PRESENT AT CONVENING

President of Council John F. Ford

Councilmember Leonard E. Wendowski, Sr.

Councilmember Moonyene Jackson-Amis

IN ATTENDANCE

Also in attendance was Mr. Robert Karge, the Town Clerk. Members of the Affordable Housing Board present were: Pastor Leon Hall, Mr. Miles Circo, Ms. Mary Ann Draut, Ms. Sindy Reyes, Ms. Pam Gates, Mr. Larry Neviaser and Mr. Otis Sampson.

CONVENING

At 5:30 p.m. the meeting was called to order.

MEETING

Mr. Mike Burlbaugh, Project Manager for Easton Village was present on behalf of Elm Street Development. He stated that they are working towards doing everything on the Easton Village Conditions of Approval. He stated that 25 homes at Easton Village will be affordable homes. He stated that they are committed to constructing eight new homes and renovating five existing homes yet to be identified. Mr. Burlbaugh stated that they have purchased two lots from the hospital on West Street; 113 and 115 West Street. He stated that the pricing for the offsite new houses needs to be specified.

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed the Wicomico County affordable house model that is approximately 1,300 square feet.

Mr. Ford stated that potentially, an option to meet the eight new homes requirement, may be the purchase of a lot and a home on it that needs improvement and improve it to the standards appropriate.

Mr. Burlbaugh stated that renovations could start immediately; construction of the new homes on site would be concurrent with Phase One which would be eight months or so then the off-site homes could be started the first part of next year.

Mr. Sampson stated that the Affordable Housing group needs to determine how some of these people could get qualified.

Mr. Circo stated that the price of the houses needs to be determined to see who would qualify.

Mr. Neviaser stated that some of the forms already exist and have been established through Habitat. He stated that they can be adapted.

Mr. Circo asked for the details for the five owner-occupied houses to be restored.

Mr. Burlbaugh stated that Elm Street is just doing them but a scope needs to be outlined. He stated that a disclaimer needs to be worked out due to a liability issue.

Mr. Ford stated that he is worried that someone might be left out.

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed what was negotiated and stated that she worked hard for this particular kind of deal to try and build up that area of the community that has never had any attention. She stated that the agreement was to have five homes totally restored. Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed the terms of the agreement.

Ms. Draut discussed the appropriate median in the Town of Easton.

Ms. Jackson-Amis will forward information from Delegate Rudolph C. Cane regarding affordable housing and how they are qualified to the Committee.

Mr. Burlbaugh stated that Elm Street would not be directly involved in financing.

It was the consensus that the Affordable Housing Committee needs to determine what the definition of low income is and based upon that, what is affordable.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked if at the next meeting the Committee would have some way of approaching the homes that are available for rehabilitating.

Mr. Ford has distributed that information regarding houses on the west side.

Mr. Circo discussed temporary housing during renovations.

Ms. Draut suggested a community meeting once the criteria is established. Discussion occurred regarding additional meetings.

Ms. Draut stated that she will be in touch with Delegate Cane at Shore Up.

ADJOURNMENT

Upon unanimous consensus, the Affordable Housing Workshop was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

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Town Clerk