Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-24-HPB-min Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for August 24, 2023 Attendees: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington liaison), Nanette Byrnes, Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Jeri Foutter (Chair), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Bob Pressman, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss, John Zhao (COA) Absent: Jill Hai (Select Board liaison), Margaret Heitz, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB) Guests: None 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. Voting on HPB Goals Ms. Manz, Ms. Cohen, and Ms. Weiss met to draft HPB goals and presented them to the HPB. Mr. Pressman also put forward goals for the Select Board. The HPB discussed the two proposals. Ms. Manz moved that the HPB adopt this goal: Persuade the Select Board to create and fund a part-time or position for a Town Housing Officer / Director. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. In favor: Mr. Zhao, Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Manz, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Linton, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Foutter. Against: none Abstaining: none Ms. Manz moved that the HPB adopt this goal: Establish a policy of review of all potential Town land acquisitions by a Stakeholder Land Acquisition Working Group, including Housing Partnership Board, Conservation Commission, Recreation, Historical Commission, and School Committee representatives. This working group will make recommendations to the Town Manager Select Board as to the best uses of such acquisitions. Ms. Weiss seconded. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Manz, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Byrnes, Mr. Litton, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Foutter Against: none Abstaining: none The HPB discussed two potential additional goals: one to ask the Select Board to advocate and act to ensure more equitable CPA funding for housing and another regarding community education re affordable housing and the Fair Housing Act. Ms. Manz moved the goal regarding advocacy for more equitable CPA funding, specifically: the Select Board should work with the housing community to achieve a change in the historic pattern of CPA expenditures, so that community housing expenditures constitute an equitable share of total CPA expenditures and commitments. This will include advocacy on behalf of the Affordable Housing Trust, LexHAB, the Lexington Housing Authority, and the Planning Board, as well as SB actions. It will also include considering whether the overall package of Town funding requests to CPC leaves room for movement toward spending equity. Ms. Weiss seconded. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Manz, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Byrnes, Mr. Linton, Mr. Pressman, Mr. Zhao, Mr. Thompson, Ms. Foutter. Against: none Abstaining: none 3. Land Acquisition policy The HPB discussed the land acquisition policy as updated with suggestions from conservation and recreation groups. The HPB made several changes. Ms. Manz moved approval of the general form of the Property Policy with the understanding that some changes may be made to comply with the statutory framework. Ms. Weiss seconded. In favor: Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Manz, Mr. Hornig, Mr. Litton, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Zhao, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Foutter Against: none Abstaining: none 4. RETF Working Group The HPB will provide an informational presentation to the SB. Ms. Cohen suggested two motions for consideration at the next meeting. Ms. Cohen said that she said she expected the working group to make a motion of support for the RETF bill at the next meeting. 5. Board Member / Liaisons Updates Community Preservation Committee: Mr. Pressman said that Melinda Walker wrote a statement of views about housing including the importance of having a housing officer and the limited amount of housing in the various land acquisitions. Ms. Walker sent this to the Select Board. Mr. Pressman said that it was an eloquent statement and that he would ask Ms. Walker to send the statement to someone who could send it to all the HPB members. Mr. Pressman also stated that there was no further development about a matter he had previously said was addressed in executive session. Planning Board: There has been no meeting since the last HPB meeting, so no update. LexHAB: no update Lexington Housing Authority: no update Council on Aging: Mr. Zhao: The tree group presented to the COA regarding the cutting down of trees and why landowners should be more proactive to preserve trees especially during new construction. The COA voted to support the tree group’s position. Mr. Zhao also said that senior services presented new programs. Sustainable Lexington Committee: Ms. Arens is reporting on both SLC and on behalf of the Town sustainability and resilience officer. At the end of 2022, there was outreach to LexHAB residents regarding electricity supply purchasing, community solar opportunities, and the Town’s community choice program. SLC has now determined that because LexHAB residents are in subsidized or low rent housing, they are all eligible for a 41% or 42% discount on their Eversource electricity bill and a 25% discount on their gas bill, if they have gas. The SLC is working on communicating this to the residents. Ms. Arens also discussed the Town’s Heat Smart program. Using grant money, the Town’s sustainability officer, Maggie Peard, create a program of coaches for Lexington’s residents, to help the residents understand how they might move to heat pumps, what to do about weatherization, and, in general, provide guidance about saving money and energy. The coaches have also been doing consulting with LexHAB on some of their properties. The SLC is also having LexHAB work with ABCD, a program that administers low income rebates and incentives. The are working on LexHAB units that are in multi-family housing, like Muzzey and are moving onto LexHAB single family homes. In addition, the SLC connected the Lexington Housing Authority again with ABCD. Ms. Peard is working with a consultant to finalize the Town’s climate and resiliency plan. Mr. Pressman said that he had asked Sarah Morrison whether LexHAB has tapped into some of the sources Ms. Arens described to determine if there was funding for aspects of the Vine Street construction if it gets underway. 6. Sept. 28th HPB meeting and Oct. 5th Thank you Party The Sept. 28 meeting will start at 7:30 rather than 7:00. Thank you party - the HPB agreed to consider meeting inside for the thank you party. Ms. Foutter will work on finding a location and will update the HPB with a date. This is a social occasion and no business will be discussed. Cambridge Savings Bank has generously agreed to provide appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. 7. New Business There was no new business. 8. Minutes There were no minutes to review at this meeting. 9. Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment; Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. In favor: Mr. Linton, Mr. Pressman, Ms. Weiss, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Manz, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Zhao, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Foutter. Against: none Abstaining: none The meeting adjourned at 8:57 pm.