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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-10-LEXHAB-minLexHAB Minutes of Meeting on Dec. 10, 2013 The meeting opened at 7:03 A.M. The Chairman presided. Present were all members of the Board: Bill Kennedy, Bob Burbidge, Lester Savage, Martha Wood;. Dave Eagle, Gerry Howell and Bill Hays. Bob Pressman Pat Nelson also attended 1. The minutes of the November 20t` meeting were approved as presented. 2. Financials: A- The Treasurer noted that because of the early date of this meeting, no new statement of bank balances is available and for the same reason, the November spread sheets will be presented at the January meeting. B. The Treasurer and Gerry Howell presented the statements of major expenditures, being those for the Massachusetts Avenue town houses and Unit 7 at Parker School. As for the Massachusetts Avenue town houses, the Treasurer noted that the statements do not include the cost of the new driveway estimated to be approximately $9,000. This amount together with the expenditures for deleading of both units will be capitalized. With regard to Unit No. 7 at Parker School, the Treasurer reported that the state- ments do not include the bill just received from Shoemaker, Inc for 5 new windows in the amount of $4,250. C. Security Deposits: Gerry Howell reported that Karen and Maryann have made significant progress in matching the reserves for Security Deposits with the various units involved. Gerry indicated that the results of this effort would likely satisfy the requirements of our auditors. 3. Fairview Ave. No report. 4_ Busa Farm: A. Meeting: The meeting with neighbors and interested residents has been rescheduled for December lei: at the Depot at 7 P.M The Farm Coalition has been notified. Carter Scott and John Newman will be present for back -up as needed. B. CPC Application The Chairman reported that our application for $750,000 of funding for the buildings to be constructed on the Busa parcel was well received both by the CPC and by the Capital Expenditures Committee. The detail provided by Carter Scott helped. Bob Pressman stated that there was strong support from members of both boards. The application made clear that this funding alone would not cover all of the anticipated construction costs; we will need in addition the funds approved for housing last year together with the unused commitment of CPA funds from the year before. The Chairman noted that even after allocation of a proportionate part of the land purchase costs, the per unit cost of the Busa units should be well within the upper limits expressed by Town meeting on several different occasions. C. Possible Web Site. Lester raised the question should our plans and specifications and drawings be available to interested townspersons, perhaps via a LexHAB website. It was noted that the Town already has a website; inquiry will be made to see if we might avail ourselves of it. 6. Muzzey Condominium A delegation from Muzzey presented itself for the purpose of securing if possible our support of their efforts to make the Board of Trustees more accountable to the needs and wishes of a majority of the unit owners. The group described the events that have transpired over the last two years, culminating in the removal petition this fail signed by 70% of the unit owners. But the existing Board has not recognized the petition and the advocates are trying to decide what to do. The delegation pointed out that LexHAB is the owner of 12 units at Muzzey and as such, will be adversely affected by the action of the Board of Trustees and thus may wish to sign the new petition which is shortly to be circulated. Discussion' followed the departure of the delegation. The consensus was that representatives from LexHAB should seek audience with the Town Manager before taking any position, but that the issue before us may be broader than what LexHAB might conclude it ought to do in its capacity as owner of 12 units; LexHAB is also the Muzzey Administrator and in this capacity represents the Town in such fundamental matters as the continued affordability of the Muzzey venture. It was also resolved that the Muzzey 'trustees be invited to attend one of our meetings in order that our action, whatever it may be, not be based solely on the case advanced by the dissident group. 7. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Board will be on January 6°i at 7 A.M. at the offices of the Board at 4 Militia Drive.. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 A.M. Bill H. will bring the coffee, Respectfully submitted Secretary pro tern POSSIBLE POSITION STATEMENT FOR LexHAB We have tried from the beginning at Muzzey to avoid voting our 12 shares in our own interests, recognizing that to do so could and probably would affect the interests of some of the owners of units in the condominium. We note that at various times and in various ways, unit owners have expressed their hope that the Town would let them run the condominium without having to deal with an overbearing hand asserted by LexHAB in behalf of the Town. So now, we are reluctant to take sides in the confrontation between the elected Board and the group of unit owners who believe strongly that their Board has not acted in the best interests of the unit owners. But LexHAB has a different involvement at Muzzey, we are the Muzzey Administrator in ;behalf of the Town, so designated by the Selectmen in 1984 at the.time of conversion. Though our tasks are largely ministerial, the title we hold plus the fact that within the condominium we have been regarded as the representatives of the Town impels us to act to preserve the affordability of the housing at Muzzey. Here we act in behalf of all owners and of the Town as well in seeking to maintain access to and the ownership and continued occupancy of the Muzzey units to families of limited needs. We see in these recent developments evidence of action by the Muzzey Board which could signal significant increases in the monthly maintenance fees of unit owners together-with increasing pressure on unit owners to find ways and means to cover assessments. Against this tide, we believe that LexHAB has an obligation to act, again in the Town's interests and in the interests of all unit owners at Muzzey, to question what is happening.