HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2020-06-04 Minutes Brewster Housing Trust
June 4, 2020 5 : 30pm Virtual Meeting
Present : Ben deRuyter, Paul Ruchinskas, Donna Kalinick, Tim Hackert, Maggie Spade -Aguilar, Madalyn
Hillis- Dineen , Sarah Robinson , Jill Scalise
Absent : None
Citizen Present : A comment was emailed to housingmeeting@brewster- ma . gov from Blaine Smoller re :
Millstone Road Housing discussion .
1 . Call to Order : Chair deRuyter called the meeting to order at 5 : 30pm and read the required
notice for virtual meetings . Chair deRuyter explained how the virtual meeting process works for
participation of members and the public .
2 . Citizen 's Forum - One comment was submitted from Blaine Smoller and read during the
Millstone Housing discussion .
3 . Financial Report : Ms . Kalinick included the latest expense report for the Trust and noted that
$ 300, 000 of the $ 500, 000 CPC funding, approved at the November town meeting has been
transferred to the Trust, but does not appear in the report . Mr . Ruchinskas asked for the
breakdown of CPC versus non - CPC funds . Ms . Kalinick did not have it, but said she would include
it in their next meeting packet .
4 . Millstone Community Housing Property : Follow-up from Community Engagement Session
March 10th, discussion of conceptual sketch survey & next steps = The last session was held right
before the Pandemic emergency closing and was well attended . Subsequently, the Trust put out
an online survey to vote on the concepts in May . Ms . Scalise said there was information in the
packet that provided an overview of the process and background . Ms . Scalise invited the Trust
to comment on how they felt the last session went . Ms . Scalise went over the survey results .
There will be an additional document that aggregates the comments from survey respondents .
The survey results were very similar to the in person results . There were 350 respondents to the
survey, but not everyone registered a vote . Barrett Planning provided the results from online
and in person , both together and separately . It was clear that Concept One with the two larger
buildings was the least favored in voting . Concept two which is similar to Melpet Farms, smaller
buildings on the north side of the property, 50 rental units and received the highest votes .
Concept three which is a combination of four buildings of rental and homeownership received
votes very close to concept two . The ranked scores slightly favor concept two . Ms . Spade -Aguilar
made the point that when you figure the numbers across the board , you have to consider the
ranking system and when you look at the numbers more closely, combing 15t and 2 "d choice,
concept two is 82 % versus concept three at 71 % . Mr . Hackert said it could really be concept two
or three, but concept two seemed preferred and would be easier for a developer . It would also
be less work for the Trust as there would not need to be two separate RFP' s and it more directly
addresses the need for rental housing . The only known respondent for building single family
homes would be Habitat for Humanity and there might be properties, including legacy
properties that are more suitable for a Habitat project . Mr. Ruchinskas said that concept two is
more desirable from a living and character standpoint, but it would also be the most expensive
option . Mr. Ruchinskas noted the difference in cost between recent developments in Sandwich
versus Yarmouth based on more buildings versus less . Ms , Kalinick noted that concept two
spoke more to the abutters but the Trust will have to consider putting more funds into the
project in order to keep the cost per unit lower.
Chair deRuyter asked if there would be further analysis from the consultant . Ms . Scalise said
there is one more graph and the comments that were submitted . Chair deRuyter said we could
wait until our next meeting to digest this information and get additional information . Jill Scalise
said she spoke with Laura Shufelt from MHP and that the Trust could also have a sub-group
meeting between now and the July meeting . As long as the Trust makes a decision in July, then
Bohler can put together a master plan to present to the Trust in September, then move to RFP in
the fall . The Trust would also provide guidance to Bohler beyond just the preferred concept .
Chair deRuyter asked that all the information regarding Millstone be collated and sent to the
Trust to go over before their next meeting and posted in the packet as well . Ms . Kalinick read
the email from Blaine and Suzanne Smoller. Ms . Spade-Aguilar commented that if we did two
separate RFP' s would there be two developers and would they develop in turns . If they are, it
would create a longer building time frame and more disruption for the abutters . Ms . Kalinick
said it would be more complicated and would be a phased process . Ms . Kalinick thanked the
Department Heads who submitted thoughtful comments that are in the packet . Mr . Hackert said
we would have to consider the infrastructure piece if there were two different phases as rental
would likely be done first then home ownership . Ms . Scalise wrapped up the discussion by
reviewing the next steps document . Next steps include providing additional guidance to Bohler
to complete the feasibility study and then the creation of Request for Proposals . The Trust will
have oversight of the process . Mr. Ruchinskas and Laura Shufelt will both be assets in this
process as they have a lot of experience . Mr. Ruchinskas noted that it will take a couple of
months to go through RFP criteria and selection process . We will probably realistically be at April
2021 when we select a developer. Chair deRuyter noted that there would also be in further
steps that include local funding and a comprehensive permit process, both which involve public
input .
