The squeaky wheel gets the grease as the saying goes, and the Wareham Housing Authority is hoping to get its tenants' homes upgraded by simply asking for what they need.

"We want to put down on paper what is expected, so when they go out to bid, we get enough money," said Housing Authority Chair Robert Powilatis. "Other housing authorities fight and get more than we do. … That's going to change."

At its Wednesday meeting, the Authority discussed the state of the units at Agawam Village and Redwood Park, the two affordable housing neighborhoods overseen by the Housing Authority.

"It's apparent not enough information has been provided to the board or you folks," Powilatis said to the tenants. "We need to make a master list" and tell the state Department of Housing and Community Development, which funds the Housing Authority, that "this is what we need," Powilatis said.

When asked which units he thought needed renovating, maintenance mechanic Chip Semple replied: "I'd like to see them all done … including the community center."

According to Semple, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed, including worn roofs, doors, outdoor light fixtures are needed, and the heating system needs work.

Board member Donna Barros, who returned to the board Wednesday after a long hiatus, said that the "modernization project" has been in the work for some time.

"It's an old project in its next phase. It's in there somewhere among that mess," she said, referring to the Authority's office.

The board says that it has had issues finding documentation of a number of things after the abrupt departure of Executive Director Pam Sequeira on Monday, July 22.

The state-funded modernization project is supposed to be done in phases, and the $19,000 currently in the project fund is not enough to finish everything that is needed.