2023-08-17-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for August 17, 2023 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Jeri Foutter (Chair), Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss, , Harriet Cohen (Clerk) Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison) Guests: Tom Battin, Ellen Cameron (representing the COA) The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom teleconference. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Foutter called the meeting to order at 7:00. The roll was called. 2. Real Estate Transfer Fee (RETF) Working Group Ms. Cohen presented slides comparing the RETF and the surcharge home rule petitions. The HPB then asked questions and discussed the two bills. HPB members pointed out that the bill could change prior to enactment (if it is enacted). One member raised the point that the approach of the bill is wrong and that a different approach to raising funds for affordable housing would be better. A concern was also raised about the bill penalizing seniors, though that concern could be addressed through exemptions. Ms. Hai stressed that we need to understand the home rule petitions prior to recommendations to the Select Board. Ms. Heitz then read for discussion a potential motion that the working group has considered regarding the RETF. Ms. Heitz did not make that motion. 3. Proposed Land Acquisition Policy Recommendation: Conservation and Recreation Comments Ms. Weiss noted that she had sent the Conservation Land Acquisition Subcommittee comments on the proposed policy to the HPB earlier. She reported that there was a Land Acquisition Subcommittee meeting on August 10th followed by a meeting with the Recreation Committee meeting on August 16th The Conservation Commission’s Land Acquisition Subcommittee supports the proposed policy and suggested some changes. l. The Recreation Committee also thought that the policy was a good idea and had some suggestions. . Ms. Weiss and Ms. Manz are still waiting to hear from the Historical Commission and the School Board. Ms. Weiss and Ms. Manz will update the policy with the suggestions that have been received to date. 4. Consideration of HPB Goals Requested by the Select Board Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, and Ms. Manz drafted 3 goals. Ms. Hai asked about an additional area for a goal based on information from other committees for which she is a liaison. Mr. Pressman pointed out that the intent of the goal gathering is to provide goals for the Select Board. The proposed goals need to be restated in terms of Select Board goals rather than HPB goals.