HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-24-AHTBT-min-copy
Page 1 of 2
Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of June 24, 2024 10:00 am
Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in Parker room, Town office
building
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Mark Sandeen, Linda
Prosnitz
Absent: William Erickson, Tiffany Payne
Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Liz Rust, RHSO
Director; Ragi Ramachandran, Administrative Assistant
Other attendees: Bob Pressman
Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 10:10 am.
1. Approve Meeting Minutes
Ms. Tung requested a motion to approve the minutes of 4/29/24 and 5/8/24 AHT meetings. Ms.
Prosnitz moved. Mr. Sandeen seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 3-0-0, by a
roll call vote (Prosnitz – yes, Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes). Meeting minutes approved.
2. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report
Ms. Tung shared the update from attending the June MHP Housing Institute event. Ms. Tung, Ms.
Prosnitz, Ms. Kowalski, Ms. Rust and Ms. Ramachandran had participated in the event.
Ms. Tung reported that Mr. Daggett is working on H2740 and H2741 surcharge Home Rule
petition letters, and they are awaiting an update from Mr. Daggett.
Ms. Rust reported that the Housing Needs Assessment group will be meeting the following week.
They will be reviewing the project timeline and deliverables, the housing inventory, goals and
strategies. Ms. Rust explained how the Needs Assessment will be structured and that the
anticipated completion is by Spring 2025.
Mr. Sandeen shared that the Massachusetts Senate would unveil its version of the housing bill
later that day, and it will not include any transfer fee legislation.
3. Lowell Street Parcel 68-44
Ms. Tung updated that the Procurement Officer, Liz Mancini has sent out publications to the local
newspaper and Central Register about the RFP.
The Trustees reviewed the draft press release prepared by Ms. Mancini. They proposed changes
to the draft press release content. Ms. Tung will work on the press release revisions with Jonas
Miller, the Town’s Director of Communications.
The Trustees discussed the release of the RFP to the public. Ms. Prosnitz and Ms. Rust will compile
a list of developers and other contacts that might have interest in the RFP and share it with Ms.
Ramachandran. Ms. Ramachandran will send the list to Ms. Mancini who will send notification
about the RFP to those identified on the list although the standard publication process will be
followed as well.
Page 2 of 2
Ms. Tung and Ms. Prosnitz had sent a letter to the Select Board about a proposed change of
language in the RFP preferences from the original recommended “approximately 40 units” to “up
to approximately 40 units’’. The Trustees were in full support of the letter. They felt it was vital
to leave the original recommended language.
Ms. Tung requested a motion for the Affordable Housing Trust’s endorsement of the letter that
Ms. Prosnitz and Ms. Tung wrote to Select Board about reverting the language to
‘approximately 40 units’’. Mr. Sandeen moved. Ms. Prosnitz seconded. The Trustees voted in
favor of the motion 3-0-0, by a roll call vote (Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes).
Ms. Rust suggested referring to EOHLC’s QAP (Qualified Allocation Plan) as a resource for
guidance on how to prioritize the awards for the RFP.
The Trustees reviewed the draft redline version of the RFP, and discussed the changes in detail.
The Trustees agreed on several changes and proposed additional updates. Ms. Tung will send
revisions from this meeting to Town Counsel.
The Trustees discussed the logistics for the site walk and pre-bid conference on July 23rd.
4. MBTA/SRD buydowns
The Trustees discussed the challenges in getting traction from housing developers on buydowns.
They discussed ownership versus rental projects for buydowns.
5. Any other business that may properly come before the Trustees that could not be
reasonably anticipated
Mr. Sandeen stated the Select Board’s June 17,2024 consent agenda item where the Select Board
reappointed Ms. Tung and Mr. Sandeen to a term of Apr. 30 2026, and Mr. Erickson, Ms. Prosnitz
and Ms. Payne to a term of Apr. 30 2025.
Mr. Sandeen reported another Select Board consent agenda item where someone is donating a
unit, and the Select Board is planning to accept this unit for affordable housing.
6. Adjourn
Ms. Tung requested a motion to adjourn the Affordable Housing Trust meeting . Mr. Sandeen
moved. Ms. Prosnitz seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 3-0-0, by a roll call vote
(Tung – yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes).
The meeting adjourned at 11:54 am.
List of documents reviewed:
1. Lowell Street RFP Press Release Draft
2. Parcel 68-44 RFP Draft