1996-05-07 Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes

Home Browse Search

Board of Selectmen Meeting Executive Session May 7, 1996 The Executive Session was convened at 7:05 p.m. Present were Chairman Sally Hoyt, Vice Chairman George Hines, Secretary Camille Anthony, Selectmen Bruce MacDonald, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and from the Reading Housing Authority Donald Allen, Paul Kelley, Robert Sweet and Peg Plansky. Sale of Real Estate Reverend Sweet noted that he had met with the Superintendent of Schools and Bob Cavicchi from Boston Gas yesterday. With regard to the gas easement, in order to serve the Parker Middle School, the Housing Authority approved a waiver of the $15,000 appraised value of the easement for the School Department. The easement will be granted without cost to the School Department and should be signed on Monday. George Hines commended the Housing Authority for this settlement and expressed appreciation. With regard to Summit Village, the Housing Authority has a meeting scheduled with Mr. Dolben on Monday. The key words in the agreement on the affordable housing were "like, kind and quality" with regard to the affordable units. There is dispute over the market units with garages and the affordable housing units without garages, and their pricing. The Reading Housing Authority understood that if the affordable housing unit buyers wanted garages, that they could be made available. Don Allen noted that there are two other violations of the agreement--the first Housing Authority unit was to be in Unit 2 and it is now in Building 7. Dolben has also substituted one unit for the other. With regard to the purchase price, Dolben had insisted on the price being locked in, not as a percentage. George Hines asked about the percentage as the cost increases. The options to settle the dispute are to sell the garages to the affordable units at the discounted prices, or do some upgrades in the affordable units. They could go to the court to enforce the contract, but it would cost time, money and effort. It was noted that the units are still affordable. The first person buying the unit is harmed by the pricing. Paul Kelly noted that the committee had been told that the market price for the Arlington unit without a garage is $143,900. He claimed that Dolben has made false claims. He has subjected himself, the Town, the Housing Authority and the Housing Partnership Committee to possible trouble damages. There has been a misrepresentation. The lottery came up with an excellent group of purchasers. He felt that they should take a hard position. Bruce MacDonald suggested that they go in with strong position. George Hines noted that we need to work as diligently as possible regarding an affordable discount. He reserves judgment until all the facts are known. He suggested that we hear what Drew Dolben has to say, and see if there is some middle ground.