HomeMy Public PortalAboutAffordable Housing Trust -- 2018-07-26 Minutes is �a' } ii `: •, ^ I ill; /ilc
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Brewster Housing Trust
July 26, 2018 5 : 30pm Room A, Brewster Town Hall
Present : Ben deRuyter, Paul Ruchinskas, Sarah Robinson, Madalyn Hillis- Dineen, Donna Kalinick, Maggie
Spade -Aguilar, Tim Hackert, Jill Scalise
Introduction of Members : Since this was the first meeting of the Trust, members introduced themselves
and what committee or group they represented . Paul Ruchinskas- CPC, Ben deRuyter- Select Board ,
Sarah Robinson - Brewster Housing Partnership, Madalyn Hillis- Dineen - Planning Board, Donna Kalinick-
Town Administration, Tim Hackert-Citizen at large, Maggie Spade-Aguilar-Citizen at large, Jill Scalise-
Housing Coordinator. This is an informal first meeting to get started , hereafter, the Trust meetings will
be televised or taped .
Discussion of Roles & Responsibilities : Ms , Scalise provided some guidance documents about how
trusts operate . She explained that this information will be further explained when the Mass Housing
Partnership training takes place . After the training, the Trust can elect a chair, vice chair and clerk and
set goals . There was discussion about how successful trusts operate . Ms . Scalise and Ms . Kalinick talked
about the work they have done on Housing in the last year and how it has all been guided by the
Housing Production Plan . Ms . Scalise also explained how the Vision Plan and Housing Production Plan
are dovetailed . Members were encouraged to review both the Housing Production Plan and the Vision
Plan . Information was also provided about the Housing resources on the Town website which Ms .
Scalise created .
Discussion of Mass Housing Partnership Housing Trust Training : The training is being arranged to
include Harwich , Orleans and Chatham and will take place over two sessions . The hope is to have the
training either the 2 "d or 3 'd week in September, ahead of the Cape Housing Institute which will take
place in October . Everyone agreed that Thursdays would work for them . Ms . Scalise will be attending a
meeting with the other towns and will confirm dates and times . Shelly Goehring from MHP has provided
a proposal for the content .
Discussion and Possible Vote on Funding and CPC application : A discussion took place regarding
whether Paul Ruchinskas would have to recuse himself as the CPC chair . Both Ms . Scalise and Mr .
Ruchinskas had contacted the Ethics Commission . It was determined that since both the CPC and the
Trust are municipal entities, there was not a need for recusal . Ms . Kalinick explained that she and Ms .
Scalise had decided not to seek CPC funding when the Trust bylaw was brought to Town Meeting in
May . They wanted the Trust to decide what type and amounts of funding they would seek . Some of the
other towns, like Harwich , sought money up front . Harwich CPC provided $ 500, 000 in funding, some to
be used for a Housing Coordinator . The Trust members discussed what potential uses a funding request
would be utilized for : preservation of a property at risk, acquisition of available property, work on the
Millstone project, creation of new programs . Essentially, this would be seed money for the Trust which
would be difficult to define in a CPC application . Mr. Ruchinskas said he thought CPC would be more
comfortable with concrete examples .
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Mr . deRuyter said he would also like to seek funding through a Town appropriation at Fall Town
meeting . The Trust will have an ongoing need for money that comes from a source other than CPC to
potentially run programs that are not restricted by CPC rules, such as a homeowner rehabilitation
program . After discussion, it was decided to seek $ 100, 000 in CPC funds for this fall and $ 50, 000 in Town
funding . Mr . deRuyter made a motion to request $ 100, 000 from the CPC for seed money for the Trust,
with Ms . Kalinick and Ms . Scalise submitting a grant application on behalf of the Trust . Mr. Hackert
seconded , unanimously approved . Mr. deRuyter also made a motion that the Trust request, from the
Select Board , $ 50, 000 from available funds for seed money for the Trust . Mr . Hackert seconded ,
unanimously approved . Ms . Scalise and Ms . Kalinick were tasked with putting the CPC application
together to be submitted as soon as possible . Mr. deRuyter will report back to the Select Board about
the request for Town funding . The process for CPC is to accept the application, review it for
completeness, refer it to the Housing Subcommittee and then it return to CPC for a full vote . Ms .
Kalinick explained that the Board will be deciding whether to push town meeting to December 3rd . Ms .
Kalinick said it would be helpful of some other members of the Trust were there for the Housing
Subcommittee vote and the full CPC vote .
Any other Business : Ms . Kalinick stated that they would not discuss the Millstone Project tonight, but it
would be on the next agenda .
Discussion of Next Meeting and best times : It was agreed that Thursdays worked well for everyone and
this same time frame . The next meeting was set for Thursday September 6t" at 5 ; 30pm .
The Trust meeting adjourned at 6 : 54pm .
Respectfully Submitted ,
Donna J . Kalinick
Assistant Town Administrator
Approved August 6, 2018 ; 7-Yes, 0- No .
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