HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2019-09-11 Minutes �,\,40' W
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COMMUNITY PRIEdSERVATION COMMITTEE
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Held a Regular Meeting
on Wednesday, September 11 , 2019 at 4145 p . m .
at The Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA
MEETING MINUTES FOR September 11 , 2019
Presento Chair Faythe Ellis , Elizabeth Taylor, Roland Bassett, Diane Pansire, Bruce Evans, Paul Ruchinskas ,
Sharon Marottl
Absent , Barbara Burgo , Peggy Jablonski
Also Present : Jill Scalise , Donna Kalinick, Ben DeRuyter, Janine Perry
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Chair Faythe Ellis called the meeting to order at 4s47 pm ,
Recording or Taping Notifications "As required by the Open Alleeting Lmv ive are informing you that the Town will be videotaping
andlor audio taping thi 4 s public ineeting, In addition, if anyone else intends to either video or audio tape this ineeting the)) a14 e required to
inforin the chair. We request that all cell phones be turned offor to vibrate,
1 . FY2020 Financial Repoli .
Sharon Marottl reviewed the spreadsheet detailing estimates for FY2020 . The spreadsheet has been
updated with pending applications under review for fall TM . FY2019 ending balance numbers are still
estimates , Officers are meeting with the Finance Director this week and final FY2019 numbers are
expected after that meeting . The money from DCR for Besse Cartway will be applied July 1 , 2020
(FY202I ) o
2 , Discussion and possible votes on recommendations for funding awards , conditions , and liaisons for the
following funding requeste, Brewster Affordable Housing Trust ' s request for $ 500 , 000 for Preservation
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of Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI)
Donna Kalinick, Asst. Town Administrator, Jill Scalise , Housing Coordinator and Ben DeRuyter, Chair of
Brewster Affordable Housing Trust made the presentation , Jill confirmed that the Housing Trust wants to
amend the address on the introductory page of the application to "Town of Brewster/Yankree Drive & Belmont
Park ,
In May 2018 , the Town of Brewster created a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, approved by Town
Meeting. The purpose of the Trust is to provide for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the
Town of Brewster for the benefit of low and moderate income households , There are currently 300 housing
units on the Town ' s Subsidized Housing Inventory ( SHI) or 6 . 25 % of our year round housing inventory , SHI
Community Preservation Committee Minutess September 11, 2019
units are verified affordable housing units which meet MA state requirements and are affordable to households
making 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) .
The goal of this project is to preserve current SHI homes that are at risk of being lost as part of Brewster ' s
affordable housing stock. The Trust was created to be a nimble entity that could intervene in such situations and
ensure that current housing on our SHI is preserved. The Trust is requesting $ 500 , 000 to have funds available to
rehabilitate and, if needed, purchase at risk SHI units .
Specifically, the Town has identified two single family homes on the SHI that are vacant and in need of
repairs . In consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and legal
counsel, the Town and Housing Trust are working to get these homes back in use . This application has based
the funding request of the anticipated cost of rehabilitating and purchasing these two identified, non-compliant,
at risk homes . The goal is to return the homes to the required, live-able & mortgage appropriate condition to
resell them, through Fair Housing Practices, to affordable home buyers . This would ensure that the homes
remain on our SHI and provide affordable housing to residents .
The application goes into detail about the Yankee Drive Property that the Town and Trust have already
been working to address , including a description of the process , the steps the Town has been taking, and the
appraisal . In addition to the damage to the house, the appointment of a conservator, and lack of funds to repair
the damages part of the challenge is that this home has an affordable deed rider from 1995 . The deed rider does
not survive foreclosure, has a resale price based on a percentage of fair market value and has a limited resale
period (90 - 105 days) to retain the affordable restriction. This limited time frame creates a need for available
funds for the Trust to act quickly . This home is one example of an immediate, crisis situation which is part of a
greater need . The Trust has identified two homes requiring timely action and based this grant request on the
expected funds needed to preserve these two homes .
Brewster has 23 SHI homes with deed riders that determine the resale price by a discount that is a
percentage of fair market value . With this formula, and the increase in market rate housing value, these homes
are often not affordable to potential low and moderate income buyers . This is part of the reason why the
Community Preservation Committee created the Buy-Down Program . Again, these older deeds do not survive
foreclosure and usually have a limited time for an affordable resale or else the home is at risk of losing the deed
restriction. Any homes which receive CPA funding through this grant, would also receive a new deed rider
which would survive foreclosure and have an Area Median Income (AMI) resale formula, thus protecting
future affordability.
The Trust is requesting that the proceeds from the sale of any homes acquired and/ or rehabilitated with this
grant be retained by the Trust and used for the preservation, acquisition and rehabilitation of SHI homes or any
eligible CPA community housing activity. This would enable the Trust to respond to emergency situations with
SHI homes when they arise .
