I think this is the situation where you let management decide who to put into collections. No, I can't know. And he just said, let's go and ask the people if they don't live here in our country. Yeah, let's go and say that. But he's the director. So if you want to change it to make a motion that we only go after people that don't live here anymore, but you need a collection agency to do that. Well, we don't know. We don't. Come on. Not all of them, but some of them do. Well, you're throwing out. I know. Yeah. Excuse me.  Yes, because before you send anybody to collections, but I'm still working and I'm still doing it. You vet each person. You check to see what their current attitude is. But they cover the facilities up. You wait three months. You never send anybody to collections after 90 days in areas. So you're vetting them. You're finding out what's going on. Boy, you go into that. I understand what you're saying and making a very good point about the current residents. But that's not going to happen if you've already got people working and vetting those people and what their actual balance is and when they owed it and all that. And if they're in a nursing home, that's out of the vetting. And that's a vital. That's where I'm at. Yeah, I know. Yeah. So what is the feeling of the board? We've done it before. Yeah, we've done it before. And we've been it. We've been it. And it's people like, it's people. Yeah, the people that you chase the need by the way, we've been in the past. We've been to people out in the past. So if we figure out if they don't pay or not pay, people let me go. The people that we felt were just not paying enough to try to get that going. But that's not included. But we leave it to the intent. You don't leave it to the direction of death. And it says on the lease that we can collect the rent, right? Right. All right, so I'm going to move it motion to approve the collection agreement for the second. Right. Moved by Gar, second by Nick. All in favor, do you win? No. Nick? Gar? Yes. And Brian's a yes. Number 10, probably updated lease with Elliott, Inc. for the Donnelly House, Jack. And this is going to be effective November. It's going to be effective November 1, which has already passed. But this is in regard to the public housing notice that came back over the summer, 2022-12, in which it indicated that the leases need to be updated with a new rate. So we worked with Elliott, Inc. in the Department of Developmental Services to make sure that this amount is something that they can move forward with. It's in accordance with the family amount. Well, yes. This is the outfit that was. So this is for the Donnelly House. They run the Donnelly. They run the Donnelly. We open the lease. The lease is for them, so they manage it. So the Department of Developmental Services provides the residents. Elliott manages the site and has individuals there 24-7. And then we're the landlord. Yeah. So that rent is $39.52 a month? Yes. Yeah. And it's based off a calculation from the city. Not the people that live there 24-7. It's Elliott's. Yeah. I have an amendment from the school board. That will make every one of the people go there. I think you're not going to be concerned. OK, well, you didn't make an amendment. If you want to. Yeah, I think it works the right way. So let's let's deal with this first, and then I'll go back and I'll be able. So any questions on this lease for the Donnelly House? No, I'm happy with it. Yeah, we're very happy. Now you said the first thing we did after the building was put up. It is. Seriously? Yeah, the first thing. We're very good to them. No, they kept the building up. And we did the repair work. I mean, they provide a for all measures for the building. So they do. But they obviously make money. Elliott makes money in the end. They provide the services to the residents here to the state. So Mass Health, if somebody's hanging in. Right, correct. And then they bring the people. So they may provide the services to the people, but the Department of Developmental Services provides the referrals for the individuals that I put in. I think we can tie it. It's a little bit of the effort. Yeah, yeah. It runs on the ground. No, I mean, why didn't we put the contract? That's the way the state set it up. Yeah, OK. We are facing it. Yeah, yeah. All right, any questions for the questions in that? I move to approve a lease. Tell me if there are any services. OK, so let's move by God, a second bite. Joanne, all in favor, Joanne, Nick, Gar, Brian, Zs. So now let's back up. We'll go back to number nine. And Joanne. That for sure. But I would say. It's difficult. It's difficult. We do this before we write it off. But Joanne, can you just repeat your amendment again? OK, you want a second? All right, here in no second, the amendment, let's move on. So go to number 11, approval of the maintenance service agreement with Winchester Housing Authority. But I skip one. No, I'm sorry. That's right, yes. No, Jack. And this is this is an agreement that that existed in the past. And I've had some recent conversations with the executive director of Winchester Housing Authority, Sue Doherty-Cachelle. And she's indicated that, you know, because they're a smaller, their medium sized housing authority, they could use some additional supports, especially during certain times of the year. So we drafted up this agreement, which will not only reimburse us the rate of the maintenance staff that go there, but it will include, you know, a half, a half rate to make up for the administrative losses, really, the benefits and other things. And we'll make that decision based off of, you know, our capacity at that time. So the way that it will work is they'll reach out to either myself or Chris, Chris Markridge, director of maintenance. And then we'll make the decision on whether or not we can move forward