Westport News

Affordable Housing Trust Fund  (AHT)

Westport Housing Partnership

Approved Joint Meeting Minutes

March 31, 2011

Present:  Warren Messier (WM), Elaine Ostroff (EO), Catherine Williams, Acting Chair (CW), Liz Collins (LC), Leonardi Aray (Housing Specialist, LA).  Brian Corey, Jr. (BC) arrived at 1:25 pm.  Betty Slade (BS)as volunteer Clerk.

Absent:  Chair Dianne Baron (DB), Craig Dutra (CD)

The meeting was called to order by CW at 12:22 when WM arrived to provide a quorum.  The meeting was videotaped.

Minutes of February 24, 2011.  LC moved, EO seconded to postpone approval of the minutes until the arrival of DB.  The vote was unanimous.

Noquochoke Village.  LA distributed  several documents, copies of which are attached to these minutes, for information and discussion by the members.  (Appendix 1, 2, 3a, 3b, and 4).  LA noted that there had been a site visit to Noquochoke and a  briefing on March 18. CW, EO and LA attended.  Two developers and a consultant attended as noted on Appendix 1.  Following that visit, the attendees met with BC and LC.  The attendees asked how the town could help them.  LA noted that other towns are doing a lot to attract developers and this may be reflected in the attendees questions.  (See Appendix 2 on Questions During Site Visit.)  Six persons picked up RFPs.  There is no cutoff date.  No one attended the second site visit scheduled on March 24th.

LC noted that one of the questions had to do with maintenance of the "open space" part of the site.  LC, LA and BC talked with the Westport Land Conservation Trust( WLCT) director Peggy Stevens and they walked the site.  Ms. Stevens said that the WLCT would be interested in partnering with the AHT on this project and would investigate further.  She suggested that the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) might provide funds for purchase of a conservation restriction.  She also stated that there was a possibility for a forestry program to be set up there.  EO moved and LC seconded a motion to authorize the preparation of a proposal on a forestry management Plan by Ms. Stevens. Further it was moved that the Town has to apply for grant monies for this and the deadline is April 30.  The vote was unanimous to follow through.  EO noted it was necessary to get on the Board of Selectmen (BOS) agenda on Monday night to get their approval of such a move.  Although AHT is controlling the use of the property now, it needs the blessing of the BOS and a statement of support for the AHT in exercising this authority.

It was noted that there has been a lot of dumping, particularly of tires on the property.  Since it is town property, the BOS is responsible and should be informed.  It was suggested that boulders be placed at the alternative entry locations as there are at one entry.

It was noted that the so-called Perry House should be demolished. [PS I checked and the house is not on the Westport Historic Inventory, so there is no problem with the Demolition By-law.]  It was suggested the Highway Surveyor could demolish it.  It was noted that Campbell Engineering is finished with the clean-up and is meeting with DEP who had done the necessary sampling.  A report from DEP is expected, and only monitoring of wells is left.

Given all these concerns, EO moved and WM seconded that the AHT ask for the next available spot on the BOS agenda to discuss demolition of the Perry house, the Clean-up situation for 21E issues and current dumping at Noquochoke Village.  The motion carried in an unanimous vote.

The abutters have been notified of the RFP situation.  See Communications No. 2 (Appendix 3a) and Communications No. 3 (Appendix 3b).   EO suggested that the words  "Communication No." be in larger type.  LA noted that an abutter called and asked about the RFP.  An abutter at the School Street property also was interested in the Noquochoke RFP.  It was noted that the ideas abutters bring to the AHT can be very helpful.

The community meeting date had been moved from March 31 to April 21, but it was noted that the facilities manager at Macomber School had not been contacted and that April 21 was in a school holiday week.  BS checked with Kim Oullette and found that April 21 was not possible.  LC moved, WM seconded a motion to move the meeting to April 28, at 7 pm at the Macomber School.  The vote in favor  was unanimous.  Later another motion by LC, seconded by EO, moved that the Noquochoke community meeting be on April 28 and the School Street community meeting be on May 4, and the vote was unanimous in favor. [BS, upon instructions from the AHT, booked April 28 for the Noquochoke and May 4 for the School Street meetings.  Kim Oullette forwarded the forms to BS who sent them to CW who  filed the forms and made the arrangements.  LA was to notify the abutters of the changes.]

Wetlands Delineation.    LA has reviewed the three proposals for a wetlands delineation of the property.  These are Appendix 5 (Boucher & Heureaux,Inc), Appendix 6 (Tibbetts Engineering) and Appendix 7 (SITEC).  After discussion, LC moved, WM seconded, to accept the bid of  SITEC, as qualified, the low bidder, and would not  charge for local meetings, and the vote was unanimous in favor.  The bill for the services will come to the AHT.  It was noted that it should be made clear to the abutters and others that the AHT is only gathering information on this property and has made no decisions as to whether to move on developing this project.

LA presented a table of case studies from around the state.  (See Appendix 8.)   LA noted he will talk with Habitat for Humanity.

Grid of key issues in RFP Development for School Street.  This was passed over due to time constraints.  See Appendix 9.

Warrant Article for Transfer of School Street Property to AHT.

Payment for property to the Town. DB, BC and EO have been communicating with Sherrin Everett, Town Counsel, about the warrant article to turn the School Street property over to the AHT.  Ms. Everett noted that a statement of payment should be in the article, but DB has noted to her that the AHT cannot make payments to the town with CPA funds.   BC offered to pay $1 as a source of a payment to the town.  EO moved, LC seconded and the vote was unanimous to accept the $1 from BC and to put that amount into the article.

Is a simple majority or 2/3rd vote necessary to transfer the property?  Ms. Everett states that a 2/3 majority would be necessary if there is any kind of "deed restriction" on the property.  BC noted that SITEC would do deed research as part of the Wetlands Delineation to determine if there is a restriction and that would give the answer to that query.  It was noted that no restriction had been found so far.

Update on LA Tasks and Deliverables.  Passed over because of time constraints. (See Appendix  10.)

Update on CPC meeting.  CW said she had no comments as nothing had changed.  It was noted that CPC has a public hearing on April 14 at 7:10 and at the minimum CW will be there to give a summary.  WM noted it is not necessary to bring documentation, as the CPC members will be asked to bring any documentation they might need.

Update on Office.  The housing office at Town Hall is up and running with LA there 1 day a week.  Noone else has been occupying the office at the times LA is present.  LA will check with Diane Pelland, secretary of the BOS, about a key to the door, use of the phone and the computer.

Identify Revenue Sources.  CD had suggested that if might be useful if BC could arrange a luncheon for some lawyers involved in affordable housing who might be aware of some land and buildings that could be donated.  BC agreed to look into it.

Homebuyer program.  LA submitted a document but it was not discussed.  See Appendix 11.

EO suggested that information about the community meetings should be placed in all the cubbyholes at the Selectmen's office.

LC moved and EO seconded a motion that all minutes should also go to the Town Clerk in a form that she could specify.  This passed unanimously.

The next meeting will be on April 28 at Macomber School at 6:30 to set up for the community meeting at 7 pm for the Noquochoke abutters.  Following that there will be a community meeting on May 4 at 6:30 at the Macomber School for the School Street abutters.

BC moved, and EO seconded a motion to adjourn at 2:05 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Betty Slade,

Acting Clerk