Chilmark Housing Committee
Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 4, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Approved
Present: Andy Goldman, Chair, Sheila Muldaur, Bill Randol, Jim Feiner
Todd Christy, Administrative Assistant
Not Present: Roland Kluver, Tim Lasker
Public: Warren Doty
Call To Order:
Mr. Goldman, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm.
Meeting Minutes:
There was no review of minutes.
New Business:
Mr. Doty was present to describe to the Housing Committee the proposed Chilmark Affordable Housing Trust, which is a municipal trust fund for the Town of Chilmark. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 55c, Chilmark would establish a trust to be known as the Chilmark Affordable Housing Trust Fund whose purpose is to provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing for the benefit of low and moderate income households in Chilmark. The Trust shall include five (5) trustees, including one member of the Board of Selectmen, one member of the Chilmark Housing Committee, one member of the Planning Board, one member of the Finance Committee with the remaining at-large member to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Trustees shall serve for a term not to exceed two years. Mr. Doty described several benefits the Trust would provide to the Town and asked the Housing Committee members for input.
After Mr. Doty’s presentation there were two questions from the Committee. The term, “…Board of Selectmen” was at the end of many sentences, suggesting their oversight on all these issues. Do the Selectmen want this level of involvement concerning the trust? The Committee suggested setting up a maintenance fund as an easy way to have money available without too burdensome a process, allowing distribution of these funds quickly.
Mr. Goldman made a motion to support in concept the Chilmark Affordable Housing Trust Fund. That motion was seconded and approved with all ayes.
The Committee Thanked Mr. Doty for his time on this issue.
Mr. Christy to write a letter to BOS relating support in concept of Trust
Ground Lease:
Issue of Heritability in Ground Lease:
Ms. Muldaur asked if the Housing Committee was going to present to the town, proposed changes to the bylaws concerning heirs, suggesting a change to the heritability definition that is included in the ground lease and the town’s bylaws. As it currently reads within the Ground Lease, a lessee may leave the dwelling to an heir conditioned that they are income qualified at up to 150% AMI. Ms. Muldaur would like to have an heir’s allowable income level raised up to 200% AMI. This would allow a child who has done well but who is not wealthy to inherit and live in a family home and keep all other affordable restrictions in place on the dwelling.
The motion was made to accept raising the income level of heirs to 200% AMI. The motion was seconded and approved all ayes.
Mr. Goldman agreed to draft proposal and check with Town Counsel concerning changes.
Administration:
none
With no other new business to discuss, Mr. Goldman closed the meeting at 7:30 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Todd Christy, Administrative Assistant.
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