5 . Potential rental assistance and/or emergency rental assistance program , discussion and
possible vote - Ms . Spade -Aguilar presented the overall distinction between regular rental
assistance and emergency rental assistance . When the Trust last met, we were considering a
regular rental assistance program . The sub -group of Tim , Jill and Maggie had been putting the
final touches on the BRAP program before COVID19 hit . A lot of discussion has taken place
amongst housing folks about what the need for the rental assistance is now, They have
subsequently put together a plan of action for emergency rental that would address expected
needs when unemployment benefits and the emergency moratorium is lifted around housing ,
Jill has attended a lot of discussions with other towns and across the State about rental
assistance programs and need . Mr . Hackert feels that we were ready to ask for final approval on
the Brewster Rental Assistance Program and are closer to implementation . He thinks we would
be serving the same cohort either way and there are other emergency rental assistance
programs that are available right now . Ms , Spade -Agullar responded that the BRAP is much
cleaner but COVIDI9 has changed the climate and some of the parameters, like eligibility levels
and monthly subsidy have to be re-considered . Mr. Hackert said that it took us 4 to 6 months to
get to this point and it is important to get a rental assistance program into the community
sooner than later .
Chair deRuyter thanked the group for their work and flexibility and asked Ms . Scalise to talk
about what is occurring on the regional level , Ms , Scalise said that across the State, rental
assistance discussion has been around Best Practices . The moratorium is on foreclosures and
evictions but is set to expire in August . Ms . Scalise has been involved in the Lower Cape
Emergency Rental working group and represents Brewster on it . There is an expectation that the
greater need will be in August and beyond when unemployment benefits and the moratorium
expire . We have a challenge with the funding the Trust has and how we want to use it . There is
about $ 75 , 000 available from the original CPC funding of 100K . We cannot fund both and CPG
wIII not be accepting applications again until December for a May 2021 town meeting . Our May
2020 town meeting was pushed to September due to COVIDI9 . The Lower Cape Emergency
Rental Group is meeting weekly . They expect to finish the guidelines by the beginning of July
with a program in place by August . They have worked to identify what is available now and
where are the gaps to meet the need , Housing Assistance Corp . is also running a workforce
housing fund and is the administrator for the RAFT funds on the Cape . Chair deRuyter asked
what funding mechanisms the regional work group is looking at, CPC, fundraising . There is still
discussion on whether there would be one pool or by town . Ms . Spade-Aguilar noted that the
workforce housing fund seeks to address those at the higher AMI , up to 100% because RAFT
funding is only up to 50% of the AMI , It is important not to duplicate efforts of existing
programs . Ms . Robinson noted that there are other sources for emergency funding . Ms . Scalise
noted that the hot spot is those in the 80 to 100% AMI . The RAFT funding through the Cares Act
is supposed to go up to 80% of the AMI . Homeless Prevention and LCOC are assisting with
funding from the Major Crisis Relief fund . Ms . Robinson said we need to be aware of the other
sources for emergency funding . Mr . Ruchinskas noted that the estimate to run the program over
the 3 years is about $ 198, 000 and we need to keep finances in mind regarding long term CPC
funding and projects on the horizon , like Millstone , Other Trusts have been contributing in the
million dollar range for development . Ms . Kalinick noted that we had intended to have a joint
Trust-CPC meeting to talk through the long term funding issues . If we are going to do a long
term rental program , we need to put an application in this December to fund a three year
program . Ms . Kalinick said she would like to see us work on dual tracts and discuss this in July
when we have more details from the regional group . Ms . Kalinick said she believes there will be
short and long term impacts from COVID19 and encouraged residents to reach out to Jill about
programs that are available for assistance . Chair deRuyter summed up the discussion and said
we will work on getting a joint meeting with CPC on the calendar and that we work on dual
tracts and hear back on the regional approach at the July meeting . Ms . Scalise asked that the
working group continue to meet and work on this process for the July meeting .
