Upcoming Meeting Agendas
Please Note: Board agendas are typically updated two business days before the scheduled meeting.
Meeting Format Update
In accordance with the Declaration of Emergency by Governor Charles Baker due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which was updated on March 29, 2023 by Governor Maura Healey, the Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Cambridge Housing Authority will be held in person with the option of Commissioners and members of the public to participate remotely. All members of the public are invited to join the meeting virtually, as well as attend in person.
Public Comment
Members of the public may comment on agenda items for this meeting in accordance with CHA’s Policy for Public Participation at Board Meetings, which can be found on CHA’s website. Members of the public are reminded that they must sign up for public comment before the Board Meeting is called to order by logging in (calling in) to the Board meeting no later than 5:30 PM or completing the Public Comment form by clicking here.
Read the CHA Public Comment Policy here.
CHA Board Functions
CHA is governed by its five-member Board of Commissioners.
- One member is a housing authority resident.
- One member is appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts.
- The remaining three Commissioners are appointed by the Cambridge City Manager and confirmed by the Cambridge City Council.
The CHA Board oversees the Agency’s overall direction.
Board members approve all:
- Significant contract awards
- Budget decisions
- Formal submissions to state and federal funding agencies
- Planning and reporting documents
- All major policy decisions
- Many other important matters.
CHA’s Board of Commissioners meets regularly on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Agendas are published online on the Friday before each meeting. Board meetings are held on Zoom.
Commissioners
Gerard J. Clark
A professor of law at Suffolk Law School for over 40 years, he specialized in Constitutional law, Civil Rights and lawyer’s ethics. Mr. Clark has been on the Board since 1974. For many years he participated in programs to train commissioners of housing authorities statewide. As a lawyer for the Boston citywide tenants’ association, he helped supervise five years of receivership at the Boston Housing Authority. He writes frequent articles on housing, constitutional law, and ethics; For many years he acted as Chair of the CHA Conference Panel (an applicant appeals forum); he has always supported the CHA’s affirmative action efforts.
Victoria Bergland
Victoria Bergland joined CHA’s Board of Commissioners in 2013. She serves on the Board of the Alliance of Cambridge Tenants (ACT), the Board of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC) and is a member of CHA’s Technical Assistance Committee (TAC). A longtime Cambridge resident, Ms. Bergland is dedicated to connecting CHA’s community with resources and a thorough understanding of the practices and policies that affect their daily lives.
Susan T. Connelly
Susan Connelly joined the CHA’s Board in February 2014. Ms. Connelly is the Chief Operating Officer of Housing Opportunities Unlimited, a national relocation and resident services company. Ms. Connelly has focused her 35-year career on affordable housing management, development, finance and advocacy. Ms. Connelly is a long-time Cambridge resident and the mother of two Cambridge Public School students. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont.
Elaine DeRosa
Elaine started as a college intern at the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, Inc. (CEOC) in 1972 and held various positions during her career at CEOC including Community Organizer, Community Health Advocate, and Family Planning Director.
Elaine was appointed CEOC Executive Director in 1988 until her retirement in 2018. During this time, the agency successfully spearheaded numerous advocacy campaigns, public policy initiatives and programs related to affordable housing, hunger relief, health care and school-based sexuality education.
Elaine formerly served on the board of the Cambridge Health Alliance where she played an instrumental role in opening the Teen Health Center, Women’s Health Center and Birthing Center. Elaine currently is a member of the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust.
Louis Bacci III
Louis Bacci III is an experienced laborer and union steward. He has worked on high-scale construction projects in the Boston-area, most notably, at the New Balance headquarters, the Longfellow Bridge, and for Harvard University’s dorm improvements. Mr. Bacci is a lifelong Cambridge resident who is proud to give back to the city he grew up in by helping to preserve affordable housing opportunities in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country.
Contact
The Board of Commissioners can be reached by email or regular mail:
Cambridge Housing Authority – Board of Commissioners
362 Green Street, 3rd floor
Cambridge, MA 02139
chaboard@cambridge-housing.org