HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-17-AHTBT-min.pdf
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Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes of November 17, 2025 10:00 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; William Erickson, Mark
Sandeen, Linda Prosnitz, Tiffany Payne
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 10:05 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 updated on LexHAB’s site visit of 10 properties in Lexington for potential ADU
development. He reported that LexHAB is considering applying to the State for money to support
the ADU development.
Ms. Payne shared updates from Lexington Housing Authority's meeting. LHA discussed potential
development plans for two of their properties. Ms. Tung attended the LHA meeting and shared
an update from a presentation from a consultant from the Cambridge Housing Authority
including rough estimates for redevelopment of two of LHA’s sites. LHA is discussing applying to
the Affordable Housing Trust for funding support if they were to move forward with the
redevelopment.
Mr. Sandeen expressed concern over a recently filed MA House bill, No. H.4744 Section 7 of the
Bill, would eliminate Mass Save incentives for for-profit affordable housing developers,
potentially impacting LIHTC projects and MBTA developments in Lexington.
Ms. Rust and the Trustees discussed the moderate-income homeownership opportunity for the
unit at Linc Cole Lane for a household with an income level of 150%AMI.
Ms. Prosnitz stated that the Housing Partnership Board will meet on Nov. 20, 2025, and she will
report after the meeting.
Ms. Tung shared the update from the Affordable Housing Trust’s presentation to Community
Preservation Committee at the CPC meeting on Nov. 13, 2025.
3. FY2026 Goals
The Trustees discussed the Affordable Housing Trust’s FY26 goals. Ms. Tung referred to MHP’s
Housing Navigator tool for gathering housing data. The Housing Navigator is working with
Lexington on a pilot program. They were hoping that they could show other communities how
the tool can be used to help communities establish their needs with respect to affordable housing
and housing, in general.
The Trustees discussed the data collection challenges with Housing Navigator, noting
discrepancies between different sources and concerns around confidentiality agreements.
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4. Resident Support
The Trustees reviewed the proposed rental assistance program and discussed the program design
and administration in detail. The Trustees shared their feedback which the working group agreed
to incorporate the comments. There was discussion on asset limit requirements for program
eligibility and the lottery process.
Ms. Kowalski explained two potential operational models with respect to Town operations – one
where Human Services would serve as the front door and work with RHSO which would qualify
applicants, calculate awards, and prepare invoices, and another where Metro West Collaborative
Development would perform all the intake, administration and monitoring.
Dana Bickelman, Human Services Director, discussed the role of the Human Services Department.
During discussions it was clarified that Human Services would refer applicants to the RHSO for
eligibility screening. RHSO would process applications and determine the award amounts.
The group discussed the need for a single town department to handle referrals, participation
agreements, and financial processes.
Ms. Tung will contact Metro West Collaborative Development to get information and cost
estimates for rental assistance program administration.
Ms. Payne will share her concerns on eligibility criteria so that the Trustees can review the
concerns before the next meeting.
Ms. Kowalski will confirm whether procurement would be needed if RHSO were to administer
the program.
The group reviewed the rental assistance cost estimate from RHSO and expressed concern with
the cost. Ms. Rust stated she would take another look at the administrative cost numbers and
assumptions for the rental assistance program.
The Trust agreed to finalize the rental assistance program design and administrative details at
the next Trust meeting on Dec. 1, 2025.
5. 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 12:32 pm.
List of documents reviewed
1. Unified AHT Housing Goals and Strategies
2. Rental Assistance Program, Program Design Proposal 11-17-25
3. Summary of alternatives for Town operations, rental assistance program
4. Rental Assistance Estimate RHSO 11.16.25