HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2019-11-25 Minutes ERUE'; TCI TuNill;, 01EW
Brewster Housing Trust
November 25, 2019 S : OOpm Room A, Brewster Town Hall
' ' 0 FES 12 91, 18 41
Present : Ben deRuyter, Sarah Robinson , Paul Ruchinskas, Madalyn Hlllis- Dineen, Donna Kallnick
Tim Hackert, Maggie Spade -Agullar, Jill Scalise
1 . Call to Order : Chair deRuyter called the meeting to order at 5 : 30pm .
2 . Citizen 's Forum- None
3 . Financial Report: Ms . Kalinick said the current balances is $ 282 , 042 . 87; we had two
expenditures, $ 3 , 125 . 00 for Barrett Planning and $ 609 . 00 in legal expenditures, both from CPC .
The Trust is now responsible for paying its' own legal bills; some money will come out of non-
CPC funds for guidance on the rehabilitation program .
4 . Millstone Property follow-up on Community Engagement Meetings : Ms . Scalise provided an
overview . The Trust has not had a regular meeting since the two engagement sessions . Ms .
Robinson said she thought the second meeting had a better demographic . Chair deRuyter said
the first meeting had a lot of abutters which was challenging . Mr . Hackert stated that he
thought the second meeting was more positive in tone . Ms . Hillis- Dineen said that in first
session , one person only put one Lego out, but everyone had similar ideas about buffers etc .
Chair deRuyter noted that a lot of the maps looked quite similar. Ms . Hillis- Dineen commented
that the more to scale map on the second session worked better and were less of a shock factor
when participants were asked to put 45 units on . There was some confusion about the 90
bedrooms and concerns about parking, yards, amenities . Ms . Spade -Aguilar asked about the
prohibition of more than 2 stories . Ms . Scalise said it was not a prohibition , it came from a lot of
the feedback that people did not want more than 2 stories . Ms . Scalise said the exercise was for
45 units and participants were told they could stack the Legos . The 90 bedrooms is based on
septic capacity . There is a height limit of 30 feet under zoning, but a waiver can be asked for in
the 40B process . Mr . Ruchinskas thought that people were more engaged in the second session
and there wasn ' t a resistance to do the 90 bedrooms, but to design it as best we can . Chair
deRuyter said it will be really important to have direct links from feedback to conceptual plans .
Paul Ruchinskas stated that finances are a driver too , Ms . Scalise told the Trust that all the
materials are available on the website - presentations, the first report, and link to visual
preference survey until 12 /6 of which there are already 76 responses . All the information can be
found on the front page and the Housing Department page of the website . Ms . Kalinick said that
it is very important that we remember that our guidance to Bohler should come from not just
the engagement feedback, but from the needs outlined in our Housing production pian . Ms .
Kalinick also commented that the planning team had to make some adjustments in the original
plans for the second session , but it is good that we were able to be flexible and responsive,
based on how the first session went . Ms . Spade-Aguilar asked how we are advertising; she
thinks it would be good to get more people who may have a need for housing . Ms . Scalise said
we are using the outreach means that we use for all our housing initiatives plus contacting
attendees . We had over 40 people at each session . Ms . Spade noted that almost everyone who
came owns a home ; it would be beneficial to have renters or clients . Perhaps, make the
language more enticing , you could be one of the people or families that live here . Mr . Hackert
asked if we would be able to access lists of people who might be on waitlists for housing . Ms .
Spade -Aguilar suggested Housing Assistance Corp . , Homeless prevention , Lower Cape outreach ,
etc . Ms . Scalise asked members to send her ideas for more outreach .
Ms . Scalise asked the Trust go through the documents, come back at our next meeting to discuss
conceptual guidance for Bohler . Mr . Hackert said we need to give framework based on the
comments with a list for Bohler that reflects the feedback . Ms . Kalinick said that is true , but we
also need to consider the needs outlined in the Housing Production Plan and our role as housing
advocates . Chair deRuyter said we need to link everything . Ms . Scalise commented that we also
need to consider what fits on this particular piece of land .
5 . Trust Funding Update : Town Meeting approval of " Preservation of SHI " CPA grant : Chair
deRuyter said we were successful in our application and thanked the CPC and voters for their
support . Ms . Scalise said this will enable us to work on homes that are at risk on our SHI . We will
have $ 300K available right away and can move forward with a plan and if any other situations
arise, we are prepared to move forward with an additional $ 200K . It provides a sense of relief as
other homes come up with only 90 days to resolve and the ability to step in if needed . We do
still need to get permission from the Select Board for anything over $ 50K . Ms . Robinson asked
what the cost of repairs are for the Yankee Drive property and where any proceed funds go . Ms .
Scalise said the repairs are about $ 100K and any proceeds from sale would be used for any
eligible activity of CPC . Chair deRuyter asked if we would recoup any money for repairs on the
sale price . Ms . Scalise said DHCD is willing to consider the cost of the repairs, but there is a lien
on the property which will determine some of the process, but we will only buy if we have no
other choice . Mr . Ruchinskas noted that we will probably have to leave in some funds as subsidy
to get the price affordable
6 . Letter of Support for Town Administration CPA grant request for Housing Coordinator
position -
Ms . Kalinick said she has an application into CPC for the Housing Coordinator position with an
increase in hours to 25 . She is requesting the Trust sign a letter of support, which she has
drafted . Ms . Spade -Aguilar asked Ms . Scalise if she is comfortable with the increase in hours .
Ms . Scalise said it really takes 25 hours to do the job right . Chair deRuyter said the future of the
Housing Coordinator funding will be a good discussion to have with CPC at our joint meeting .
Tim Hackert moved to approve signing the letter, Ms . Robinson second . The Trust unanimously
supported .
7 . Brewster housing update, including SHI preservation — Ms . Scalise has attended a couple really
good housing institutes ; Donna & Jill presented at the Lower Cape institute and Jill presented at
the mid - Cape housing institute , sharing the story of community engagement, collaboration , and
building the Brewster housing program from the ground up . There will be a wrap up session on
January 7th to look forward and build a Brewster housing team . There is an SHI home for sale at
275 Yankee . HAC is doing the marketing . The price is $ 251, 600 for a 3 bedroom and we expect a
$ 30, 000 Buy down grant may be needed . Mr . Ruchinskas asked if the clock has started running ,
the first 90 days has . Chair deRuyter said we will have to keep it on Select Board radar . Ms .
Scalise reported there was a foreclosure scheduled for 11 Sean Circle ; DHCD is involved to make
sure the deed restriction stays in place , as the Town does not have standing . A new deed rider
will be put in place upon resale . A ceremony was held to award the 1 . 68 million dollar
Massworks grant for infrastructure on Brewster Rd . for the Brewster Woods affordable rental
project . It was a good event and Lt . Governor Polito and her party went to see the site
afterwards and had lots of questions .
8 . Future meetings proposed : December 9, 2019 and January 2, 2020
We are working on dates for a joint meeting with CPC and the third community engagement
meeting .
9 . Any other business not anticipated : None
10. Approval of Minutes from September 16 and October 3 : Mr . Hackert moved to approve the
minutes of September 16th, 2019 and October 3 , 2019 , Ms . Hillis- Dineen second . The Trust voted
unanimously in favor .
11 . Adjournment : Mr . Hackert moved adjournment at 639pm , Ms . Robinson second . The Trust
voted unanimously in favor.
Respectfully Submitted ,
Donna J . Kalinick
Assistant Town Administrator
Approved January 2 , 2020