HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-15 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee MinutesTown of Reading
i Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Affordable Housing Trust.
Date: 2025-10-15
Building: Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Hybrid Meeting
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Berger Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Draft
Attendees: Members In person: Pat Egan; Karen Rose Gillis, Select Board Liason;
Margaret Donnelly -Moran
Members Present on Zoom: Sherilla Lestrade; Jayna Stafford
Members Not Present: N/A
Others Present in person: Andrew MacNichol, Community Development
Director; Olivia Knightly, Senior Planner
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Olivia Knightly
Topics of Discussion: Community Preservation Act Committee Presentation; MVP 2.0
Program Grant Discussion; Action Plan Examples and Thoughts Discussion
MEETING HELD IN THE BERGER ROOM
Mr. MacNichol called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.
• CPA Exploratory Committee representative Sandy Matathia, and AHTF member
Margaret Donnelley -Moran presented to the board about the Community
Preservation Act and the applicable uses of the funding. The trust had a discussion
about how funds can be dedicated for affordable housing purposes. Mr. Matathia
presented the anticipated timeline for CPA to be on the ballot for a town wide vote in
2026. The trust discussed the adoption process and asked clarifying questions about
CPA.
• Mr. MacNichol stated that the MVP 2.0 grant funds are intended for climate and
social resilience improvements. He stated that the community survey indicates high
cost of living and financial strain related to housing in Reading. Seeing if board would
be interest in utilizing the pilot program funding to develop programming for the
housing trust. Rental assistance or affordable home ownership program and difficulty
to sustain this type of program. Resiliency planning and energy upgrades for
community room at housing authority or other community space.
• Action Plan examples and programming ideas to help identify Reading's community
priorities. Future agenda item to review priority actions and pursue MHP technical
assistance.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.