Westport News

Meeting was called to order at 12:03.  Present: Dianne Baron (DB), Elaine Ostroff (EO), Warren Messier (WM), Brian Corey, Jr. (BC),Catherine Williams (CW), Liz Collins (Liz).  Absent:  Craig Dutra

The minutes of November 22, 2010 were unanimously approved.

 Discussion of interviewees for Housing Specialist Position.  Letter submitted by Leonardi Aray was read to the Board.  After discussion of pros and cons of each candidate there was a unanimous decision to hire Leornardi Aray.  DB to notify both candidates of the decision of the Board.

Housing Office to be vacated by Donna Lambert.  Liz to find out about the office status and business cards and arrange for letterhead to be made.

DB will work with Attorney Kathleen O"Donnell on formulating a contract for Leonardi with an anticipated start date at the beginning of 2011.  Motion by BC, second by WM to allow DB to execute contract with Leonardi.  DB to contact Mike Coughlin and apprise him of contract.

Noquochoke Village.  Liz reported that the RFP has been completed.  Must insert dates once decide to post.  Attorney Sherrin Everett will put in the online Central Register and has given Liz the steps to take.  The subcommittee (EO, BC and Liz) to get together and make a plan for the process for the RFP.  Need to schedule a meeting with the abutters.  There have been phone calls and emails from people interested in living there.  Discussion of publicizing Noquochoke and creating a list of interested people.  Decision to send out an invitation to abutters to come to a meeting at the same time the RFP is published.  Hope to have developer submissions in by June.  Subcommittee scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 1/4/11 at 10AM in the Annex to discuss next steps.

Meeting Time.  Discussion of a possible change in meeting time to evenings.  Decision to keep daytime schedule but televise.  Dianne to speak to Valerie about possibility of televising meeting.

Habitat for Humanity.  CW reported that Fall River Habitat for Humanity is not meeting.  They are waiting for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to act and don’t want to meet until they have a project.  Buzzards Bay Habitat for Humanity is working on a project in Wareham now and has a potential project in Marion.  Cape Cod Habitat is a very active group.  CW will speak with its director face to face after the holidays.

Next Meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2011 at noon at the Town Hall Annex.  It is hoped that Leonardi and the Town Planner will attend.  Meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Dianne Baron.