Westport News

Westport Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHT)
Westport Housing Partnership (WHP)
Joint Meeting Minutes
January 27, 2011

 

Members Present:  Dianne Baron (DB), Liz Collins (LC), Warren Messier (WM), Elaine Ostroff (EO),Catherine Williams (CW)

 

Members Absent:  Brian Corey, Jr. (BC), Craig Dutra (CD)

 

Others Present:
Leonardi Aray, (LA)Housing Specialist
Betty Slade, Volunteer Clerk

 

DB, chair, called the meeting to order at 12:40 pm.

 

DB introduced the recently-hired Housing Specialist for the Town of Westport, Leonardi Aray (LA).  Mr. Aray had met with EO, LC and BC previously to be introduced to the Noquochoke project.

 

DB stated that the Trust needs to develop a timetable for the proposed warrant articles for Town Meeting.

 

December 16, 2010 minutes.  LC moved, and WM seconded a motion to approve the minutes as written.  EO made two suggestions for amendments.  Identify "Kathleen" as Attorney Kathleen O'Donnell" and to write "Online Central Register" instead of "central register."  CW suggested under the section "Habitat for Humanity" that the words "Housing Trust" be substituted for the word "Board."   LC revised her motion to include the amendments with a second by EO, and the minutes were approved with amendments in a unanimous vote.

 

LC noted for the record that she had talked with Mike Coughlin (Town Administrator) about the use of the Housing Office in Town Hall by the Housing Specialist.  She learned that a final decision about the use of the Office by the Animal Control Officer (Donna Lambert) had not been made. 

 

CW suggested that the police substation on Rte 6 appeared unused.  She was assured by LC and WM that the police were still using that facility and paying for phone and electricity, and given the police use, it was unlikely it could be shared with others.  EO moved, and CW seconded, a motion to identify a location in the North End of Westport for opportunities for public education and meetings.  The motion passed in a unanimous vote.  Certain places were mentioned:  Greenwood Terrace and the American Legion Hall as possibilities.  EO asked that everyone think of possible venues.

 

Priorities for FY 12 Action Plan.  LA handed out a proposed newsletter that could be sent to abutters of the Noquochoke and School Street properties and to others, as well as post on the Town of Westport website.  The draft version is attached as Attachment 1.  LA stated that it was proposed to identify topics covered on the left hand side of the page with explanations on the right hand side.  This newsletter would provide an introduction to the fact that there is now a Housing Specialist available and his contact points.  The idea was well received by the Trust and encouraged.  A few suggestions were made:  (a) Put the phone number in the housing office at Town Hall as part of the heading, (b) put a statement that the housing office should be up and running in March, change "six" to "five" months since a month has passed, and under (2) Instead of "Review" put "Update."  LA will make those adjustments, and send to the trust and the clerk.  This newsletter will be posted online, sent to abutters via mail, and put in a press release.  Consideration of use of email in the future was suggested.  LA also can determine abutters through the GIS survey online which will allow him to print out mailing labels also.

 

It was decided that DB will take LA to meet Diane Pelland, confidential secretary to the Board of Selectmen (BOS), after today's meeting.  They will determine if there is voice mail capability on the phone and other matters relating to the housing office.  LC noted that Diane has ordered calling cards for LA.

 

It was decided to ask for a place on the BOS agenda for February 21 to introduce LA to the Board, and allow for an update on the RFP by LC for Noquochoke and the AHT action plan.  DB will make those arrangements.

 

LA has been in touch with a volunteer at the University of Rhode Island who would like to work with LA as a type of intern for on-the-job training.  DB will send the name to the Trust.   There was agreement that such a volunteer would be a good idea. 

 

BS was asked to remain as Volunteer Clerk for the time being and she agreed.

 

Priorities for FY12 Action Plan 

 

EO stated that she had a procedural question relating to CPA funding.  What action does the AHT have to take with regard to the CPC since funding will be carried through to the next fiscal year?  WM said that it is possible to carry funds forward, but that the AHT should update the CPC as to what has happened and what are the next steps.

