Amesbury Housing Trust

By City Clerk at 11:18 am, Apr 07, 2023 AMESBURY CITY HALL 62 Friend Street Amesbury, MA 01913 Amesbury Affordable Housing Trust MEETING Minutes February 8, 2023 @ 4:30pm City Hall Auditorium Public comment can be made by: • Emailing your comment before the meeting to oced@amesburyma.gov. Your comment will be read aloud at the appropriate time in the agenda and entered into the public record. Agenda Members present: Margaret Hoffman, Kathy Troiano, Kerry Hamel-Pope, Mayor Kassandra Gove, Councilor Steve Stanganelli, Katelynn Lemieux, Drew Lafleur Members Absent: Nancy Frick Staff: Angela Cleveland, Adam Krans 1. Call to Order o Margaret Hoffman called meeting to order at 4:31 o Mentioned that the meeting is being recorder, to state name if making a motion 2. Minutes from January 11, 2023 o Margaret- Page 2- adjust spacing to show that Councilor Stanganelli’s comments about page 3 per with the housing choice grant. o Adjusted Main St address from 445 to 150. o Adjusted spelling of Mayor Gove’s name on page 3 o Motion- Katelynn moves to approve as amended o Second-Kathy Troiano seconds o Vote- unanimously 3. Public Comment o Carol Finn- 412 Main St. o Error in comment about overnight parking was about South Hunt Rd, comment about Elm St was about small cottages on a parcel of land, used to be compost area. Adjust made to the minutes. 4. Motion to approve new minutes- Katelynn motions. • Kathy Troiano Seconds  • Vote- Unanimous 5. Communications o Housing Trust Account update o Principal Balance $137,437.74 o Interest Balance $3.36 o Grand Total Balance $137,441.10 6. Existing Business o At Home in Amesbury Campaign Update o Angela- campaign is designed to guide housing related work over the next two years, including IAmesbury2030. o Approved funds in August for consultant to identify strategy and timeline to address housing issues. Consultant suggested two things, a brochure with inserts for each project in flyer, ex Cynthia Lane, Smart growth district etc. will each have insert once approved. o Margret-how will flyer be distributed? o Angela- printed and available at City Hall, hearings, could discuss wider distribution necessary, copies will be at housing summit on 3/29/23. Page 1 is an overview, lays out priorities housing development, 40B, second page is FAQ, addresses what we’ve already done, including the housing trust key, planning projects etc. Goal is to start conversation about why we do this work for housing. Website includes info on housing in Amesbury, many components from the brochure included in the webpage, FAQ’s contained here. Also why are we expanding housing choice. This site will show all projects in progress for housing in Amesbury in detail, the Master Plan, HPP, inclusionary housing, accessory dwelling, redevelopment sites, MBTA, 40B. o Katelynn- visited with senior center, brochures there would be helpful, housing authority, Pettengill House, make everyone aware of resources are available, show city knows that more housing is needed. o I AMesbury 2030 Update o Katelynn- had a great meeting with RKG, including a slideshow about current housing conditions in Amesbury. o 4:46- Councilor Stanganelli arrives. o Katelynn Lemieux presented an overview of the statistics presented by RKG. This included a review of demographic groups where Amesbury has seen growth, and several showing a decline. o Median income $87,433 in 2021, $200K+ fastest growing 365-1,112 resident. o 50-99k income decreased by 278, suggests middle income having hard time finding affordable housing, o Need is for a several types of housing in all ranges to accommodate needs, allow higher income houses to move to more luxury units, open more affordable units for lower income. o 19.3% disabled, higher than surrounding, housing needs to be ADA compliant to meet needs of community. 7,156 jobs in Amesbury, home value average $535,528 in Amesbury. Avg rent 1 bedroom $1,800 2br $1,975 3-bedroom $2,800, which is more than most mortgages. Rent burden- HUD defines spending >30% of income on housing, Amesbury 46% are cost burdened, 24% of rental households spending more than 50% o Key takeaways- Amesbury great residential community, people choosing to live but not work here. 70% of Amesbury renters are burdened. o Katelynn also mentioned that the Amesbury HPP is only a 5-year plan not 10 like MP. Can be used to prepare for MP with HPP updates. o Discussed housing summit, Adam suggested training landlords about how to accept vouchers, Katelynn did this in Melrose was very successful, could be successful here too. With education, the landlord pool increases, ideas discussed for panelists for summit, we need a voice on the panel that will resonate with the younger resident to get them