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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-29-HPB.min Lexington Housing Partnership Meeting Minutes for August 29, 2007 Attendees: Lexington Housing Partnership members: Winifred McGowan, Florence Baturin, Mary Haskell, Ken Kreutziger, Bob Bicknell, Harriet Cohen, Art Katz, Iris Wheaton, Paul Linton, Chris Eaton, Melinda Walker, Bob Carlson Liaison from the Board of Selectmen: Norm Cohen Bob Bicknell chaired the meeting; Harriet Cohen took the minutes. The meeting was called to order at 7:12 pm. 1. Open Meeting The approval of the May minutes was approved unanimously, with one abstention, pending the correction of Ms. Walker’s name. 2. Review committee appointments by Selectmen The Lexington Housing Partnership (“the Partnership”) terms for the following people will end in September: Florence Baturin, Bob Carlson, Julia Duncan, Mary Haskell, Bob Bicknell, Art Katz, Inky MacDougal If they are willing to server another term, Mr. Bicknell will submit their names to the Selectmen for re-appointment. Ms. Cohen noted that she was appointed to represent the Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee, and that Committee has been disbanded. Ms. Bicknell said that he would address the issue with the Selectmen and seek to have Ms. Cohen appointed directly to the Partnership. 3. Brief Subcommittee Reports Communications Committee – Florence Baturin, Chris Eaton, Jeri Foutter Ms. Baturin reported that she had spoken with Susan A. O’Keefe, branch manager of the ? local Brookline Bank, who said that if the Partnership is seeking funding for large projects, it should submit a proposal. The proposal form is on their web site. Mr. Bicknell will work with Ms. Baturin on submitting a proposal with the Lexington Housing Partnership goals and plans. Posters have been distributed, but many have been removed. ? Web Site Development – Paul Linton All of the infrastructure changes have been made. Mr. Linton is seeking input for posting ? on the site and updates for information currently on the site. A list of members of the Partnership will be posted after the Selectmen make the reappointments. 4. League of Women Voters Housing Study The League is hosting a regional affordable housing study group meeting in Cary Hall on Oct 2 from 7:00pm to 9:00m. Lexington Housing Partnership 5. Discuss Judi Barrett’s final report on Affordable Housing Buy-Down Assistance Changes were responsive to the Partnership’s request for an update report. The Partnership reviewed the quality and content of the report favorably. The title on Map 2 is not consistent with the legend: the title says age of housing and legend shows the years in which the houses were built. Mr. Bicknell will ask Ms. Barrett to make the title consistent with the legend. There was a concern about the definition of median housing. Ms. Haskell will follow up with Ms. Barrett. It was pointed out that the monitoring that Ms. Barrett recommended is critical. In other towns, the affordable housing programs were not monitored and this has caused serious problems. A motion was made to accept the report with changes as described above. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Discuss Plans for Moving Forward – Including proposal to CPC The Partnership agreed that the buy-down program was an expensive way to provide Affordable Housing. The Partnership discussed alternative approaches, including small increases in housing density in appropriate areas, friendly “40B” housing proposals, and purchasing land for development. Mr. Bicknell said that Mr. Harden has been in touch with a state elected official who could provide some insight into affordable housing program alternatives. Mr. Bicknell suggested the formation of a sub-committee that would begin planning a proposal for presentation to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to request funds for affordable housing. He is soliciting volunteers and will be forming the sub-committee. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. The next meeting is Thursday, September 27, Room G-15 Town Hall, 7-9pm.