Minutes
North Stonington Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
January 26, 2012
In Attendance: Mary Ann Ricker, Tim Pelland, James Scaramozza, Michelle Brophy
Guests: Marilyn Mackay, Juliet Leeming, Tony Rose, Kristen Comstock
Location: Wheeler High School Media Center
The meeting was called to order by Co-Chairman Mary Ann Ricker at 6:05 PM. The minutes of both the December 22, 2011 and January 9, 20012 meetings were approved.
Ms. Kristen Comstock and Mr. Tony Rose attended this meeting, in order to discuss their potentially joining the Committee, subject to approval of the Board of Selectmen (BOS). Ms. Comstock spoke first and, while having no experience per se in the area of affordable housing, appeared very knowledgeable of it. She had previously witnessed its development in Towns such as Canton and New Hartford where she had previously lived. She demonstrated and expressed an acute sensitivity to the need for affordable housing and showed a very profound willingness to get involved. Mr. Rose, similarly, had no formal experience in the area of affordable housing, but expressed a concern over the lack of this in our Town and desire to get more involved and assist in seeing much more affordable housing be developed in our
Town. He, too, was quite eloquent on the need for it and the hope he could help the Committee create more Town interest and concern for its development. Both individuals asked questions of the Committee and evidenced a keen interest in learning more and being active in the Committee’s very busy 2012.
Upon motion of Mary Ann Ricker, seconded by Michelle Brophy, the Committee unanimously recommended that Kristen and Tony attend the next BOS meeting, at which BOS’ approval would be sought for their becoming members of the Committee. Mary Ann Ricker volunteered to write a letter to BOS formally seeking such approval. Mary Ann was to confirm with all that BOS would allow this specific matter to be on its agenda. She, Tim Pelland and Jim Scaramozza, along with Mr. Rose and Ms. Comstock were planning on attending the BOS’ next meeting on January 31st.
A motion was then made and seconded that James Scaramozza be nominated to replace Stella Neves-Ellbaum as Recording Secretary. Said motion was unanimously approved.
Juliet Leeming reported that she will be meeting with Jason Vincent of Planimetrics to go over certain aspects of his company’s to be prepared Housing Plan. At this meeting, Juliet will ask Jason when he would like to meet with the Committee and possibly have that meeting be with other Town groups or individuals, with a view toward there eventually being a Town workshop/fair run by Jason, the primary purpose of which would be to meet with the Town to go over the Housing Plan and what it would encompass and seek to achieve.
Juliet Leeming had also drafted a press release concerning the Committee and would send to the members the draft for review and comment. Juliet also agreed to work on the Committee’s web page that needed to be condensed, updated and made more “user-friendly”. Mary Ann Ricker said that as part of this revamping of the web page, she would contact Pat Spring of the Connecticut Housing Coalition and possibly Leslie Higgins-Biddle of Local Initiatives Support Corporation to see if they could be listed as advisers on this web page.
Marilyn MacKay then suggested that each member put together a “wish list” as to ideas for Planimetrics (Jason Vincent) concerning the means by which the Town may promote, develop and sponsor affordable housing and thereby ultimately meet the State’s statutory requirements. The members agreed to do this and send their emails to initially Mary Ann Ricker.
The meeting then concluded with some questions and discussion concerning “deed restrictions” and the practicality of same to meet the affordability requirements imposed by the State. Related discussions took place over potentially given qualified households some real estate tax relief due to financial difficulties and trying to tie this to affordability criteria. While no consensus was reached, the Committee recognized that assisting those in need due to, by way of example, being unemployed would be a very positive thing, to hopefully avoid foreclosures from occurring. Admittedly, further discussion, with Jason Vincent, is to take place in order to see how this may be linked to affordability standards in a sustainable fashion.
A motion was made and thereafter seconded that the committee be adjourned at 7:10 PM. The next meeting will be held Thursday, February 23,, 6:00 PM, Wheeler High School Media Center, unless an earlier meeting is to take place with Jason Vincent which would be announced and published with the Town Clerk as to date, time and location.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Scaramozza
Recording Secretary
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