HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-05 Reading Housing Authority Minutes - Executive SessionREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE
CONTINUED BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 4, 1999
HELD ON
OCTOBER 5, 1999
The Executive Session meeting of the Reading Housing Authority was convened at
5:05 P.M. on Tuesday, October 5, 1999 at the office of the Authority, 22 Frank D.
Tanner Drive in the town of Reading, Massachusetts. The meeting was called to order.
with the Chairman, Mr. Sweet, presiding. Those members also present and forming a
quorum were: Ms. Connors, Ms. Galvin, Mr. Allen and Mr. Kelley. The Executive
Director, Ms. Plansky, was also in attendance. The Authority's attorney, Mr. Greco as
well as Mr. Barnes from Reading's Community Planning and Development
Commission and Ms. Anthony from the Board of Selectmen were also in attendance.
Representing Marriott Corporation was Mr. Lino Bernardi, Mr. Dolan and their
attorney, Mr. Favaloro.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Kelley, it was
VOTED: To adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing real estate
matters and to return to Regular session at the close of Executive Session by the
following roll call vote:
Mr. Allen — aye
Ms. Connors —aye
Ms. Galvin — aye
Mr. Kelley - aye
Mr. Sweet — aye
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Marriott Corporation — Necotations for Linkage Requirements
The Chairman gave an overview of the negotiations to date so that everyone present
would be familiar with the process. The Chair stated that until recently things were
progressing smoothly but an impasse has arisen over the appraised vs. assessed value to
determine the payment in lieu by Marriott. The Chair stated that the Board reviewed
what has transpired and felt that they had gone too far astray from the requirements as
imposed by the by -law. At this point, the Board would either entertain that 10% of the
units be set aside or that the payment in lieu provision must meet the intent of the by-
law to provide cash to provide these units.
Mr. Bernardi stated that Marriott's position had always been to provide a cash payment.
It was never Marriott's intention to provide units as this would be not be economically
feasible for such a project. W Aernardi reviewed his proposals to date stating that
every project must stand alone aovide a reasonable return on investment. If this
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project was not able to produce this value, then the project would not go forward.
The discussion centered on the appraised valuation and the assessed valuation. When
questioned as to why Marriott was so insistent, it was clear that the assessed value
would most probably be less. The Board stated that this was a problem for the
Authority. They could only negotiate to the extent that the dollar value is equal or
representative of the value of the units. This is irrespective of Marriott's bottom line
mquirinjurnt as it is a requirement of the zoirhig by-law.
Mr. Bernardi and Mr. Favaloro stated that their presentation to Town Meeting was
always that a payment would be made in lieu of actual units. Their view was that this
payment did not have to be equal to the value of the units.
Mr. Barnes questioned the Marriott representatives. He felt that he had been involved
with the process from the start and had his view of the proceedings which differ
significantly from Marriott's presentation to the Authority. Mr. Barnes stated that the
housing authority must get what is required by the statute irrespective of whether this
satisfies Marriott's bottom line. It was Mr. Barnes view from both CPDC and Town
Meeting that the town was entitled to either 10% of the units or an equal cash equivelant
value.
Mr. Bernardi stated that Marriott might be able to go to $1.1 Million over 10 years
starting with the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. He would have to present
this to his financial committee for their approval. He was sure that this project would
not sustain a $1.4 million payment and the project would be stopped. Mr. Bernardi
stated that this payment was unusual and far above anything Marriott had ever done
before. The Chair asked Mr. Bernardi about the Littleton project and their $1.3 Million
donation to that system. Mr. Bernardi denied that Marriott was paying such amounts
and would be happy to furnish the particulars to the Board.
The Board thanked the Marriott representatives and told them they would contact them
about their final position.
The Board, Mr. Greco, Mr. Barnes and Ms. Anthony continued discussion on what the
parameters for negotiation would be. The Board presented the present dollar value for
delayed payments if allowed to be paid at CO instead of at issuance of the building
permit.
Upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was
unanimously
VOTED: To authorize the Chair as their first offer to offer Marriott Corporation a
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proposal to accept a cash payment in lieu of actual units which would total $1.25
Million. The first payment of $62,500.00 would be paid at the issuance of the Building
Permit; the second payment of $62,500.00 would be paid at the issuance of the
Certificate of Occupancy. Thereafter a payment of $125,000 would be made annually
for 9 years based on the anniversary date of the certificate of occupancy.
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 authorize the Chair to offer as their second choice to Marriott Corporation
a proposal to accept a cash payment in lieu of actual units which would total $1.1
Million. The first payment of $100,000.00 would be paid at the issuance of the
Building Permit. Thereafter a payment of $100,000 would be made annually for 9 years
based on the anniversary date of the issuance of the building permit.
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 authorize the Chair to offer as their third choice to Marriott Corporation a
proposal to accept a cash payment in lieu of actual units which would total $1.1 Million.
The first payment of $50,000.00 would be paid at the issuance of the Building Permit;
the second payment of $150,000.00 would be paid at the issuance of the Certificate of
Occupancy. Thereafter a payment of $100,000 would be made annually for 9 years
based on the anniversary date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
There being no further business before the Board, upon a motion duly made by Mr.
Allen and seconded by Ms. Connors, it was
VOTED: To adjourn from Executive Session and to return to Regular session by the
following roll call vote:
Mr. Allen — aye
Ms. Connors —aye
Ms. Galvin — aye
Mr. Kelley - aye
Mr. Sweet — aye
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The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect. At 7:50 P.M.
the Board reconvened in regular session.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret . lanky, Se
and Execu ive Director