with that at that time. So I could assume, during the snowstorm, when I've been to send out people over the end. That's correct. Exactly. But it would be more for, like, in the summer, and the maintenance staff at Winchester, which is they have a staff member and a half, so they may be on vacation, or they may have something happen in the family. And then we would be able to potentially help them with after-hour services or have a staff member available to respond to emergency calls for that. And where would this revenue be reflected in the budget? That has regained revenue. OK. So I'm going to be simple. Question? We do have a full-time electrician. So that's their motivation for this is largely to be able to utilize our electrician for some of the different services they need, which is understandable. But they also are interested in having access to our maintenance staff to, in those cases, where their staff call out sick or they take vacation, they need somebody to cover their emergency calls or during the after-hours or during the day. And we can sort of put some of that. And we would make that decision based off our capacity at the time. So if we had X number of guys out in that given week, then we'd just tell them, unfortunately, we can't help them.  But in the past, you did an agreement with Burlington for Section 8. Right. Yeah. And we did it for Section 8. But you've done it for, you've done this agreement for Winchester, I'd ask. I remember doing it. Yeah. I think we don't know the administration and how it played out if we can actually send people over, but you know, we didn't hear anything. We didn't hear anything. We didn't hear anything. But then we could stop them. That's my understanding. I'm not sure why it stopped. But we didn't like the director at the time. Yeah. Yeah. We have a motion for this. So moved. Second. Second. Moved by Nick. Second by Guy. All in favor, Joanne. Nick. Yeah. Guy. Brian. He is. Number 12. Not only Manor Window Replacement Projects. Yeah. And this is another application for funding for that project. We're going to request some funding, some sustainability funding for the replacement of stoves and retrofitting them so there'll be electric stoves as per what we're trying to do in that project, which would be in line with some of the different policies in town at the local, federal, state level as far as moving towards a carbon neutral footprint and things like that. So we're requesting. I got to confirm with the state, but I think we'd be requesting at least $140,000 for that purpose. And this is just an application requested. That's correct. When will we hear if we got it? That's it's on a rolling basis. So I mean, it could be immediate or it could take maybe months depending upon their funding availability. And then did you put in here the cost of removal and installation of the old gas that we collected? I believe it's rolled in. Actually, I should have passed this out when you gave me the meeting. This is some information just about the cost breakdown for the deep energy retrofit project, which includes a window replacement project. I can just get across this. But you'll you'll see the breakdown in that first scope. OK, any questions on this one? So we're approving. We're authorizing him to submit it. Yeah, I would make a motion to include the application to submit this award. Great. Second. So I'll move by second by Nick. All in favor, Joanne. Yes. Nick. Yes. Brian's a yes. Number 13. Acceptance of DHCD, a rapid targeted wood funding in the amount of $748,000. And this was the funding that we advocated at the state level for to do the Federal Pacific Electric Panel replacement or upgrades. So we were we were very pleased to be told by the state that they were going to fully find, you know, or they were going to find at least a good portion or fully fund those projects. And it looks like that the amount that they've allocated is 748,432 dollars for that purpose. And that in most of the sites for that is the housing building, the cottages, and Chestnut Manor. And when will we be able to get this project done? The all three projects are in the design phase right now. And part of, you know, preparing for the bid process is those are those electrical shutdowns are going to happen at Chestnut Houser. So once they complete that, the design team, the electrical engineer should be able to move to the bid process. And our goal is to stop the project as soon as possible. That's a great one. That's a great one. We're voting to accept the money. Yeah. So it's an easy one. Yeah. Right. No, Brian. So I need to accept this money. Great. Second by Nick. So moved by God. Second by Nick. All in favor, Joanne. Nick. Yeah. Brian's a yes. We have another happy one, number 14, acceptance of more wrapper money for $906,000. And this was the additional money that, so what the state decided to do is they would give every housing authority in the state an additional year of formula funding, which is the capital funding that provides the work to our buildings and sites. So this is just an additional award for what we would normally receive in a given year. Right. And we've already earmarked this for some projects in need. And what we ended up doing is because the costs of materials and labor have gone up so much related to the pandemic is we were able to offset some of those costs on projects we wanted to get done, ensuring that we're actually going to be able to get those projects done. They won't get the weight. Any questions on that? I do have one more question. So this is like a designated money for a certain project? Or a group? A pool of money that they gave us the money and indicated what projects do you want to put it towards? OK, so it's non-discretionary, they call it. Is that what they say? No. You have to tell them what project you want to use. And then they give us some money. So I can send this out to the board. I may have sent it out a few months ago, but it just indicates the funding in which project was put towards.  