HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-01 Reading Housing Authority MinutesREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
Minutes of the Meeting of December 1. 1997
A regular Board meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday, December 1,
5:30 P.M. at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive in the Town of Reading,
Massachusetts. The Chairman, Rev. Robert K. Sweet, Jr., called the meeting to order. Those
members present and forming a quorum were: Mr. Allen, Mr. Kelley, and Ms. Connors Ms. G;
was unable to attend the meeting. Ms. Plansky, the Executive Director, was also in attendance
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Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously
VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Meeting of November 3, 1997, as
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously
VOTED: To accept for the record the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of November
1997, as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Finances
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvin, it was unanimously
997 at
VOTED: To approve and sign the checkroll/billroll for the period for Accounts Payable Check 3732-
3792; Payroll Check #1570 -1588; Section 8 Certificate Program #4065 -4118; Section 8 Voucher
Program #1802 -1822; and Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program #535 -536, as presented.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Real Estate Issues
The Board of Selectmen will be holding an informational meeting jointly with the Reading Housing
Authority for the proposed transfer of the lot of land located at Pleasant and Wilson Street to the
Authority for the purpose of constructing low- income housing on the lot. The meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, December 2, 1997 at 7:30 PM at the Senior Center on Pleasant Street.
The Executive Director will prepare a presentation board of the properties that the Authority owis and
operates currently. Conservation Administrator has performed a study and he reports that there s no
significant issue except for the right hand corner of the lot. He feels that this would not impose
impediment to construction.
There had been a suggestion that the Selectmen might be asking the Authority for additional
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12/1/97
during the daytime at Parker/Pleasant Street lot for the Senior Center use The problem is that there are
2 -3 people there during the day; 1 other comes and goes at lunch. If we allow additional parking on
both sides, the tenants would not have a place to park. To allow only a couple of additional spaces on
the opposite side would just confuse things and would be administratively hard to monitor. The Board
will review this again when and if a request is made from the Selectmen.
Personnel
The Executive Director introduced the new Program Coordinator, Eva Foley, who started wort: today,
December 1, 1997 at a salary of $25,000 per year. Eva already has her Public Housing Manager's
Certificate and has worked with Federal and State programs in Gloucester and Beverly.
The Board thanked Eva for coming to meet them and hoped that she would be very happy at the
Reading Housing Authority.
The Board then discussed the salary of the Administrative Aide, Catherine Sutherland, and upon a
motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously
VOTED: To authorize the hourly salary for the Administrative Aide be increased from $13.20 to
$13.74, effective December 1, 1997 because of the additional new job responsibilities and to bring her
to parity with the new Program Coordinator.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was unanimously
VOTED: To grant the day after Christmas 1997 off with pay for all full -time employees and to pro-
rate the time for the part -time employees.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
There being no further business before the Board, it was unanimously voted to adjourn until the
meeting with the Selectmen at 7:30 P.M. at the Senior Center, Pleasant Street tomorrow, December 2,
1997. '
Respectfully submitted,
Marg t K. Plansky, Secretary
and Executive Director
READING HOUSING AUTHORITY
Minutes of the Meeting of December 2, 1997
The Board reconvened at 7:30 P.M. at the Senior Center, 35 Pleasant Street in the Town of Reading,
Massachusetts. The Chairman, Mr. Sweet called the meeting to order. Those members present and
forming a quorum were: Mr. Allen and Mr. Kelley. Ms. Plansky, the Executive Director, was also in
attendance. The Board of Selectmen: Chair Anthony, Ms. Hoyt, Mr. Ensminger and Mr. Hines were
present along with the Town Manager, Mr. Hechenbleikner.
This meeting was convened as an informational meeting held jointly with the Board of Selectmen
discuss any issues that neighbors in the area of Pleasant and Wilson Streets might have with the
development of the town -owned lot at Pleasant and Wilson Streets by the Reading Housing Authc
Select Chair, Ms. Anthony, introduced the members of both boards and the staff present. She a
that Mr. Sweet present an overview of the proposed construction on that site and the reason for
Authority wanting to develop the lot.
Mr. Sweet displayed the presentation board showing the currently owned and managed properties of
the Authority. Mr. Sweet noted that the Authority owned only 23 units of housing that were non -
elderly (19 are family; 4 are elderly/handicapped at Schoolhouse). The Authority is obligated to
develop low and moderate income housing within the community. The State requires that 10% of the
units within the community be set aside as "affordable" units. The Board of Selectmen have the power
to turn over the lot to the Authority for development. In 1985, the Town, the Authority and the
Planning Board signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" which requires the town to develop
opportunities and create new housing for people of low and moderate income. The Authority and the
Board of Selectmen have been discussing the development of this lot for "affordable housing" for over
12 years.
