Minutes
North Stonington Affordable Housing Committee
December 19, 2013
In Attendance: Tim Pelland, Mary Ann Ricker, Kristen Comstock, Michelle Brophy, Tina DuBosque and Jim Scaramozza
Absent: None
Guests: Juliet Leeming
Location: Wheeler High School Media Center
Meeting was called to order by Co-Chairman Tim Pelland at 6:05 PM. By motion, minutes from the October 24, 2013 meeting were reviewed and ratified.
No public comments were made.
Juliet Leeming gave a brief report of the POCD in that it was approved and the next step will be the State’s review and approval of same. Once approved, an action plan will need to be created once so approved by the State.
Mary Ann Ricker and Tim Pelland next discussed their meeting with the First Selectman concerning the Town’s setting up a Housing Rehab program, enforced and protected by deed restrictions placed on the subject house in question in exchange for such moneys for repair and rehab. Mary Ann and Tim intend to follow up with the First Selectman about this and then affect a meeting with the Board of Selectmen with a proposed consultant to prepare the application concerning the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program that would fund this proposed program. Brief conversation also took place regarding the tax relief/abatement program that would, similarly, involve deed restrictions for perhaps up to 5 years. It was decided the Committee would focus on the loan program first and thereafter turn its
attention to this tax relief program given that an ordinance will have to be drafted and thereafter reviewed by the Town and various agencies of same.
No updates on Meadowcourt or when the next WPCA meeting may take place concerning this particular project.
In regard to the recently awarded pre-development grant, the next step will be the posting of a Request for Proposals and making sure all involved understand that this is not intended to be site specific but, rather, identify areas and properties in our Town that might be suitable for affordable housing purposes.
The Committee then discussed in some detail the (ongoing) concept of creating a traveling display or publication involving the interviewing of Townspeople who would be posed a question or two that deals with affordable housing. Certain of the Committee members discussed the recently provided link from the Partnership for Strong Communities (the “Partnership”) and the perceived pros and cons to same and how might we work within the framework provided but proffer some conceptual changes to same. Tim Pelland also offered that Comcast might shoot a test run of any such event, once a format, the “participants” and questions are indeed established. It was decided at our next meeting (prior to same, Mary Ann was going to speak with the Partnership about some of these potential changes to the
“whiteboard” sent) that we would offer up a format; potential interviewees and timelines, as well as the actual vehicle and means by which the final product would be “aired” and if a test run through Comcast might be utilized.
Lastly, the Committee briefly touched upon the ongoing issue of preserving our farmlands and how the goals and mission of our Committee might assist in the fostering of same.
The next meeting is scheduled for February 27, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at Wheeler High School Media Center.
This workshop was dismissed at approximately 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Scaramozza
Recording Secretary
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