And this money helped fund that. We had there were some elevator upgrades that were required for the elevator inspector that were costly, that were going to cost over $9,000 for each building. And we were able to pay for that through this instead of out of our operating budget. And we were able, like I said, to apply to some projects that we were worried about not having enough funding to be able to actually go up to bid or be able to accept it. So I think that was a lot of easy work. So do we have a motion for that? Yeah, a motion to approve. Number 14. And $6,131 to approve. Second. So approved by, moved by God, second by Nick, all in favor, Joanne? Yeah. Nick. Yes. Brian, as he is. Number 15 discussion this coming year, 75th anniversary of the Audemars majority. So it's, I was chatting with Jack. We would like to propose that we put together a multifaceted celebration, potentially, logo change, flyer, banners, things like that, to dig out some of the old pictures, make copies, put them in the buildings and stuff like that. And then. I'd like to say something to the office. Yeah. Yeah, I think we put a little community together, made up of representatives from the different facilities, board members, and come up with an agenda for the year. I mean. Yeah. So, so let's put your thinking capture on when you talk next month. Yeah, so we'll come up with some, some thoughts. I'll flip out one, my son's school and high school is doing 125th and they've got a pretty cool agenda of things. So this, you know, everything from speaker series to, you know, we can do a banquet with the whole thing. So I think it's something worth doing. You have to do it the right way. You can definitely do it the right way. You can definitely do it the right way. Yeah. So that's just the discussion thing. Yeah. I think that. So now we go to the approval of the special minute, special meeting minutes of 927-22. Everybody check them out. Yep, to win. I didn't mean to. That's fine. Don't move it back on. That's great. What does it say? Okay, so we will press that out. So approving with that, with that change. Yeah. I move we accept the meeting, 927-22. Second. So move by Nick, second by Joanne. All in favor, Joanne. Nick. Yes, now we have number 17 approval, the regular meeting minutes for October 19. Thank you, sir. From the October 19, 20, 22 minutes. Okay, we have a second. So we have it moved by Gar, second by Nick. All in favor, Joanne. Yeah. Gar, yes. Brian is yes. Now we go to public participation. Is James in the room? He might be in the shot. Okay. So public participation, what we do when we go on the road like this, we reserve public participation for the residents of the building that we're in. So we kind of suspend any formalities. We didn't need to be notified before. So if the residents of Winslow that are here would like to speak, just raise your hand. But before we do that, we just want to go through the other facilities, the presence of the facilities. And so Fred is not here for great. Mike is not here for Q is that chestnut is having their election today up until and Jen is here for monotony. Anything you want to talk about? Yeah. This week, this machine is a little loud here. We're in the parking lot. So for the year, you can find that too well. It's kind of one of the things that I'm doing. And then you mentioned the parking lot here. Come on, please. Do you want to talk about it? And that's where it's getting a little loud. You're saying we're going to miss this and not yet. I was going to put on a party. Yeah, I'm going to set the meeting on Thursday. I know we're going to be out in the past. So we're going to start assembling our slides. And are there any other things that we can start with?  I think we might have something to think about here. I don't think so. Okay. Thank you. I'll be here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, that's correct. That's correct. Well, we don't usually rent out the building. Well, we don't usually rent out the building. Well, first of all, we don't usually rent out the building. Well, actually, you wouldn't do it before the right to here. So there's somebody that wants to utilize that place. You sent the. I believe some of the other programs or all the other programs are. It might even be AHA programs, but I can look into that because I think that's a good point. But if it's an AHA program and we directly and authorize it, the difference is this is an outside agency that wants to use them. Yeah, but we did that we directed them back then. They just have to go through the problem. No, because that's our program. We directed them. Correct. In the way the way that I looked at it just. Yeah, if it's an AHA sponsored program. We bring them in. In this case, if I'm understanding it correctly, the drill scouts want to use the facility. Yeah, they want to use the facility. They want to do it on a weekly basis, obviously, that's going to have the meetings, right? Yeah. The theory here. Yeah, in theory, you're renting out the space. You know, that's it. So it's an outside agency that wants to use space. So they'd have to. Oh, go ahead. Well, is the girl scout sponsored by the tenant association? No. Not like in the, not too familiar with the girl scouts, but the boy scouts are sponsored by the shadow organization. So, so, so the church is, you know, the first Baptist church as a boy scout group under it, sponsors that. So the Thompson sponsor. No. Yeah. And they using the Thompson now. Oh, really? Yeah. You never use the school. You know, so before like a, right, they simply got to school program and follow the progress that run in there.  