2/3/2015 AFFORDABLE HOUSING Minutes

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Mashpee Affordable Housing Committee Meeting Minutes February 3, 2015 at 6:30 pm Mashpee Town Hall Present: Chairman Walter Abbott, Berkeley Johnson, Marie Stone Also Present: Selectman Mike Richardson, Bruce Willard Absent: Allan Isbitz CALL TO ORDER Chairman Abbott opened the meeting at 6:34 p.m. with a quorum and the roll was called. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-October 7, 2014 & December 2, 2014 Meeting minutes could not be approved as a quorum of attending members was not present. OLD BUSINESS Paul Ruchinskas Letter of Gratitude The Chair reported that the letter of gratitude had been sent. Habitat for Humanity Chairman Abbott referenced the meeting with the CPC regarding Habitat for Humanity's request for increased funds. There was concern about the Quinaquissett site that would require a greater amount of paving. The Chair followed up with Habitat, who will be seeking an additional $30,000 elsewhere and had also suggested to the Committee that Habitat's request be reconsidered since the vote was not unanimous. The CPC responded that a Mashpee resident could not request reconsideration. There was discussion about Mr. Halperin sitting on the CPC and the Mashpee Housing Authority and whether it created a conflict of interest. There was agreement that Habitat should have modified their applications to present more accurate costs. It was noted that other towns had increased their funding to Habitat. Mr. Johnson reported that Chatham had provided 4 lots, Orleans 6 lots and Brewster provided 14 lots. Comment on RFP for Town Meeting The Chair inquired whether there were comments about the RFP, adding that he thought it was well done. Mr. Johnson noted that the project description included up to 85 bedrooms on the two parcels of land, with a maximum building height of 35 feet. The RFP was intended to be issued by the Affordable Housing Trust, which concerned the Chair since the Trust had not been active. The Chair also noted that funds totaling $250,000 were at the Cape Cod Commission waiting to be transferred over to the Trust. Mr. Johnson suggested that mitigation funds may not be able to be transferred but the Chair noted that Mr. Ruchinskas indicated that the funds could be transferred. It was noted that the Housing Authority had utilized some of the funds. Ms. Stone inquired about how the AHC should continue. The Chair was unsure why the RFP was not being issued by the Town and Mr. Johnson responded that he was unsure as there had not been a meeting recently. There was discussion regarding the challenges of having 5 Board of Selectmen members on the Affordable Housing Trust, Selectman Richardson indicated that he felt the AHC was doing a great job getting the word out about Mashpee's affordable housing needs. Mr. Johnson made a motion to report back to the Town Manager that the Affordable Housing Committee reviewed the proposed RFP, and assuming that they can get approval at Town