2022-08-25-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Meeting Minutes for August 25, 2022 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jeri Foutter (Chair), Mary Haskell, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Joe Pato (Select Board liaison) Bob Pressman, Maureen Rynn (LHA liaison), Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss, John Zhao (COA) Guests: Margaret Heitz Absent: Sarah Morrison (LexHAB liaison) The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Foutter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the roll was called. 2. Affordable Housing Resource Ms. Heitz provided an update on the meeting with Mr. Malloy and Ms. Kowalski re Lexington’s hiring of a housing specialist. The committee met with both Mr. Malloy and Ms. Kowalski and then followed up with Ms. Kowalski. The Town is looking favorably on hiring a housing specialist. Management held a meeting re town staff and a full-time staff person is added to the organization chart. The staffing proposal is subject to Mr. Malloy’s review and subsequent review by the Select Board. Mr. Malloy is proposing that the housing specialist salary be covered by CPA funding for the first one to three years. Town Counsel has agreed that that this is a permissible use of CPA funds. If the housing specialist is added, the plan would be to staff the position after fall Town Meeting. Mr. Hornig expressed his concern about an additional party for housing planning. Ms. Foutter and the committee members will meet with Mr. Hornig to address his concerns. 3. Housing Section of Comprehensive Plan Ms. Weiss sent the HPB comments to the planning board. Ms. McCabe had requested them as soon as possible after the last meeting. Please advise Ms. Weiss of any additional comments. She will update the material sent to Ms. McCabe and the planning board. Mr. Hornig: The Planning Department is collating the many comments that have been received from all sources. That will be folded into a new draft of the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Board will review the completed draft. A new version is targeted for Sept. 4 with review targeted for September 28. 4. Land Acquisition Subcommittee The Land Acquisition subcommittee met. Ms. Weiss sent a draft of the proposal to Ms. Kowalski and Ms. Kowalski sent her comments back. The subcommittee is working to address the comments. 5. HPB Charge & Membership Mr. Pressman and Ms. Cohen have applied for another term. Ms. Haskell is not re-applying. Ms. Foutter recognized Ms. Haskell’s service to the committee and thanked her for her work.