Westport News

Affordable Housing Trust (AHT)
Housing Partnership Committee
November 22, 2010
Final Minutes

 

Present:  Dianne Baron(DB), Elizabeth Collins(EC), Craig Dutra(CD), Warren Messier(WM), Elaine Ostroff (EO), Catherine Williams(CW)

 

Absent:  Brian Corey, Jr.(BC)

 

Attendance:  Betty Slade, Acting Clerk and Michael Sullivan, EDTF

 

The meeting was called to order at 2:01 pm.

 

The only item on the agenda was the Draft Warrant for Conveyance of School Street property from the Town to the AHT to be placed on the warrant of the  Special Town Meeting ( STM) on December 7, 2010.

 

DB stated she had received the draft warrant article from Shirin Everett, K & P lawyer.  Ms. Everett asked for deed research to clarify if the town had been holding the property for a special use.  If the answer is yes, then there must be a 2/3 majority of STM to approve.  EC said it was definitely not a tax lien property.  DB will ask BC to do research to determine if the property had a designated use.

 

EO noted that she was reminded by the discussion at the Board of Selectmen meeting on November 15th that the abutters had not been contacted.  She suggested that the AHT send a letter to them before the date of the STM. After an interruption on another topic, EO restated her idea that there should be a letter to the abutters stating that the AHT would like to meet them, hear their ideas and get their input into a plan.  WM agreed that a quick letter would be a good idea because undoubtedly the abutters have heard or read about the proposed warrant article and may be concerned. After some discussion it was agreed that EO will draft a letter and consult with DB and send the letter right after Thanksgiving.

 

EC asked what is the importance of trying to go to STM.  She stated the AHT does not have plans yet, but should have them when it goes to a town meeting.  DB believes that the land should belong to the AHT before spending funds on other preparatory work and that it would lose time if AHT waited until the annual meeting.  Others argued that there are many issues that could be addressed prior to the transfer and would be helpful in the decision to acquire the property. , This includes investigations into wetlands, perc tests, land delineation, number of possible units, discussions with abutters, possibilities of purchasing a nearby property, green belts and in particular need for education of the public what "affordable housing" is.  It was stated that the questions and answers at the Board of Selectmen meeting  gave the impression there was the classic misunderstanding of who would live in affordable housing.   WM suggested that already allocated funds from the CPC  to HPC could be utilized to do the work for planning.  CW noted that the housing workshops she attended emphasized that communication with the various parties in town was a clear prerequisite for success.  She suggested that the AHT move with the Noquochoke RFP, send a letter to the abutters and do a plan with the abutters' contributions.

 

EO suggested that there be a couple of educational or informational forums before the annual Town Meeting to address the misunderstanding about affordable housing and who might live there.

 

CW moved, and EC seconded, to postpone the warrant article for acquiring the School Street property to Annual Town Meeting.  The vote was unanimous, with Dianne abstaining.

 

WM said that there were two lots near the School Street property that may be a useful addition to the School Street property and should be considered.   After discussion, WM moved, and CW seconded a motion to ask BC to do some investigation of the ownership of property on assessors map 25, lots 53 and 54.  The vote was unanimous, except that DB abstained.

 

DB stated that she was disturbed that the project size was growing into 2-3 duplexes.  It was her understanding that there was agreement in the AHT that it would start off with a small project, say one duplex on the School Street property.  She understood that it would be an infill single project which would be better for the community.  WM noted that the parcel of land selected is important in determining its use.  EC said that the AHT should look into the whole picture and make it palatable to the neighbors, so looking into the other land with perhaps an option to buy made sense. 

 

Betty Slade said that perhaps this was the wrong parcel for the initial project, and asked if there were other town-owned , second-best properties, that might be used.  Michael Sullivan suggested that the AHT should look into private land that is for sale with completed engineering costs included and then compare those parcels with the School Street property to see if purchasing land might make sense.  He said the perception in town was that the Noquochoke property, although "free" has actually been costly in the process of the 21E cleanup. It was noted that there would be no cost to the Town for the cleanup.

 

A discussion ensued on whether or not there is a market at present for affordable housing.  The question of renting vs. selling needs examination and discussion.  This is the kind of thing the Housing  Specialist would be doing. DB noted that she and BC were working on letters to two of the applicants that would be interviewed. Two dates were proposed for interviews by the selection committee; Dec 9 at 6 PM and Dec 15 at 4:00 PM. The recommendation would be presented at the full AHT meeting on Dec 16.

 

EC moved, CW seconded and it was voted unanimously to adjourn at 3:10 pm.

 

The next meeting is December 16, 2010 at Town Hall Annex at 12:00noon.  Betty Slade noted she will not be present.

 

Respectfully submitted,
Betty Slade, Acting Clerk

 

 

Attachment:
Draft Warrant Article for School Street Property

 

Conveyance to Affordable Housing Trust
 
Article ______:  To see if the Town will vote to [transfer from the ________________ for _________________ purposes to the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of conveyance, and] authorize the Board of Selectmen to convey to the Westport Affordable Housing Trust [optional:, for affordable housing purposes,] a parcel of land located at ___________________, identified on Assessors Map 25 as Lot 55A, and described in a deed recorded with the Bristol South District Registry of Deeds in Book 960, Page 273, which property shall be conveyed on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, which may be nominal consideration, as the Board of Selectmen deems appropriate [optional:, and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to accept, on the Town’s behalf, an affordable housing restriction on the property ensuring that the property is used for affordable housing in perpetuity]; or take any action relative thereto. 
 
 
--majority vote (unless a transfer vote is required, in which case a 2/3rds vote)