Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Trust Fund Minutes - June 14, 2010_201402060923411110Minutes Affordable Housing Trust Fund – AHTF ___________________________________ Regularly Scheduled Meeting Monday June 14, 2010 3:00 P.M. Conference Room 2 Fairgrounds Road Members Present: Matt MacEachern, Fernando Esteban, Patty Roggeveen, Rick Atherton, Whitey Willauer, Linda Williams arrived at 3:10PM Staff: Andrew Vorce and Susan Bennett Witte I. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 3:05 PM. II. Establish Quorum A quorum was declared. III. Approval of Agenda A motion was made to approve the agenda, duly seconded and voted 5-0 in favor. IV. Approval of 3/25/2010 Minutes A motion was made to approve the minutes of 03-25-10, duly seconded and voted 5-0 in favor. V. Public Comment No comments were made. VI. Action/Discussion Old Business: A. Questions from 3/25/10 Staff Report 1. How does Martha’s Vineyard handle their affordable housing grants and deed restrictions? (See 6/14 Staff Report) Susan Bennett Witte stated that she went to Martha’s Vineyard on May 12th and had an informational exchange meeting with their affordable housing providers. Their process is unique to the Vineyard in that they do not concern themselves with adding properties to the DHCD -SHI (subsidized housing inventory) list. The Vineyard housing providers do what is necessary to assist low and moderate income qualified individuals and families. Mrs. Roggeveen questioned the difference if they are not connected or restricted by the percentage as we are here on the island. Mrs. Witte stated that they do not restrict their programmatic efforts to only those that comport with state requirements, i.e. efforts in perpetuity, they do always factor on income eligibility. Ms. Williams asked if the Vineyard has a housing trust. Mrs. Witte stated that they do have a Trust although it is a private non-profit trust not a municipal trust. The Vineyard housing organizations raise private funds in addition to receiving CPC money. Mrs. Roggeveen stated that perhaps Nantucket is not being as creative as we could be and we might be restricting ourselves in ways that are less conducive to assisting the typical working family. 2. When will the Housing Authority provide the AHTF with the requested information on their waiting list? The Housing Authority has finally provided statistics on their waiting list. The length of the waiting list for all housing types and sizes is extensive. Attrition vacancies are non existent. See attached list. 3. The in-perpetuity provision of the AHTF By-Law. The AHTF By-Law as amended by the Fin-Com motion to insure its passage has the requirement that all AHTF activity must result in creation of affordable housing in perpetuity. There was a brief discussion on the perpetuity language and suggestion and discussion to request changing the bylaw to allow some programs to benefit low to moderate income housing rental assistance, home owner renovation grants, tenant or landlord subsidies in exchange for shorter affordability time frames. Mr. Atherton stated that he has concerns whether or not rental subsidies are an appropriate activity for the AHTF. Mr. Willauer queried if money was gifted to AHTF couldn’t it be spent anyway they want. Mrs. Witte stated that the By-Law of housing Nantucket’s AHTF stipulates that any housing related funds have to be for creation of “housing in perpetuity” and that is where the problem lies. No motions were made. 4. MHP sponsored MHAT training. Ms. Witte described the training session she attended in Barnstable which explored AHTF programs in use by other MAHTF’s and how these other Trusts interface with their CPC’s and secure access to their approved funding. Ms. Witte recommended that the AHTF invite the principal speaker from that session to address the AHTF here in Nantucket. A motion was made by Ms. Williams and duly seconded and voted 6 to 0 in favor to invite Attorney Kathleen O’Donnell to the next meeting to inform the Trust and answer inquiries regarding how AHTF’s operate and interface with a local Community Preservation Committee- CPC. New Business: A. Guest-Dr. Robert Shapiro proposes as acquisition of his property at 19 Old South Road Dr. Shapiro proposed acquisition by the Trust of his property at 19 Old South Road. Ms. Roggeveen was not interested in the offer. No motion to pursue the purchase was made. Ms. Roggeveen asked if he considered offering subsidized programs to be in a position to compete with Housing Authority pricing thereby supplying some housing help to folks on the Housing Authority waiting list. No motions made. B. Grant Agreement proposal from AHTF to CPC to make available program funding 07/1/10 There was a brief discussion on the proposal. A motion was made by Mr. Willauer and duly seconded and voted 6 to 0 in favor to seek a Grant Agreement, from the CPC for all of the AHTF approved funding. D. Proposal to request a waiver or reduction of impact fees for all future affordable housing initiatives Brief discussion on a waiver or reduction of impact fees for future affordable housing initiatives, and it was not generally thought of as something to pursue at this time by the Trustees present who are also members of the Board of Selectmen. No motions made. E. Discuss changing language in current AHTF Bylaw to not be limited by only funding initiatives that are deed restricted in perpetuity. There was a brief discussion in changing the language in the current AHTF Bylaw. No motions made. F. Suggested housing programs for FY2011 CPC Funding 1. Down Payment Assistant Program 2. Housing Buy-Down Program Guidelines 3. Acquisition of Rental Property There was a brief discussion. Motion made by Mr. Willauer and duly seconded and voted 6 to 0 to pursue these options. G. Fundraising Program Ideas 1. Pay-It-Forward Worldwide- Ms. Darcy Creech Ms. Creech made a presentation of her new business venture of specified charitable giving through the mechanism of “credit card user fees”. There was discussion but no assent to participate. No motions made. 2. Food Certificates Mr. McEachern felt that other non-profits would be a better fit for food certificates. No motions were made. 3. Dinner, Breakfast, or Lunch to benefit the AHTF discussion postponed indefinitely. Staff was directed to locate a willing sponsor of such an event for future exposure. VII. Report Items: Housing Planner/Specialist Report There was little discussion on the staff report as many of the topics were covered in the earlier in the meeting. VIII. Other Business: No other business. IX. Adjournment: A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 PM, duly seconded and voted 5-0 in favor. ___________________________________________________________________________ ______ The Mission of the Trust is to provide for the creation and presentation of affordable housing in the Town of Nantucket for the benefit of year-round low and moderate income households who would otherwise have difficulty, financial or otherwise, locating housing on Nantucket. These are posted as Open Meetings held at 3 o’clock pm in the 2 Fairgrounds Road Conference Room on the following dates: February 8, 2010; March 25, 2010; June 14, 2010; September 13, 2010; November 8, 2010; December 13, 2010