HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2023-09-07 MinutesBrewster Housing Trust
September 7, 2023, S:OOpm Meeting
Housing Trust Members Present: Maggie Spade -Aguilar, Ned Chatelain, Donna Kalinick, Paul
Ruchinskas, Vanessa Greene
Absent: Timothy Hackert, Antone Freitas
Others Present: Jill Scalise -Housing Coordinator, Robert Tobias- Finance Committee
1. Call to Order, Declaration of Quorum, Meeting Participation and Recording Statement:
Vice Chair Spade -Aguilar called the meeting to order at 5:04pm, read the required notice
and declared a quorum.
2. Citizen's Forum: None
3. Financial Report (CP3) for Community Preservation Committee
Ms. Kalinick shared that each year the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is
required to file with the Department of Revenue the CP3 form, which accounts on how
their money was spent. The Trust reports to the CPC for their portion so they can
complete the required form. Most of the Trust funds were spent on 212 Yankee Drive
totaling $49,456. This included some remediation work, septic work, and some
administrative help from Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) and The Resources Inc.
(TRI), plus legal fees. Ms. Kalinick will go in front of the CPC on Wednesday to deliver the
report and ask to release the additional $200K that was awarded for rehabilitation of
homes on the subsidized housing inventory, noting that the Town has a signed contract
with the Pearl company. Ms. Kalinick shared that additional money spent through the
Trust was in conjunction with the Rental Assistance Program, $14,175, there are now a
number of households participating in this program. The Trust spent a total of $63,631
in FY23 of CPC funds. In addition to the CP3, Mimi Bernardo has provided the end of
year accounting, Ms. Kalinick stated that at the October or November meeting we will
have an updated forecast for discussion.
4. Spring Rock Village (0 Millstone Road) update
Jill Scalise shared the meaning and the history of name of the housing project, and that
the Select Board requested to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
for Local Preference of 55% and a corresponding request for Regional Preference for
Barnstable County of 15-20% depending on what the State might allow. Ms. Scalise
added that Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Housing Assistance
Corporation (HAC) did submit a grant application for CPC funds for $500K for the project.
After the CPC process, Ms. Kalinick expects POAH and HAC will make a request to the
Housing Trust for funding.
S. 212 Yankee Drive update
Donna Kalinick referenced the updated expense sheet provided in the packet, noting
that there was a pre -construction meeting with the Pearl Company. The schedule is
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provided in the packet and expects construction to start the first week of October and be
completed by mid-December.
6. Housing Program Assistant position update
Jill Scalise shared that Human Resources plans to post the position within the next week
or so. Ms. Kalinick added that typically positions are posted until filled but include a
priority deadline. Realistically looking at the end of October, beginning of November
before we have someone onboarded.
7. Buydown Program CPC funding application update
Donna Kalinick presented the application for the Buydown Program to the Housing
Partnership, there were questions about the interchange between this program and
market rate. The Partnership voted unanimously in favor of recommending to the CPC.
8. Rental Assistance Program update
Jill Scalise shared that a contract was signed with HAC for three years to continue
managing the Brewster Rental Assistance program. The latest quarterly report includes
that there are currently 10 households receiving assistance this quarter. There are three
new households that entered the program, and one application was denied because the
household was over the program's income limits. Ms. Scalise stated that HAC will be
including the total number of households in the program future reports. For the past
quarter seven households received a total of $16,061. Mr. Ruchinskas requested that
family size be included in future reporting and Chair Spade -Aguilar asked for a
breakdown of those at the different levels of Fair Market Rent.
9. Housing Trust Guidelines and 2024 Priority Initiatives: Discussion and possible vote
Vice Chair Spade- Aguilar shared the notes from Chair Hackert who indicated his three
priorities:
I. Identify a site for the next affordable housing project (and participate in Sea
Camps Use Planning process and encourage housing options for Sea Camps
properties). Explore possible additional affordable housing project sites in
Brewster.
2. Continue the Annual Housing Forum and enhance interface with the Select Board
and other Town boards and groups in affordable housing efforts.
3. Explore expanding the Subsidized Housing Inventory through direct purchases
and deed restrictions (and support and engage the State affordable housing
initiatives).
Members of the Trust and Ms. Scalise discussed the process of moving forward and their
thoughts and ideas on priority goals for 2024. There was an agreement that priority
initiative is to identify the next Town sponsored location and engaging with the Sea
Camps committees. Ms. Kalinick stated that it is important to note that if affordable
housing is not going to be sited on these parcels, the Town will have to purchase more
land for housing options. The State mandate is to have 10% Subsidized Housing
Inventory, the Town is currently at 7.2%, this mandate needs to be taken seriously and
should be on par with other mandates the Town is tasked with in devising plans for. Ms.
