Harwich Housing Committee

HARWICH  HOUSING  COMMITTEE

Minutes...............March 2, 2015

1.   Quorum:  The meeting was called to order at 4:35. Committee Members present: David Purdy,

     Mayla Secola, John McGillen, Cindi Maule.  Excused absence: Claudia Williams.

2.   Guests:  There were no guests.

3.   Minutes:  The minutes of the last meeting held on January 5, 2015 were unanimously approved.

     (There are NO Minutes for February. Due to a snow storm, the February 2, 2015 meeting was

      postponed until the next Monday. There was not a quorum for the February 9 meeting.)

4.   Old Business:

     A.  Project Updates

          1) Middle School Re-purpose:  Purdy reported on the Re-Purpose Committee meeting (02/25/15)

               Chris Wise from Wise Living presented his proposal for 40 senior housing units in the older

               section of the school building. 25% would be Affordable rental. At the upcoming meeting

               (02/04/15) several other proposals will be heard.  There will be a Public Hearing on (03/18).

               Affordable Housing proponents should attend.

          2) Habitat for Humanity: Purdy reported on the Interfaith Clergy group's program held on MLK

               Day for the benefit of the Habitat project on Oak St.  Due to all the snow this winter, the wall

               raising, etc. will be delayed until May.

          3) Willow St.:   nothing new

          4) Thankful Chase II:  According to a note from David Spitz: “A business has a purchase and

               sale agreement on this property and is currently seeking Planning Board approval. It appears

               that back taxes will be paid as part of the sale. If so, the land will not be available for an

               affordable housing project.”

          5)  American Dream: nothing new to report on boundary issues.

          6)  Housing Comm. Community Relations: (1) Purdy set up TV program on Ch 18 for the

               Housing Committtee on April 7 with Vicki Goldsmith from Cape Cod Habitat for Humanity.

               (2) He also reported a meeting with Jeremy Gingrass of the Harwich Chamber of Commerce

               where they discussed the Committee's goal of community education. Gingrass offered some

               helpful suggestions, including the idea of developing an Affordable Housing brochure. This

               generated a lengthy discussion about the development of such a brochure. Secola will get a

               brochure from Mashpee. McGillen suggested that the idea “of community” should include

               those who need housing and point them to resources. The next meeting will focus on the

               design and content of such a brochure. (3) Purdy spoke to the Inter-faith Clergy (02/11/15)

               and reported on the kind of insightful and challenging questions the group asked. They

               repeated their support of the Habitat project on Oak Street.

           7) East Harwich Initiative: A memo from David Spitz reported: “The Planning Board is still

               attempting to put forward a zoning package that will be acceptable to E. Harwich residents.

               The current zoning package continues to include an affordable housing component....”

            8) W. Harwich School:  An article in the paper a few weeks ago noted a proposed cost of tearing

                down the W. Harwich School building along with other Town owned buildings which are no

                longer useful to reduce maintenance costs. There is informal discussion about re-purposing

                the old building as a museum or for other cultural  purposes.

5.  New Business:

     A.   Goal setting:  Claudia Williams sent a memo in her absence stating  that the Chatham Housing

           Authority will less John Stewart, Exec. Director of the Chatham-Harwich Housing Committee

           when its video on Affordable Housing in Chatham will be released and he thought that they

           would be excited about Harwich Housing Committee wanting to circulate it here in Town.

       B.  Reports from other Housing Agencies:

             1  Housing Authority: No Report

             2  HOME Consortium:  Maule brought with her a Draft Copy of  Barnstable County

                 Consolidated Plan on Affordable Housing.

                 to be distributed by the HOME Consortium upon its completion.

             3  Dates for Upcoming Housing Events:  A REMINDER of the Re-Purpose Committee's public

                 hearing on the Middle School proposals on March 18, 7:00 in Town Hall.  Also of the Ch 18

                 Housing program with Cape Habitat for Humanity on April 7 at 9:00, Community  Center.

             4 Forum on Affordable Housing: March 20 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans.

       C.  Reminder:  Conflict of Interest On-Line Training: Must be taken by all Committee members

                 as soon as possible.

6.    Comments By Guests:  None

7.    Date of the Next Meeting: April 6, 2015  4:30  in Town Hall Library.

8.    Adjournment:  The Meeting adjourned at 5:55PM.