Minutes
North Stonington Affordable Housing Committee
November 12, 2012
In Attendance: Mary Ann Ricker, Tim Pelland, Michelle Brophy and Jim Scaramozza
Absent: Kristen Comstock and Tony Rose
Guests: Juliet Leeming
Location: TOWN HALL (Wheeler High School Media Center was locked)
The meeting was called to order by Co-Chairman Mary Ann Ricker at 6:10 PM. Minutes from the October 25th meeting were reviewed and ratified.
The committee briefly reviewed the latest version of the Housing Plan prepared by Planimetrics. Juliet Leeming had, on behalf of the committee, reviewed our last meeting’s comments with Heidi Samokar of Plainmetrics. Pictures were inserted into the latest version and other modifications were made to it since the last meeting with Heidi. The committee felt the housing plan was close to being done, after which it would be submitted to Planning and Zoning for review and any comment. However, it was noted by one of the committee members that Heidi was to next provide the “action plan”, namely, the means by which the housing goals are to be implemented. These “two” plans will together comprise the committee’s recommendations and strategies for the development
of affordable housing in our Town. It is anticipated that Heidi will have a first draft of the other plan for the committee at our next meeting. (The UCONN students were to send out presumably PDFS of their proposed drawings, etc. for the Wintechog parcel, along with summaries. Such drawings may also comprise a part of the housing plan.)
When these two plans (likely early next year) are presented at a Town meeting, the committee felt is might prove beneficial to have Jason Vincent (formerly of Planimetrics) join Heidi and assist in the presentation to the Town. Jason had previously offered to do this, and Juliet said she would discuss this with Heidi.
Mary Ann Ricker mentioned that we may have another potential candidate for our committee, Tina Dubusque (unsure of spelling of her last name). Tina will attend some of our meetings and if she decides she is interested, her name would be presented to the Board of Selectmen for consideration and requested approval of her (on the assumption the committee makes such recommendation as is anticipated based on Mary Ann’s initial recommendations). If Tina is submitted for consideration and approved, it is anticipated she would replace Tony Rose who has requested he be taken off of the committee due to scheduling conflicts. Moreover, Mary Ann also agreed to notify Marilyn MacKay about her putting on the North Stonington Bulletin Board the committee’s seeking additional members.
The committee also briefly mentioned David Fink’s (of the Partnership for Strong Communities) willingness to work with the Town and its leaders to potentially tap into State funds which the Town would use for the creation and development of affordable housing. Michelle Brophy offered to contact David and perhaps coordinate a conference call with others to determine what might be available to the Town for these purposes.
Lastly, it was decided that Mary Ann and Jim Scaramozza would go to the BOS’ meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 to follow up on our recently submitted letter concerning deed restricting properties acquired by the Town through foreclosure. That letter also discussed the Town’s taking other steps to promote affordable housing, including the pledging of any “net” moneys received (in regard to any sale of a town owned property) into a fund to be established for affordable housing purposes and projects. Mary Ann and Jim hope to explore this further with the BOS at that meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 27, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
With no further action items in which to discuss, a motion for the meeting’s adjournment was made and seconded and thereafter approved.
Accordingly, the meeting was adjourned by our co-chair Mary Ann Ricker at 6:50 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Scaramozza
Recording Secretary
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