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2/15/2024 AC Minutes 4 alternative to 173 Bedford St., but responses are not due until tomorrow, February 16. Mr. Cronin from the DPF has stated that there will not be much difference in the operating expenses between natural gas and electric heat-pump systems. Regarding Articles 29, 34, 35, and 36, Mr. Michelson stated that he had contacted the Police admin- istration and the DPW staff to discuss the potential need for additional staffing to enforce the pro- posed changes and additions to the Town bylaws. His conclusion is that additions to staffing that are already in the budget will be sufficient to handle any new enforcement needs introduced through these articles. The Committee decided not to formally vote on these articles, but to include its com- mentary in the 2024 ATM report. The Committee engaged in a discussion on Article 33 Authorize the Select Board to Seek Affordable Housing. The primary concern, as expressed by Mr. Bartenstein, is that the motion provides too few constraints on the development that could be built if the Select Board is authorized to dispose of parcel 68-44, and that town meeting should be able to see a more definitive proposal before granting the request. The request to give authorization to the Select Board lacks transparency in that it does not describe with any specificity what might be done if the authorization is granted. This Committee should understand the impact on a development on town finances, e.g., from new children in the schools or demand for police, fire, and social services, and whether there would be any revenue from payments in lieu of taxes by the owners of a prospective development. Mr. Parker raised sev- eral points from previous discussions that suggest that changes to the process like those that Mr. Bartenstein favors would make the proposal process infeasible. Mr. Michelson asserted that town meeting would be unlikely to approve the motion in its current form. His recommendation would be for the Affordable Housing Trust to present a more specific development proposal to town meeting. He agreed that this Committee does not have sufficient information to be able to comment on the financial implications of the article. Mr. Parker commented that his understanding from Select Board Member Mark Sandeen was that an all-affordable development would not be financially via- ble with fewer than 35 units, and that 40 units would be preferable for developers. Mr. Levine ex- pressed frustration that this minimum had not been part of Ms. Tung’s presentation to the Commit- tee, and he stated that he would not want to see that many units in the development. Mr. Bartenstein asked if there was any way for town meeting to claw back funds once they have been appropriated to the Affordable Housing Trust. Ms. Kosnoff replied that it would not be possi- ble. Mr. Parker decided to defer the Committee’s vote on whether to recommend Article 33, while not- ing that the Committee was almost unanimously opposed to it. All the previously collected votes of the Committee were affirmed by a single roll-call vote of 7-0. Minutes of Prior Meetings No minutes were ready for approval. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Glenn P. Parker