By Carol Britton Meyer

The number of tenants living in family housing at C and D streets who owe rent payments for the month of March is eight out of 28 units, Hull Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Flaherty reported at a recent meeting.

Tenants living in the McTighe Manor elderly housing complex on Atlantic House Court across from town hall all paid their rent for March. There are 39 units, with two vacancies.

There are currently two vacancies at the McTighe Manor Housing complex across from town hall.

The authority is redoubling its rent collection efforts, according to Flaherty.

“We contracted with the Weymouth Housing Authority’s attorney, who will send out letters to everyone who owes the housing authority rent to give them an opportunity to enter into repayment agreements, which is the first step in the process,” he said. “If these tenants don’t follow up [by working out] a repayment agreement, we will take them to court. We don’t want to do that, but they need to pay their rent.”

Flaherty noted that some tenants who owe back rent have already entered into repayment agreements, and that it’s usually the same people who fall behind.

In other business at the meeting, Flaherty provided an update on vacancies at the McTighe Manor.

“We have a couple of vacant apartments; one gentleman passed away and another tenant was evicted,” he explained. “We’re working with [a staff member] at the Weymouth Housing Authority who is familiar with CHAMP [Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs] to expedite the leasing of these apartments. There’s nothing quick about this process.” There are no family housing vacancies.

Also, a tenant who participated in the remote meeting expressed concern about another tenant who she said has been smoking in one of the apartments despite the authority’s no-smoking policy.

Acknowledging that it’s difficult to enforce, Flaherty said the housing authority staff does its best to ensure tenants adhere to the policy and that he would address this most recent issue involving smoking, which the tenant said is a recurring one and which Flaherty has looked into before.

The next meeting of the housing authority is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, at 3:30 p.m.