HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-03-LEXHAB-minLexington Housing Assistance Board
Monthly Board Meeting Minutes
August 3, 2022 – 4-6 pm – Conducted in the Hudson Room, Cary Hall
Call to Order
A meeting of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) was called to order at 4:05 pm. LexHAB members
present were Bob Burbidge (Chair), Bill Kennedy (Clerk), Donna Leary, Henry Liu, Gerry Howell (Treasurer), Bob Phelan,
Lester Savage (Vice-Chair) and Jonathan Silverstein. Tara Mizrahi was absent. Also present were Kathryn Roy (Affordable
Housing Trust Study Committee), Melinda Walker (Lexington Housing Authority), Bob Pressman (Community
Preservation), James Robinson (Management Fellow for the Town of Lexington), Sarah Morrison (LexHAB Executive
Director), Pearlene Varjabedean (LexHAB Housing Director) and Regina Brown (LexHAB Financial Administrator).
Minutes review of July 13, 2022, Meeting
A motion was made and seconded to approve July 13, 2022 meeting minutes.
Executive Director Update
Sarah Morrison outlined recent activities:
• Funding Updates: Work underway on Dana Home funded bathroom renovations; CEL funded LexHAB house
shaped magnets for tenants with contact info for repair; Need to work on requests to CPA- energy efficiency
upgrades, heat pumps; starting CPA funded work
• Strategic Planning: Sarah will circulate outline of strategic initiatives for feedback and task force assignments
• Transition: Tara Mizrahi, Jonathan Silverstein, Bob Burbidge Sarah Morrison met to continue editing Special Act;
next steps LexHAB presentation to Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee August 10 and present to Select
Board with goal of warrant article in Special Fall Town Meeting and submit Home Rule Petition to State Legislature
by third week of January 2023
• PR/Collaboration: Town mini ‘Housing Summit’ July 26 organized by Abby McCabe, new planning director
(LexHAB, Housing Partnership, Lexington Housing Authority, Affordable Housing Trust Committee, Planning
Board, Council on Aging and more); Sarah is new liaison to Housing Partnership; meeting with Maggie Peard,
Sustainability Coordinator, to discuss ideas for greening LexHAB, possibilities for CPA funds; submitting press
release to local media to announce new ED
• Employee Benefits/Human Resources: Met with Henry Liu and Bob Burbidge to complete basic employee benefits
package proposal- ICHRA health insurance reimbursement, paid time off
Second Quarter Financial Review
• Gerry Howell, Treasurer, presented an overview of LexHAB’s second quarter financial review.
Property Search and Development
• Lester Savage shared Vine Street’s proposed design changes to reduce costs including:
• Bob Phelan and Lester evaluated potential property for purchase (single family) and found the amount necessary
repairs too costly to warrant pursuing. Will continue search for appropriate properties.
Employee Benefits Proposal
• Henry Liu presented proposal for basic employee benefits package: ICHRA health insurance reimbursement, paid
time off, and list of paid holidays. The board approved the proposal.
• Bob Burbidge noted that an employee handbook is in draft form and that he is investigating additional benefits
options such as retirement savings plans. He would like to research options for conducting a salary review.
Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee
• Kathryn Roy outlined the recent work of the Affordable Housing Trust Committee and the goals: to create an
Affordable Housing Trust in order to make affordable housing development more efficient and nimble. LexHAB
will present its recommendation to become a 501c3 at the August 10 Trust meeting.
LexHAB Transition
• Sarah Morrison shared overview of work on transition details including meeting with Joe Pato, Select Board
member and LexHAB liaison on steps needed for Select Board and available dates for LexHAB presentation.
LexHAB Board decided to present to Select Board on September 6 to recommend that LexHAB transition to 501c3.
• Jonathan Silverstein reviewed most recent proposed edits to Special Act that would transition LexHAB to 501c3.
• Tara Mizrahi, Jonathan Silverstein, Bob Burbidge, Lester Savage and Bill Kennedy will continue to work with Sarah
to meet with all Select Board members to discuss questions and get feedback on transition proposal and prepare
for Select Board presentation.
Motion to Adjourn Open Session
The Chair moved to adjourn the Open Session and go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation as
an Open Meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the LexHAB and to discuss tenant matters that
if considered in Open Session might adversely affect privacy rights of individuals. The motion was seconded.
The motion was approved.
The next meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 7, 2022 @ 4:00pm in person at the Hudson Room in the
Cary Memorial Building.