GUEST CLAUSE IN FORT HILL TENANTS' LEASES

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT, SEPTEMBER 10, 200/

THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL HOUSING AUTHORITY CONDUCTED A MEETING THAT STARTED AT 5:33 P.M., WEDNESDAY, TO DECIDE ABOUT THE CLAUSE IN FORT HILL TENANTS LEASES THAT SEEMS TO SAY THAT TENANTS MAY NOT LEAVE THEIR GUESTS IN THEIR APARTMENTS ALONE. IN OTHER WORDS IF THE TENANT LEAVES THE APARTMENT, THE VISITOR MUST LEAVE AT THE SAME TIME.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING, I CAME AWAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ALTHOUGH THE MATTER HAD BEEN TABLED, THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AFTER WORKING OUT THE LANGUAGE WERE INDEED GOING TO CHANGE THE CLAUSE. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS GOING TO ALLOW, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, VISITORS TO STAY IN APARTMENTS ALONE .

IT LOOKS LIKE THE AGE REQUIREMENT FOR THE VISITOR WHO COULD BE LEFT IN THE APARTMENT ALONE WILL BE 21 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

ALTHOUGH, THERE WILL BE SOME KINDS OF RESTRICTION'S THE NEW POLICY, THE NEW CHANGES WILL BE A GOOD THING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING. IT WILL MAKE THE TENANTS FEEL MORE FREE, AND LESS CONTROLLED.

THE NEXT STEP IS THAT HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR LOU ZEIGLER WILL WORK ON THE WORDING TO INCLUDE THE APPROVED CHANGES AND GET BACK TO THE REST OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ON THE PROPOSAL. I BELIEVE THEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL MEET ON THEIR REGULAR MEETING NIGHT OF WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2008 (SECOND WEDNESDAY) TO APPROVE THE CHANGE. THEN IT SHOULD GO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS DOING A VERY GOOD THING FOR THE TENANTS OF FORT HILL BY CHANGING THE GUEST POLICY. WITH THIS NEW MEASURE APPROVED, THE RESIDENTS OF FORT HILL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT ABUSE THESE NEW FREEDOMS. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IT RIGHT. TO ALL CONCERNED A JOB WELL DONE.