Back to Advisory Committee Minutes
Present: Committee Members Lauter, Seelen, Asher, Cavoores, Dwyer, Eldredge, Ellison, Farrell, Friedman, Innis, Johnson, Manning, Marwill, Mooradian, O’Meara
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1. Call to order
Chair Irma Lauter called the Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
2. Citizen Involvement Survey
Kitty Ward provided a brief overview of a survey informally ‘commissioned’ by Selectman Bruce Rabuffo as a result of low voter turnout at Town elections. Kitty subsequently performed the survey as a voluntary community relations activity.
Sixty-one responses to the survey’s three questions were summarized in a report to the Board of Selectmen on 1 Sep. Survey comments were wide-ranging, addressing issues related to finance and tax, growth and development, school, recreation, and governance.
The Committee proposed various means for increasing future survey participation and the need for visible linkage of survey feedback to Board of Selectmen goals and initiatives.
3. Lincoln School Apartments
- Joint Session with Selectmen
Dick Innis updated the Committee and Board of Selectmen regarding an information-gathering meeting he had arranged for Thursday, 25 Sep with Richard High, President of John M. Corcoran and Company.
Selectman Rabuffo related the events of a follow-up meeting with Mr. High on Monday, 29 Sep attended by himself and Susan Murphy of the Planning Board.
In both meetings, Mr. High verbally re-affirmed the intentions expressed in his 10 Jun letter to the Board of Selectmen Chair, John Riley, regarding Corcoran’s willingness to maintain the property as 100% Section 8 affordable as long as the Section 8 subsidy remains available to the property.
Dick Innis indicated that Christopher Burns of the HAHT and Town Project Engineer, Roger Fernandes, did a walk-through of the property on Monday, 29 Sep. In a subsequent email on 29 Sep, Roger noted areas for attention but concluded that the building overall appeared to be well maintained and in good shape.
- Session continues without Selectmen
Following the departure of the Selectmen for their normally-scheduled meeting, public comments were solicited and mostly favorable responses were received regarding Corcoran’s current management of the property on behalf of Glastonbury Abbey. A few individuals expressed concern about the Town’s commitment to continuing the same high level of grounds and structure maintenance.
The Committee then moved to convene in Executive Session in order to discuss the proposed real-estate transaction with Town Counsel, Jim Toomey.
Upon resumption of the public session, the Committee discussed the pro’s and con’s of Town vs. private purchase, including a timeline regarding dates when possible reductions in percentage affordability could occur.
Christopher Burns then addressed remaining open key questions from the Committee’s 25 Sep meeting.
i. Is a mortgage to secure the CPC loan necessary? New information since received on 1 Oct from Town bond counsel: No.
ii. Has a title report been ordered? Not yet. A title policy was reviewed in July and there had been no gaps or issues. However, it would be prudent to wait to order one until after Town Meeting.
iii. Can the CPC lend more than the appraised value of the property? This had already been answered in the affirmative based on earlier research by Town Counsel, Jim Toomey.
iv. What is indicated in the 21-E (hazardous materials) report? Samples for a 21-E report have been sent for evaluation, and results are expected back on Monday, 6 Oct.
Responses to an internet posting by Town Planner, Katy Lacy, regarding other Massachusetts towns who own affordable housing were distributed; Easthampton, Arlington, Wellesley, and Lexington have each implemented different approaches.
The Chair indicated that the Committee would not have sufficient information in hand to vote at the scheduled 2 Oct meeting. However, a ‘substantive Comment’ to be included in the proposed Warrant Article mailing on 7 Oct would be prepared for review by the Committee on 2 Oct.
4. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jonathan Asher, Secretary