1994-01-19 Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes

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Board of Selectmen Meeting Executive Session January 19, 1994 - The meeting was convened at 5:33 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. Present were Chairman George Hines, Vice Chairman Eugene Nigro, Selectman Bill Burditt, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Selectmen Sally Hoyt and Dan Ensminger joined the meeting later. On motion by Burditt seconded by Nigro the Board voted to go into Executive Session for purpose of discussion of sale of real es- tate, not to come back into open session. All three members present voted in the affirmative and the motion was carried. The Town Manager reviewed the status of the purchase and sales agreement and the Reading Housing Authority concerns regarding the Pearl Street School site. At 5: 45 p.m. Housing Authority members Don Allen, Bob Sweet, Jean Galvin and Arthur Reynolds and Housing Authority..Executive Director Peg Plansky joined the Board of Selectmen. On-motion by Reynolds seconded by Galvin the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of sale of real estate. All four members of the Housing Authority present voted in the affirmative. The Town Manager reviewed the proposal by the Authority to designate seven units of Section 8 housing for the Pearl Street School site. In their analysis they showed a $75.00/month difference between the GAFC proposal and the Section 8 proposal. The Town Manager noted that Longwood Management's review showed a significantly larger dif- ference because they showed the GAFC clients generating $1, 600/month in income versus the $1, 200 that is noted in the Housing Authority. Bob Sweet indicated that the Housing Authority Board fully sup- ports the project. Their primary concern is the need to eliminate the gap from a $6, 600/year income eligibility to a $10,800/year income eligibility in order to qualify more Reading residents. Only three current residents of housing authority developments meet the $6,600/year income guidelines, whereas 64% meet the higher $10,800 guideline. If the cap is lifted on the GAFC program, then the Authority has no concerns. The Section 8 proposal is an alternative if the income levels on the GAFC program are not lifted. Peg Plansky noted that her sources indi- cate that the GAFC guidelines are unlikely to be lifted. The Housing Authority Board is concerned about precedent vis-a-vis the Bear Hill site. Sally Hoyt noted that she would like to give as much preference to Reading residents as possible. Peg Plansky asked if we were not able to secure seven units at a higher in- come level, what number might the Board of Selectmen be looking for. They noted that there would be no vacancy rate at all for the Section 8 units. George Hines noted for the Board that they recognize and agree with the Housing Authority's concerns about affordability to Town residents, but in the end it might come down to having a project that is manageable without fully meeting the needs that the Authority has noted.