Preserving SHI housing is strategy of the Housing Production Plan and a priority initiative of the Housing
Trust . The Trust has the support of the Housing Partnership and Select Board for this project . Local neighbors
have contacted the Town about the two identified, at-risk properties , they are concerned about their present
status, and have requested assistance in getting them fixed up and occupied . Preserving SHI housing will
improve the appearance of neighborhoods by rehabilitating homes which are presently deteriorating, turn
vacant homes into family homes, and ensure the future affordability of SHI homes .
Elizabeth Taylor asked about funding for closing costs . Jill explained that the request includes funding for
closing cost expenses . Elizabeth also suggested that the Buydown Program Funding should be reviewed at a
fixture meeting .
Faythe reviewed the recommendations of the Housing Subcommittee specifically :
1 . To recommend approval to CPC for a total of $ 502 , 500 as follows : $ 500 , 000 for the Brewster Housing
Trust to preserve current homes on the Subsidized Housing Inventory, with $ 175 , 000 from Community
Housing Fund and $ 325 ,000 from the Fund Balance Reserved for CPA (30% Fund) . In addition, we
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Community Preservation Committee Minutes : September 11, 2019
recommend setting aside $2 , 500 from the Community Housing Fund to cover CPC legal costs related to
this grant.
2. That the proceeds from the sale of any homes acquired/rehabilitated with this grant will be retained by
the Trust and used for the preservation, acquisition and rehabilitation of SHI homes or any eligible CPA
community-housing activity.
3. That disbursement of the funds should be as follows :
$ 300 , 000 on execution of grant agreement between the Town/CPC and the Housing Trust_
Remainder to be disbursed based on sufficient documentation (e . g . signed Purchase and Sale Agreement,
Rehab contract, etc . ) provided to liaison as to needs for funds .
Funds must be used by June 30 , 2022 .
Diane Pansire as Liaison
Faythe recommended that the vote be divided into three motions .
After vote taken, Donna and Ben said that the Trust would like to hold a joint meeting after Town Meeting
with the CPC to discuss ideas for how the committees can work together going forward . Donna also
announced the upcoming Millstone Road Community Engagement meetings beginning October 3 . Ben
DeRuyter affirmed that the Trust looks forward to working with the CPC .
1. Motion to recommend approval for a total of $ 502 ,500 as follows : $ 500 ,000 for the Brewster Housing
Trust to preserve current homes on the Subsidized Housing Inventory, with $ 175 ,000 from
Community Housing Fund and $325 ,000 from the Fund Balance Reserved for CPA (30 % Fund) . In
addition, to set aside $2 ,500 from the Community Housing Fund to cover CPC legal costs related to
this grant.
MOVED by Paul Ruchinskas , Seconded by Roland Bassett
Vote : 7-0-0
2. Motion that disbursement of the funds should be as follows :
$300 ,000 on execution of grant agreement between the Town/CPC and the Housing Trust:
Remainder to be disbursed based on sufficient documentation (e. g. signed Purchase and Sale
Agreement, Rehab contract, etc.) provided to liaison as to needs for funds .
Funds must be used by June 30 , 2022 .
Diane Pansire as Liaison
MOVED by Paul Ruchinskas , Seconded by Roland Bassett
Vote : 7-0 -0
3. Motion that the proceeds from the sale of any homes acquired/rehabilitated with this grant will be
retained by the Trust and used for the preservation , acquisition and rehabilitation of SHI homes or
any eligible CPA community_housing activity.
MOVED by Paul Ruchinskas , Seconded by Roland Bassett
Vote : 7-0-0
3 . Discussion and possible vote on completeness , CPA eligibility and timeliness of the Brewster Opens
Space Committee ' s request for up to $ 20 , 000 to Update Brewster ' s Open Space and Recreation Plan ,
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Community Preservation Committee Minutes : September 11, 2019
Subsidized Housing Inventory . Discussion and possible vote on referral of the application to the Recreation
Commission for review and recommendation to the CPC for the November 2019 Special Town Meeting .
Elizabeth presented the application — Faythe will confirm that the version sent to members is the most
current . Elizabeth revised the amount requested to "up to $ 30 ,000 " after receiving a quote of $ 25K from a
consultant . The funding application lists every section with an indicator as to whether revision is necessary .
All sections will be reviewed as part of the project . A good deal of the information requested has been
compiled as pant of the Vision Plan work . An updated plan will allow the town access to grants that require it
as a condition of application. The plan will be good for up to 7 years . Faythe confirmed that town counsel
confirmed this is an approved use of CPC funds with recommendation that part of the funding be paid from
Recreation funds .
MOTION that the committee deem application from the Open Space Committee for $30 ,000 to be complete,
CPA eligible and timely.
MOVED by Sharon Marotti. Seconded by Paul Ruchinskas
Vote : 7-0=0
MOTION that the application be referred to the Recreation Commission for review and recommendation to
the CPC for the November 2019 Town Meeting.
