Westport News

Westport Affordable Housing Trust

Westport Housing Partnership Committee

Minutes of Meeting

November 8, 2011 Approved November 30, 2011

Present: Members: Craig Dutra (CD), Warren Messier (WM), Elizabeth Collins (EC), Catherine Williams

(CW), Brian Corey, Jr. (BC), Elaine Ostroff (EO)

Housing Specialist Leonardi Aray (LA)

Town Planner Sarah Raposa (SR)

Judy Taber

CW called the meeting to order at 4:07 pm.

A motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on September 28, 2011 was made by WM,

seconded by EC, and approved unanimously.

EO gave a deadline of November 9, at 5 pm for members to make comments on the update which she

had circulated. She needs to get text to Sandy Conaty.

EO sent around a message to all the major town departments asking for numbers of employees in their

sections. Response was very quick. Based on info from the Departments and from the Treasurer’s office

EO has calculated that there is need for 383 envelopes and packages. The content of the survey was

approved by the Board of Selectmen in October. She recommends a cover letter. It will be confidential.

People only have to put their name if they are interested in being contacted. This employee survey

should go out by November 28 and returned by December 16. See Attachment 1.

It was not possible to present a budget update as the accountant records are not categorized to reflect

the budget allocations. EC will review both the approved budget and the accountant records.

Jack Healy, interim Town Administrator will be contacted to review the hiring of the part-time clerk by

the AHT as the Trust has a special quasi-public status. The hiring process need not go through the usual

posting processes but the AHT agreed that it should be posted within the town with a job description

written . WM moved and EC seconded a motion to hire a clerk, and it was approved unanimously.

Because there has been a volunteer recording secretary to date, funding for the clerk position from the

last two cycles is available. The clerk will be hired as a contractor and given a 1099 form. EO, CW and EC

will do a new job description so that the clerk may do more than record meeting minutes.

Next regular meeting will be November 30, 2011 at 3:30 pm at Town Hall. It was requested that the

action plan and interaction with Housing Rehab will be on the agenda.

Ms Judy Taber, former clerk for the Housing Rehab Program was present and introduced herself to the

Trust.

EC moved, WM seconded a motion to adjourn at 4:45 and it carried unanimously.

Reopening of Regular Meeting.

After an Executive Session, the regular meeting was reopened at 5:55.

LA presented a bill for $26.34 to WB Mason for materials at the Housing Assistance Office. WM moved,

EO seconded permission for payment and it was approved unanimously. See Attachment 2.

The next regular meeting will be November 30, 2011 at 3:30 pm at Town Hall.

WM moved, EC seconded a motion to adjourn at 6:05 pm, and it carried unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Betty Slade, Acting Recording Secretary

Attachment 1. Town Employees Survey

Attachment 2. Bill from W.B. Mason