The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal AboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2024-01-04 Minutes i Brewster Affordable Housing Trust - January 4,2024,5:00 pm Meeting Housing Trust Members Present in Person:Tim Hackert, Donna Kalinick,Vanessa Greene,Tony Freitas, Ned Chatelain Remote Presence: Maggie Spade-Aguilar Absent: None Arrived at 5:05 pm: Paul Ruchinskas Others Present:Jill Scalise- Housing Coordinator, Robert Tobias- Finance Committee, Marissa Consolantis- Housing Program Assistant 1. Call to Order, Declaration of Quorum, Meeting Participation and Recording Statement:Tim Hackert called the meeting to order at 5:02pm, read the required notice and declared a quorum. 2. Housing Program Assistant Introduction:Jill Scalise introduced Marissa Consolantis as the new Housing Program Assistant and shared that she will be working with Marissa to complete orientation in the next few weeks and then move on to other projects. 3. Updated Five Year Trust Financial Plan: Donna Kalinick shared that she worked along with Mimi Bernardo (Finance Director), Peter Lombardi (Town Manager), and Ned Chatelain (Select Board Chair and Member of the Trust)on updating the Five Year Financial Plan and wanted to note the changes. The Trust earned approximately$30,000 in interest this year. In the years prior, it had not earned more than$1,000 in interest.This resulted from more money to earn interest and a favorable interest rate. Due to market volatility, it was decided to carry$15,000 of interest in years through `28.This will be monitored as things change. Prior to this, interest was not included on this financial plan at all, because it was so minimal. There were a couple of changes in the Projects portion,the Program Assistant numbers were adjusted to show actuals.The Buy Down Program had been estimated last year due to asking the Community Preservation Committee(CPC)for$300,000 but the Affordable Housing Trust Board voted to request$250,000 which was approved at town meeting, so that number was changed.The other number change was the $1,000,000 for Spring Rock was updated to$1,500,000. Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)and Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) have indicated that they may need to ask for more than the $500,000. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)for FY25 is$1,300,000, FY24 was $1,700,000 because it was an 18-month grant vs a 12-month grant.This number will be updated on an annual basis because that program makes decisions each year and increases funding as available.The short-term revenue forecasts were updated based on updated information.The Trust ultimately received $500,000 in FY24 short term rental revenue. Donna Kalinick clarified that the potential extra spending for Spring Rock Village is balanced by more revenue than originally forecasted from short-term rental tax.The proceeds from the Subsidized Housing Inventory are reduced from $200,000 to$100,000 now that the process is nearing completion and expenses are clearer. 4. Spring Rock Village update including Notice of Project Change-Jill Scalise referenced the December presentation by Preservation of Affordable Housing(POAH) and HAC and letter of support from the Trust. POAH and HAC filed notice of project change with Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and they are on the ZBA agenda for January 9th. POAH and HAC are requesting the ZBA see the proposed changes as insubstantial.The ZBA will decide if the changes are substantial or insubstantial. If deemed insubstantial,the comprehensive permit can be modified by those new plans and move forward. If deemed substantial,the permit will need to be reopened and looked at further.Jill Scalise noted that the development cost chart is available in the Housing Trust packet. It had been requested that the information be updated to also include the number of units and buildings for the different developments across Cape Cod—those numbers have been added.The financial numbers continuously change as final costs are determined at different stages of development.Jill Scalise also shared that Spring Rock Village has been invited by the state into the winter funding round which means they will be completing that application for February. S. 212 Yankee Drive update,site visit schedule,and potential vote on funds Donna Kalinick discussed the final change order for 212 Yankee Drive.On December 19th, there was a walkthrough with The Resource Inc(TRI). During that visit, it was discovered that the front exterior light pole did not have electricity hooked up to it.An agreement was reached for a discounted price from Pearl Construction to correct it while they were scheduled to be on site for other small repairs.There was also a dryer vent hole on the back of the building, and Pearl Construction installed a dryer vent enclosure to prevent rodents coming in.The final walkthrough is scheduled for next week.The only outstanding item is the slider, but everything is expected to be wrapped up by January 15th, which is the end of the contract. Legal charges will continue as we work through closing, and the updated deed restriction. Donna Kalinick also thanked Pearl Construction and DPW for their help preparing the house for inspection. Donna looked forward to the completed project.Jill Scalise echoed thanks for help from various departments and mentioned that the Electrical Inspector noticed the front light issue.Jill Scalise presented the flyer for 212 Yankee Drive and shared that the marketing has begun, and that HAC is now accepting applications.There will be an information session by Zoom on January 10 at 6pm.Jill Scalise plans to share the backstory of how the Trust and the Town have been involved in the preservation of this home. An internal open house for Trust members, Select Board, Housing Partnership Committee,Town staff, and various departments on the 18th from 2pm-5pm to tour the house and see the finished product. 