Lenox Affordable Housing Committee
September 6, 2011
Minutes
Members present: Dave Klausemeyer (DK), Chair, Jo Anne Magee (JM), Ellen Jacobson (EJ), Debbie Burke (DB) Kate McNulty-Vaughan (KMV) and Roscoe Sandlin (RS).
Absent: Olga Weiss (OW).
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
DK opened the meeting at 3:02 PM.
Minutes: EJ made a motion to approve the August Minutes. Seconded by JM and unanimously approved.
MA offered an update on the Peer-to-Peer program. JM prepared a draft letter to the Department of Housing and Community Development requesting a Peer-to-Peer grant. Members indicted they were satisfied with the draft letter. The letter will be forwarded to the Town Manager as the Board of Selectmen must make the request. MA said she contacted the Amherst Planning Office regarding contact information for Connie Kruger.
She hopes to hear back from Ms. Kruger.
MA distributed copies of the Affordable Housing Resource List prepared by KMV. DK would like to offer the list to Bill Dunlavey for the housing symposium; however, he wants to make sure the final list is the collective voice of the committee. KMV asked about the area. DK said the area is Berkshire County. DB will work with KMV to finalize the list and forward to DK. Members also discussed the mission of the symposium. Ideas for the symposium included the following:
1. Berkshire County affordable housing resources.
2. The current affordable housing landscape within Berkshire County.
3. Status of affordable units and need within Berkshire County.
4. Funding sources today and in the future.
5. Governmental resources.
6. Non-governmental resources.
7. Public understanding of the need for affordable housing resources within Berkshire County.
8. Best practices and success stories.
9. Political Action.
JM offered to prepare a list of ideas for the symposium. She will forward the list to MA to share with the committee. Members agreed to offer comments to MA by next Wednesday (September 14). JM will forward the final list to DK to share with Bill Dunlavey.
DK offered an update on the Sawmill Brook Project. He said he attended the Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting. The BOS approved the five year bond with Berkshire Bank at 1.75%. The BOS selected the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire as the designated developer for a period of 3 year with the option of a 2 year extension.
DB said that Trinity Church plans to sponsor a meeting to discuss the Sawmill Brook project.
DK said that there has been much discussion regarding the purchase of condominium units at Morgan Manor as affordable housing units. In an effort to facilitate this project he talked to the Chair of the Morgan Manor Homeowners Association. RS said he owns a unit at Morgan Manor and will follow-up with Laurie Robbins who is the attorney for the condominium association. Discussion ensued regarding the size of the units. Many of the units are one bedroom and might not be appropriate for families. JM voiced her concern that she was not aware that DK was going to reach-out to Morgan Manor. DB said that the committee has discussed the purchase of units at Morgan Manor and it was appropriate for DK to investigate this option.
RS said he has resigned from the committee and this would be his last meeting. He said he enjoyed his membership but given the fact that his primary residence has changed it is appropriate for him to resign. Members thanked him for his service.
Trustco Bank contacted MA and is interested in attending the October meeting. MA will coordinate.
The next meeting will be Monday – October 3, 2011 @ 3:00 PM.
Meeting adjourned at 4:25 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
Approved: 10/3/2011
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