HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-03-22 Reading Housing Authority Minutes - Executive SessionREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Session of March 22. 1995
A special meeting of the members of the Reading Housing Authority was held on Monday,
March 22, 1995 at the Conference Room in Town Hall, in the Town of Reading, Massachuset
The meeting was called to order with the Vice- Chairman, Mr. Sweet, presiding with Ms. Gall
and Mr. Allen forming a quorum as well as the Executive Director, Ms. Plansky, in attendanc4
This was a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and Longwood Senior Living, Inc. to
discuss the issues relative to the reuse of the Pearl Street School, Municipal Building Reus;
Zoning By -law and the Decision of the Reading Zoning Board of Appeals. Selectmen pre6en
were: Daniel Ensminger, Chairman; George Hines, Camille Anthony, Sally Hoyt and newly-
elected member Bruce MacDonald along with the Town Manager, Peter Hechenbleikner; fron
Longwood Senior Living, Inc.: partners Bill Casper and Ed Leavitt and John Lind from Park:
Company.
Upon a roll call vote and upon a motion duly made by Mr. Allen and seconded by Ms. Galvi , it
was voted to adjourn to Executive Session at 6:05 P.M. for the purpose of discussing real est e
matters and possible legal action and to reconvene in public session following adjournment of
Executive Session upon the following roll call vote:
Ms. Galvin - aye
Mr. Allen - aye
Mr. Sweet.- aye
The Chairman then declared said motion carried and said vote in effect.
Chairman Ensminger addressed the issues involved:
the current wording of the P &S regarding requirement for the developer to use "reason
efforts" in assuring that at least 10% of "low- income" units would match need of Town
residents
the interpretation of the census data showing the number of Reading residents that wou
qualify for the GAFC units
the "comma" in the Municipal Building Reuse Zoning By -law and Town Counsel's
interpretation that the RHA had no legal standing
The RHA outlined the concerns of the Board:
• that if there were not sufficient numbers of Reading residents to qualify for the 10% (9
units) of low - income housing, then the RHA was prepared to project -base Section 8
certificates at the facility that would provide access to people with incomes up to $17,95
for one person
• if GAFC funding were withdrawn, there is no provision or oversight by the Town to see
how those low - income units wouuld be filled
that the census data used by the RHA was verifiable and closely matched the population
proposed to be served by the assisted living facility. As such, we saw few Reading resic
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3/22/95
• qualified for the GAFC units and would like to insure that access to Reading residents was
accomplished through project -based Section 8 certificates /vouchers
• the RHA was prepared to move forward and puruse legal action regarding their rights under
the Municipal Building Reuse Zoning. By -law and the interpretation of the Zoning Board of
Appeals decision in this regard.
• RHA and Longwood discussed the low - income units as required by MHFA and Longwood'.,
decision to allow only GAFC - qualified low - income persons in order to have the $33.50 per
day /per person income stream along with 45% of the tenants' income to support these units
• RHA is willing to project -base up to 9 units at the facility; request a 20% exception rent for
these units. This rent together with 45% of tenants' income would result in less than .6 of
1% reduction in gross income. This figure could be higher/ lower depending upon the
income of the tenants, but most probably would not exceed I% of gross revenue lost for all
9 units.
All parties agreed to signing a sidebar "Memorandum of Understanding" which would prov de
up to 9 project -based Section-8 certificates /vouchers from the Reading Housing Authority to
insure that 10% (9 units) would be accessible to Reading residents. The Town Manager an
Selectperson Camille Anthony will work with the developer on the language to be presented to
all parties. Chairman Sweet reminded the parties that the "20 day clock" was ticking regarding
the appeal of the Zoning Board of Appeals decision.
There being no further business and upon a roll call vote, the Board voted to adjourn from
Executive Session and to reconvene in regular session at 7:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Marg t K. Plansky, Secretary
and Executive Director