2022-02-17-HPB-min (Community Housing Resources Subcommittee)

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1 Minutes from the Community Housing Resources Subcommittee Meeting -- February 17, 2022 Attendees: Margaret Heitz, Jeri Foutter, Bob Pressman, Paul Linton, Betsey Weiss Absent: None Guests: None Summary of Discussion 1.Call to Order – HPB Subcommittee on Community Housing Specialist The meeting was held remotely via Zoom conference and called to order by Margaret at 7:05 pm. Minutes were taken by Paul Linton. The meeting agendas will be available from the town web site, Housing Partnership Board | look for Public Meetings Calendar on our page (web link is https://www.lexingtonma.gov/housing-partnership- board). 2.Subcommittee Organization There was some confusion over who can be the chair of an HPB subcommittee, and whether they have to be a HPB member. Consensus is that they do not have to be, and thus Margaret could continue to be the chair. 3.Discussion regarding housing tasks required / resources needed to carry them out Discussion about the information Bob received from his discussion with Carol Kowalski. Carol’s allocation of consultant hours is 400 hours per fiscal year; as of 12/31/2021 she had billed 184. Bob said Amherst used CPA funds to hire a ½ time Housing person. He believes it wouldn’t be until next fall that a town staff person could be hired. Bob will write a memo about all he learned from Amherst. Betsey spoke to Doug Vincente last week. Doug said that the town has been “too slow” in being able to acquire properties for sale. Betsey suggested that the group come up with a list of tasks that a CHS would do, which would serve as justification for Doug to hire someone. Margaret said that hiring a consultant doesn’t require the lengthy process that hiring town staff does. Margaret suggested that each committee member update the shared online Google doc with their ideas for tasks that a housing person should do; at our next meeting the list would be discussed / reviewed. Bob already provided the initial 9 tasks in the list. A six-month review report and material from the RHSO web site (created by Liz Rust, obtained by Bob) will be provided to the group to aid in creating their lists. 4.Meeting Minutes Prior to the meeting, Paul had sent out the amended minutes from the Jan 6th, Jan 20th and Feb 3rd meetings for review. Betsey moved to approve; Margaret seconded. Jerry abstained for the first 2 minutes, as she did not attend those meetings. Minutes were approved. 5.Set the Next Meeting The next meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday March 8, 2022 at 7:00 pm. 6. Adjourn the Meeting Betsey moved for adjournment and Jeri seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously; the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 PM.