HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-28-FHHR-min.pdf Minutes
Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee
February 28, 2001
Present: Florence Baturin(secretary pro tem), Jeff Collins, Margaret Cole, Beverly
Goodridge, Jean Hibino, Tom Montanari, Chang-Sheng Time and Steve Baran (staff)
Absent: Michelle Ekanem, Jed Snyder, and Pat Taylor
Guests: Christine Chase and Ron Cordes
Selectmen's liaison: Cathy Abbott
The meeting was called to order at 7:50 p.m. by Tom Montanari, co-chair
Ron Cordes, Bedford Housing Partnership.
Ron Cordes, from Bedford, spoke about the Bedford Housing Partnership. History
Bedford has a Fair Housing Committee, which is a watchdog group, a Human Relations
Council, and an Affordable Housing Committee (advocacy group). About four years ago
there was money floating around which needed a charitable organization to hold the
money The decision was made to put together a Housing Trust.
The Bedford Housing partnership, established by a town by-law, is composed of 5
members from Affordable Housing Committee, 5 members from Hari Housing Com., 1
member from Housing Authority and 8 a-large members appointed by the Selectmen.
The partnership is a stable organization. The chair is elected by the 19 members. The
Partnership has become a umbrella group.
Housing Trust is a membership corporation of 19 members (partnership members). The
Partnership and the Trust meet once a month; one follows the other on the same night.
The Partnership has no bank account and handles anything not money centered. It5's
purpose is the research arm; it select tenants.
Money was expended to purchase market rate units and make them affordable in
perpetuity Tenant selection is by a blind lottery
The Housing Authority is the statutory arm. Tenants are ethnically and racially diverse.
This is achieved by advertising in minority markets.
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The Housing Partnership get money from developers who prefer to pay rather than give
( land.
Bedford has approximately 6% (220 or 230) deed restricted units, and is about 140 units
short of 10%.
Before the Partnership was formed, there was no connection between groups.
The Partnership was the key player in pushing for Community Preservation Act. It went
to the Selectmen and offered to do the legwork to get it on the ballot. If it passes at this
year's town election, Bedford will be the 1d CPA community
For Community Preservation Act (CPA), a town can set a surcharge of up to 3% on sales
of homes; State will match dollar for dollar with money from title transfers. Town can
exempt 3% on commercial property, any household where incomes are below 80% of
median area income, and head of household is over 60 A town can exempt first
$200,000 of valuation.
Use of money. 10% must be spent on Affordable Housing, 10% on Historic preservation
and 10% on Open space.
Steps necessary for a town to adopt the CPA, ballot question at regulation election, once
passed, town legislative body must adopt a bylaw to establish a Community Preservation
Committee; with 1 member from Historical corn, one from affordable housing, one a park
commissioner, and remaining 5 other people chosen by Selectmen.
A community owns the CPA money, it must recommend how to spend it and Town
Meeting may not amend the decision.
Every year, Town Meeting can adjust percentage of surcharge; it must be 3% to get state
funds.
3 members of the partnership put together a business plan.
Note Taking Arrangement:
There was agreement to rotate note-taking responsibilities, rotating alphabetically and
making adjustments for the summer months when we do not meet.
Affordable Housing Conference:
Cathy Abbott arranged to have 5 registrations paid for thru the town.
Several members expressed interest in attending.
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re-
Article
Article for Minuteman:
There was discussion about edits requested by the editor Hopefully the article will
( appear in the March 1s` issues of the Lexington Minuteman. Tom thanked subcommittee
members, and agreed to call the Minuteman to clarify their policy regarding edits to
columns.
Update on No Place for Hate Campaign:
Cathy Abbott stated there was nothing to report since our December meeting.
Anti-Defamation cards have been distributed to police department.
Focus of March meeting:
Tom asked Committtee members to look at our charge and find avenues for our work. In
March, we will develop an action plan and consider forming sub-committees (such as
CPA, creating more affordable housing).
Method for sending out agenda and minutes:
There was agreement to e-mail minutes and notices of meeting to Committee members.
Notetaker will e-mail minutes to Steve Baran; and to call Steve if e-messages re March
meeting is not received by March 12.
The group agreed to go into executive session at 9:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Florence A. Baturin
Secretary pro tem