MOVED by Roland Bassett. Seconded by Diane Pansire
Vote : 7-0-0
4. Discussion and possible vote on principal paydown of Besse Cartway/Long Pond Woodlands note .
This is a continuation of the topic from the prior meeting . In response to a question regarding
constraints on principal paydown of the note , Lisa Vitale confirmed that principal paydown can occur only on
the anniversary date , April 3 , 2020 , The State Land Grant funds of $ 400 , 000 become available to the
committee on July 1 , 2020 . There are sufficient funds in the Open Space Account to make the paydown and
leave a small balance in the fiend between April and July . If the committee opts to wait until the State Land
Grant funds are booked to the Open Space account, the principal paydown cannot occur until the following
April , causing additional interest expense to accrue .
MOTION that the committee recommend to Town Meeting to expend $400,000 from the Open Space
account for principal paydown of Besse Cartway/Long Pond Woodlands note.
MOVED by Paul Ruchinskas . Seconded by Roland Bassett
Vote : 7-0-0
5. Open Projects updates
Janine Perry, Artistic Director of Cape Rep . Theater presented an update of the Cape Rep . Barn project
and three initiatives currently underway . First, the restoration of architectural elements has started . Local
artist/craftsman David Mason has done work restoring some windows and doors . Every element has been
catalogued and is systematically being restored . Second, in May, Cape Rep . received a top award level grant of
$ 200 , 000 from Mass . Cultural Facilities Fund . Third, the redesign of the front entry is pending review at
Massachusetts Historical Commission . The change was prompted by the addition of a gender neutral bathroom .
Everyone involved believes the redesign is beneficial . The project just received a pricing set and an estimator is
working on it now. To date , $ 880 , 000 has been raised from grants and other sources . This figure does not
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Community Preservation Committee Minutes : September 11, 2019
included pledges . The fund raising campaign is going well . Faythe confirmed that Janine can contact her to
initiate involvement of Eric Dray in the project . Faythe will research response to Janine ' s question regarding
percentage of state funds included in the CPC grant from the town .
6. Set date for annual Public Hearing
At a minimum, the CPC is required to hold a public hearing each year to get feedback on the town ' s
priorities for community preservation. Our last hearing was November 14 , 2018 . Faythe proposes to hold
this year ' s on November 13 , 2019 . This allows time for folks to be aware of our December 1 application
deadline for spring Town Meeting . It is also before fall town meeting . Bruce noted that it will be a good
opportunity to explain the work done by the committee and source of funding as he believes many people are
unaware of either . It is also an opportunity to further explain the Housing Trust . Preparation for the public
hearing (newspaper ads , town website , email list) will be on the committee agenda in early October . As in the
past, the public hearing will be the first item on the committee ' s regular agenda for the hearing date .
7, Warrant article template for Fall 2019 Town Meeting
A template for the committee ' s article for the Fall 2019 Town Meeting was submitted to the Town
Administrator by 9/20 deadline with the voted upon item included . As the committee votes items , the template
will be filled in further, as well as summaries . The template format is based on last year ' s Fall TM article .
Faythe will include the most current version of the article in upcoming meetings and may also ask project
liaisons to help write summaries . The committee is on track to finish review of all applications by the end of
September which will make completion of the article well within the final deadline .
8. Vote to accept minutes from the September 9 , 2019 Housing Subcommittee meeting .
Paul had earlier proposed an amendment to change the words " closing costs " to "legal costs" in the first motion .
Motion to accept the minutes of the September 9 , 2019 Housing Subcommittee meeting, as amended .
Moved by Diane Pansire, Second by Paul Ruchinskas
Vote 3 -0 -0
9. Vote to approve the minutes from the August 28 , 2019 meeting
Paul amended and clarified the announcement of the Habitat for Humanity Phase 2 wall raising for 8 homes on
Paul Hush Way .
Motion to approve the minutes of the August 28 , 2019 CPC Committee meeting, as amended .
Moved by Roland Bassett. Second by Diane Pansire
Vote 6A4
10. Announcements .
11 . Next Meeting .
The next meeting of the CPC is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 , 2019 at 4445 PM .
MOTION to Adjourn at 6 : 02 PM.
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Community Preservation Committee Minutes : September 11, 2019
MOVED by Diane Pansire. Seconded by Paul Ruchinskas
VOTE : 7-0 -0
Respectfully submitted by,
Faythe Ellis , Chair
Community Preservation Committee
Items used at the meeting :
FY2020 Financial report dated 9/ 11 /2019
Brewster Open Space Committee Application for Funding for Open Space and Recreation Plan
Email from Lisa Vitale
Crosby Barn memo to Jeffrey Harris , assorted photos , renovation revision rendering and plan
Warrant article template
September 9 , 2019 Housing Subcommittee minutes
August 28 , 2019 CPC minutes
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Community Preservation Committee Minutes : September 11, 2019