Houma Courier
February 3, 2026
Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority
Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
December 17, 2025
Minutes
The regular meeting for the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority was held December 17, 2025at 10:30 a.m. in Senator Circle at 124 K Senator Circle, Houma, Louisiana.
Chairperson Hebert called the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairperson Hebert stated that this is the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
Upon roll call, the following Commissioners were recorded as present:
Commissioners: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou and C. Hebert
Absent: None
Also present: Mrs. Nikita Gilton, Executive Director, Mr. Jamie McDaniels, Sulzer Group, Mr. Brandon Decuir, Legal, Mrs. Tiffany Stokes, Housing Supervisor, Ms. Tamara Matthews, Procurement, Justin Coleman, Maintenance; Drew Doucet, Sulzer Group; Councilman Carle Harding, TPCG and Stephanie Trott, Sulzer Group
Continuing with the agenda, Item #4, Order of the Day/ Approval of Agenda; Mrs. Gilton said the agenda will proceed as published.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #5, Public Comment; There was a speaker card from Carle Harding. Mr. Harding said often time, as a Councilman and representative of a minority district and one of the facilities sits in his districts, is asked the question in reference to how does a minority business owner or contractor acutely obtain contracts for all the work that is supposedly be done in the future, not just for Bayou Towers but for Senator Circle project. His email address is charding@tpcg.org . He said it is a question that he is often asked; therefore, as a true representative of the people, he needs to find the answer to those questions, if that is a possibility of happening. He said he has found on many occasions that there are not many opportunities for minorities or anyone else in Terrebonne Parish to actually obtain a contract because of the circumstances and the affordability of it. If they are able to actually, not necessary a handout to anyone, those that could qualify for something have an opportunity and avenue to actually find out how they can actually obtain these contracts would better the economy locally. Most often times, there are contractors that come from outside of Terrebonne Parish, therefore that money goes outside of Terrebonne Parish. He said he was only here, if they could answer the question now or give him the information thru an email, he could pass that on to his constituents and anyone else that constantly asks him the question. He said he is trying to be fair. He supports this organization and what they are trying to do for the betterment of Terrebonne Parish and the citizens of Terrebonne Parish. He said that is why he was here. Chairperson Hebert said they will get that email out to him.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #6, Approval of Minutes from September 24, 2025, regular board meeting; motioned to approve by Vice Chairperson Picou, seconded by Commissioner Sherman. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #7, Bills and Communications, Item #7A, Approval of Pay
Vouchers for the period of September 12, 2025-December 11, 2025; motioned to approve by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Vice Chairperson Picou. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #7B, Monthly Financials-August 2025; Item #7B1, Memo from Fee Accountant to Board of Commissioners; Item #7B2, Balance Sheet for August 2025; Item #7B3, Income and Expense Statements for August 2025; Item #7B4, Public Housing Financial Assessment Score for the month of August 2025; Item #7B5, Bank Reconciliation.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #8, Report of the Secretary / Executive Director--Agency Update; Mrs. Gilton stated that the agency update was before them but there were other items she wanted to elaborate on.
On December 4th, she received a call from Councilman Harding while she was at a committee meeting in New Orleans. Some panels at Bayou Towers had started falling. He asked if she had seen the video. They were on the phone and it had not come through. She hung up and it came through. She contacted HTHAs attorney because she was not sure if anyone was injured or what had happened. She reached out to the A&E firm, Broadmoor. They sent Drew out. Naquada and Justin was there until she made it from New Orleans. Onshore was called to do the cleanup. Blue Fin came a removed panels from floors 8, 9, 10 & 11. It was not just the panels on the outside. They had to remove the cinderblocks as well because they looked like they were going to fall. They went down to the 8th floor. The awning that the panels fell on was removed as well because it ricochet into the road. It was located on the Scott Lane side. There was also an awning where there was a walkway that the residents used to get to their cars/parking lot; it was removed as well. As of Friday, everything was secured and stabilized. She said she understands that there is safety and with the community, but at the same time, they only have HUDs approval to demo the building. With the Section 18 application, Bayou Towers was approved for demo only. Back in March, she did let a company come in. They presented to the board that they were interested in Bayou Towers. She never stopped anyone from coming to the meeting. She allowed them because she wanted them to come pitch that to the board. She, neither the board, has the approval to sell a federal building that does not belong to the Housing Authority without HUD approval. They are also still waiting on FEMA to say if the building is approved for repair or demo. Its a federal building. They are waiting on the funding on the FEMA side but HUD has already said the building is approved for demo only. She wanted to make that clear and does not want the wrong information to get out that they are not entertaining it when people come to the meetings. She said she does not feel like that they have the power to say if HUD says this building is for demo only and if an investor comes in and buy it, this board can say they are going to sell the building. She does not want any false narratives to get out. She has the paperwork from Mrs. Jane Horsten, from the Chicago Field Officer, where it states that Bayou Towers is approved for demo only. She believes all of them received a copy of letter. Chairperson Hebert asked when. Mrs. Gilton said its been a while. After the board meeting, she would give the entire board a copy. She does not want them to think it is just her saying it.
