New Haven Independent

Funk, first summoned in December, determined the parts that needed replacing could not be found or were obsolete beyond repair. A temporary hot water boiler was installed.

Then, within weeks, residents on the upper floors, where the water comes out of the system first, were receiving scalding water, at 140 degrees. By the time water traveled to the residents on the bottom floors it was barely tepid to the skin, at 98 degrees.

The temporary fix was all too temporary. Residents of the complex at Orange and Audubon streets, many of them elderly and/or disabled, were justifiably angry.

What was to be done? Cheryl Leeks (pictured), the Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH)’s acting director of operations, said that a spirit of serving the residents “” especially serving up the basic hot water that everyone needs — is now animating activity at HANH under the leadership of Executive Director Jimmy Miller. So she and the staff got into action.

At HANH’s board of commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, Leeks proposed, and the board approved, a remedy: Funk is bringing in three new 200-gallon storage tanks, a new mixing valve that, together, will assure what Funk calls “properly tempered” water. The new system will tie into the temporary boiler, along with the requisite new piping, gauges. Insulation and the old boiler will be removed while a new boiler is being designed.

The work will be completed on an emergency basis, explained Leeks. That means that the commissioners’ signature, and that of HUD, were all that was needed to give the contract to do the work to Funk. Basic needs trumped what would have been a too-long bidding process

At the public meeting where the emergency proposal was approved, and members of the public were invited to make comment, there were no residents of McQueeney. The apartments are adjacent to the administrative offices of HANH and would have been an easy trip for angry residents. Was their forgoing an opportunity to complain — or laud — an indication of this new level of service at HANH?

“People who live in public housing, like all people,” Leeks said, “are owed respect and service, and believe me we respond to all the calls and the emails and invite them to meetings and keep them up to date. This new system will be installed in two weeks, and the new boiler, which is going to be one with gas and oil alternatives “” no electricity anymore with those rates! “” will give us options that will serve the residents better and do so saving money.”

Without being asked to do so by the residents, Leeks, said, HANH also volunteered to reduce rent payments in January, February, and March by one third each month as recompense.

“We’re being as responsive as we can, not only in emergencies such as here at McQueeney, but on all sites. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and to live in a safe, decent affordable place.”

Amen.