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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFair Housing Committee-FHC (1979-?) FAIR HOUSING COMMITTEE Members: 10 Appointed by: Board of Selectmen Length of Term: Open Appointments made: September 30 Meeting Times: Usually twice a month Purpose This Committee is responsible for identifying and monitoring factors which may affect fair housing in Lexington; recommending and monitoring a fair housing plan; and monitoring the town's 1981 Fair Housing Policy Resolution. The goal of the Fair Housing Committee is to assist in eliminating barriers to equal access to housing. Criteria for Membershiq The Committee should include wide representation from groups within Lexington; for example, members of tenants associations, real estate concerns, banks, apartment managers, civil rights and other special interest organizations, developers, public officials, and local residents. Ref. The Housing Policy Plan of the 1979 Annual Town Meeting; Article 25 of the 1981 Annual Town Meeting; Mass. General Laws, Chapter 15113; Section 3.5 of the Affirmative Action Regulations issued by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. 19 4"83 Selectmen's Meeting - 7 - July 23, 1979 Affirmative Mr Albert Zabin, Planning Board, met with the Board Mr Hutchinson Action - said we are dealing with the Affirmative Action Plan and the Fair Housing Fair Element Representatives of the Housing Authority could not be here to- Housing night and, at the appropriate time, we will be able to meet with them. We had requested an extension until June 30 for completion of our Fair Housing element, and most of the work is completed but we need guidance He had pointed out to MCAD staff people today that had we known some of what we considered the complexities, we would have asked for a longer amount of time We are prepared to make a submission in draft form on the housing situation, referencing the commitment of Town Meeting on condominiums at Potters Pond, Morrow Crossing, and things of that nature but the issue of quantitative goals on housing is something we are not prepared to address as administrators, and that type of decision should come from this Board and other interests The suggestion is made for the following (1) The establishment of a Fair Housing Committee to monitor goals regarding equal access to housing; (2) Establishment of an individual to be a contact point regarding this aspect between the Committee and MCAD; (3) Establishing goals of affirmative action for future low and moderate income housing residents, e g , scattered sites, elderly housing, Section 8; (4) Reviewing the methodology to determine if there are structural barriers to access to equal housing 385 Selectmen's Meeting - 8 - July 23, 1979 Mr Hutchinson recommended that the Board appoint a Task Force for a short term to address these questions and bring back to the Board a com- pleted plan for submission to MCAD It would seem appropriate to designate member of the Board of Selectmen, Housing Authority, Planning Board, and perhaps some of the people involved before, to get those major agencies identified that have been dealing with the issue Mr Crain questioned the review of methodology being completed by August 30 as that would be very tight Mr Hutchinson said this is something that would be addressed as part of the work program within the plan; that various areas would be investigated for looking at that He did not see how that could be ad- dressed now and he didn't think MCAD expects that; we would say we recognize it and it would be done Mr Busa said before we get into the suggestion of forming a Fair Housing Committee, we should see if the date of August 30 could be extended The Governor is going to come out with his own affirmative action program sometime within the next 10 days to two weeks He had talked with the Governor's office and this is what was indicated to him. If we come out with an affirmative action program that is contrary to what the executive order is, we will be running into a financial problem. Also, the MCAD is now working under the affirmative action policies from the Governor and nothing has been changed to this point, but under the new executive order, MCAD would change their guide- lines He pointed out that the original date had been extended from June 30 to August 30 and, in dealing with the Commonwealth, dates have been extended and extended Mr Busa agreed to the suggestion that he contact the proper author- ity at the proper level for clarification of the August 30 date and the possibility of it being extended Mrs Miley added that this has nothing to do with the Executive Order, only our deadline It was agreed that Mr Busa and the Town Manager will work together and come back to the Board Mrs Battin said at some point we are going to have such a task force no matter when the deadline is, and probably one or two Selectmen should be named She asked Board members to think about it as they should be prepared Mr Hutchinson said Mr Zabin has indicated a continued in- terest in the housing area. Mr Zabin said we should know where the responsibility is going to lie in carrying through the quantitative goals set by Town Meeting HUD is anxious to have a meeting with the Housing Authority people or somebody from the Manager's Office and the Planning Board for clarification, i e what the acquisition of these units in the condominiums involves on fund- ing; additional funding is available for other units but we just can't wait around If we don't do something fairly rapidly, we are going to lose that It might be worthwhile when you consider a task force to think of the function somewhat more broadly than merely one aspect of fair housing Mr Busa said the Housing Authority is working on both the Morrow and Potter's Pond condominiums, scattered sites, and the Woburn Street housing for the elderly That is their quthority and they know what the quantitative goals are that were set down Mr Zabin said the general agency that involves money wants the kind of involvement and we ought to give serious thought to do that Saf Selectmen's Meeting - 9 - July 23, 1979 Mr Buse said the Housing Authority is a separate entity from town government; they have jurisdiction over housing and how to spend the HUD money and under the guidelines that HUD sets out It has absolutely nothing to do with the Planning Board other than the Planning Board setting up the goals for them in the areas of housing for them to implement Mr Zabin said that is a matter of administration but the Selectmen and the Planning Board are responsible for quantitative goals When it comes to the administration of governmental subsidies, the Housing Authority has the only authority to deal with it That is a different question. Mr Zabin retired from the meeting. L__ 3° Selectmen's Meeting - 4 - September 10, 1979 Fair The Board discussed nominees for appointment to the Fair Housing Housing Committee and agreed to appoint six members Committee Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to appoint the Appts following members of the Fair Housing Committee. Robert Pressman, 22 Locust Avenue; Natalie Miller, 18 Liberty Avenue; Albert Zabin (Planning Board Member), 1 Page Road; William Sullivan (Housing Authority Member), 6 Ross Road; Leona Martin, 468 Lowell Street; Jonathan Doran, 153 Grant Street