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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-15-LEXHAB-minLexHAB Minutes of meeting held do October 15, 2014 The meeting opened at 7:07 A.M. at the offices of LexHAB at 1620 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington. Present were Board members Bill Kennedy (Chairman), Dave Eagle,Gerry Howell, Bob Burbidge, Martha Wood, Lester Savage and Bill Hays. Also present were Norman Cohen (LexHAB liason to the Board of Selectmen), Pat Nelson ( LexHAB's counsel), Bob Pressman and Janet Lane (Hayward Avenue resident). The Chairman presided. 1. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting on September 10a' were reviewed. It was noted that the person referred to in Paragraph 6 -E of these minutes was a resident in LexHAB's home on Emerald Street rather than a tenant at Muzzey. With this change, the minutes were unanimously accepted as presented. 2. Fairview: A. Comments and questions by Janet Lane, Hayward Avenue resident: i. What are LexHAB's plans for landscaping? The neighborhood is looking for more than an array of trees; shrubs and ground -cover are also important. And does LexHAB plan to engage the services of a professional landscaper? The Chairman said that LexHAB plans to bring in a Landscape Architect to whom the questions above will be referred. ii. Would it be possible for the driveway to open onto Hayward Ave. rather than onto Fairview Avenue? It was noted that John Noonan considered this rearrangement of the drive and concluded that the topography of the parcel precludes it. iii. When will work begin? The Chairman said that the decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals has not yet been recorded with the Town Clerk ; thus the appeal period has not yet started to run. Then LexHAB will apply for a building permit. Only after these preliminaries are satisfied can construction commence. iv. What safety steps will be taken to protect residents, especially children, both during and after construction? LexHAB will make sure that whenever possible, construction vehicles will be parked on the lot and/or on the Haywood Avenue extension, and that looking ahead, the new signage seems to have reduced somewhat the use of Fairview Ave. as a by -pass. Also, tenants will be asked to park their vehicles in the designated parking spaces and not on Fairview Avenue. B. Other matters relating to Fairview. The Chairman noted that two or three members of the Board will shortly confer with Carter Scott to sound out his ideas for the critical role that Transformations will play as the project unfolds. 3. Financials: A. Dave Eagle reported that LexHAB's cash accounts including C.D.'s total just over two million dollars. B. Gerry Howell commented on the spreadsheets, noting that for the eight and one half month period ending September 13th, revenues were $15,000 higher compared to revenues at the end of the same period one year ago. He further drew the Board's attention to the new two -page list of non - routine expenditures. Heretofore, identification of any abnormal outflow was something that had to be gleaned from the multi page spread sheets, a time consuming exercise. The new report consolidates this data in one place. 4. Busa Farm: The Chairman reported that Metro -West has been engaged to prepare for LexHAB both the Marketing Plan for the Busa project and the Application to DHCD. 5. Parker Manor: Pat Nelson reported that the re- roofing of the building turned out to be more difficult than anticipated but that the job has been completed and the assessments to unit owners calculated. LexHAB elected to pay its assessments up front rather than in installments in order to avoid the payment of interest on the Association's non- mortgage bank loan. 6. Other Business: A. Garfield Street: Lester brought to the attention of the Board the possible availability of a lot next to the LexHAB units on Garfield Street. The owner has indicated a desire to sell. Lester noted, however, that there is a water problem; he will speak to Karen Mullins to see what the Town's position would be were a building to be proposed on the parcel. The lot has only 4850 square feet of land. B. Rentals of Muzzey Units: There was discussion as to what should be done by way of enforcement of the restriction against renting of the non - LexHAB units at Muzzey except under extraordinary circumstances and then only with the approval of the Muzzey Administrator ( LexHAB). We believe that at least one unit continues to be rented without permission. It was suggested that the situation be brought to the attention of the Selectmen, together with a suggestion that if it becomes necessary to commence eviction proceedings against the unit owner, it might be appropriate for Town Counsel to bring suit rather than LexHAB's counsel. C: New Coffee schedule (Attached) D.: Security Deposits: At a prior meeting, it was resolved that Pat Nelson would draft a letter to accompany the security deposits now to be returned to tenants. The Chairman reported that the letter has been prepared and is ready for mailing. The next step will be for Maryann to prepare a list of the tenants now to receive checks showing also the amount to be returned. 7. Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on Nov. 19th at 7 A.M. at the offices of LexHAB at 1620 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington. 8. Executive Session: The Chairman then proposed that the Board go into Executive Session to consider rent arrearages on the part of tenants without return to open session, stating that consideration of same in open session could have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of a semi- public body, namely LexHAB, and might also affect adversely the privacy rights of tenants. The members of the Board were individually polled, each member then voting in favor of the Chairman's proposal. The time then was 8: 05 A.M. Respectfully submitted, William C. Hays Secretary pro tem