Westport News

Affordable Housing Trust (AHT)

Westport Housing Partnership

Final Minutes                  Approved June 8, 2011

May 26, 2011

Present:  Elaine Ostroff (EO), Elizabeth Collins (EC), Catherine Williams (CW), Brian Corey, Jr. (BC)

Absent:  Craig Dutra, Warren Messier, Dianne Baron

Others:  Leonardi Aray (LA),Housing Specialist and Betty Slade (BS), acting clerk

Catherine Williams (CW), acting chair, called the meeting to order at 12:15 pm.

BC moved, EC seconded a motion to approve the minutes of May 11, 2011 as written, and it was passed unanimously, with BC abstaining.

Town Meeting Consequences for housing.  There was no discussion at Town Meeting of any of the CPC recommendations.  They were all approved unanimously.  Therefore the funds recommended for the AHT will be available for FY12.

School Street Property.  The warrant article at Town Meeting asking for the transfer of the School Street property to the Trust was passed over at the request of the AHT so there was no discussion.  However previous to the Town Meeting, at the end of the Board of Selectmen's meeting on May 23, Mr. Coyne, Selectmen, read the letter written by Ms. Williams to the abutters.  He then stated that an irate abutter to the School Street property had called and had characterized the letter as a "threat" because the last sentence stated that "We (the AHT) look forward to meeting with you again in June to continue the discussion."  Mr. Vieira joined in as saying that it sounded like a threat to him.  He noted that he had wanted the BofS to vote in a previous meeting that the AHT could not build on the School Street property, but could not get a second.   The Chair of the BofS said this was not an agenda item, but would be one at the next  meeting of the BofS.  Ms. Ostroff assured the selectmen that the letter was not a threat, but Mr. Coyne insisted it was.  There was some discussion of this item with the idea being introduced by Mr. Corey that perhaps a homeowners' assistance program for septic s in exchange for a 15-20 year affordable restriction being placed on the various properties as agreed to by owners, something which he had seen to be very useful in the past.  Ms. Collins informed that the DHCD does not accept these as restrictions allowed for the SHI.

A motion was made by EC and seconded by EO that Mr. Corey write a statement on the legal role of the AHT to be put into a letter to the Selectmen and the CPC.  The motion was approved unanimously.  The purpose of this letter is to deal with a misunderstanding of the fact that the AHT is a separate, distinct fiduciary Trust with its own powers and rights.

BC moved and EC seconded a motion that LA draw up a questionnaire concerning housing needs of the Town Employees, including school employees.  It was approved unanimously.  LA will circulate the questionnaire to the members for their review.  The responses to the questionnaire will be confidential and a stamped self-addressed envelope will be enclosed.  A preliminary notice will be sent to each employee.

Also discussed was the idea of asking some of those persons seeking affordable housing to participate in an interview which might be videotaped.  This was suggested to try to dispel some of the predispositions that those who need affordable housing were not quality people.

Noquochoke.  The May 18th site visit was successful.  Three developers attended:  Community Development, NOAH and EA Fish Development.  After the site visit, the discussion indicated some key issues that developers had:  what to do with the open space and how it will be maintained, can developers get further help from CPA funds for infrastructure such as they note has been given in other CPA communities, do all the dwellings have to be affordable, can there be more than 54 units, and if rentals can do be done.  They also thought the timeline was too narrow for anyone to respond.  It was decided that LA would consult various sources including Kathleen O'Donnell to get definitive answers to these legal questions.  At 1:10 BC had to depart.

EC moved and EO seconded a motion to adjourn and it was approved unanimously.

The next meeting of the Subcommittee for Noquochoke will be June 1, at 12:00 noon at Town Hall.  The next meeting of the AHT/WHP will be June 8 at 12:00 at Town Hall.

--------------------

In discussion among the non-quorum LA said he will post a sign on his door, and get a housing office display case for the hallway.  BS said she would put the Housing Assistance Specialist's  hours on the Cable Scroll.

Respectfully submitted,

Betty Slade, Acting Clerk