A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to deliberating a potential partnership with Habitat for Humanity for a project on Toah Natan Road, where the sole response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) was received from the organization. The board contemplated the financial aspects, including a town contribution that some suggested could be up to $100,000. Concerns were raised about the escalating costs and the net loss versus the benefit of having deed-restricted affordable standalone units. The board also reviewed the substantial increase in project costs from initial estimates and discussed the need for further clarification on the reasons for these discrepancies. They underscored the importance of considering additional data from other projects to make informed decisions.

In the spirit of expanding the town’s affordable housing portfolio, the meeting also touched on the potential of town-owned land. The board discussed the process of combining smaller housing projects on different parcels and the idea of benchmarking against other communities’ approaches to land disposal. Additionally, they debated on the inclusion of antique homes in the affordable housing mix, weighing the potential restoration costs against the value of such properties. Ultimately, the board voted to request the select board and the water department to deed restrict properties for affordable housing upon resale.

The proposed program would offer grants up to $7,500 for critical health and safety repairs to homeowners. Excitement was expressed about the opportunity this program presents, as well as discussions on the timeframe for grant announcements.

Additionally, the status of senior housing at Shadik Street was addressed, with the select board’s retreat to discuss the building’s future having been postponed.

The meeting also included a review of the progress of various affordable projects, such as the parcel at Dean Lane, and the board emphasized the need for the planning board to discuss this parcel at their retreat. Furthermore, they scrutinized the action plan document and the budget for the trust, focusing on project funding for the next five years and considering financial allocations for potential projects.

Discussions on the long-term financial strategy for housing projects featured prominently. The board considered allocating $50,000 to a small project in the upcoming fiscal year and a larger sum of $750,000 in fiscal year 2627. They acknowledged the challenges of forecasting financial needs for 2728 and the importance of presenting a well-prepared budget to the Finance Committee, especially in anticipation of potential large projects.

The meeting also included administrative matters such as the election of new officers and the approval of minutes from the previous meeting. The board expressed gratitude to a member for their contribution to the first newsletter and discussed the upcoming beam installation event and the importance of working on the code of conduct.