 

The members reviewed the Action Plan that had been adopted.  It was noted that FY 11 will end in June so this will be a plan for FY12.

 

1.  It was noted that the Housing Specialist has been hired and that the Housing Assistance Office is being set up.  This is considered a completed project in this fiscal year.

 

Funds for the Recording Secretary will carry over because there has been a volunteer clerk.

 

There have been no funds raised either through the Inclusionary bylaw nor transfer of property during this period and there is nothing on the horizon for other funds to leverage the CPA funds.

 

There has been progress in the Noquochoke Village project as the RFP is ready to be released and a time table is drawn up.

 

Discussion on small scale development through the School Street project is underway.

 

Initiative 5 - Homebuyer Program and the Small Grants program have not been developed and much will depend on what can be financed with CPA funding this coming fiscal year.    LA spoke of the Sudbury experience where both exists, but there is also non-CPA funding available there.

 

EO suggested that the Small Grant program cannot be a priority, even though that would be desirable, because there is no funding and CPA funds cannot be used.  The Trust agreed.

 

The Homebuyer Program is a possibility and some discussion ensued.  It was noted that there must be an affordable housing restriction of some type placed on property using such funds.  Working with existing homes would be a great advantage to those facing serious problems.  It was decided to ask the intern (to be assisting the Housing Specialist) to research such possibilities for Westport.

 

CW and EO suggested that a program to explain what deed restrictions and affordable housing are, is warranted.  EO suggested two such workshops be held before Town Meeting.

 

It was suggested that LA needs to prepare materials that will explain the RFP; determine CPA eligibility for certain projects; and investigate houses for sale and foreclosures.  LC will give him a contact person.

 

Community Development Block Grants were discussed and LC noted that homes rehabilitated through the grant from DHCD are no longer included in the Subsidized Housing Inventory.  She would speak to the Housing Rehabilitation representative on that.

 

Discussion on Revenues and Expenses.

 

LC noted that there is an allocation of $42,750 in funds for affordable housing available since they were not used as expected.  She will ask CPC to reallocate these funds at the next CPC meeting to the Trust.

 

See Attachment 2 of the table for final allocation of revenues and expenses for FY 12.

 

LA will work with EO, BC and CD on Trust matters and will work with LC on Noquochoke.
DB will take LA to the accountant to get invoices, discuss their form and times of submission.  LA will give signed invoices (with name, address to which payment will be sent, scope of work done, and amounts due) to DB who will sign and submit to the CPC  for approval.  The relevant CPC project number should be written on the voucher covering the invoice.

 

RFP for Noquochoke.  LA, EO, BC and LC prepared a timetable for the availability of the RFP and the follow through.  LC worked with Attorney Shirin Everett.  LC is still looking for the MOU from Mass Development regarding the loan for the 21E cleanup. This must be included with the RFP.

 

After some discussion a final timetable was agreed upon and is attached as Attachment 3.

 

A question of who would review the submissions was set aside for future discussions.

 

Habitat for Humanity.  CW reported that an invitation to come to a Trust meeting to Kirk Smith at the Habitat for Buzzards Bay is welcomed by him. Habitat for Buzzards Bay has been very active. He reported he would want a representative from the Fall River Habitat there.  Since Habitats can only work on homes within their area, he suggested that the AHT  use services of Fall River Habitat.  It was agreed to invite Mr. Smith and the Fall River representative for the Feb 24 meeting.

 

EO suggested that the introductory letter prepared by LA should be sent to both School Street and Noquochoke abutters.

 

CW moved and EO seconded to adjourn at 2:30 pm and the vote was unanimous in favor.

 

Next Meetings.

 

A meeting to follow up on the RFP and to prepare to meet with CPC will be held on February 8, 2011, Tuesday, at 3:30 pm at the Town Annex.

 

The next regular meeting will be held on February 24, Thursday, at 12:00 pm at the Town Annex.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Betty Slade
Volunteer Clerk

 

Attachments:
Attachment 1. LA newsletter
Attachment 2. Excel table of Revenues and Expenses for FY 12
Attachment 3. Time Table for RFP for Noquochoke