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MAP Lexington Housing Partnership Board
Meeting Minutes for July 1,2021
Attendees: Harriet Cohen, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti,Jeri Foutter, Mary Haskell, Paul Linton, Wendy
Manz, Bob Peters, Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Melinda Walker, Betsey Weiss,John Zhao
Absent: Bob Burdige,Joe Pato
The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by
Harriet Cohen.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm.
2. Alternative Affordable Housing Funding and Operation Models
Ms. Foutter recapped the discussion at the prior meeting regarding the creation of a task force
to investigate the formation of an affordable housing trust. She recommended that we consider
making suggestions regarding the task force in these areas:
■ Mission statement suggestions
■ Questions that would be beneficial for the task force to address
■ Proposed timeline
Mr. Pressman noted that Ms. Kowalski had presented a draft charge at a previous meeting of
the Select Board.
Mr. Pressman proposed several avenues of investigation to gain insight into the bullet items
listed above. He recommended that the HPB members search CPC websites of various Towns to
identify the nature of grants made to Town Affordable Housing Trusts..The purpose of
reviewing various Town AHT websites to learn features of different trusts. He noted that the
Amherst town site was particularly useful.
3. Fall Town Meeting—Land Acquisition Process Article
Ms. Weiss reviewed the article that she is proposing for Town meeting.The HPB provided input
regarding the contents of the article. Ms. Foutter requested that HPB members send their
suggestions for wording to Ms. Weiss.
4. Annual Report
Please send suggestions for items for the annual Town report to Ms. Foutter. Ms. Foutter noted
that the entry in the annual report is limited to 350 words.
S. Board Member Updates
■ Planning Board
Mr. Peters:The Planning Board is reviewing the Planning Board and Planning Office work
for the coming year.The Planning Board will be working on quite a number of projects.The
Planning Board is anticipating a Fall Town Meeting. Items targeted for Fall Town Meeting:
Fair housing elements and the MBTA community choice requirement, pending DHCD
producing regulatory guidance. The Planning Board may also work on 40R zones for
community choice zones, as well as "missing middle" development—allowing 2-and 3-
family housing in some parts of Town. Finally, the Planning Board may consider the open
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MAP Lexington Housing Partnership Board
space residential development permit process, related to the Special Permit Residential
Development (SPRD)work.
■ LexHAB
Ms. Foutter noted that LexHAB is having a meeting regarding the LexHAB marketing
initiative. She recommended that HPB members who are available to attend the meeting
on July 7 at 8:00 am participate in the meeting.The meeting will be held on Zoom.
■ Lexington Housing Authority
As part of the governor's housing choice bill, the LHA Board must have a tenant
representative. Per that requirement, one elected seat will be allocated to the tenant in
March 2022. Residents in LHA properties have been notified that they can apply through
the Select Board to join the LHA Board.The commissioners have interviewed three
applicants.Two additional applicants will be interviewed and then the commissioners will
make a recommendation to the Select Board.
■ Council on Aging (COA)
Select Board approved a two-year trial of senior parking.The COA will be working on a
detailed plan for senior parking.
■ SPRD Committee
Amanda Loomis sent out a draft bylaw for the SPRD. In addition, Charles Hornig drafted an
Open Space Residential Development (OSRD) bylaw and sent it to the SPRD Committee.
The SPRD Committee is reworking the OSRD.
6. HPB Liaisons
Ms. Hai contacted Ms. Foutter about the re-appointment process.The way in which re-
appointments are made was a topic discussed at a Select Board Meeting regarding all Town
committees, not specific to the HPB. Moving forward, if there are multiple persons who are
interested in a seat on a committee or Board,the Select Board will consider all candidates, not
just the incumbent.
Ms. Foutter reviewed the liaisons to the HPB and thanked them for representing their
organizations.
Ms. Walker moved that Mr. Pressman be re-appointed as the HPB representative to the CPC for
a two-year term. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion.The motion was approved unanimously.
Wendy Manz may transition from being the Capital Expenditures Committee liaison to a
member of the HPB.
7. Approve Prior Minutes
Ms. Haskell moved approval of both May minutes. Ms. Weiss seconded. Melinda abstain.
Otherwise unanimous.
8. New Business
No new business.
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MAP Lexington Housing Partnership Board
9. Set Next Meeting Date
The next meeting will be on August 19.
10. Adjournment
Ms. Cohen moved adjournment. Ms. Linton seconded the motion.The motion was approved
unanimously.The meeting adjourned at 8:48 pm.