Provincetown

Local Housing Partnership

 

April 15, 2005

9:00 a.m.

 

 

Members attending:          Arturo Alon,  Cindy Bowes, Scott Campbell, Tim

Hazel, and Teri Nezbeth.

 

Members absent:                  Eileen Kennedy (unexcused)

 

Others:                           Ted Malone, Maxine Notaro, Pam Parmakia, and

Doug Taylor                             

 

The meeting was called to order at  9:00 a.m.

 

AGENDA:

Review and update on affordable housing projects

Motion:  A motion was made, seconded and agreed to unanimously, to skip directly to the lottery selection process.

 

Discussion on Lottery Selection Process and Guidelines

Ted Malone and Pam Parmakia had hand-outs to give to the Partnership.  They had studied other programs and attempted to make up permanent policies.  They felt these new regulations might be added to the current rulings.

 

The hand-outs were:

-                   Policy Recommendations for Administration of Affordable Housing Permits by Provincetown Local Housing Partnership. (4 pages)

-                   Initial Income Certification

-                   Application for Affordable Home Ownership Lottery

-                   34-36 Conwell Street – Affordable & Market Rate Homes

 

Policy Recommendations for Administration of Affordable Housing Permits by Provincetown Local Housing Partnership.

This hand-out spawned the most discussion, i.e., who could qualify for a 2 bedroom if they were a single person (someone with a college age son who might come home for the summer?), and a myriad of other plausible scenarios.

 

Also, this hand-out had 15 rules that have been basically based on the 40B rules published by the state.  At this point Ted Malone went over rule by rule and how it might be interpreted and what the exemptions might be.  For example:  Eligibility refers to 1st time home buyers who are people who haven’t owned a home for over 3 years, i.e. a displaced homemaker (from divorce) or a household of over 55 year olds. 

 

Ted also told the group that the Town is producing a whole lot of single units because that is the projected need of affordable housing in the Town.  Also, household numbers are not static.  People divorce, acquire children and/or spouses, etc.

 

The discussion also touched on “how long for occupancy?”  Tim Hazel pointed out that sometimes people had to leave Town for economic reasons, i.e., in search of jobs in warmer climes since our winter economy is “not thriving.”  Then, as a necessity, they have to rent out their condos.  The big question – as in most of the restrictions – is – who polices this?  Doug Taylor thought it would fall to him but wondered about the manpower needed for this task. 

 

Rental of the condo would probably be permissible but only by review and permission by LHP.  Can rental take place if necessary?  It was thought that it probably would have to be a hardship case.

 

Ted said he would also like a clear policy on who qualifies for the number of bedrooms.  Tim Hazel felt that the current guidelines on the number of bedrooms is too restrictive, i.e., what about people who would like an extra bedroom as an office or perhaps an occasional visitor.  He also would like the policy on art studios clarified.

 

Then Pam Parmakia entered the discussion and explained the enormous record keeping dealing with income certification.  She deals most with the Ann Page complex and all her findings have to be verified by a 3rd party.

 

Rules also dictate that people can’t pay more than 50% of purchase price in cash. 

 

Going on further it was stated that condo fees have to be equitable – affordable and market-rate should coincide.  Also, most banks do not want co-signers.

 

The presentation lasted for over one hour.

 

Review and update on affordable housing projects

Ted Malone presented this update which began at about 10:00 a.m.  There are 18 units – 5 rental – 13 ownership coming on line soon.  (The rentals will be controlled by the Fine Art Works Center (FAWC).  Completion of phase 1 is projected to be completed by late fall or early winter.  There were 24 bedrooms on the property originally.  Phase 2 will have a larger percentage of affordable.

 

Any other business that shall properly come before the board

It was decided that the next meeting may be a work session on standardization.

Doug Taylor felt that the group needs a boiler-plate form with just a change of name so that you could pull it up on the computer and go.

 

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LOCAL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP WILL TAKE PLACE ON MAY 20TH AT 9:00 A.M.

 

Minutes

Motion:  Teri Nezbeth made a motion to approve the minutes of the January, February, and March 2005 meetings.  Tim Hazel seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously by the Partnership.

 

Motion:  Scott Campbell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 a.m.  Teri Nezbeth seconded the motion and everyone enthusiastically agreed.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Gaudiano

Evelyn Rogers Gaudiano

 

Approved by ____________________________on ______________, 2005.

                             Arturo Alon, Chairman