6 . Housing Coordinator update : including COVID49 response and Brewster Woods- Ms . Scalise
gave her update . The Town COVID response has been looking to provide support to residents,
working with the Council on Aging, the schools and the community . The Town has established a
COVID relief fund , Ms . Scalise will be reaching out to our residents in subsidized housing to
provide resources available to them . Ms . Scalise said the CPC voted to allow a portion of the
Brewster Woods funds to be used to match the MassWorks grant . She thanked CPC and POAH
for their work on this and other housing in Brewster , The Barnstable Home Consortium will be
voting at their next meeting on an award for Brewster Woods in the amount of $ 250K . The state
funding should be announced in July and then we would move forward with the infrastructure
piece . Ms . Kalinick thanked Jill for efforts around assisting residents during this crisis . Ms . Scalise
said Habitat is still on schedule for Paul Hush Way . We also expect to hear about the CDBG
Rehab funds in July . One of our units on Sean Way that was foreclosed on is moving forward
with some work and then will be resold . Mr . Ruchinskas asked if the rehab work for Sean Circle
will be funded by the Trust and where we stand with Yankee Drive , Ms . Scalise said that Fannie
Mae will be funding the rehabilitation and we have not done any work on Yankee, but now that
the CPC funds have been transferred , she will start work on that .
7 . Housing Trust appointments- Ms . Kalinick said that the bylaw addresses the terms the initial
term was for two years, expiring on June 30, 2020 . The re - appointments are that the members
appointed from specific committees, like the Select Board are for one year and everyone else is
two years . Ms . Kalinick said as a Trust we have come a long way and are almost at the finish line
with some programs . Ms . Kalinick said if you are appointed from a Committee, you are welcome
to go back to that committee to discuss re- appointment . Chair deRuyter said this Trust is unique
and has coalesced and has programs coming to fruition ; he hopes to be re-appointed from the
Select Board , Ms , Hillis- Dineen , Ms . Robinson and Mr. Ruchinskas all said they will discuss with
their Boards but would like to continue . Ms . Spade-Aguilar asked about the resident at large
appointments . Ms . Kalinick said they would be re-appointed if they desired ; if not, we would go
through the solicitation process that we went through the first time . Please contact Donna
about the re-appointments . Ms . Spade-Aguilar and Mr. Hackert both indicated that they want to
continue on the Trust . At the July meeting, we will need to have a discussion about re-
organization .
8 . Any other business not anticipated : Ms . Kalinick provided a letter to the Trust about support for
a Municipality Vulnerability program grant which would assist with community outreach around
emergency preparedness which would be important, particularly for our housing authority
properties as well as camps, businesses and residents . Tim Hackert moved that we authorize
Donna Kalinick to sign the letter on behalf of the Trust, Madalyn Hillis- Dineen second . A roll call
vote was taken and the vote was unanimous . Madalyn Hilils- Dineen -Yes, Maggie Spade -Aguilar-
Yes,, Paul Ruchinskas-Yes, Tim Hackert-Yes, Sarah Robinson -Yes, Donna Kalinick-Yes, Chair
deRuyter-Yes .
Mr. Hackert noted that he is the Trust representative on the COVID19 relief fund committee .
9 . Next Meeting , Trust members agreed that July 2 "d would work for them if the scheduling for the
town works .
10 . Approval of Minutes from March 5 , 2020 : Mr. Hackert moved to approve the minutes of March
51 2020, Madalyn Hillis- Dineen second . Mr . Ruchinskas had one edit regarding the CPC
agreement . A roll call vote was taken as amended . Madalyn Hillls- Dineen-Yes, Maggie Spade -
Aguilar-Yes, Paul Ruchinskas-Yes, Tim Hackert-Yes, Sarah Robinson -Yes, Donna Kalinick-Yes,
Chair deRuyter-Yes .
11 . Adjournment : Chair deRuyter thanked Jill and Donna and the Brewster staff for their efforts
during the COVID9 crisis . Mr . Ruchinskas moved adjournment at 6 : 58pm , Mr. Hackert second . A
roll call vote was taken as amended . Madalyn Hillis- Dlneen -Yes, Maggie Spade -Aguilar-Yes, Paul
Ruchinskas-Yes, Tim Hackert-Yes, Sarah Robinson -Yes, Donna Kalinick-Yes, Chair deRuyter-Yes .
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna J . Kalinick
Assistant Town Administrator
Public Packet details :
Packet Available For Download at httr) : //records . brewster-ma , 00vNVebLink/O/fol/ l 16185/Row1 . aspx
Approved August 13 , 2020