Minutes
North Stonington Affordable Housing Committee
August 22, 2013
In Attendance: Mary Ann Ricker, Tim Pelland, Michelle Brophy, Tina DuBosque and Jim Scaramozza
Absent: Kristen Comstock
Guests: None
Location: Wheeler High School Media Center
The meeting was officially called to order by Co-Chairman Mary Ann Ricker at 6:17 PM. By motion, minutes from the July 25, 2013 meeting were reviewed and ratified.
No public comments were made.
Mary Ann Ricker reported to the Committee that the Plan of Conservation and Development is close to being finished. Additionally, she indicated that the housing aspect of same was essentially completed.
Mary Ann then discussed her following up with Leslie Higgins-Biddle of Local Initiatives Support Corporation and representatives from the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development and that she, Mary Ann, will continue in her efforts to establish the parameters to a revolving loan fund for housing, “guaranteed” by deed restrictions for such funding.
The Committee then agreed to pursue information about the recently awarded Predevelopment Grant that would be utilized for soft costs that may be incurred in respect to preliminary studies and assessments for development of a few potential sites including the Wintechog parcel. As discussed at the Committee’s last meeting, the members want to learn of when the moneys will be actually disbursed; any, if any, deadlines to its being used; and any other relevant terms and conditions to same per what is anticipated to be an actual grant agreement to be executed between the State and the Town.
Mary Ann then discussed her continuing efforts to her and the Committee’s establishing a traveling display regarding affordable housing. Various locations for this display were discussed, as was her corresponding with David Fink, Policy Director for Partnership for Strong Communities who might help with technical assistance and the Town’s perhaps securing additional moneys for this display. Mary Ann reported she had scheduled a follow up conference with Mr. Fink about this for next week. Further, she had contacted an official at UCONN about students perhaps assisting in the setting up of any such display. The size, nature and, as mentioned above, locality of this display was considered by the Committee, with all members acknowledging the positive impact it might have as both an educational tool and
manner by which upcoming events relative to not only housing but economic development might be published and advertised.
Throughout the meeting, the recent Water and Pollution Control Advisory Board meeting, at which the majority of this Committee attended, was discussed. This WPCA meeting was between its members/commissioners and the developer of Meadowcourt, along with principals of his project development team (including its lead counsel). The WPCA and the Meadowcourt team discussed the next step to the project’s getting shovel ready, as same pertains to the WPCA; namely, the developer’s submission of an agreement in compliance with certain statutory law. Members of the Affordable Housing Committee posed questions, in an effort to fully understand what was required by statute (and what was not) and to proffer some insight into what “safeguards” may already exist to address the WPCA’s articulated
concerns. The NSAHC continues to support this project and still feels that it, this development, with its affordability housing plan, will spur not only economic activity but assist in the Town’s and the NSAHC’s (with others) ongoing efforts to meet certain State-mandated affordable housing.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Wheeler High School Media Center.
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 approximately 7:02 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Scaramozza
Recording Secretary
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