Williamstown Affordable Housing Trust Proposes Bylaws
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Selectmen seemed satisfied on Monday that bylaws for a proposed affordable housing trust would provide enough control over its actions and keep the town safe.A five-member board would govern the trust and include a selectman, an Affordable Housing Committee member and three Board of Selectmen appointees.
In order to purchase any property, four of those five would have to be in favor.
"We wanted a super majority for these transactions," Catherine Yamamoto, chairman of the Affordable Housing Committee, told the board.
The Selectmen two weeks ago had asked Yamamoto and her committee to consider the "profound decisions" the trustees would make as they finalized the bylaws.
Selectman David Rempell, who had raised the concern, said five people with enough ambition is plenty for the task and that they would be seeking out information from the other boards anyway.
"I am very comfortable with having five members on this trust," he said.
The committee will meet at least quarterly, would have to obey Open Meeting laws and vote to accept and distribute the money. Members would be appointed for two-year terms but the Board of Selectmen would have the ability to oust a member. The members would not receive compensation nor be eligible for benefits, the bylaws read.
In addressing some of the questions she has been hearing from townspeople, Yamamoto told the Selectmen that the trustees will not have the power of eminent domain.
The committee initially looked to have anywhere for five to nine members on the board and while more representatives — such as from the Conservation Commission, Planning Board or Housing Authority — was considered, a five-member is sufficient, Yamamoto said. "We see all these boards working together."
If the board is concerned about a lack of input from a particular board, the Selectmen can appoint somebody from that body, Yamamoto said.
Chairman Thomas Sheldon added that the town is fully behind the Affordable Housing Committee's effort to increase the housing stock.
"I can say with confidence that we will play our part," Sheldon said. "There will be no lack of commitment here."
Addressing another concern from residents about duplicity of services, Housing Authority Chairman Mark Reinhardt voiced support for the trust fund. Housing Authority is a state organization, said authority member Van Ellet, so does not have the flexibility nor the "local control" that the trust would.
"We thought local control is paramount," Ellet said.
The Selectmen have not yet approved the proposed bylaws but are expected to review them before the next meeting. The Affordable Housing Committee's draft laws are below.
The Community Preservation Committee is recommending voters give the committee $200,000 to be placed in a trust fund for the purchase and development of a new housing project. However, if the formation of the fund is rejected by voters that money would return to the CPA accounts.
More information about the trust fund will be addressed at a public information meeting on Tuesday, April 3, at the Williams Inn at 7 p.m.
Williamstown Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bylaws 2012
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