involved and engaged. o Margaret- is it possible for the trust to see the data? o Angela- yes we can send. o Katelyn- need a big push for a city census, important to stress response rate, and what will come out of it. o Mayor Gove- RKG is using 10-year census data? o Angela- yes, they are using 5 year data set through 2021, all hinges on 2020 census anyway. o Mayor Gove - it’s not the city street data, correct? o Angela- yes o Mayor Gove - hopefully we will continue to encourage responses, always do that. Will this data be included in the progress report from IAMesbury Master Plan work, and in Master Plan. Will be made public once complete; this is just the first batch of data. o Margaret - Is the housing summit just Amesbury? Can you tell us a little about it? o Angela- The summit is the main public outreach for the housing element of the Master Plan update. o Margaret- time and date for the summit? o Angela - 3/29/23 5 PM at High School, open to the public, will have large amount for outreach, on website, and city calendar, flyer being developed. o Margaret- will there be panels, open house? o Angela- there will be dinner, keynote, panelist, free roaming time as well. o Katelynn- It would be nice to invite neighboring communities, not all trusts are as involved, would be nice to show that off. Could invite public from other communities as well, good time to promote Amesbury as a community. o Public Comment from Carol Finn- Ms. Finn requested any info available on rental rates for units in Amesbury rented to those with subsidy. Ms. Finn also spoke about a section of older mobile homes in Amesbury behind the Inn at Salisbury that are used as rental units. o Margaret- Housing authority usually has listing of affordable units, o Carol Finn- do we know how many affordable unties are in Amesbury? Lack of acceptance of vouchers forces voucher holders to less desirable landlords. o Margaret- regarding deeded affordable units in Amesbury- have spoken to owners to review rent, many were quite affordable, but landlords aren’t required to accept voucher if not a deeded affordable unit. o Katelynn- can also look at affordablehousing.com, formerly gosection8.com. o Angela- Amesbury Heights- 1 BR $1,587 2br $1,744 3br $1,903, Briggs Mill is similar. o Housing Choice Grant 2024 Discussion o Margaret- Angela sent out previous project. Previously discussed 278 Main St for infrastructure project to assist affordable housing, should we look at that? o Margaret- Angela do you need direction or is this advisory? o Angela- We would want letter of support for final application, would like trust support, also to solicit input. o Mayor Gove- if we make motion, we should vote to support recommend, not motion to apply for the grant. o Councilor Stanganelli- can we submit 5 ideas for projects? o Margaret- deadline for 5 has passed, we can now submit 2 ideas on an expression of interest. The City already has a project to submit interest for, so we’re looking for a housing related. o Angela- The state recommends that ideas should be under different programs so we’re not competing against ourselves. o Councilor Stanganelli- Can we clarify what has been submitted or considered. o Angela- the City has submitted interest for Water St garage, nothing has been formalized, just conversation, would not be a part of Housing Choice Grant. o Mayor Gove- this is all through community one stop, centralized HUB for grant programs. Garage would be for construction. We are Housing choice community so we can submit that too. o Margaret- expression of interest first, then get feedback from state, then do formal application. o Councilor Stanganelli - so we are choosing something from the list in the minutes? o Margaret- Yes, 278 Main St infrastructure project, grant funding would support affordable housing being built there, Bartlett Cottages. Is there a limit on amount? o Angela- 300k is the limit, price is around 500k total. One Stop can provide other funding sources if project is over the cap. o Katelynn- if no other way, how do we pay for the difference? o Angela- That is unknown right now. o Katelynn- would be best to stick to list of projects with completed studies, so we have the numbers? We may not have the funds if we submit a project that is above the limit. o Mayor Gove- can developer match the funds? o Angela- may not be allowed under 40B but we can ask Lynne Sweet. o Margaret- Is there a deadline for submission? o Angela - March 17th o Councilor Stanganelli - Are there other projects with studies already done that could be considered? o Mayor Gove- downtown resiliency study complete, budget available for outdoor dining- report from VHB, pedestrian improvements, pocket parks have budgets available, may not connect