Mrs. Gilton reported that Mr. Bo Dupre came out. She asked Drew if he wanted to speak or elaborate on the steps or process of everything that happened, or if she left anything out. She knows he was in communication with Chris Pulaski and Bo Dupre as well. Drew said Mr. Bo did come out to the site; in good faith, to look at everything and to make sure that they were doing everything up to what the Parish would like for them to do. He told Mrs. Gilton she covered everything perfect. He said the CV block was a big issue. It was cracking all the way across and they had to come down four stories just to make it safe. The awning was removed and all the debris has been removed.
Mrs. Gilton reported that the State Rep, Jessica Domangue, reached out. She put her in contact with Senator Bill Cassidys office. After she spoke to the chair and attorney to sign a waiver to let Mr. Cassidys office speak to FEMA on HTHAs behalf. He did speak with them. So, there are other people trying to assist as well. She did include the whole parish council on the email to Bill Cassidys office. She did not want to leave anyone out the loop.
Mrs. Gilton asked if there were any questions.
Regarding Duson, she reported that the fence is going up. It should be finished by the end of the week. It is a 6ft barbed wire fence that is being put up to keep out the traffic because those units have been vacated since 2017.
Chairperson Hebert asked if there were any questions.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #9, Discussion and possible action relative to updating HTHAs Rewards and Recognition policy; Mrs. Gilton reported that the policy had to be updated. Chairperson Hebert asked if the policy has always been there. Mrs. Gilton answered yes. It is just being updated. Chairperson Hebert said that is what she thought. Motioned by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Commissioner Burke. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #10, Discussion and possible action relative to selecting a contractor to provide reconstruction for up to twelve duplexes in Senator Circle. Mrs. Gilton reported that was the information that they reviewed and with the consultant as well. She can recommend off the information they went over, Stafford, but it is really up to the board. That is her recommendation after reviewing the documents that they all were provided with and going over. Chairperson Hebert asked if they needed a motion to select. Mrs. Gilton said yes; to select, its only a selection. They still have to negotiate the contract and terms and anything that board wants in there or discussed. Motioned by Vice Chairperson Picou to select, seconded by Commissioner Sherman. Commissioner Boykin asked if it was eight or twelve. It was said up to twelve. Mrs. Gilton said it is eight but when it was first put in, it was twelve. In the RFP that was put out it was eight. That will be the first phase one. The word was changed because when they first went to FEMA, twelve was said but the first phase is going to be eight. Mr. Decuir said it is more of a technical adjustment. From what he is gathering in discussions with what was presented to FEMA, the original request was twelve. Along the way, it was adjusted to eight. He is not sure if FEMA has updated their systems to understanding that it is being moved from twelve to eight. So, for consistency on what was presented to FEMA, he does not want to have a resolution that is different than what was approved or what was put through their systems. So, they need to see it say up to twelve, but then they realize they moved to eight. This gives the space to be at eight but also recognizes what was submitted to FEMA for their initial review. The plan is eight, but for the purpose of keeping consistent with what they have already looked at, what ours is, they understand we moved to eight. They want to make sure all the documents are aligned accordingly. That way saying up to twelve allows them to fall in at eight. If for whatever reason they get something indicating they need to go to twelve, that will obviously adjust the RFP and they would have to come back to the board.
Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Continuing with the agenda, Item #11, Commissioner Comments; Vice Chairperson Picou said he wanted to say something to everyone there. It takes teamwork to get things done. What he has been seeing going on between lawyers, administration, board, media, anybody who is there. He said he wanted to thank them for helping out and getting this thing done. He believes they are on the right track right now to get it done. The second thing he wanted to say was Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year. It is right around the corner.
Continuing with the agenda, Item 12, Next Regular Board meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026, 3:00 p.m., 124 K Senator Circle; Houma, LA 70363.
Continuing with the agenda, Item #13, Adjournment; Motioned to approve by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Vice Chairperson Picou. Chairperson Hebert called for the vote:
UPON ROLL CALL THERE WAS RECORDED
YEAS: G. Burke, J. Boykin, D. Sherman, D. Picou, and C. Hebert
NAYS: None
ABSTAINING: None
ABSENT: None Motion carried
Meeting adjourned at 10:47 a.m.
12045571 2/3/26 ($116.90)
Miscellaneous Notices