HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-08-25 Metro North Regional Housing Advisory Committee Minutes � OfR
Town of Reading , - k' .
9 , ' Meeting Minutes �,t �! I F R K
0�C'� E M A .
Board - Committee - Commission - council: X11 NOV -8 PM is 12
Metro North Regional Housing Services
Committee
Date: 2016-08-25 Time: 10:00 AM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session:
Purpose: Bi-Monthly Meeting Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Julie Mercier, Laurie Stanton, Danielle McKnight, Valerie Gingrich
Members - Not Present:
Bob Wargo
Others Present:
Liz Rust
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Laurie Stanton
Topics of Discussion:
The Committee called to order at 10:00 AM.
Minutes
The minutes for April 21"were approved unanimously.
The minutes for lune 23 Id were approved unanimously.
Status Update
North Reading:
HOME Units—North Reading wants to put their rehabbed HOME units on the SHI for the longest period
possible. Ms.Stanton mentioned that DHCD has a process for HOME rehab units that does not require
the Town to go through the LIP application process.
Ms. McKnight will ask Maureen Hickey to prepare documentation on her tenant selection process.
HOME rehab units must have their own tenant selection process.When the documents are ready, Ms.
McKnight will present them to the BOS.
Housing Production Plan—The Town selected Karen Sunnarborg,the lowest bidder,to prepare the HIPP.
She is anticipated to start in December 2016.
Reading:
Local Preference for Reading Village(Lincoln and Prescott Streets)—The Town must present a case for it
within 90 days after Comprehensive Permit is issued. Ms. Rust will send guidelines and an example to
Ms.Mercier. Burlington recently received a local preference for a rental project. It is presumed that
SEB will be the monitoring agent for Reading Village.
Page 1 1
Mass Housing Partnership has the toughest standard for local preference,then MassHousing,and DHCD
standards are the easiest.
Gazebo Circle Continuation of Affordability—Ms. Rust will look through the documents and see if the
Town has a case to get a new Regulatory Agreement and keep them on the SHI.
Wilmington:
HOME Funds-Wilmington is exploring ways to use their HOME funds.The Town could also have access
to more money through the competitive pool,which allows towns to use the unused funds from other
towns. There is a competitive grant process.
203 Cardinal Court-2 bedroom house for sale for$223,040.The price is high because the original sale
price was high for some reason.It may be hard to find.an eligible buyer within the 90 day period. If the
unit is then sold at market rate, Ms.Gingrich was informed It will still be counted on the SHI. Ms. Rust
mentioned that the Town will get the difference if it is sold at market rate,but the Town will need to
establish a separate fund for the money if they do not already have one. Ms. Rust will provide more
information on this to Ms.Gingrich.
2802 Pouliot Place has passed the 90 day period,and no papers have passed.The monitoring agent has
indicated that there is a buyer,just a hold-up in passing papers.
Monitoring Letters
The monitoring letters are going out at the end of September. Ms.Gingrich drafted a cover letterto
Introduce Ms.Stanton to Wilmington residents,which will hopefully help increase the response rate
from affordable homeowners. Wilmington had a 47%return rate last year,as did Saugus. Ms. McKnight
expressed interest in providing a similar cover letter for North Reading residents.
Workforce Housine Program Guidelines
The recent Municipal Modernization Act has a workforce housing component that will be MHFA funded.
The guidelines are a good start, but the SHI and other funding programs are not tied into R yet.The
program is only for rentals,with 0%loans to the developer. The program targets households earning
between 61-120%of the AMI.It is unclear whether an ownership provision,if established,would be for
starter homes,to allow an owner to build equity,or be deed restricted.
Nuts and Bolts of Refinancing
The Resale Price Calculation has three parts(thresholds):the original asking price,the resale price
multiplier(RPM(,and the affordability threshold. A unit cannot be sold for less than the original asking
price. If DHCD determines that a re-fi number is too high,they can lower it to meet the thresholds.They
also have to account for the condo fees,utilities,etc.Always refer to the deed rider for the
requirements of the re-fi or re-sale.Older unit re-N/re-sales are often based on market value with a
deduction.The newer units have an RPM.
Other
• The SHI requires 15 years minimum restriction for rehab units,and 30 years for new units.
• HOR units are no longer eligible for the SHI. If HOR units have gotten a Town over 10%,the
Town will be at risk of a challenge from a developer.Wilmington is at risk.
• CDBG—Reading, North Reading and Wilmington do not qualify.Wilmington used to qualify.
Next Meeting:October 27,2016 at 10 AM in the Berger Room at Town Hall.
Page 1 2