The proposed new construction would house three 2 bedroom units with parking on -site. Mr. S
said that an architect had reviewed the lot and was confident that a three unit townhouse design
be built there.
The neighbors had many concerns and among those stated were:
* Problem with water /drainage on site. The question was asked if the Town and the Authority
were aware of the Rivers Protection Act that was passed in October 1997, which states tha
nothing can be built within 100 feet of a river or stream.
* The parking was of serious concern to the neighborhood especially during Little League s asoi
when the traffic and parking is a more serious problem.
* Drainage of the lot and the problem of raising the water table for surrounding properties w th
the proposed new construction. i
* Trouble with the 18 wheelers that service the wax company was brought to the attention o the
Selectmen and Authority. Questions were raised about the turnaround for these large trucks in
light of the development of this lot.
* Neighbors were disturbed by the fact that the town was not maintaining the drainage ditch and
with the recent 13 inch rainstorm, there were serious problems with flooding in the
neighborhood.
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12/2/97
* Neighbors felt that the highest and best use of this lot would be to pave it and make additional
parking to alleviate the problems with the traffic and congestion in the area.
* The questions was raised as to why this lot was not being developed privately and sold to an
investor or neighbor.
* Neighbors asked that the Authority be given the police station to convert to housing and asked
that the town develop this lot as a parking lot.
* Neighborhood was pleased that so many concerned residents showed up to discuss the issue
and raised concerns about sidewalks, drainage, parking, traffic, etc. Hoped that the Town
would listen to the concerns of the neighborhood and consider them. The People that live in
this area are blue collar people and their concerns were not discriminatory but safety related.
* The Selectmen were questioned as to the process for turning over the care, custody and control
of the lot to the Housing Authority. Asked that the neighbors be kept informed of any and all
meetings that had to do with the transfer of this lot.
* Neighbors wanted the Selectmen and Authority to consider the ramifications of developing this
lot as they already have problems with Salem Street traffic onto Wilson Street.
* Neighbors wanted to know why part of the landfill was not being developed for "affordable"
housing.
* Concerns of neighborhood were not with "affordable" housing but water problems, parking,
traffic and safety issues.
The Authority and Selectmen provided the following facts and information:
* Town is required by State to have 10% of housing units "affordable ". Town risks losing any
discretionary funding from State if they are found to be unreasonably restrictive in providing
affordable housing. Town was at risk of losing money for water treatment plant in 1985 and
had to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that promised to develop affordable housing
within the community. Other towns have had funds withheld over the past several years for
being unduly restrictive. Reading has provided "linkage" with Greenhouse development,
Schoolhouse, Longwood Place and Summit Village. The 10% of units is considered for both
elderly and family separately. With only 19 low- income housing units for families, the Town
does not even have 2% of its housing stock as "affordable" units.
* The issues of traffic, drainage, maintenance and safety were of great concern to the Selectmen
and the Chair promised to have these matters investigated and answers given to the neighbors.
* The development of the former landfill was not suitable for permanent housing even after it is
capped. The only economically viable alternative for such development is commercial use
because of the high cost to build on such a site.
* Conservation Commission will be asked to review the matter of the drainage area on the lot and
any impact that this would have on development of this lot.
* Phil LeBlanc was asked to be chairperson for the neighborhood. The town will send any and
all information through Mr. LeBlanc relative to meetings or hearing on this site
* If the site was to be developed by the Authority, design issues would be presented to
the neighborhood before approval was given.
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The Authority asked the neighbors to take a look at the properties owned and managed by the
Authority. Since taking control of the properties, the neighbors have had fewer complaints and
concerns. The Authority is an extremely responsible landlord and works to keep the properties
looking good and to improve the neighborhoods in which they are located. They promise the
same if they are given the opportunity to develop this lot.
Chairman Sweet told the neighbors that the Board has heard their concerns and will do all 'n
their power to be good neighbors with them and for them.
Chairman Anthony thanked the neighbors for coming. She promised to have their questions re
and would keep them informed on matters relative to the care, custody and control of the lot at
and Wilson Streets.
After the informational meeting was adjourned, upon a motion duly made and seconded, the
unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Uf .
Margaret K. sky, Secretary
and Executive Director