HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-17 Affordable Housing Trust Minutes
North Andover Affordable Housing Trust
Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2020
Present: Laurie Burzlaff, Roger Lawson, Christopher Jee, Joan Fitzgibbons, George Koehler, Robert Bernardin, Jean
Enright
Absent: Richard Vaillancourt
Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m
Chairman Burzlaff read the following:
Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L.
c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may
gather in one place, this meeting of the North Andover Affordable Housing Trust will be conducted via remote
participation. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted but every effort will be made to
ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the Order. Persons who would like
to listen to the meeting while in progress may do so by tuning in on their televisions to Comcast Channel 8 or
Verizon Channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.org. If you have public comments, please email
lburzlaff@northandoverma.gov.
Royal Crest presentation
James Keefe and Michael Lozano gave a presentation regarding the proposal for Royal Crest. Mr. Keefe explained
that the property is 50 years old and doesn’t comply with any modern codes. The proposed plan is to demolish all
the existing buildings and replace with housing, retail, offices, a boutique hotel and dorms for Merrimack. This will
be done in phases. There will be 93 affordable rental units. The developers will seek a friendly 40B. Trustee,
Christopher Jee, disclosed that he is an attorney for the DHCD and would recuse himself from any work that may
take place with regard to the development and his office. Mr. Lozano stated the rental units would be for incomes
at or below 80% AMI. Joan Fitzgibbons voiced concern over the buildings along Route 114 being five stories high.
Approval of Minutes from September 8, 2020
Motion made by Joan Fitzgibbons, seconded by Roger Lawson to approve the meeting minutes of September 8,
2020, as presented. Roll call vote: Koehler-yes; Jee-yes; Bernardin- yes; Fitzgibbons-yes; Lawson-yes; Burzlaff-yes.
Motion approved 6-0.
Update on Rental Assistance Programs
Laurie Burzlaff updated the Board on the current amount expended (approximately $150,000) for the Emergency
Rental Assistance. For the long term rental assistance program, they are just beginning to take additional
applications for the additional funding the Trust provided of $54,000. GLCAC is being inundated with applications
and is working diligently to keep up with the demand. The people that were on the program that started last year
are requesting extensions due to COVID. Ms. Burzlaff was waiting to hear from GLCAC on whether there are
people on the waiting list. The question becomes do they extend for the current recipients or do they offer the
funding to new applicants. If they don’t extend, there is a risk of homelessness for the current clients. Ms. Burzlaff
will provide another update at the next meeting.
Community Preservation Committee application
Ms. Burzlaff agreed to submit the Community Preservation application. Ms. Burzlaff suggested the application be
for $100,000 from CPC and $100,000 from the Trust to bring back the first time homebuyer program. The Trustees
will discuss the specifics of the program at the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Joan Fitzgibbons made a motion seconded by Robert Bernardin to adjourn the meeting at 6:30PM. Roll call vote:
Bernardin-yes, Fitzgibbons-yes; Jee-yes; Burzlaff-yes; Koehler-yes. Motion approved 5-0
MEETING MATERIALS:
Royal Crest presentation
Minutes of September 8, 2020