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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-30-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for November 30, 2023 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Samita Mandelia, Wendy Manz (Chair), Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice Chair), John Zhao (COA). Absent: Paul Linton Guests: Carol Kowalski (Assistant Town Manager), Linda Prosnitz (Affordable Housing Trust), Alexis Porras (Lexington Residents Reimagining Public Safety Committee), Tom Shiple (Lexington Residents Reimagining Public Safety Committee) The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Wendy Manz and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom teleconference. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Manz called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. The roll was called. 2. Welcome to new HPB member – SB meeting appointment Nov. 27th Ms. Manz introduced Samita Mandelia. Ms. Mandelia was appointed to the HPB by the Select Board on Nov. 27. She is a member of Town Meeting and has served on a number of Town committees. 3. Tom Shiple’s report on the proposed Police Oversight Committee Mr. Shiple is representing the “Lexington Residents Reimagining Public Safety Committee”. He is joined by his colleague Alexis Porras. The committee will request a study committee to explore whether a Community Advisory Board should be established. The request for a study committee is based on feedback from the community on the need for transparency and communication with the Lexington Police. Traffic stop data analysis indicates that rate of traffic stops and the rate of written warnings are statistically different by gender and race, another indication of the need for better communication and transparency. After it has completed its work, the study committee will present recommendations to the Select Board. 4. Update on SB Nov. 27th RETF presentation Ms. Cohen summarized her presentation at the Select Board. She also reported that Mr. Pato agreed to draft a letter of support on behalf of the Select Board. Ms. Heitz will be attending meetings of LOHA to help with regional efforts to pass RETF legislation. 5. GBIO RETF Ms. Byrnes advised the HPB of two upcoming meetings, one with Senator Cindy Friedman on December 6 and one with Senator Mike Barrett on January 10. Several state representatives will also attend those meetings. The meetings will focus on funding for public housing, the RETF, and helping to improve housing for returning citizens. Ms. Byrnes encouraged members of the HPB to attend the meeting with the senator representing their precinct. 6. Support for AHT CPC pre-funding request and vote and volunteers for Lowell St. project meetings this winter before ATM Ms. Prosnitz is representing the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT). Ms. Prosnitz first summarized the AHT accomplishments to date and then presented upcoming proposed projects. These proposed projects will need funding. The AHT is requesting $3.2M in CPC funding, which is less than the need. The AHT met with the Select Board regarding the funding request. The Select Board agreed that this is a reasonable amount of funding. They agreed to make the $3.2M request a joint request by the AHT and the Select Board. Ms. Prosnitz noted that affordable housing has historically been the least funded category of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding. The goal is to have a warrant article for this funding for Spring Town Meeting. The AHT will be making presentations at various community forums. Those presentations will begin in January. On December 7, some developers and others will be coming to the AHT to discuss their experience with affordable housing, and the steps in doing so. Mr. Pressman discussed the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) process for assessing applications for CPA funds, as well as particular projects reviewed to date. Mr. Pressman said that the Community Preservation Committee had approved the funding request. Ms. Prosnitz responded to questions from the HPB regarding the AHT proposal. Ms. Kowalski recommended that the HPB write a letter of support for the CPC request, recommending the full requested amount for funding. Ms. Weiss moved that the HPB write such a letter of support to the CPC, with a copy to the Select Board and the AHT. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 11-0-0 to approve the motion. 7. Support for LexHAB CPC funding request and vote Ms. Morrison thanked Ms. Arens for her support of LexHAB’s continued efforts to improve energy efficiency in all units and access MassSave rebates for heat pumps and insulation for 9 Kimball. Ms. Morrison presented a total request of approximately $480,000 in CPA funds for LexHAB. This money would fund preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration for 7 CPA-funded units, preservation for 19 non-CPA-funded units, decarbonization for 5 CPA-funded units, and support of community housing for 6 CPA-funded and 13 non-CPA-funded units. The latter will help make up the difference between what the residents pay for their housing and the current minimum rent. Ms. Arens pointed out that the electrification efforts are both positive for climate change and lower the tenants’ utility bills. Motion: Ms. Weiss moved that the HPB write a letter of support to the CPC, with a copy to the Select Board and LexHAB for the total amount and individual allocation of funds. Ms. Heitz seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 11-0-0 to approve the motion. Ms. Morrison also noted that almost $7,000 was raised in the recent fundraiser against a goal of $2,500. LexHAB closed on a property at 475 Massachusetts Avenue. They used funds from the AHT and CPC for the purchase of this property. 8. Dec. 4th SB meeting on Property Working Group (formerly Land Acquisition) Policy Recommendation Ms. Weiss updated the HPB as to her plans for presenting at the Select Board. Ms. Hai noted that the Select Board had already received letters of support from several of the stakeholder committees. 9. Update on Community Housing Resource Officer Ms. Manz reached out to the Planning Office several times and heard back today from Abby McCabe, the Planning Director. The Planning Office is short-staffed. Ms. Manz asked for a point person from the Planning Office to respond to HPB questions. Ms. McCabe said that the Planning Office will be responsive to any questions from the Planning Office. Mr. Hornig pointed out that the HPB has a conduit to the Planning Office via the Planning Board representative on the HPB. Mr. Hornig said that sending communications to the Planning Office through the Planning Board representative is a more effective means of communication. Ms. Kowalski requested that if the HPB has any questions or requests for any of the groups reporting her, to please route those requests to her. Ms. Morrison suggested looking into creative ways to provide housing assistance by collaborating with other local organizations like Cary Library and Human Services. Ms. Arens added that there are funding sources available. 10. Updates Planning Board: None LexHAB: the LexHAB update was provided as part of the earlier agenda items. Council on Aging (COA): Mr. Zhao reported that, at the Nov. 1 board meeting, the COA board deliberated on an initiative draft revision of its charge. This draft updated the existing text to reflect the current state and introduced a mission statement focused on enhancing the quality of life for Lexington seniors and fostering the development of an age-friendly community. Upon finalizing and approving the revision, the board plans to submit it for adoption, recommending it to the town manager. Sustainable Lexington Committee: covered above. Affordable Housing Trust (AHT): None Community Preservation Committee (CPC): Mr. Pressman provided a report by email. He reiterated that Ms. Kowalski worked out a way to provide funding for projects at previous levels and to provide some funding for the library. 11. Set Dec/Jan meeting The next meeting date is January 11, 2024, at 7:00 pm on Zoom. 12. New Business Ms. Manz had requested that the liaisons and HPB members who provide an update for the “Updates” agenda item provide a written update in advance of the meeting. Ms. Heitz asked if there was a repository for the reports. Ms. Manz said that she would work with Ms. Cohen to identify an appropriate repository for the reports. 13. Minutes Oct. 17, 2023 Ms. Weiss moved to approve the minutes of Sept 28. Mr. Zhao seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Cohen, Ms. Weiss, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Morrison, Mr. Zhao, Ms. Heitz, Ms. Manz. Against: none Abstaining: Samita Mandela 14. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved to adjourn; Mr. Zhao seconded the motion. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the HPB voted by roll call of 11-0-0 to approve the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm.