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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 1 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. 2 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 3 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 4 Approved: October 5, 2023