HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-03 Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
' MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING, May 3. 201 1
A special business meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Tuesday May 3, 2011 at 8:00
P.M at the Selectmen's Meeting Room 16 Lowell Street, the town of Reading, Mass. The meeting was
called to order at 8:10 P.M. with the Chair, Diane Cohen, presiding for the Housing Authority. Those
members present and forming a quorum were Karen L. Flammia, Kevin Mulvey and Mary Connors, as
well as the Secretary/Executive Director, Lyn Whyte. Timothy Kelley excused himself from this meeting.
Also present, Board of Selectmen members; James Bonazoli, Camille Anthony, Richard Schubert,
Stephen Goldy and Ben Tafoya, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, as well as members of the
Oaktree Development LLC management team.
Acceptance of Revised Allocation Plan Move Mary Connors Second Kevin Mulvey Vote 4 -0
11 -67 VOTED: To approve recommendation of revised Affordable Housing Trust Fund Allocation
Plan as presented.
New Business:
- The purpose of this special meeting was to meet in joint session with the Board of Selectmen to discuss
the Warrant Article prepared for Reading Town Meeting regarding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Allocation Plan as well as to meet with the developers of the proposed Oaktree Development project
' who are requesting an allocation of funds from the AHTF.
The Reading Housing Authority voiced its concerns over the lack of communication in regard to the
process involved in establishing an initial Allocation Plan. In respect to the Allocation Plan, the RHA
requested clarity. Upon discussion, all members were informed that both the RHA Board and the Board
of Selectmen could vote to make changes to the allocation plan on a yearly basis if necessary. Once
approved by joint boards, the plan would then go before Town Meeting for their approval. Anytime a
change occurs in regard to the allocation plan; it must go before Town Meeting. Once approved by
Town Meeting, the RHA Board along with the Board of Selectmen would then be in the position to
approve any requests for potential use of these funds.
With that knowledge, Executive Director Lyn Whyte suggested that the Boards revisit the proposed
allocation plan and change the % of use to provide more flexibility to members to disburse those funds
if a sound request was made at anytime in the future. Selectmen Goldy recommended language that
would make 99% of the funds could be made available for either construction of affordable housing or
for maintaining or approving the affordability of existing housing stock. The RHA Board Chair, Diane
Cohen presented a motion to accept the revised allocation plan as presented with a move to accept by
Mary Connors and a second by Kevin Mulvey. Motion passed 4 -0. The Board of Selectmen then voted
to accept the revised Affordable Housing Allocation Plan as presented with a motion passing 5 -0. The
revised plan will now be presented to Town Meeting for their approval.
At this point, Oaktree made a presentation to the joint boards regarding their proposed project. It
' appeared that there was an underlying consensus that Oaktree has been unable to provide supporting
documentation to warrant their alleged need for a $400,000 grant from the AHTF. On more than one
occasion, various members of both boards suggested the possibility of a `loan" from the AHTF to
support their project. Oaktree appeared reluctant to take on any additional debt. Oaktree contends that
Housing Partners, Inc who prepared an analysis for use of the proposed grant did not have updated
information to make a more informed decision and if more time had prevailed, felt confident that
Housing Partners would have supported their request for this grant. As a result, Selectmen Camille
' Anthony suggested that Mr. Eisenberg either write a letter in that regard or be available to attend a
subsequent meeting to discuss further. Any additional information would be appreciated and reviewed
carefully before any decisions would be made.
In addition, a determination could not be made as to an exit plan by Oaktree Development upon
completion of this project. Would the affordable units remain rental or converted to sale units? Overall
only 11 units are truly designated as "affordable ". However, as a 40R project, if the units remain rental
units, all 53 units would be considered affordable, whereas, that would not be the case if the units were
sold as condos. Selectmen Ben Tafoya addressed that question during our overall discussion but
Oaktree did not commit themselves one way or the other. Would the long -term benefit to the Town of
Reading change if the units were sold as condominiums? Discussions regarding this project and the
proposed use of AHTF monies to support Oaktree" endeavors will be ongoing at this time.
No action items were presented this evening. Both Boards agreed to meet again on May 10, 2011
Board Schedule
May, 2011 SPECIAL BOARD MEETING: 05/09/2011 @ 5:00 PM
'June, 2011 BOARD MEETING: 06/06/2011 @ 5:30 PM
11 -068 TO ADJOURN: 10:16 PM. Move Mary Second Kevin Vote 4-0
Respegtfi submitted,
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Lyn E. Whyte, Secretary & Executive Director