HomeMy Public PortalAboutHousing Partnership -- 2021-09-23 Minutes E'W8;,N p Town of Brewster
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MEETING MINUTES
Thursday 9/23/21
Housing
Partnership
Jillian Douglass 1 . Meeting was called to order at 6 : 00 .
Chair 2 . Declaration of a Quorum - Quorum was present.
Lisa Forhan 3 . Meeting Participation Statement (for remote participation) .
Clerk 4 . Updates from Housing Coordinator - See report attached .
5 . Updates from Liaisons
Vanessa Greene a. Affordable Housing Trust AN Vanessa reported that there was a joint
Ralph Marotti meeting with the Slect Board; RFP approved and a letter of support was
provided for the purchase of the Cape Cod Sea Camps .
Diane Pansue b . Community Preservation Committee AN Sarah reported on Latham request
Sara Robinson and 5 year plan in process with a consultant . There was a question from
Jillian regarding changes to the application for CPC Funds : There have been
Steve Seaver
only minor changes primarily in the administrative process (submitting
documents); no change to the local preference .
Asst. Town
Administrator Brewster Housing Coalition/ Chapa - Citizens group has been meeting via
Administrator
Donna xalim�k Zoom; next meeting is in October . Trying to bring people together on
housing issues (not just affordable) and advocate for affordable housing .
Housing There was a question regarding whether properties at Huckleberry and
Coordinator
Jill Scalise Frederick Court are part of the housing authority, yes, they are . The update
from the Brewster Housing Coalition will remain as a standing agenda item .
6 . Open Discussion -Thoughts related to the 9 / 25 / 21 Special Town Meeting -
discussion centered around first advocating for the purchase and then, if
approved by voters, advocating for housing to be included as part of the
planning for the properties use . Members noted that Brewster residents
comments on social media showed there is some misinformation and
misunderstanding in the town suggesting there is a significant amount of
affordable housing in Brewster . Jill shared that the subsized housing
inventory in town is 5 . 6 % and if we include the number of units currently
under construction in town, that would bring hit up to 6 . 8 % . It was also
noted that the wait list for subsized housing in Brewster is between 5 and 8
years .
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7 . For Your Information/ Correspondence -Town Training on " Sunshine Laws"
to be provided at next partnership meeing.
8 . Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair - there were none a
9 . Minutes of the August 19, 2021 Housing Partnership Meeting were approved
with the correction of a typographical error .
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10 . Next Meeting will be October 21st at 6 : 00 .
11 . Meeting adjourned at 6 : 37.
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Brewster Housing Coordinator Update August 2021
Jill Scalise
Ongoing Activities/ Projects
1 . Community Outreach and Education (Housing Production Plan (HPP) Strategy
#13)
• Responded to email and phone requests for information and assistance, 55 total
requests for housing
information (35) or assistance (20) . Office hours held on Thursdays from 10-12 .
• Prepared and delivered Brewster Housing presentation to Brewster Housing
Coalition. Interviewed for Cape
Cod Times housing article .
2 . Brewster Affordable Housing Trust Fund (BAHT) (HPP Strategy #7) &
Community Housing Parcel off Millstone (Select Board Strategic Plan Goal H-3, HPP
Strategy #15)
• The Trust met twice to finish draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the property.
Legal review completed .
The Trust will present the RFP to the Select Board in September to vote on the
issuance of the RFP.
3 . Redevelop Existing Properties for Affordable Housing (HPP Strategy #6)
• Serenity Brewster (55 + rental housing, 27 affordable units) : Leasing of 41 studios
apartments in Phase 1
continues . Grand Opening Ceremony postponed for Covid safety concerns . Working
with Elevation
Financial on Local Unit Application for 27 affordable units . Phase 2, 91units,
expected to open in 2022 .
• Latham Centers (Educational, 8 rental apartments) : Provided support & attended
Community Preservation
Committee (CPC) meeting regarding $150,000 CPA grant request towards creating
affordable apartments as
part of Latham s renovation and revitalization of the former Fire Museum property .
CPC supported request.
4 . Comprehensive Permit Projects (HPP Strategy #14)
• Brewster Woods (30 affordable rental units) : Construction continues .
• Habitat, Red Top Road (2 affordable homes, ownership) : Habitat for Humanity
applied for a Comprehensive Permit, Zoning Board of Appeals hearing scheduled
for September 14th with Ellen Murphy, completed application for $10,000 for
Technical Assistance from Mass Housing Partnership .
5 . Preservation of Housing and Related Support of Brewster Residents
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing rehabilitation and
childcare applications available .
Material also provided for FY21 CDBG application.
• Brewster Rental Assistance Program (B-RAP) , Housing Assistance Corporation s
(HAC) contract was
extended for 2 additional years . Program guidelines adjusted to allow reasonable
rent, defined by HAC, in
accordance with other rent vouchers such as HUD .
• Brewster COVID-19 Relief Fund : Provided staff support for housing requests .
6 . Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) (HPP Strategy #10)
• Communicated and coordinated with homeowners, Habitat, and HOME
Consortium, to facilitate affordable
resale of SHI home on James Burr Road . Select Board waived Towns right of first
refusal .
• Follow-up continued for several SHI homes . Investigated 3 affordable rental units
expiring from SHI .
7. Housing Production Plan (HPP) : CPC voted to support $25,000 CPA grant request
to update HPP .
8 . Brewster Housing Partnership (BHP) : Held two meetings .
• Reviewed and endorsed CPC Housing CPA grant applications for HPP and
Latham Centers .
• Provided input for Select Board Strategic Plan & support letter for FY21 CDBG
application.
9 . Collaboration (HPP Strategy # 9)
• Attended HOME Consortium, Making the Case Zoom Call, Lower Cape Housing
Institute & CPC regional
funding discussion. Provided information about Brewster housing program to
Lower Cape towns .
Personnel
• Worked with: Assessor, Building Dept., CPC, COA, Health Dept. , Housing
Partnership, Housing Trust,
Planning Dept., Select Board and Town Administration.
• Attended CPC, Housing Partnership, Housing Trust & Select Board meetings .
• Participated in trammgs including: One Cape Summit, Open Meeting Law &
Conflict of Interest.