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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-21-CPC-min1 Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, September 21, 2023 Remote Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 964 5855 7942 4:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Jeanne Krieger (Vice-Chair), Kevin Beuttell, Robert Creech, Lisa O’Brien, Robert Pressman, Mark Sandeen, Melinda Walker. Administrative Assistant: Thomas Case Other Attendees: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs (arrived at 4:16 PM); Sandhya Beebee, Liaison, Capital Expenditures Committee (arrived at 4:32 PM); Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Sarah Morrison, Executive Director, LexHAB; Kathryn Roy (arrived at 4:04 PM), Town Meeting Member. Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:03 PM. Vote to elect Chair and Vice-Chair- After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted by roll call vote (8-0) to reappoint Ms. Marilyn Fenollosa as Chair of the CPC. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted by roll call vote (8-0) to reappoint Ms. Jeanne Krieger as Vice-Chair of the CPC. CPA Fund Balance- Ms. Kosnoff presented the CPA Summary FY Budget dated 09-20-2023 and explained that the “Community Preservation Fund Balances” in the spreadsheet are rough estimates because the books have not closed yet for FY2023. Ms. Kosnoff shared that the state and the Community Preservation Coalition are now predicting a state match closer to 20%, as opposed to the 30% match projected at the 2023 ATM. Total revenue would then be lower than the $8,075,000 projected at the 2023 ATM. At this time, the FY24 budget will not change and $807,500 will still be allocated to each of the Open Space, Historic Resources, and Community Housing funds, but there will be a smaller Undesignated Fund balance at the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Sandeen asked what the difference would be between a 20% and 30% match. Ms. Kosnoff calculated about $600,000. For FY25, available funds are projected using the fund balance and projected revenue for FY25. Ms. Kosnoff estimated the revenue from the Town’s surcharge and projected a 17% state match totaling $8,045,000 in estimated FY25 revenue. For debt service obligations, $681,200 of Historic Resource funds are allocated for the last payment for Cary Memorial construction and $490,000 from Unbudgeted Reserves is projected for the Munroe Center for the Arts project. 2 Mr. Pressman asked about changes in the projected fund balance for FY25 in the current Fund Balance Spreadsheet from page 54 of the CPC’s Report to the 2023 ATM and CPA Fund Balance Summaries dated 12/15/2022 and 8/8/23. Ms. Kosnoff answered that the differences are due to changes in revenue, removed/failed projects, and changes in cost estimates. Additionally, there is an inaccuracy in the current spreadsheet’s fund balance because the FY23 books have not been closed. The $6,745,350 in Undesignated Fund Balance projected as of 6/30/2023 is about $2 million over the actual balance. Mr. Sandeen asked if after the expected adjustments, would the project balance for Undesignated & Unbudgeted for FY25 be about $6.7 million. Ms. Kosnoff confirmed that his calculation is correct. Annual Town Report FY23- The Committee discussed the draft submission of the FY23 CPC Annual Town Report. The Committee planned to take a Zoom screenshot/photo after the meeting for the Report’s photo submission. Mr. Pressman commented that the project “Affordable Housing Trust Funding” is listed as such because that was its name in the 2023 ATM Motion, but the FY24 Brown Book and the Capital Expenditures Committee’s Report to the 2023 ATM list the project at “pre-funding.” Mr. Pressman also added that in his opinion, the funding was in substance pre-funding and wanted to note that there is precedent for pre-funding allocations to the Affordable Housing Trust. Ms. Fenollosa commented that the “Affordable Housing Trust Funding” and the “LexHAB Property Acquisition Prefunding” were named as such at the request of the Town Counsel. After a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call vote to approve the draft (8- 0). FY25 Application Announcements- The Committee discussed the application announcement for FY25 proposals. Wicked Local no longer publishes community-specific news but an announcement was published on the Town’s website and announcements were submitted to the Lexington Observer and the Lexington Colonial Times. Ms. Battite left the meeting at 4:44. Minutes- After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote to approve the minutes from the Public Meeting on 3-28-2023 (8-0). After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote to approve the minutes from the Public Meeting on 3-28-2023 and the Executive Session Meeting on 3-28- 2023 (7-0-1). Ms. Krieger abstained. 3 LexHAB/LHT Funding- The Committee discussed LexHAB’s eligibility for CPA pre-funding, or whether all pre-funding money would now be transferred to the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT). Ms. Fenollosa commented that Town Counsel said that the decision was up to the CPC and not a legal matter. Mr. Pressman commented that there has been no instance of the CPC refusing to consider a proposal that was within the Committee’s authority to approve, emphasized LexHAB’s service to the community, and stated his support for LexHAB’s ability to request pre-funding. Ms. Walker expressed concern over the prospect of the Town having a policy where all funding for community housing is required to come from the AHT. Mr. Sandeen suggested including a member of the AHT in the conversation and supported Ms. Walker bringing her concerns to the AHT. Ms. Krieger supported making as much funding available and shared that the Planning Board is considering payment in lieu of affordable housing and not considering the cost of land. Mr. Creech supported having more time to think about and discuss the matter and Ms. Fenollosa scheduling a future meeting with LexHAB and the AHT. Ms. Fenollosa advised LexHAB to apply for funding as usual while the question is still being discussed. Ms. Morrison expressed the importance of clarity for the best procedures for affordable housing funding. Mr. Pressman clarified that the discussion question is regarding LexHAB’s ability to apply for pre-funding as opposed to funding for specific projects and commented that the Housing Authority is an independent agency and therefore the Town would be unable to prevent them from submitting applications. Ms. Walker reiterated her concern for the AHT being the sole resource for affordable housing funding and supported the Housing Authority’s ability to apply for CPA funding independent of the AHT. Mr. Sandeen stated that the goal of the AHT was to have funding more readily available for housing projects rather than always having to wait for the ATM. Mr. Pressman posed the question of a hypothetical scenario where the AHT denies a request from the Housing Authority. Ms. O’Brien expressed her support for a follow-up meeting with all the players involved to better understand their needs and operations. The Committee agreed to schedule a meeting continuing this conversation and including the heads of the relevant parties. Committee Business- The Committee discussed the meeting schedule and agreed to keep future meetings on Thursdays at 4:00 PM via Zoom when scheduled. The Committee agreed to meet on Thursday, October 19th to continue the discussion on Community Housing funding. After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote (8-0) to adjourn at 5:16 PM. The following documents were used at the meeting: 1) CPA Summary FY2025 Budget dated 9-20-23 2) Annual Town Report Submission 2023 3) Annual Town Report Committee Photo 2023 4 4) 2023 ATM CPC Motion 5) REVISED Application Announcement FY25 6) Draft Minutes 3-28-23 7) REVISED Draft Minutes 7-13-23 8) Executive Session Draft Minutes 7-13-23 Respectfully submitted, Thomas Case Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee APPROVED: 10/19/2023