Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-28-HPB-min tft Lexington Housing Partnership Board Meeting Minutes for January 28,2020 Attendees: Harriet Cohen,Jeri Foutter, Mary Haskell, Paul Linton, Wendy Manz, Bob Peters, Mark Sandeen, Melinda Walker, Betsey Weiss Absent: Rich McDonough, Melanie Thompson Guests: The Housing Partnership Board (HPB) meeting was chaired by Jeri Foutter and minutes were taken by Harriet Cohen.The meeting was called to order at 6:56 pm. 1. Call to Order 2. Approve Prior Minutes Ms. Walker moved approval of the minutes of July 22, 2019. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion. The motion passed with 4 in favor, 0 against, and 3 abstentions Mr. Peters moved approval of the minutes of November 4, 2019, Mr. Linton seconded the motion.The motion passed with 4 in favor, 0 against, and 3 abstentions. The HPB discussed the minutes of the November 25, 2019 minutes and agreed on updates to the minutes. Ms. Walker moved approval of the minutes. Mr. Peters seconded the motion.The motion passed with 5 in favor, 0 against, and 2 abstentions. 3. Brookline TMA—RE Transfer Fee Brookline has proposed a 2%fee real estate transfer fee (1% buyer, 1% seller) on house sales. The money would go to the Brookline housing trust. Ms. Walker will invite the sponsor of the bill to an HPB meeting to explain what Brookline has done with the bill. 4. Board Member Updates ■ Planning Board The Town has hired a new planning director, Amanda Loomis. She started during the first week in January. She is off to a strong start.The Board is preparing for several zoning articles that will be presented to Town Meeting. The developer has been at the Board several times regarding the former nursing home property. The developer is proposing a Balanced Housing development.The proposal will not come to Town Meeting since it is under the Balanced Housing regulations. ■ LexHAB LexHAB decided not to ask for money at this spring town meeting for the Farmview development (the Lowell Street development). LexHAB withdrew its CPA application for funding. ■ Lexington Housing Authority No update. tft Lexington Housing Partnership Board ■ Council on Aging No update. ■ SPRD Committee The SPRD Committee has not met since the end of October. Ms. Weiss asked Ms. Hai about the next meeting date. Ms. Weiss is hoping it will be soon. ■ Hosmer House working group. The Town will issue an RFP to see if it can find a buyer who will buy the Hosmer House and move it from its current location. 5. Needham Select Board Letter Ms. Foutter had informed Mr. Sandeen of HPB's recommendation not to support the Needham Select Board letter, as it would be detrimental to the creation of affordable housing in Lexington.The Select Board took no action on the Needham Select Board letter. 6. 40111&40S and Planning Board The presentation of information on 40R and 40S to the Planning Board will take place after Spring Town Meeting. 7. Housing Choice Bill Advocacy Ms. Foutter recognized Ms. Weiss' efforts in writing to state officials in support of the Housing Choice Bill. Ms. Weiss called the governor's office in support of the Housing Choice Bill.The letter that Ms. Weiss sent to the governor's office will be discussed at a meeting tonight. Ms. Weiss encouraged everyone on the HPB to contact our state officials to explain the reasons that HPB supports the Housing Choice Bill. She also asked the HPB to send her comments on the proposed letter to the Select Board. 8. Meeting with Town Manager Ms. Weiss and Ms. Cohen will work on a presentation to the Town Manager in advance of a possible meeting with the Town Manager.The presentation will be provided to the HPB for its approval prior to any meeting with the Town Manager. 9. Open Meeting Law Ms. Foutter provided soft and hard copies of the Open Meeting Law presentation from the Lexington Town Counsel.The HPB discussed ways in which we can further ensure that we are fully in compliance with the Open Meeting Law. The discussion will continue at a subsequent meeting. 10. Planning Board: Moderate Income Housing Definition Ms. Rust came to the Planning Board meeting to discuss with the Planning Board a Town-wide definition for moderate income housing.The goal for defining moderate income is to help the effort to supporting workforce housing in Lexington. tft Lexington Housing Partnership Board 11. Planning Board Hearing: Sketch plan for Balanced Housing Proposal for former nursing home property This was discussed earlier in the meeting under the Planning Board update. 12. DHCD ModPHASE Program: $1.6-million award to Lexington Housing Authority Lexington Housing Authority was a recipient of a MoclPHASE grant for modernizing senior housing at Vynebrook Village and for providing additional social services. 13. New Business No new business. 14. Action Items No update on action items. 15. Set Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be on Feb. 27. 16. Adjournment Ms. Walker moved adjournment. Ms. Weiss seconded the motion.The motion was approved unanimously.The meeting adjourned at 8:39 pm.