2010-06-24-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Lexington Housing Partnership Meeting Minutes for June 24, 2010 Attendees: Julie Duncan, Wendy Manz, Bob Bicknell, Melinda Walker, Tom Harden, Mary Haskell, Carol Marine, Florence Baturin, Betsey Weiss, Bob Bicknell chaired the meeting; Carol Marine took the minutes. The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm. 1. Open Meeting Approval of Minutes for May 2010: No motion to approve minutes from May meeting. Will need to do this at the next  meeting. 2. Ballot initiative to repeal Chapter 40B The resolution to Protect Affordable Housing was prepared in accordance with the discussion of the May meeting. It was signed by Bob Bicknell and delivered to Carol Marine to forward to the Committee to Protect Affordable Housing and defeat the repeal of Chapter 40B. 3. Reports Down Payment Assistance Program – Bob Bicknell  After a robust discussion of the goals, nuances and pros and cons of the ADDI (American Dream Down payment Initiative), including whether adding this grant/loan to the mix of assistance runs the risk of selecting homeowners who do not have the financial resources in the long run to cover the costs of their home. We have no data on whether that hypothesis is valid or whether ADDI adds enough equity to allow otherwise qualified buyers to make the purchase. Nevertheless, we will proceed to ask Karen Sunnarborg, as part of her contract, to review what other communities have done to address the natty problem of no HOME funds for ADDI and how they have utilized CPC funds for this purpose (assuming we continue to agree that the underwriting of a particular deal is not adversely affected). The goal would be to design a process that we can replicate for all situations. Finally, we will ask Ms. Sunnarborg to prepare a package for the Partnership to present to the Community Preservation Committee. Busa Farm – Bob Bicknell on behalf of Winifred McGowan  Mr. Bicknell noted that the Board of Selectmen had selected a Busa Farm Review Committee of seven members. Another robust discussion ensued largely around the issue of how the Partnership could participate in a meaningful way in the Committee’s deliberations. It was noted that affordable housing on the Busa site is generally regarded as an appropriate and desirable use. One idea is to use our Metrowest Consortium to engage Sasaki to do a preliminary layout of housing (and potential other uses) ensuring that sight lines are preserved, the one issue repeatedly raised by abutters. Mr. Bicknell will speak to the Metrowest Consortium about this idea and offer our/Sasaki’s assistance to the Committee and the Town Manager, as well, at a time when they are taking input from various interests.