HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-22-AHTBT-min-exe
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Affordable Housing Trust
Executive Session - Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2024 9:00 am
Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in Ellen Stone room, Cary Hall
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Mark Sandeen, Tiffany
Payne, Linda Prosnitz, William Erickson
Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Liz Rust, RHSO Director;
Mina Makarious, Town Counsel
Executive Session
Exemption 6: To consider the Value of Real Property – Parcel 68-44.
Ms. Tung requested a motion to go into Executive session under Exemption 6 to discuss the
value of Parcel 68-44. The Affordable Housing Trust Chair stated that an open meeting might
have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the town. Mr. Sandeen moved. Ms.
Prosnitz seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call vote (Payne –
yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Tung – yes, Erickson – yes).
Mina Makarious, Town Counsel and the Trustees discussed the challenges and considerations,
and weighed in on the benefits and drawbacks of 99-year lease option versus ownership of the
property.
Mr. Makarious advised on the concept of perpetuity, explaining how it's often used in land deeds
to suggest the property should remain as it is indefinitely, but warned of situations that this could
lead to unintended consequences and legal ambiguities.
There was discussion on impact of local preferences on value, and the legal process of changing
local preferences. The Trustees further discussed the state's role in approving affirmative fair
marketing plans and the requirements of local preference.
There was discussion on how the town’s preference for long term lease or ownership could be
conveyed in the RFP. The Trustees would like to present the RFP for the Select Board’s initial
review in May.
Ms. Tung will ask Ms. Kowalski to prepare a memorandum regarding the staff workload necessary
to support a long-term lease.
Mr. Sandeen moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Mr. Erickson, and on a 5-0 roll call
vote: (Erickson – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Sandeen – yes, Tung – yes, Payne – yes), the executive
session adjourned at 11:23am.
The Affordable Housing Trust meeting adjourned at the conclusion of the Executive session.