HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-11-LEXHAB-minLexington Housing Assistance Board
Monthly Board Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2023– 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 4:08pm.
LexHAB members present were Bob Burbidge, Les Savage, Tara Mizrahi, Gerry Howell, Sarah
Morrison (LexHAB Executive Director), Pearlene Varjabedean (LexHAB Housing Director), and
Regina Brown (LexHAB Financial Administrator).
Guests: Kathryn Roy, Martha Sandler
Minutes review of December 2022, Meeting
A motion was made and seconded to approve December 7, 2022 meeting minutes.
Chair Update:
• Dana Home meeting - Plan to give away $200-250K this year. Always are
oversubscribed. Due March 1, 2023.
• Home Rule petition update- it has been filed. Likely sometime in Feb where it will be
assigned then we can figure out the strategy.
• Update on positions: Donna Leary has officially resigned. Now down two positions.
Down Clerk and Assistant Treasurer.
Executive Director Report:
• Funding update- CPA funds $345,000 for preservation and rehabilitation including PV on
two buildings and $400,000 for a new property to be determined- will need to get
approved by Town Meeting. Dana Home- Have done 9 renovations to date and likely
need 6-8 more for making units accessible for seniors or disabled. Interim report due
Jan 31st to Dana Home. Work is ongoing.
• Funds that have come in memoriam for Bill Kennedy are at over $4K currently.
• Energy Audits moving ahead.
• 9 Kimball Closing Date – Jan 17th.
• Sarah applied for leadership training focused on the transition to a non -profit.
• Office organization goals- improve for cloud storage options and others. Bill Daly has
been very helpful with our extra space.
• Holidays—July 4th is a Tuesday. May want to include July 3. Regina will send out a list of
the current projected holidays for 2023
Housing Director Report:
• Final over-housing policy handed out. Jonathan D finalized based on comments from
the Board last month.
Financial Update:
• Discussed starting up a more formal budget process for 2024. Differing opinions on how
necessary this is but seemed majority thought that we should be making this more
official and can be put in place for a 2024 approved budget. This will be brought back
up.
• 2020 Audit is now approved for final.
• 2021 should be available Feb 2023.
• 2022 papers to the accountant by May then the accountants can have a turn to us by
end of June.
• Bill K was a signer on many accounts. Will need to upd ate these. Replacement Clerk
may fill this roll.
Clerk Position:
• Motion to elect Tara Mizrahi made by Bob B, Les seconded. Unanimous. Motion to
elect Jonathan Silverstein as Assistant Clerk. Tara second. Unanimous vote.
2023 Priorities:
Transition to non-profit/homerule petition
Local collaboration
Legacy campaign
Property Search-(utilizing CPA funds awarded)
Real estate development
HR and employee benefits- handbook/salary survey
Public relations
Environmental Sustainability
Sarah proposes we are prioritizing the items in italics. Group largely agreed- seems that there is
a lot more local collab and public relations is happening than in years past which we would like
to see continue. Pearlene strongly supports doing the holiday event again.
Property Search and Development:
• Ready to close on 1/17/23 on 9 Kimball. Selectman Vote needs to be signed but it is not
needed by the closing date. Bob and Tara need to sign Clerk’s Certificate. Tara’s
signature to be notarized.
• John Biggins to do lead abatement. Few windows need to be replaced. Sills to be
covered with tin. We need to do this work before Minutemen students come in.
Environmental Services will come in to do a survey (Patti Riley from EnviroSafe) and Les
has someone to do abatement. Sarah says we should get the energy audit people in
ASAP. Budget about $125,000 to $150,000 before taking into consideration the
Minuteman or energy audits which would reduce the outlay
• Les received a call from an attorney representing 18 Philip Rd- who have crossed the
property line to put a raised garden. They are looking for an easement for a strip of land
20’ x 120’ where it meets ours. Our house is very far from their land with trees in
between so seems ok to give but there should be compensation and costs for the legal
work should be covered.
Sustainability, Preservation and Maintenance
• Three units at Garfield have been completed. All of the weatherization of Garfield will
be completed this month. Atlantic wanted to thank John Biggins as he has been
incredible to work with.
• Muzzey and Emerson—we did receive some funds for caulking and sealing- Sarah asked
for some more things to be covered- like the heat pumps. Would love for all of Muzzey
to apply as they are on oil. Operating costs are very expensive and dirty. Pearlene will
try to reach out to the property management agent-looks like some interest.
• Sarah wants us to start looking at some other materials that are better for the
environment- like Marmoleum.
Human Resources
Working on how to get something done on a salary survey type analysis by May—Bob, Henry
and Tara have been looking into options. Will move discussion to Executive Session.
New Business
Kathryn Roy- MBTA – Planning board meeting tomorrow will be discussing the issue of
affordability in the 10% (or 15%) for affordable housing. Kathryn would like to have the zoning
limit it only to 80% AMI not 80% to 150% so that all of the housing counts towards 40B. She
wanted to know if people from LexHAB would join her. LexHAB did not feel comfortable doing
this as a group for different reasons
Sarah mentioned starting MOU discussions with Town about the affordability of our units in the
LexHAB transfer. She will meet with Tara and any others that are interested.
Motion to Adjourn Open Session at 5:36pm
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 by roll call vote.
The next meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 8, 2023 @ 4:00pm in person at
the Hudson Room in the Cary Memorial Building.