Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-10-AHTBT-min Page 1 of 3 Affordable Housing Trust Meeting Minutes of October 10, 2023 12:00 pm Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in the Parker room, Town Office Building Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Mark Sandeen, William Erickson, Tiffany Payne, Linda Prosnitz Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Ragi Ramachandran, Administrative Assistant Other attendees: Caileen Foley, Sarah Morrison, Margaret Heitz, Ingrid Klimoff, Melinda Walker, Kathryn Roy, Bob Pressman Ms. Tung conducted a roll call to ensure all members of the AHT Board and members of staff present could hear and be heard. Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and calle d the meeting to order at 12:02 pm. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing. 1. Approval of September 28 meeting minutes Ms. Tung shared her updates to the Sept 28 minutes. Mr. Sandeen moved to approve the minutes of 9/28/23 AHT meeting, as amended. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 4-0-1, by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes, Payne – yes, Prosnitz – abstained). Meeting minutes approved. 2. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report Ms. Kowalski updated that they have been approved for a State grant in the amount of $10,000 from Community Planning Grant Program to conduct the housing needs assessment in town. The Regional Housing Services Office (RHSO) will be conducting the assessment. Ms. Tung stated that Liz Rust would like for the Trust to come up with parameters that RHSO could focus on for the needs assessment. This will be discussed in a future meeting. 3. Discussion with LexHAB and Lexington Housing Authority representatives Ms. Morrison represented LexHAB. Ms. Foley and Ms. Walker represented Lexington Housing Authority (LHA). Prior to this meeting, Ms. Payne and Ms. Tung had met with Ms. Foley and Ms. Walker from LHA. Mr. Erickson and Ms. Tung had met with Ms. Morrison, Tara Mizrahi and Barbara Bridge from LexHAB. The LexHAB and LHA representatives shared their concerns around how CPC will award funding to the various housing partners. They wanted clarity on the types of funding requests that should be submitted to the Trust and the ones that should go to CPC. They sought clarification on the way AHT is going to operate going forward. They were curious on what the Trust’s expectations were for LexHAB and LHA. They were concerned about making a policy for all the money to go to the Trust and then the Trust dispersing the funds. Page 2 of 3 LHA shared that they would like the traditional road to request CPC funds because there were certain types of housing that they could apply only for CPC money in a specific way. The type of funding LHA is usually approved for is for preserving the buildings themselves, and towards the structural integrity of the buildings. Ms. Tung responded that everyone’s working on the same goal. The Trust will to the extent possible support LHA and LexHAB. Ms. Kowalski shared that the Housing Trust can make appropriations to LHA or LexHAB outside of the annual and special town meeting cycle , and that’s highly advantageous. Mr. Sandeen felt if the Trust had the funding it could allocate funds to LexHAB and LHA based on needs. The three housing entities should work together to convey to the CPC the significant need for housing, how the housing fund allocation out of CPC has been low historically, and that they need to start addressing the funding gap. CPC has to step up the allocation percentages for housing over the historical averages, provided reasonable scenario is presented. Mr. Erickson shared that the intent of the Trust is really to be a bank for the people doing the development. The Trust is not competing for the funds with anybody, they are looking to serve the needs of affordable housing community. Ms. Tung clarified it was never the Trust’s expectations for all requests to go to the Trust. If LexHAB and LHA had any specific identifiable needs they were aware of, they should apply. The Trust felt, if in the course of the year there is a need for funding and LexHAB and LHA didn’t have the funds, they could reach out to the Trust with their request. There was discussion on the expectations for the CPC application and on how to better coordinate for presenting an application for CPA funds, opening on Nov 1st. They discussed pre- funding versus requests that may come in during the year. The Trust requested LexHAB and LHA to share their anticipated needs for the next year. They asked for what the ‘unknowns’ were that may come up in the middle of the year that the Trust could help with. The Trust’s goal is to support such needs, and clarified that any money that comes to the Trust from CPC will follow the CPC rules. LexHAB didn’t have a set amount to request. Their plan is to continue to acquire properties as they present themselves. They are going through uncertainties with LexHAB’s transition to becoming a non-profit organization. If a need arose they will be looking for money locally from CPC, and the Housing Trust, as they won’t have State funding. LHA is not submitting a request to CPC this time. They don’t have a projection for what their needs maybe in the coming year as they don’t know their “unknowns”. Once they reposition some of their federal funding and have more fungibility with their finances, to do actual development they could be reaching out to AHT based on needs. There was further discussion on what would be a reasonable amount to ask of CPC. Ms. Heitz spoke about H2747 and S1771 – the real estate transfer fee bills. She will be testifying on Oct 11 to the State joint committee on revenue, in support on the real estate transfer fee bill. She hoped AHT will support her in making a testimony. Ms. Tung responded that the Trust has sent their letter of support in July recommending the Select Board to support the legislation. 4. FY25 CPC Application Parcel 68-44: Ms. Kowalski updated that the delineation of wetlands for parcel 68-44 will begin soon. The delineation report is anticipated in 5-7 weeks. After the wetlands delineation, the engineering firm will conduct the existing conditions survey, topography, the inverts to the sewer included. This report will provide a better idea on the building capacity and building footprint. Page 3 of 3 Mr. Erickson requested if the Conservation Director, Karen Mullins can review the site upon completion of the wetlands scientist’s work. Ms. Kowalski agreed to inform the Conservation Director. The consultant on the housing feasibility study, Kirk and Company may be engaged to provide a report on what could be done from a feasibility and subsidy perspective . Ms. Kowalski feels the delineation and existing conditions survey can be completed by the end of calendar year. The Trust expressed their interest to go on a site-visit to see the parcel. The next step is to prepare a warrant article for the Annual Town Meeting. The warrant is to authorize the Select Board to issue an RFP for affordable housing development on this parcel, and to authorize the Select Board to dispose the property, assuming it meets certain criteria stated in the warrant article. After the CPC application is submitted, Ms. Kowalski and the Trust will work on the warrant article. Pre-Funding Amount: The consensus is for each of the housing entities to apply individually to the CPC but being mindful that the total amount will apply towards the Housing bucket. Ms. Tung made a motion that Affordable Housing Trust will apply to the CPC for pre-funding in the amount of $3.2M. The Trust will grant letters of support to the Housing Authority and to LexHAB. Mr. Sandeen ‘so moved’. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes, Payne – yes, Prosnitz – yes). Mr. Erickson and Ms. Payne will attend LexHAB’s meeting on November 2nd. 5. New Business If any of the Trustees are able to they will testify in support of the H2747 and S1771 – the real estate transfer fee bills on Oct 11. Mr. Erickson spoke about LexHAB’s fundraiser on Nov 16. The tickets are very reasonable and asked if the Trustees can help spread the word by sending the invitation out to known contacts who may be interested. The Trustees agreed. 6. Confirm future meeting dates The next meeting will be on Oct 26 at 10 am. 7. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 2:02pm by a roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Sandeen – yes, Tung – yes, Payne – yes).