EASTHAM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST
MEETING MINUTES
Small Meeting Room
September 16, 2015
Members Present: Eileen Morgan, Peter Wade, Bill Burt, Jim McMakin
Members Absent: John Knight
Staff Present: Paul Lagg, Town Planner
Meeting was called to order at Noon by Chair, Eileen Morgan
Approval of Minutes of the August 20th Meeting
Peter Wade moved that the minutes of the August 20th meeting, Jim McMakin made the second, minutes approved.
T-Time Development Discussion Stratford Capital Group (SCG)
Richard Hayden, Executive Vice-President/Principal – Stratford Capital Group
Janis Mamayek, Principal, Director of Architecture – ICON Architecture
Kelly Killeen, PE – CHA Companies
Eileen Morgan welcomed the guest. Mr. Hayden provided the Trust with an overview of the planned project, and provided information on similar type projects conducted elsewhere by SCG. He told Trust members that the firm was committed to a ‘Friendly 40B’ process. Planned on the almost twelve acre site (11.97) would be a total of 130 units (presently named Governor Prence Residences), 90% affordable,10% would be for those 30% of median income, 80% for those of 60% median income, and the remaining 10% would be market rate. The property would remain in ‘affordable status’ for perpetuity, and managed by SCG. He indicated that SCG would be doing a mini-marketing study to make sure they are on track and would begin a formal application process when he
felt that the town was largely supportive of the project.
Janis Mamayek provided computer generated layout schematics of the project, which included the property site plan, a 3-D view of the residences looking from Rt. 6, and the design and layout of the townhouses and garden apartments. She told the Trust that it would be a two phase construction process.
Engineer Kelly Killeen provided information on the planned waste water system, noting that it has worked well at other project sites.
Trust members had questions about handicapped accessibility, demographics of the tenants, time of ‘lease up’, heating concerns given the present moratorium on new natural gas hookups, waste water maintenance, permitting, traffic etc. Both Peter Wade and Bill Burt reminded the developers of the potential citizen’s concerns, to which Mr. Hayden said they were aware of that, and have worked with other towns to address such concerns. The group was planning to meet with the planning board later that afternoon, and would be presenting before the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on October 19th. Trust members thanked the group for coming noting they appreciated the chance to review the project.
After SCG left, Trust members further discussed the project. Paul Lagg noted that the proposal would bring the town up to 8% of the SHI list, which presently was about 1.9%. Knowing that SCG would be making a presentation to the planning board later that day, the Trust decided to wait on any vote on the issue until their meeting in October, so they can assess any concerns raised by the planning board.
Insurance Policy Overview
Paul Lagg noted that the Insurance Policy Overview would need to wait until another meeting, but he presented the Trust with an invoice for the renewal on the policy of $5,356.40. Bill Burt moved to approve the payment and have the Chair sign off on the invoice. Jim McMakin made the second, Motion passed unanimously. It was suggested that next year, other insurance options should be reviewed in terms of costs and content.
Discussion on FY 17 CPA Projects
Peter Wade indicated that as a member of the CPC he was still trying to track down the exact amount of the CPC funds the Trust had available from previous awards. He felt the amount was around $189K. (This does not include the $400K and $153.5K approved at 2105 Town Meeting) He presented an overview of how the CPC planned expenditures FY 17 through FY 20, showing how the CPC would allocate funds toward the different project categories during that period. For the Trust that would be a potential of ~ $212K in FY 2017 and ~$845K for the period FY 17-FY 20.
He suggested that the Trust put in an application for the CPC funds for FY 17 requesting the funds for ‘more general affordable housing purposes.’ Bill Burt agreed that this would work well given that the CPC now has this plan in place. Paul Lagg and Peter Wade both noted that given the T-Time SCG potential project of rental units, Trust focus and CPC funding use may want to be re-considered/re-directed. Peter Wade expressed his concern about the amount of money spent to purchase and rehab rental units, and thought perhaps working with Habitat for Humanity would be better use of funding. Changing use of the funding awarded in 2015 might require going back to town meeting. Eileen Morgan asked if that means we should no longer be looking for properties, and she suggested the Trust might be able to provide mortgage assistance as one option for use of funding. Given the uncertainty of the SCG project, Bill Burt suggested that at this time seeking out suitable
properties should continue, but looking into other uses of funding made sense; and the Trust should find out what needed to be done to allow change in the use of 2015 funding, if so desired.
Monthly Report – Paul Lagg
Monthly Report attached. With time running short, Paul Lagg quickly informed the Trust that Radon testing for the seven Trust properties was now on Elder Services’ list, and testing would take place for a total of $245.00. (as corrected by Peter Wade)
He also told the Trust about the Wampum Lane air conditioner problem and the resulting minor damage to the basement. He indicated that CPC had corrected the problem, a clogged drain line, and the tenants would be allowed to use the unit at their own risk.
Sign CPC contracts (Grant Agreements)
Bill Burt made the motion to authorize the chair to sign the CPC contracts (Grant Agreements) for the FY 2016 funding:
$400K – rental acquisition/rehab and $153.5K for the rental assistance program
Jim McMakin made the second, motion passed unanimously.
Next meeting was set for October 14, Bill Burt moved to adjourn, several made the second, meeting adjourned at 1:40PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Burt, Clerk
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