So they're looking for that another outside space. I mean, that's a pretty structured organization. I'm sure they can just get a certificate of name. I'm sure. Well, I mean, if they break a window, you know, I mean, somebody's gonna sign and have responsibility of it. What is the voice? Anything else? The most progressive in the national wide. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. I think next week is next month is. And then. Unless you want to do the manner for it. Yeah. When I go ahead. Yeah.  Okay. Yeah. Anything else, Jen? That's good. Doreen is there. Yeah. We just had two items on the agenda. December third is a holiday. We have a last meeting coming up in a week to finalize everything. And it's looking good. And we have our Christmas dinner on the 21st. And I'm proud to say that we have. And high school. Coming in for string. And we have a couple of parties going on. For music. For background music. Very good. Excellent. And I just found out that having them come in whatever we pay them whatever we're going to donate to. They're going away. And next year to Italy. And this will help fund. Well, so I was very excited to be able to do that because years ago my children went to Japan. Yeah. So I know what they go into. Well, we're only going to have four of them and because this isn't very big, and I don't know how many are going to actually attend the dinner. Yeah, we haven't taken that college yet, but it was she I called and I spoke with the director.  That's a great idea. Yeah, we should tell the other LTOs if they want to try and do the same. Yeah, it was great because it's fun.  So she said that was that was so wonderful. So it's all exciting about it. That's great. And then come January we'll just go back to our normal events and try and put things all up again. Excellent. Very good. Okay. Open to anybody else in Winslow. I'd like to speak. I'd like to know how much that was. What I can't, this machine's a little loud. I mean, it just seems to be a waste of time and effort to do all of that. Yeah, they're many splits. They do both. They're many splits. We have not seen any information whatsoever, except that they were coming in. Yeah, they're quiet. They're very quiet. Well, that's. That's a little different. I went to Katherine and Chris and I had to meet a shot meeting with Chris and I asked, I knew nothing at all monthly meeting about this. That's why I couldn't answer any questions. And I sat down with Chris and he answered every question I had from him from different tenants, and I posted them so that they're all around the place that, you know, and then it says if you have any more questions you will get either Dr. Katherine or Dr. Chris because he gave me everything he knows about it. Good. I mean, it's a positive thing. First of all, it's free. So we're getting a grant for it.  This should, this would be another one, but it's primarily a heating unit. But you know, it's, once you've got the people that have the windows in the room, they're going to be just connected somehow. I mean, and how if you want to get rid of it or something, we take it ourselves and solve whatever we do. No, no. So, so our plan right now, and obviously, you know, it's in the early stages, but our plan would be, hopefully, you know, we're going to be able to raise funds in the coming years, coming hopefully soon and finish those windows in the middle. And at the same time, we'll be able to create an alternative for those spaces with the AC conditioning units right now. And that would be in one project and then it would result in what we think will be a good solution moving forward, which would include those new windows in the middle years. And I think the quality of things that we could be doing quite a lot, so that 900,000 dollars. The bathrooms, the kitchens, the stoves that are a little bit larger than the 18 inch that we have. So the best way to do it is, well, as you know, Jack, we have a little bit of savings to balance.  I think they're all fine. Thank you. You're right. Well, All right, who else. I'm just an attention that the middle, you know, my windows at some point in time. I can't provide an ETA. Unfortunately, yes. I don't even want to provide that. Yeah. But it's on our mind and we're actively trying to find ways to move it out so that it can address all the different issues. A couple of questions actually. So they said they were going to disconnect all the heaters. Are they also disconnecting the heater in the bathroom? And you, I'm curious about that. So you got a notice saying they're going to disconnect the heaters. I need to check into that. That's what it's totally and that's what I was. So let me, let me follow up on that because. What Chris had said to me is once they have the heater and AC nuance in working order is no problems. Then they'll start to stop removing the old stuff. Okay. But once they'll stop working, you're going to disconnect them, not remove them. Just in case they need them for backup. Oh, no. No. That's what Chris told me. They're available as a backup. But the battery's not attached at all. That's what we'll say the same. I think, you know, if I can. I think what, when Doreen met with Chris, I think that was a good pathway. If we need to have meetings with the residents about this, we will. But if it's, if it's easier for the residents to submit questions to Doreen. And then again, we can, you know, go through the list. We can confirm again with the contractor to make sure all the, all the questions are accurate. And then we can post it. Yeah. Did I hear you right that it might take years to get those air conditioners out? We'll come up with a solution before that for that. I understand you're concerned. And I believe we have a good solution for that. And we'll provide that in the, in the frequently asked questions. Okay. Yeah. I have a question. I love for a few minutes. But I'm going to do this. I understand that the separate. Yes, but when I looked at my unit, basically, there's one wall. And I don't see any place. I don't know. I don't know. What kind of noise. Things make. Very quiet. They're going to be on the walls. On the sides.  