HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2019-05-16 Minutes Brewster Housing Trust
May 1&, 2019 5 :30pm Room A, Brewster Town Hall
Present: Ben deRuyter, Paul Ruchinskas, Madalyn Hillis- Dineen, Donna Kalinick
Maggie Spade-Aguilar, Tim Hackert, Sarah Robinson, Jill Scalise ? E 1, 1j J, 1, l : �,i,f
Call to Order: Chair deRuyter called the meeting to order at 5 : 30pm .
1 . Call to order: Chair deRuyter called the meeting to order at 5 : 30pm .
2 . Citizen's Forum : Introduction of Peter Lombardi, new Town Administrator, Mr. Lombardi said
that he has heard a lot about the work that has been going on with housing and the Trust and
different initiatives. Affordable housing is important and has been identified in a number of
strategic planning processes the Town has undertaken .
3 . Discussion of Draft Housing Trust Goals : Chair deRuyter said we will read goals and go through
them to bring to Community Housing Forum . This will be an ongoing process , 1 ) Develop and
Preserve Affordable housing . These goals were developed from the mission statement
discussion and several Trust discussions , It was noted that we should spell out acronyms, explain
programs and it is important to stress building and non - building options . 2 ) Educate- Ms .
Kalinick requested that we add in Brewster Housing Partnership as specific collaboration ,
3 ) Advocate and collaborate- Chair deRuyter said it is important to point out that we can
advocate for housing; from the outset collaboration has been the foundation, combine advocate
and collaborate into one area . Mr . Ruchinskas suggested a few minor grammatical changes . 4)
Engage and Communicate- Chair deRuyter noted that our philosophy from the outset has been
to engage and gain consensus . Mr. Ruchinskas asked that we make it clear that the Trust' sjob is
to do the work and then put ideas out for the public to input on . Ms . Spade -Aguilar suggested
we switch the bullet points so it was clear that citizen's voices to be heard in the first bullet . Ms .
Scalise pointed out that the four goals are the overarching ideas with the priority initiatives
underneath and those initiatives will change . Chair deRuyter said we will probably look at
priority initiatives each year. We are technically in year 2 now. Ms . Scalise shared the list of
accomplishments she compiled for the Trust which will be printed on the back of the goal sheet.
Ms. Kalinick wanted to make sure that the goals would be shared with the public as part of the
public input process for the Housing forum , It was suggested they be put up on the web for
public feedback . It was decided to add year two to the top of the goal sheet.
4. Millstone Road Property Pre-feasibility Study & Community Engagement Scope of Services :
Ms. Kalinick said that the Bohler report is still in draft form; they haven't received the final
report yet. Also, the request for quotes for Community Engagement had to be pushed out as
well and we will need to revisit the timeline for this work.
5 . Community Housing Forum & Housing Fair: Thursday May 23�d at 5 :30PM : Anyone interested
in housing should attend inside and outside of Brewster; Housing Fair, Ms . Scalise said there has
been great response from many social service agencies on the Cape who want to participate ,
Chair deRuyter will do a welcome at 6pm, then Jill & Donna will give a presentation on housing
in Brewster; the other sponsoring organizations will give updates . Chair deRuyter will finish with
the introduction of Trust goals and take feedback . At 7pm , the housing fair will continue , All
members of the Trust said they would be attending . Mr. Hackert said he could be there early to
staff a table , Mr. Hackert prepared a public comment sheet. Mr. Ruchinskas will do the CPC
presentation . Ms . Spade-Aguilar prepared some pictograph which she went through . The first
slide on housing types was very telling. Some suggestions for the slides were made . There will
be an article in Cape Codder tomorrow about the Trust and the Forum .
6 . SHI (Subsidized Housing Inventory) : Ms. Scalise explained that there are two potential homes
on the Town's Subsidized Housing Inventory that might need the Trust' s involvement. Both do
not have anyone currently living in them . The Town is working with DHCD to figure out how to
move forward . The Town of Brewster is on the deed rider of one, but not the other. One home
has damage and needs to be brought up to a certain condition in order to be resold . The current
owner does not have funds to do so and there is a conservator in charge . This is exactly what the
trust was created for; to purchase the home, rehab it, resell and the funds would go back to into
the trust . The building inspector has been to the house . When it is resold , a new universal deed
rider will be put in place . Mr. Hackert asked if both properties are privately owned and if we
could Just give money to the owners to fix them up and then facilitate a sale to a new eligible
buyer. Ms . Scalise said we have to go through DHCD . Chair deRuyter pointed out that the Trust
would temporarily own . We would need to engage CPC for fundingt and get approval at town
meeting in the fall . Mr . Ruchinskas explained that we would get some amount of public money
to guarantee long term affordability; specifics to be worked out . Ms . Scalise explained there
would probably be a decrease in the sale price, based on work done . Mr. Ruchinskas said that
conceptually this is what the trust was created for and made a motion to support this work
going forward .
7 . Funding of Trust: Chair deRuyter said he requested that this item stay on the agenda . The
$ 100, 000 in free cash was approved at town meeting, but we need a sustainable source of
funding. Towns like Sandwich and Yarmouth have raised over lmillion to support housing . The
concept to acquire open space has been in place for a while; housing needs the same kind of
leverage , Ms . Spade-Agullar suggested that we look at other towns, what they have done and
how they have received donations .
8 . Brewster housing update : The Cape Housing institute is sponsoring a community engagement
session on 6/18; the lower cape peer group will meet on 6/13 ; NAC is offering a free landlord
education workshop on 5/22 . Ms . Scalise had 33 request for assistance this month - 13
assistance for housing; 14 questions about specific projects and ideas as well as 3 buy down, 2
rehabilitation and one about the ADU . There is a lottery currently open for one home in White
Rock Commons , Habitat Phase 11 has been added to the SHI so we are now at 6 . 25 % or 300 units .
The Housing Partnership has reviewed a potential 40B, Comprehensive Permit from Eastward
Co . on Main St near the Orleans line . They are sending a letter to the Select Board to consider
this project with some caveats , It would be all rentals with 25 % minimum affordable as a
friendly 408 . They will be doing some community outreach before going to the Board . The
Housing Partnership is also working on holding a " Little Fix" at Huckleberry Lane with the
Housing Authority . There has been hearty response to the new ADU , especially with conversion
of in - law apartments . The new HUD income levels are out and the AMI has increased to $91, 300
for a family of 4 which will affect eligibility .
9 . Joint Meeting with the Housing Partnership July 11th• The Trust has to decide if it will meet
ahead at 5 : 30 .
10. Any other business not anticipated
11 . Approval of minutes from April 4, 2019; Ms . Dineen- Hillis moved , Mr. Hackert second . The Trust
voted unanimously in favor.
12 . Adjournment was motioned at 6 : 47pm by Mr. Hackert, Ms . Dineen - Hillis second . The Trust
voted unanimously in favor.
Respectfully Submitted ,
Donna J . Kalinick
Assistant Town Administrator
Approved June 6, 2019
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