HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-23-AHTBT-min.pdf
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of October 23, 2025 11:00 am
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; Tiffany Payne, Linda
Prosnitz, William Erickson, Mark Sandeen
Staff present: Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development; Ragi Ramachandran,
Administrative Assistant; Elizabeth Rust, RHSO Director
Ms. Tung chaired the hybrid meeting and called the meeting to order at 11:04 am.
1. Approve Meeting Minutes
There were no meeting minutes to approve.
2. Chair, Select Board, Board/Committee Liaison and RHSO/staff report
Mr. Erickson mentioned that LexHAB’s fund raiser event was scheduled for that night at
Community Arts Center on Waltham Street.
Ms. Payne reported that Lexington Housing Authority will be meeting next in November.
Ms. Prosnitz stated that the Housing Partnership Board continued their work on housing policies
and strategies, refining the goals and identifying priorities. Their priorities were affordable
housing, more diverse housing types, and outreach and communication. The HPB is forming
subcommittees to focus on each of the priorities.
Ms. Rust updated on the closing of the affordable ownership unit at 2 Judges Road.
Ms. Tung shared information on the Housing Roundtable hosted by the Housing Partnership
Board and scheduled for Oct. 30, 2025.She encouraged anyone interested to attend the event.
3. Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 Update
Ms. Tung stated that Causeway Development has submitted its application to the Zoning Board
of Appeals and the hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2025. Written public comments are
due by Nov. 6, 2025, at 4:30pm.
The Trustees reviewed the AHT support letter they had prepared during Project Eligibility Letter
phase. They agreed to submit a revised version of the support letter for AHT’s public comment
for ZBA hearing.
4. Rental Assistance
Ms. Payne and Ms. Prosnitz presented the Rental Assistance Comparison Chart comparing the
State funded RAFT program, Lexington-specific LEAF program managed by the Human Services
Department, and AHT’s proposed rental assistance program.
The Affordable Housing Trust’s pilot program aims to provide up to 6 months of rental assistance
to Lexington residents under 80% AMI who are experiencing financial hardship with the goal of
reducing their cost burden. The Trustees reviewed the program specifics, eligibility criterion and
process to administer the program. They discussed the need to distinguish AHT’s pilot program
and to not duplicate other existing programs offered by RAFT and Human Services.
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The Trustees brainstormed preparing program documents including application forms and
participation agreements for rental assistance program.
Ms. Rust explained the administrative role of RHSO that it would process applications and
prepare documents. They will not distribute funds, and the Town will handle payments.
The working group agreed to further clarify the rental assistance program criteria, administrative
responsibilities, and metrics for tracking outcomes. They will discuss with Human Services to
clarify roles and responsibilities for rental assistance program administration.
The working group agreed to send out a comprehensive rental assistance program to the other
Trustees so that the Trustees can review the materials before the next Trust meeting.
Executive Session
Ms. Tung moved to go into Executive session under Exemption 6 to consider the purchase or
lease of real property regarding the MBTA Multi-Family Development Buy-downs. The
Affordable Housing Trust Chair stated that, in her opinion, an open session would have a
detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town and Affordable Housing Trust. Ms.
Tung stated that the Trust will reconvene in the open session after the Executive session. Ms.
Prosnitz seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call vote (Erickson
– yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Payne – yes, Tung – yes).
The Trust exited the open session at 12:26 pm, and following the Executive session reconvened
in open session at 12:49 pm.
5. CPC Application
Ms. Tung shared the detailed analysis of waitlists for affordable housing in Lexington, received
from Ms. Rust.
The Trustees reviewed the draft FY27 CPA application and draft AHT BB Financials spreadsheet.
The Trustees discussed budget projections in detail. They debated how to accurately reflect the
funding requests in the budget while maintaining a balanced presentation for CPC.
The Trustees shared their inputs to the draft CPA application and draft Financials spreadsheet.
Ms. Tung will update the documents based on the discussions.
After deliberation, the Trustees agreed to submit AHT’s FY27 funding request to CPC in the
amount of $3,200,000.
Ms. Tung requested a motion for the Affordable Housing Trust to submit an application to
Community Preservation Committee in the amount of $3,200,000. Ms. Prosnitz moved. Mr.
Erickson seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call vote (Erickson
– yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes, Payne – yes, Tung – yes).
Mr. Erickson moved that the Affordable Housing Trust authorizes the Chair, Ms. Tung to
compile the presentation to CPC, based on previous discussions the Trust had and knowing the
landscape the Trust has going forward. Ms. Prosnitz seconded. The Trustees voted in favor of
the motion 5-0-0, by a roll call vote (Payne – yes, Erickson – yes, Sandeen – yes, Prosnitz – yes,
Tung – yes).
6. Adjourn
Mr. Sandeen moved to adjourn the Affordable Housing Trust Meeting. Ms. Payne seconded. The
Trustees voted in favor of the motion 5-0-0, by roll call vote (Erickson – yes, Payne – yes, Sandeen
– yes, Prosnitz – yes, Tung – yes)
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 pm.
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List of documents reviewed
1. AHT PEL Support Letter Parcel 68-44
2. Rental Assistance Comparison Chart
3. Rental Assistance – Municipalities
4. AHT Rental Assistance Summary
5. FY27 CPA Application draft
6. AHT BB Financials Spreadsheet draft