6. Brewster Rental Assistance Program,quarterly update,and evaluation,including potential vote on program revisions Jill Scalise referenced the quarterly report in the packet, highlighting household totals utilizing the Brewster Rental Assistance Program.The report notes that five households exited the program, three with other subsidies, one voluntarily left, and one exited because their rent amount went above Fair Market Rent(FMR), making them ineligible. Four households have been renewed for another year. HAC also approved two households as of December 11,which means the program reached the fifteen-household cap.Therefore, HAC has made a request to increase the number of households eligible to a maximum of twenty- three. Program participation has increased greatly over the past year which correlates to a decrease in available government assistance,greater community awareness of the program, and the leasing of units at Serenity Brewster.The cost of the program for the past quarter was$19,320. HAC first checks to see if applicants qualify for any other funding before utilizing Brewster funds and during the past quarter, nine households in Brewster were assisted with help from other programs for a total of$23,816. Overall, $225,000 has been designated by CPA funding for rental assistance.Thus far, payments through January 11t, 2024, have been $62,370 to HAC, leaving$162,630 in CPA funds designated for rental assistance.At fifteen participating households,the maximum cost would be$94,500 per year.At twenty participating households, $126,000 per year.And for twenty-three participating households,the maximum cost would be $144,900 per year.Jill Scalise noted that the five-year financial plan, it has been listed to apply for CPA funding for fiscal FY25. The next date to apply for CPA funds would be the Fall Town meeting of 2024, and the Trust would currently need a year funding in hand.The following chance to apply would be the Spring Town meeting, this would require that the Trust have a year and a half of funding in hand.Jill Scalise brought up a secondary issue to consider...whether further guidance is needed to consider applications from Serenity Brewster. Over 50%of households receiving rental assistance are at Serenity.According to Serenity's tenant selection plan, eligible tenants must have more than twice their rent in monthly income to qualify for tenancy. HAC has noticed several applicants at Serenity paying over 50%of their incomes to rent.Jill Scalise presented the Trust with several questions to consider with this information:Would the Trust like to gather more information about Serenity Brewster's leasing procedures, provide additional guidance to HAC about how to manage the program, or does the Trust want to allow HAC to continue administering the program without these factors being an issue?The Trust members asked questions regarding the determination of eligibility for the rental assistance program and agreed that more information would be useful to look further into this situation.The Trust discussed potential changes to the guidelines of the Rental Assistance Program and decided they would like to hear from HAC to answer questions about program administration. Donna Kalinick shared that she is generally supportive of going from fifteen to twenty households maximum and stressed that the addition would require applying to CPC forJuly 1st to ensure continued funding.Jill Scalise offered to do a Brewster rental unit analysis for BAHT's meeting next month and summarized that it would be helpful to have a representative from HAC at the February meeting to answer questions about eligibility and distribution of rental assistance across affordable and market rate units. 7. Housing Coordinator Update including CDBG Public Hearing on January 22 Jill Scalise shared information about two upcoming talks to meet the increasing community need and requests for information.Jill Scalise will be presenting at the First Parish Brewster, and then on January 191h a presentation will be offered for Town staff,with thanks to Peter Lombardi and the Town for allowing staff members to attend on a Friday. Marissa Consolantis will be attending both sessions. 8. Cape Cod Sea Camps Update Donna Kalinick shared that the committees have not met over the holidays. Reed Hildebrand is compiling questions from residents that were submitted after the third forum and will be reporting to both committees January 91h and 10th.There will be a joint Select Board and Bay Planning meeting January 23rd to come to final decisions before the fourth Public Forum on February 15th, which is to present plans that will be going to town meeting in May, and to answer questions that arose from Public Forum number three. Key policy decisions are still left to be made surrounding the community center and housing. 9. Annual Town Report for Brewster Affordable Housing Trust(BAHT) Tim Hackert asked for a volunteer to write the first draft of the annual town report which is due Feb 16, 2024. Maggie Spade-Aguilar volunteered,and Donna Kalinick offered to assist. 10. For Your Information Tim Hackert briefly discussed the housing articles included in the packet highlighting resurgence of SROs(single room occupancy) in other areas. 11. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair None 12. Approval of Minutes from Ned Chatelain moved to approve the minutes of the December meeting with scribner's edits.Second Paul Ruchinskas.A roll call was taken, Paul Ruchinskas-yes, Donna Kalinick-yes, Vanessa Greene-yes,Tony Frietas-yes, Ned Chatelain-yes, Maggie Spade-Aguilar-yes,Tim Hackert-yes. 13. Next Scheduled Meeting: February 1,2024 14. Adjournment At 6:37PM Tony Frietas moved to adjourn the meeting.Second Ned Chatelain.A roll call was taken, Paul Ruchinskas-yes, Donna Kalinick-yes,Vanessa Greene-yes,Tony Frietas-yes, Ned Chatelain-yes, Maggie Spade-Aguilar-yes,Tim Hackert-yes. Unanimously approved. Meeting adjourned Respectfully submitted, Marissa Consolantis, Housing Program Assistant Packet Materials:01.04.2024 BAHT Meeting Packet Part 1 (brewster-ma.gov )1.04.2024 BAHT Meeting Packet Part 2 brewster-ma. ov Approved:02.01.2024