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Kalinick noted that of the 22 goals on the Housing Production Plan, the Housing Trust is
listed on 16 of them, adding that the Trust needs to ground truth their goals into the
Housing Production Plan goals.
Trust members agreed that additional funding for the Housing Trust is a top priority.
There was discussion on ways to increase funding, Robert Tobias from the Finance
Committee offered a suggestion to research if there is any designation available for
charitable donation of land.
It was shared that the Planning Board is seeking to update the Accessory Dwelling Unit
(ADU) bylaw, noting that a change to the Accessory Commercial Dwelling Unit (ACDU)
was tabled. Ms. Kalinick noted that the Town applied for a grant to hire a consultant to
look at current zoning and opportunities for multi family mixed use in anticipation that
the Local Comprehensive Plan will pass, and zoning will be a priority for the Planning
Boards future work.
Ms. Kalinick added that she would like to have policy discussions with the Select Board
about pending legislation and if the Town is interested in having a special legislation
Trust that can work on housing that is above 100% Area Medium Income. Ms. Kalinick
shared that the Select Board finalized their strategic goals, there are 3 goals under
housing that the Trust is listed as primary responsible party or key stake holder:
1. Promote and encourage support programs that help residents stay in their
homes.
2. Continue implementing Housing Production Plan
3. Continue to provide support for Millstone Community Housing Initiative
Ms. Scalise will be compiling information so the Trust can review at their next meeting to
decide what goals should remain, which need to be updated and which goals have been
completed.
10. Housing Coordinator update
• The Planning Board is working on a revised Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw and
will be having a public hearing on Wednesday September 13th and a joint
meeting with the Select Board on September 27tH
• Within the Community Development Block Grant, the Town has been awarded a
$1.7M regional grant for FY22-23 for the towns of Wellfleet, Dennis, and
Brewster, where Brewster is the lead community.
• The affordable home at 6 Sachemus Trail is being re -sold through HAC as the
resale agent and expects the closing to take place later this month. Ms. Scalise
shared that the deed violation has been resolved with the Select Board through
executive session.
• Habitat for Humanity is still working through their application for their two
affordable homes on Phoebe Way, the lottery has not happened yet.
11. Cape Cod Sea Camps updates
Ms. Kalinick noted that approximately 350 people attend the second forum and the
second survey had 874 participants. The Town's interdisciplinary team led by Reed
Hilderbrand is working on compiling the feedback from both the forum and the survey
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and will provide the results to the Bay Property Planning Committee and Pond Property
Planning Committee the third week of September. The next forum will be in November.
The Community Pool closed on August 20th, the hope is to open earlier next year and be
able to extend the season. The Town received positive feedback about the pool and sold
almost 700 memberships.
12. Volunteer Fair & Appreciation Luncheon Saturday September 30th
Tim Hackert has volunteered to host the table at the fair. Ms. Kalinick asked for a second
volunteer and noted that all members are invited to the luncheon.
13. For Your Information
Ms. Scalise reviewed the information in the packet:
• Fall hybrid peer group meetings, Lower Cape will be held on Thursday September
14th from 3:00pm-4:30pm
• Presentation and Discussion at the Harwich Community Center on "Considering
the Intersection of Conservation and Affordable Housing" on September 27 at
2pm.
• The Governor declared a State of Emergency due to rapidly rising numbers of
migrant families arriving in need of shelter and services as well as a severe lack of
shelter availability. Nearly 5,600 families, more than 20,000 individuals, are in
state shelters, 80% higher than a year ago.
• Email from Association to Preserve Cape Cod regarding suggestions for an
integrated strategy that enables and promotes Conservation and Housing.
• Articles regarding housing that maybe relevant to Housing on Cape Cod.
14. Matters Not Reasonable Anticipated by the Chair
Vice Chair Spade- Aguilar shared that she has been unable to attend the Bay Property
Planning Committee meetings due to scheduling conflicts but does review the videos to
stay up to date. Ms. Spade -Aguilar inquired if anyone else would like to be the liaison
but will continue at this time.
15. Approval of Minutes from July 6, 2023 & August 3, 2023
Member Chatelain moved the minutes from July 6, 2023. Member Ruchinskas seconded
the motion. All members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 5 -Yes, 0 -No.
16. Next Scheduled Meeting: October 5, 2023
17. Adjournment
Member Chatelain motioned to adjourn at 6:28pm. Member Ruchinskas seconded the
motion. All members voted in favor of the motion. The vote was 5 -Yes, 0 -No.
Respectfully Submitted,
Erika Mawn, Executive Assistant Town Manager/Select Board Office
09.07.23 BAHT Meetine Packet flaserfiche.comi
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Approved: October 5, 2023