2008-05-22-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Housing Partnership Meeting Minutes for May 22, 2008 Attendees: Art Katz, Martha Wood, Winifred McGowan, Melinda Walker, Bob Bicknell, Tom Harden, Julie Duncan, Harriet Cohen, Bill Carlson, Florence Baturin, Betsey Weiss. Bob Bicknell chaired the meeting; Harriet Cohen took the minutes. The meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm. 1. Open Meeting The minutes for the meetings in November 2007 and January and February 2008 were approved unanimously. 2. Sub-Committee Reports Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Proposals – Betsey Weiss The “Survey and Define Project” was approved for $25,000 to pay a consultant to survey other towns and then define an affordable housing plan for Lexington. An amendment to postpone the Parker Manor 3-condo purchase by LexHab was defeated ($652,800 was approved to complete the purchase of 3 units). $158,686 was approved to replace the windows at VyneBrook Village. Accessory Apt. Committee – Arthur and Julie Preliminary research indicates that accessory apartments will not provide a major source of affordable housing for the community. We might consider an educational campaign to let people know that the zoning bylaws have been changed to make it easier to set up accessory apartments, but it is not worth much effort beyond that. Mr. Katz volunteered to write an article about accessory apartments and submit it to either the Lexington Minuteman or the Colonial Times. Lexington First-Time Homebuyer Program: Status of Survey and Define Project – Bob in coordination with the CPC and the Lexington Procurement Office, has issued an invitation to prepare a Scope of Services for the Survey and Define Project, approved by Town Meeting for $25,000 of CPA funds. It was sent to four consultants. Their responses were requested within 30 days of receipt of the invitation letter. This will be in mid-June. LexHab and the Lexington Housing Partnership in coordination with the CPC and Town will then select the consultant to perform the work and issue a purchase order. We see the project having two parts. Part I is the survey and summary and Part II consist of a list of important program parameters plus material to help us inform the community and gain local support for the program. 3. Report of the Chair (Bob Bicknell) Housing Specialist Discussion – Tuesday, May 27 ? The Lexington Housing Foundation supported the development of a report on the viability of hiring a housing specialist with CPA funds. Ms. Karen Sunnarborg has provided this report. Mr. Bicknell and Ms. Weiss will follow up with the Town Director, the Town Planning Manager and others to pursue this issue.