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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-14-AHTSC-minThe Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee (ad hoc) Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2022 Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee members present for the public meeting: Kathryn Roy, Chair; Betsey Weiss, Jeri Foutter, Gretchen Reisig, Tara Murphy. Lexington Staff present for the public meeting: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Kiruthika Ramakrishnan, Administrative Assistant. Non-voting liaison of the Select Board: Mark Sandeen Other Attendees: Elizabeth Rust Ms. Roy conducted a roll call to ensure that all the members of the Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee (ad hoc) and members of staff present could hear and be heard. Ms. Roy chaired the meeting and called the meeting to order at 4:06 pm. The meeting was recorded by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing. 1. Approval of Minutes The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee reviewed the draft minutes of meetings held on 08.10.22 and 08.24.22. Ms. Weiss moved that the committee approve the minutes of the meetings held on 08.10.22 and 08.24.22, as presented. Ms. Roy seconded the motion. The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee voted in favor of the motion. MOTION PASSED. 2. Review the draft Affordable Housing Trust Bylaw and finalize it Ms. Roy shared a draft of the Affordable Housing Trust Bylaw. Ms. Roy shared the Town Counsel’s suggestion regarding the absence period for a Trustee to be set to six months and asked the committee members input. The members agreed to the proposal. The committee discussed the compensation for the Trustees. The members discussed about the various ways this should be addressed. Ms. Kowalski said that the Assistant Town Manager of Finance, Ms. Kosnoff, suggested that the Trustees may not be compensated as it would lead to legal issues like an employment compensation. Ms. Kowalski added that, Ms. Kosnoff also suggested that, alternately, the committee could offer a flat annual stipend to be paid to all members, to be paid from the investment income of the Trust funds; and other members who do not want the stipend, can donate the stipend to the Trust. Ms. Kosnoff also said that the stipend can also be offered only to the members who were appointed to the seats designated as residents of low or moderate income households. The majority of the members felt that the clause regarding compensation should be removed and left for the Select Board to decide for coming up with a compensation policy for all Boards and Committee’s in the Town. Ms. Roy deleted the clause from the draft of the Affordable Housing Trust bylaw and decided to check with Town Counsel for suggestions. Ms. Roy moved that the Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee vote on approving the draft bylaw and request Ms. Kowalski to pass it to the Town Counsel for review. The motion was seconded by Ms. Weiss. The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 Roll Call Vote: MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Review the Frequently Asked Questions Ms. Roy shared a draft of the Frequently Asked Questions, and the responses to them with the committee. Ms. Rust asked the committee to think about the responses to the questions relating to the Trust’s requirement to issue Requests for Proposals and the Trust’s ability to purchase/ sell/transfer property. Ms. Weiss said that since Ms. Rust has worked with other Affordable Housing Trusts, the committee should go with Ms. Rust’s suggestions. Ms. Kowalski shared a copy of the draft Frequently Asked Questions with the suggested changes. On the question of whether the Affordable Housing Trust awardees/ grant recipients be subject to the prevailing wage law, the committee decided that it will be structured through a grant agreement between the Trust and the private entities and if Town funds were used, a transparent solicitation process will be used. It was decided that acquisitions of real estate purchases using CPA funds should be exempt from Request for Proposals (RFP) and dispositions are subject to RFP. Ms. Roy moved that the Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee vote on approving the draft Frequently Asked Questions. The motion was seconded by Ms. Weiss. The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 Roll Call Vote: MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 4. Review the draft document that outlines the control of Town Meeting and Select Board on future Affordable Housing Trust activities Ms. Kowalski shared a draft document that outlined the control of Town Meeting and Select Board on future Affordable Housing Trust activities. The committee discussed the contents of the document. Ms. Roy moved that the Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee vote on approving the draft document that outlined the control by Town Meeting and Select Board, on Future Affordable Housing Trust activities. The motion was seconded by Ms. Weiss. The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 Roll Call Vote: MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY Adjourn Ms. Roy moved that The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee adjourn the meeting held on September 14, 2022. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. The Affordable Housing Trust Study Committee voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0 Roll Call Vote: MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Meeting adjourned at 5:17 pm.