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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-09-HPB-min.pdfLexington Housing Partnership Board Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Meeting Minutes for October 9, 2025 Attendees: Nanette Byrnes, Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Harriet Cohen (Clerk), Ravneet Grewal, Wendy Manz (Chair), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Joyce Murphy, Melanie Thompson, Betsey Weiss (Vice -Chair) Sandra Hackman — COA representative Absent: Cindy Arens (Sustainable Lexington), Margaret Heitz, Vineet Kumar (Select Board liaison), Sarah Morrison (LexHAB) Guests: Sandra Hackman, Jay Luker, Carol Kowalski (Assistant Town Manager for Development), Carol Marine, Tiffany Payne, Bob Pressman, Linda Prosnitz, Tom Shiple, Russ Tanner, Elaine Tung, Melinda Walker The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Wendy Manz and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen. The meeting was held remotely. 1. Call to Order: Housing Partnership Board Meeting Ms. Manz called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm. The roll was called. 2. Welcome AHT, LHA and LexHAB to join our discussion on the draft compendium Ms. Manz welcomed the AHT, LHA, and LexHAB to the meeting and stated that the purpose of the meeting is to review the draft compendium of housing strategies that will be provided to the Select Board per their request. Ms. Tung provided the AHT's comments on the compendium. The AHT is concerned about the lack of reference to affordable housing, which is a critical need within Town. As noted by Ms. Tung, Carol Kowalski considers the greatest need to be housing for residents at 80% or lower of Area Media Income (AMI). Ms. Tung then provided comments on specific sections of the compendium. These comments highlighted the AHT's concerns regarding the document. Ms. Manz thanked Ms. Tung for her comments which the HPB then discussed. Ms. Walker informed the HPB of two development projects that are in the pre -development stage for LHA properties in town. The projects have been made possible by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. An LLC has been created. It will allow the redevelopment of 17 scattered single-family sites and the conversion of 60 units at Countryside Village from a federal public housing program to a project -based voucher program. The cost of this program is approximately $14 million dollars. The LHA will apply to the AHT for pre -development funding, which is critical to the success of the project. It is extremely important that housing organizations in Lexington support this application. Mr. Tanner positioned LexHAB as the only non-profit provider in Lexington providing extremely low- and very low-income units as rentals. LexHAB provides units for people at 30% to 80% of AMI. This is a challenging operational model. Mr. Tanner provided LexHAB's feedback on and suggestions for the compendium document. Ms. Tung suggested including a representative of the Vision for Lexington Committee. She has spoken with Carol Marine, who is a member of the committee and would be glad to participate. Lexington Housing Partnership Board The attendees then discussed whether to use the term "affordable housing" or another term indicating housing for people below certain AMI levels. Ms. Byrnes suggested including workforce housing in the document. Ms. Byrnes also expressed her concern about having specific measurable housing goals with time periods attached because the state of housing is a fluid situation. Ms. Hackman suggested a home -share program in which older adults are matched with people (for example, college students) looking for rooms to rent. Boston has been running a successful pilot program. Ms. Hackman noted that such a program would require some support from Lexington, to vet the participants and create an online system for matching older adults with students or others looking for housing. The HPB then discussed next steps for the compendium, with a focus on the presentation at the Select Board meeting. The HPB agreed to ask the Select Board to postpone the presentation on Oct. 17 and that the HPB would met on Oct. 21 to continue progress on the compendium. Ms. Grewal left the meeting. 3. Oct. 4th Town's Board and Bootcamp Recap Ms. Manz relayed the discussion at the Bootcamp about the functioning of working groups and subcommittees. 4. Review the HPB Town Annual Report Draft Paul reviewed the document and made a minor update. Betsey/Nanette motion to approve town report. Unanimous, see screen shot at 8:00. <2:07:42> Ms. Weiss moved approval of the report to the Town. Ms. Byrnes seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Manz Against: <none> Abstain: <none> 5. Update on the Oct. 30th Roundtable The Housing Needs Assessment is the jumping off point for the presentation and discussion at the meeting. Ms Byrnes said that the location, time, and speaker line up is set. Work is starting on promotion, including a large mailing by Ms. Weiss to Town boards and committees. The presentation will be held on Oct. 30 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Ms. Byrnes will send the invitation to the HPB and the HPB interest list and will ask the recipients to distribute it to their networks. 6. Brief discussion of our proposed request to the Select Board to change the status of COA, LHA, and AHT See recording at about 2:16 for AHT status. Ms. Hackman said that she would act as the COA liaison while the COA is trying to find a representative to be a full member of the HPB. As such, the HPB decided to keep the COA as a member rather than requesting a change in status to liaison. The HPB agreed that the LHA should move to liaison status, given the lack of an LHA Lexington Housing Partnership Board representative to date. Ms. Weiss moved that an AHT representative be added as a liaison to the HPB and that the LHA status be changed from member to liaison. Ms. Murphy seconded. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Manz Against: <none> Abstain: <none> 7. Brief discussion of town properties which may be subject to development - The Town had previously identified 17 tracts of land owned by Lexington as potential residential opportunities. Mr. Linton shared the spreadsheet listing those tracts. One of those tracts, 591 Lowell Street, is currently being developed as affordable housing. Unfortunately, there is very little Town of Lexington -owned land available for new residential development. 8. Liaison Reports none 9. Review and Approve Sept. 11 minutes Ms. Weiss moved approval of the minutes. Mr. Linton seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Manz Against: <none> Abstain: <none> 10. New Business Ms. Weiss asked for volunteers to help Ms. Cohen with the minutes. The HPB discussed using Al for the minutes. The HPB members will review the Al meeting summary and determine whether, with edits, it is adequate for the meeting minutes. 11. Set next meeting date The HPB will meet on Oct. 21 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. 12. HPB Adjournment Ms. Weiss moved adjournment. Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. In favor: Ms. Weiss, Mr. Hornig, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Byrnes, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Manz Against: <none> Abstain: <none> The meeting adjourned at 8:39 pm.