Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
FINCOM 20200513 Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 7-30-20 801 Washington Street Vote: 6-0-1 Canton, MA 02021 Meeting Minutes May 13, 2020 Finance Committee Members Present: Christos Arsoniadis, David Clough, Dan Cole, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna, Barbara Saint Andre, Cindy Thomas and Wai Wong. Finance Committee Members Absent: Rob Barker. Guests Present: Lisa Lopez, Vice Chair, Community Preservation Committee Kristen Phelps, Administrator, Community Preservation Committee Randy Scollins, Finance Director Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary Opening: Chair McKenna called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. via Zoom virtual meeting. Approval of Agenda: Chair McKenna reviewed the agenda. New Business STM Article 8 — Additional Recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee: Canton Emergency Rental Assistance Program — Lisa Lopez, Vice Chair of the Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC), provided an explanation of the draft plans for a rental assistance program that would utilize $52,000 of CPA housing funds. Some of the highlights from Ms. Lopez' overview (see meeting documents) are as follows: • Recognizing the need for rental assistance in the community the CCPC voted to accept a late application for CPA funds for a temporary rental assistance program. The Planning Board voted the following day to move forward with the CPA application and instructed Town Planner Laura Smead to submit an application on its behalf. • The CCPC will meet again to make their final recommendations. • Program is temporary and will provide full or partial rent for a period of one to three months. • Program will be confidentially administered, for a fee (no more than approximately $5,000), by a housing agency experienced in rental assistance such as Metro West Collaborative or MCL Housing. The Town will be "hands off' in the handling of applicants, screening and awards. • Eligible residents will be selected through a lottery system. • If a home or condo is deed restricted to households earning up to 100% AMI, they may qualify for mortgage assistance. • While the Town does not currently have a housing trust (not required), this program will provide the Town with experience for operating a housing trust in the future. Ms. Lopez stated that the final recommendation for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be presented at Special Town Meeting. Ms. Lopez will keep the Finance Committee Secretary apprised as to the progress so that the Finance Committee will be able to take a vote prior to STM. Reconsideration of ATM Article 4 Consent Agenda — Mr. Scollins stated that at a recent pre -ATM meeting held on May 12, 2020 the Town Moderator suggested the addition of three articles to the Consent Agenda - Articles 37, 38 and 53. All three of these articles had been voted to postpone indefinitely. Articles 37 and 38 would be addressed under Special Town Meeting Article 2 (Stormwater Management). Article 53 (43D Priority Development Sites) was postponed indefinitely because the developer was no longer interested in the site at 300 Dan Road. A motion made by Ms. Saint Andre to reopen the vote for ATM Article 4 for reconsideration was seconded by Mr. Wong. Roll Call Vote: Mr. McKenna Aye Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Mr. Wong Aye Mr. Arsoniadis Aye Ms. Saint Andre Aye Mr. Clough Aye Mr. Wong Aye The motion to reopen ATM Article 4 passed 8-0-0. FINCOM 201200 13 Minutes Page 1 of 6 5/17/2020