HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-16-AHTBT-min.pdf
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2025 1:00 pm
Hybrid meeting on Zoom and attended in-person in the Select Board Meeting
Room, Town Office Building
Affordable Housing Trust Board Members present: Elaine Tung, Chair; Linda Prosnitz, Tiffany
Payne, William Erickson
Absent: Mark Sandeen
Staff present: Elizabeth Rust, RHSO Director; Ragi Ramachandran, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 1:12 pm.
1. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report
Mr. Erickson reported that he will be attending the LexHAB meeting scheduled for Sept. 17, 2025.
Ms. Prosnitz reported that the Housing Partnership Board (HPB) has drafted its housing goals.
Ms. Tung had shared the draft goals document for the Trustees review. Ms. Tung will schedule a
joint AHT Available Trustees will attend the HPB meeting on October 9, 2025 and share their
feedback on the goals.
Ms. Tung updated the Trustees that the Select Board’s review of Trust goals will possibly be on
Oct. 17, 2025.
Ms. Rust stated that she will provide an update on Edgewood at Meriam Hill lottery application
results after the application period closes on Sept. 19, 2025.
Ms. Prosnitz and Ms. Tung will attend the MAPC meeting of the Affordable Housing Trusts in the
MAGIC sub region, on Sept. 18, 2025, to be held in Lexington Police Department Community
Room.
Ms. Tung will share the notice from 331 Concord Ave developer on minor modification to their
site plan, to be presented at the Planning Board meeting on Oct. 8, 2025.
2. Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 Update
Ms. Tung stated that the Select Board has received a letter from Causeway Development
requesting approval of their design modifications, presented to the Trust ees at the AHT meeting
on Sept. 4, 2025. Causeway will be presenting to the Select Board on Sept. 29 , 2025.
The Trustees reviewed the draft memo from Affordable Housing Trust to the Select Board in
support of Causeway’s design modifications. A few changes were noted . Ms. Tung will
incorporate the changes and submit final memo to the Select Board for their September 29
meeting.
3. Tenant Support
Ms. Payne shared the update from the Resident Support working group’s meeting with Human
Services department staff. There was discussion on current assistance programs and how the
Trust’s proposed rental assistance pilot program might complement or differ from existing
services.
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Ms. Payne and Ms. Prosnitz explained that Human Services provides one-time emergency
financial assistance to Lexington residents who have lived in the area for at least 12 months with
eligibility determined by income and residency proof. The group discussed operational det ails
about whether applicants should be required to first exhaust Human Services' one-month rental
arrears assistance before accessing the new 6-month rental assistance program. Ms. Rust noted
that other towns typically don't require a sequential application process.
Bob Pressman inquired about the town's budget for Human Services. Ms. Prosnitz responded
that Human Services have their own budget for the services they support.
Ms. Rust stated that she can provide RHSO cost estimates for administering the tenant support
program once program details, timeline, and budget are finalized.
The Trustees reviewed the Resident Support working group’s presentation of their proposed
programs. There was discussion on program eligibility criteria, and data available from Human
Services on the housing needs in town. The Trustees emphasized the importance of
understanding local needs. Ms. Tung suggested if they could obtain relevant data on housing
needs and demands from Human Services, while being mindful of confidentiality concerns, that
this data would be very helpful
Ms. Prosnitz and Ms. Payne will continue to develop the tenant support program parameters and
implementation details. The working group will prepare a visual chart comparing Human Services
assistance programs, RAFT, and the Trust's proposed tenant support program.
4. Adjourn
Ms. Tung requested a motion to adjourn the Affordable Housing Trust Meeting. Ms. Prosnitz
moved. Mr. Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 4-0-0, by roll call vote
(Payne – yes, Prosnitz- yes, Erickson- yes, Tung- yes)
The meeting adjourned at 2:40 pm.
List of documents reviewed
Tenant Support program draft – presentation