WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — It was a big night for the Affordable Housing Trust on Monday as the town body received a financial boost and an injection of new blood for its board.

 

Z. Daniel Gura, a 2006 Williams College graduate who is the director of capital markets and financial systems for Habitat for Humanity International, was appointed to the board in a unanimous vote of the Select Board.

 

And Town Manager Jason Hoch announced that the town was able to use federal CARES, or Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, Act money to reimburse the trust for money it has allocated to a rental assistance program created to help residents cope with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Gura told the Select Board that he has a strong background in finance and a passion for the work he does for the Atlanta-based non-profit.

 

"Upon graduating, I, like many other wayward Williams students, thought it would be a good idea to work on Wall Street, where I quickly unlearned all the quality education that I had gained here," Gura said. "I spent several years doing that stuff and eventually made my way to impact and socially responsible investing through an organization called Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which is one of the largest [community development financial institutions] in the country.

 

"About five years, ago, I went to Habitat to help run their income investment arm and have built out a CDFI for the organization."

 

Gura said he sees affordable housing and economic development working hand-in-hand.

 

"I think there is a place to create more mixed-income diverse communities," he said. "And I think my passion for it is as much in the idea that it creates better, vibrant communities, as I truly believe it creates more economic stability and long-term growth opportunities.

 

"That, to me, is at the core. I don't think you have to have an 'either-or.' I think there's a real 'and' opportunity there."

 

Tom Sheldon, who has served on the board of the Affordable Housing Trust since its inception and currently chairs the board, is delighted that Gura, who returned to Williamstown last year, has offered to serve the Trust.

 

"His deep interest in affordable housing and expertise in the financing of affordable housing are most welcome," Sheldon said on Tuesday. "I met with Daniel recently and came away very impressed. He brings a lot to the table and I believe was an absolutely ideal appointment by the Select Board, for which I am grateful."

 

Likewise, Sheldon was glad the Trust received an infusion of cash that will allow it to continue to offer the Williamstown Emergency Rental Assistance Program as the economy continues to recover from a pandemic that appears to be well into its second wave in the commonwealth.

 

"The Trust has been in regular communication with the town manager about our Williamstown Emergency Rental Assistance Program throughout its development and implementation," Sheldon said. "Jason has been totally supportive and initiated the idea of using CARES Act funds to reimburse us for grants made to income-qualified residents of Williamstown who rent, have been adversely affected by the pandemic, and need some help.

 

"The reimbursement creates, in effect, a revolving fund whereby the Trust can award more grants. Given our limited funding, this is a godsend for as long as the CARES Act funding continues."

 

Hoch made the announcement about the CARES Act fund at the tail end of a three-hour meeting dominated by discussions of the Williamstown Police Department -- first as the Select Board discussed its review of department policy and town human resources procedures generally and then as Police Chief Kyle Johnson made his first appearance in a public meeting since August's release of a federal lawsuit against Hoch, Johnson and the town.

 

All told, the town received $184,000 from the latest round of CARES Act dispersals from Boston, Hoch said.

 

In addition to helping replenish the AHT coffers, the federal funds went toward purchasing personal protective equipment, standing up a curbside pickup program at the Milne Public Library, supporting the increased activities of the town's community access television station and reimbursing the Williamstown Youth Center for some of its costs to help support families deal with hybrid and remote learning models at the town's elementary school.

 

In other business on Monday, the board approved the installation of a utility pole on Hancock Road after a representative from National Grid said that the project would not negatively impact an old growth maple tree at the site. And Hoch shared some of the final numbers from last Tuesday's election.

 

Seventy-eight percent of Williamstown's registered voters cast ballots, an increase of 6 percent from the last presidential election in 2016, he said. The overwhelming majority of the 3,774 ballots cast came in via mail, dropbox or early voting at Town Hall; just 912 voters (24 percent) pulled a lever on Tuesday at Williamstown Elementary School.

 

Hoch took a moment on a busy night to call out and congratulate first-year Town Clerk Nicole Pedercini, who navigated the twin hurdles of an outdoor annual town meeting and a presidential election during a pandemic without any apparent hiccups.