LOCAL HOUSING
PARTNERSHIP
Public Meeting
July 25, 2003
9:00 a.m.
Members Present: Arturo Alon, Cindy Bowes, Tim
Hazel, Eileen Kennedy and Teri Nezbeth
Members
Absent: Scott Campbell (excused)
Advisor: Mark Latour and Maxine Notaro
Agenda:
The
meeting was called to order at 9:02 p.m.
Twenty-five
property owners have given Mark a call regarding the affordable housing tax
exemptions. That amount will probably
increase as people understand the benefits.
One problem is that some people are renting affordably but tenants are
not income eligible.
Eileen
passed out a draft letter pointing out the pitfalls of losing a great number of
our diverse population due to the lack of affordable housing. Mark told the group that he is pulling
together a demographic profile on the Town,
i.e. Portuguese fishermen, artists, writers, etc.
Eileen,
summarizing her own agenda, wondered about people who have an extra room and
rent it for a nominal fee achieving economic security for themselves. Might they be eligible for a tax break? It should be considered as an effort to
increase community diversity. To
reiterate, Eileen said, “Artistic people come as writers, artists, and they
can’t find something affordable.” Mark
Latour promised to run the possible tax break by the town counsel to find out
about the feasibility of making a tax exemption.
Tim
Hazel, seizing the problem, suggested the exemption be based on square footage
of rental. The general consensus of the
Board was to support this tax-exempt effort.
Eileen Kennedy told the group that both she and Mark had discussed having a website to guide people. MIS Coordinator Gary Delius will be invited to the next Partnership meeting to discuss this project.
At
this point Eileen again pulled out her draft letter for further
discussion. Tim felt that the group
needed other pieces in place before a definite date is made.
Cindy
would like a list of names of affordable housing participants and those who are
eligible.
Discussion on developing a monitoring program for properties with affordable permits
Discussion on the
property at 5 Conant Street. It has
been reported that the owner obtained a 10 year forgivable loan from the Lower
Cape Cod Development Corporation to fix up the property as three affordable
year-round units. One of these, the top
two floors of the main house, is rented on a weekly summer basis and is
unoccupied during the winter months. AJ
will look into it.
Eileen told of a person
who works at the CEM and rents a room for $1500/month. She felt it was exorbitant but Tim cautioned
that you cannot control a free market.
The
reason being given that the affordable housing deed restriction has not been
signed is that the bank still has to approve the deed restriction. Our understanding is that the bank is
reviewing this matter. The group felt
that surely the bank doesn’t need more time to make a simple calculation and
decision.
The
Partnership has decided to ask Clem and Ursies to come to the Partnership’s
meeting on August 22, 2003 to present the signed deed restriction, and to share
information about who is renting the affordable units, and what rents are being
charged. Teri suggested fines for
violators of affordable housing covenants suggesting that a lack of punishment
could lead to a lack of compliance!
Eileen
suggested forming a watch-dog agency.
Legality of such an agency will have to be determined.
Maxine
asked, “How do we find out where people are living and what they are
paying? People are afraid to report
anyone for fear of losing their lodgings.”
As
the group seemed to wander off the subject, Tim said, “Our charge is year round
housing – not seasonal employees.” Tim
continued, “Most affordable are deed restricted; it’s monitoring that we’re
after.”
Clem
and Ursie’s have no deed restriction and Teri suggested giving them a
date. Tim suggested a $50/day penalty
for not getting the deed restriction in place.
Maxine explained that for any new affordable housing units, “No permits
will be granted by the Building Commissioner, by the Building Inspector or by
the Housing Partnership until a deed restriction is signed by all parties and
recorded at the County.”
An
Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 5th
at 4:30 p.m. in the Judge Welsh Hearing Room.
Michelle,
the grant writer, is looking into getting additional grants for Affordable
Housing.
Cumberland
Farms is also planning to offer surplus property on Shankpainter for an
affordable housing site to the Provincetown Housing Authority. The grant that Michelle is going for can be
used for early development studies of possible sites. Also some large properties are being discussed i.e., Tides Motel
and other “no-longer-in-use” guest houses.
Barnstable
was cited as the way to handle illegal units – just put deed restrictions on
them. Maxine has question as it relates
to Growth Mgmt. How do we include them
if they are illegal in a no growth area?
Mark will talk to Wayne Perry to find out what unexpected dwellings or
bedrooms he found in his house to house visits to connect properties to the new
wastewater system.
The group then began a Community Visioning exercise, and Mr. Latour took notes on the various comments made regarding summer cops, towing, ticketing, signs, crosswalks, and a range of community development issues.
Next
subject was that both Teri and Eileen have expired terms and must renew. The group was cautioned to tend to their own
renewal dates and not rely solely on notification from the Town Clerk’s office. Teri and Eileen will reapply – as in soon.
There
was a motion to adjourn at 10: 07 a.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Evelyn Gaudiano
Evelyn
Rogers Gaudiano
_______________________________________on
_______________ 2003..
Arturo
Alon, Chairman