And the reason for that is because they need it. They need to be attached to the concrete. So that it's a solid. It's a solid. And then they'll have different devices installed to it to deal with any. Any potential vibration, but it's, but it's minimal. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. I understood. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, as Tim, and we'll make sure that the property managers and Trish, you know, notice what like that, you know, we'll have a list of folks that need help and understanding the notices, whether it be language or whatever. I'm not listening this fast. I'm just not going to just, I'm just building other buildings. I'm not sure whether you can answer, but it's very difficult. Yeah. And, and the only thing I'd like to add is, you know, we're always adding individuals to our list of individuals that need special accommodations. And, you know, we do have individuals on that list of different developments who if we send something out, we have to send it out by email, or in some cases we have to follow up with a phone call. And that's, and that's normal practice with that. If there is an individual who you know that needs that accommodation hasn't requested it, I would strongly encourage them to reach out to their property manager and service coordinator so we can make make those those adjustments. And if you have a new kind that comes in, you know, we didn't know about it, we're going to call called Trisha. We're talking about a warrant for Egypt. You know, that's her language. She doesn't know about the compresses going on the balcony. And some people need help clearing that law. Yeah, well, when we get to that point, obviously you're going to have to help. There's a lot going on now. The compresses are going on in the, in the, on the bell. The first phase is going on right now. It's going to be minimal minimally invasive. They're fairly slim, but I don't know if any of the residents here have had them already attached. Maybe. Yeah. Not to put you on the spot, Laura, but do you feel that you've lost a lot of space on the on the balcony. Okay. I have a small. I would have a mall balcony. Yeah. And so I can still, I'll still be able to sit at two chairs, the table. But there are what there's one on top of another. But if you know of anybody that needs help. Communicates with the property managers and fishing. Right. Because we may not know just like the lady that you mentioned. So I try to use something. Yeah. But anyway, I don't know. Yeah, but I'm getting back to the celebration now is an idea. Go ahead. The town hall. And they took every 10 years. And did the history of the important. Yeah. So that's the kind of. Yeah, I think, I think we put a committee together.  I think it would be great to have a dinner or a function at the town hall is the final celebration. I mean, but everyone. And then we're back. You all in there. That Henry guys, a lot of interest. It's going to be the only thing about the professors on the company is that you do lose your view. If you're on the end of the looking out and see compressive before I could see the horizon, but now. I just lose my view. Well, I do like you at all. Well, you know, she has to, she has to. She has to do it. But it's on that I think it's going to say. Yeah, I have one. And I can see. Yeah, nothing. Yeah, that's the only thing. Right. It's the price for progress. Any other questions. Yep. We do have a list of individuals that need accommodations. And, you know, we're per our language policy were required to translate certain documents into certain languages. We try to go above that in a lot of cases. You know, I think it's something that we can continue to improve on. But, you know, we try to engage with some of the larger. And I'm not a. I'm I'm not a. I'm not a. I'm a person who's speaking, speaking populations that we have, whether it's on those that speak Mandarin. Or Spanish. For. Or other is depending upon the property. And there is a list of those individuals that need accommodation, but I think it's something that we, you know, it's always updating. It's, it's improving. service coordinator and Chris this week, just to see where we stand with that to make sure those are being at the end too. Absolutely. Any other questions? What? Can I just catch and prevent I've responded to your email if you got it, and then let's take it up after the meeting because it really isn't open for these folks. I just don't need support. Let's take it up with Jack. I'll be here at the house. Housing is working on it with various outside agencies. It's a very delicate issue and they're working on it. I slept in my car last night, and I have to again tonight, and that's not right. And it's not going to be people expected to be going. Okay, people are nothing more as far as I can see than four by the way, okay, no affiliation with the town that I can see other than sharing the name of the town. Okay, except for you people to manage the building with all of respect, and that includes the tenants. And you should people shouldn't expect to be able to be my neighbor, the people across the hall, who people shouldn't be having staff actually as home, not to get involved, but the tenants should be there. Well, let's talk about it. So last, last thing I want to have us give a round of applause to James, he's done a great job here. Thanks. Vicki, I'll be up here. So thanks for coming in. We have a motion to adjourn. I move to adjourn. Second. All in favor. Would you win? Nick? Yep. Yes, Brian's a yes. And the meeting is adjourned. There's some refreshments over here. And thank you, folks.