to affordable housing opportunity. o Katelynn- No problem with Main St, but I do have concerns if City Council doesn’t approve. o Councilor Stanganelli - Are we leaning toward 278 Main St. due to study completion, connection to housing? o Mayor Gove- yes, most connected, reality is that the40B is moving forward, needs infrastructure to be successful, will happen to matter what. Hopefully developer will partner on cost. Vote will be to support a recommendation, not an official recommendation. o Councilor Stanganelli moves to recommend support for the City applying for Housing Choice Grant 2024 funding for 278 Main St project. o Councilor Stanganelli - amended motion to recommend support for an expression of interest for Housing Choice Grant 2024 related to 278 Main St infrastructure development. o Second- Kathy Troiano seconds  Vote- • For (5)- Mayor Gove, Councilor Stanganelli, Kerry Hamel-Pope, Margaret Hoffman, Kathy Troiano • Opposed (2)- Katelynn Lemieux, Drew LaFleur  Motion Passes o Councilor Stanganelli - anything else coming up? o Angela- CDBG app due March 3, housing funding included would be for rehab activities, public hearing already held. o Councilor Stanganelli - should housing trust weigh in on that application?  o Angela- No, outreach is complete, housing rehabilitation is bread and butter in Amesbury, 19 years old, very successful, just got another app for condemned home in Amesbury due to failing chimney. Other CDBG programs are not housing related. Development is hard due to limited CDBG budget, development not a main part of CDBG. o Councilor Stanganelli - Does CDBG allow for rental subsidy? o Angela- Yes, through the Social Services agencies, three have proposed that already for either rent or utility assistance. o Margaret- is that assistance specific to Amesbury. o Angela- yes o Council Order 2022-087 o Councilor Stanganelli- Next City Council meeting bill is coming up, special meeting on 2/21. There was a motion made at prior meeting to delay vote to get all eligible members present, one had temporary conflict of interest, moved the vote to 2/21, which is not a regularly scheduled meeting. 3 councilors called for meeting for this item, temporary conflict of interest has been resolved, 8 of 9 are eligible to vote, needs 6 to pass, have 6 in support at last count. Public hearing is officially closed, the public can attend, but cannot speak at the meeting. o Margaret- can the City Council take comments sent to them directly by email? o Councilor Stanganelli - clerk’s office can send comments, but I do not believe they would not be read into the record. o Mayor Gove- encourage attendance on 2/21/23 o Councilor Stanganelli - Yes 7PM after budget and finance meeting. 7. New Business o Housing trust priorities report update o Drew- report template is on the screen, would be used each week to track progress. Includes account balance, individual projects on left, key millstones, deadline tracking, second slide is more detailed project status. This can be sent out before each meeting, updated by Angela, Adam, and Drew. Does the trust see value in this? o Councilor Stanganelli – Who is updating this? Is it just Angela and Adam. is this going to be on the website? o Drew - it can be, would be helpful to have on the website, I will help update in the interim. o Councilor Stanganelli - What milestone dates will be on there; how far out will they go? o Drew - 6 months out is probably useful, 2 years might be too much, more slides can be added for additional data, anything can be added if the trust wants it. o Katelynn- good to have key accomplishments for motivation and public outreach. o Mayor Gove- The idea was to translate priorities into a workstream to ensure progress, make sure things aren’t dropped. o Margaret- when should we launch? o Drew - framework is ready, feedback can be provided, the template is done, and we can move forward now with adding data. o Margaret - will we get this each month? o Angela - yes o Mayor Gove - will be agenda item to review this every meeting. o Drew – That can start next month. o Councilor Stanganelli - on balance overview screen, can we track actual dollars in and out for each item? o Drew - yes, we can do that., this is an overview, we can show specific deposit/withdrawals on another slide.  o Councilor Stanganelli - how can we show committed but not spent funds? o Drew- We can add another line on graph to show committed funds. o Councilor Stanganelli - that would be useful, visually would be nice to keep track of available funds. o Mayor Gove- we can look at account and add line for committed funds. 8. Next Meeting Date – March 8th, 4:30pm 9. Adjourn o Motion- Katelynn Lemieux at 5:41 o Second- Drew LaFleur o Vote- unanimous