Lenox Affordable Housing Committee and Trustees Joint Meeting
April 2, 2012
Minutes
Committee Members present: Dave Klausemeyer (DK), Chair, Debbie Burke (DB), Kate McNulty-Vaughan (KMV), and Theresa Ahrens (TA). Trustees present: Dave Klausemeyer (DK), Chair, Debbie Burke (DB), Kate McNulty-Vaughan (KMV) and Jackie McNinch (JM).
Absent: Jo Anne Magee (JAM), Olga Weiss (OW) and Ellen Jacobson (EJ).
Also in attendance: Mary Albertson (MA), Town Planner.
DK opened the meeting at 3:05 PM.
DB made a motion to approve the Committee minutes of March 5, 2012. ~TA seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0 to approve.
DB made a motion to approve the Trustee minutes of March 5, 2012. ~JM seconded the motion and the Trustees voted 4-0 to approve.
The Committee and Trustees held a joint meeting to discuss the Peer-to-Peer resources. Decisions need to be made regarding the consultant’s work program. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) grant provides 30 hours of consultant services. Connie Kruger is the Peer Consultant. DB suggested the following topics:
1. Determine the advantage of updating or rewriting the housing plan.
2. Identify key elements of a decision criteria matrix to set priorities for potential projects.
3. Identify ways to hasten the building of the Saw Mill Brook housing project.
4. Identify key economic and housing indicators.
5. Identify likely ways to increase deed-restricted affordable housing.
6. Prepare a list of strengths and shortcomings, and identify critical next steps.
7. Identify references or give a tutorial on how housing demand in Lenox.
8. Communication strategy for key messages.
Members discussed the eight topics. KMV stressed the need for improved communication regarding accomplishments. TA said she did research on other affordable housing committees in Massachusetts. She noted that over the last five years many affordable housing committees have been inactive or have disbanded. She offered Marblehead and Martha’s Vineyard as positive examples.
DB will refine the topic list and e-mail it to MA tomorrow. MA will forward the list to the members for review. MA will forward the list to Connie Kruger by Friday – April 6th.
Members discussed the housing plan. KMV said she talked to Mark Malloy, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. She explained that the American Housing Survey does not apply to Lenox because the town population is too small. The American Community Survey is the appropriate tool for Lenox and is not available at this time. KMV said that she asked Mr. Malloy if he anticipated any significant changes. Mr. Malloy indicated that the trends will probably remain consistent.
JM provided information from the Berkshire County Board of Realtors. EJ was unable to attend the meeting but she submitted information regarding vacancy rates at the Lenox Housing Authority properties. TA and DB will follow-up with EJ and Martha Joyner, Director, Lenox Housing Authority.
There is no new information regarding the land donation. KMV offered an update regarding the status of the CPC recommendation. DK said he attended a Williamstown Affordable Housing Committee meeting to offer assistance regarding the development and implementation of a housing trust.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 8, 2012 @ 3:00 PM.
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Albertson, Town Planner
Approved: May 8, 2012
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