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<DIV>Sorry for the delay in getting these and possible format issues. We
have had Mac to PC transfer problems! I have opened the text here in case
you cannot open the attachment. Next meeting is Wed. March 14 at Town Hall
at 7PM.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">YRHC Meeting
Minutes<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Feb. 28,
2007<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Meeting called to order 7:03
p.m.<BR><BR>Present: Mark Greene (chair/housing administrator); Steven
Train<SPAN class=GramE> (</SPAN>selectman); Tammy <SPAN
class=SpellE>Hohn</SPAN>; Will Tierney; Leah Maloney; <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Michael Maloney; Jonathan Norton;
John Billings; Linda <SPAN class=SpellE>Papkee</SPAN>; Chris <SPAN
class=SpellE>Papkee</SPAN>; Justin <SPAN class=SpellE>Papkee</SPAN>; <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Alden Robinson (Island
Fellow).<BR><BR>1.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Will <SPAN class=SpellE>Hickock</SPAN> <SPAN class=GramE>addressed</SPAN>
the committee briefly. He discussed the merits of mobile
homes/modular homes based on research that he and Steve Train conducted in
the past. He suggested that they offer a viable way to get a house
constructed for under $100,000 and left information for further
study.<BR><BR>2.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>John Billings asked how the town planned to determine whom it
would give land to. Steve Train explained that the proposal
under consideration would lease land instead of transferring ownership,
and that its goal would be to increase tax revenue instead of costing
the town money. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>John Billings said that if the town sold town land outright at
market value, buyers would probably build bigger houses on it and generate
more tax revenue. Mark Greene said that while that was probably true,
preserving a year-round community on <st1:place
w:st="on">Long Island</st1:place> was a key to maintaining our low taxes,
since a non-volunteer/non resident town government could be much more
expensive in the long run than what we have now.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we have now (a year round diverse
community) is seriously endangered by the pressures of the second home housing
market which often out competes the abilities of younger residents, who
presently do not own property, <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>seeking to remain on the
island.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>It was also pointed out that if we sell the land now, we have no way of
guiding its future use towards the good of the community.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was also noted, that if
these community oriented goals are no longer necessary in the future, the land
can always be eventually sold.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This concept offers a chance to get some of this property back on the tax
roles and support the goal of helping our own citizens stay here and hopefully
continue to contribute to the well being of all. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">New Business:<BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">1.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mark Greene said that Rep. Hannah <SPAN class=SpellE>Pingree\u2019s</SPAN>
bill LD 763 has a public hearing in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Augusta</st1:place></st1:City> on Friday. LD 763 would impose a
1% transfer tax on real estate transfers over $500,000, the proceeds of
which would go to fund local affordable housing efforts. Although it will
generate very little immediate money for island use, in the future if property
values continue to climb and bigger houses get built, it could become a source
of some assistance. Mark asked the committee for permission to speak
on their behalf in favor of the bill. The committee agreed
unanimously.<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">2.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Mark also asked for a volunteer to be listed on the board of the Year-
Round Housing Committee when it incorporates as a 501©3
charitable organization. <SPAN class=GramE>Mark<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Greene</SPAN> and Steve Train had
already volunteered to serve as board members; Leah Maloney volunteered to
be the third.<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">3.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The new housing proposal was then outlined, which had been discussed
previously with some committee members to gauge its practicality.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was noted that this is major change
from the original proposal floated in the surveys sent out recently to all
residents and property owners.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
time frames involved for the original proposal (build a rental house on town
owned land) were years long and had many hurdles to clear, not the least of
which was the obtaining of grants, loans, etc. and actually getting the house
built.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>According to early survey
returns, we have a number of our present citizens that need housing solutions
quickly and the new proposal has a much quicker time element.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The following is a summary of the many questions and ideas that were
floated in the discussion.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><U>Please keep in mind that these are just preliminary ideas to stimulate
a more refined proposal by the YRHC and if acceptable, for eventual Town Meeting
consideration.</U> <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The proposal would involve asking the voters to lease certain parcels of
town owned land to eligible island residents. Under this proposal,
the Year-Round Housing Committee, using guidelines as yet to be developed, would
select candidates to lease a parcel of town land on condition that they
build and occupy<SPAN class=GramE> a</SPAN> year-round home on the
land. The annual lease for the parcel would be set at equal to the amount
the parcel would generate in taxes at its full and current valuation the same as
any other parcel of private, residential land on the island. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition, the lessees would pays
taxes, as any other homeowner, on the houses built.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The lease on the land would continue as
long as the conditions of the lease, also as yet to be developed, continue. An
example of a possible condition would be continued year occupancy by lessee.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If the lessee decides to sell the
house or can no longer meet the conditions of the program, the YRHC or the Town
or both would have first refusal to purchase the house at a predetermined value
which might take into account standard per square foot building values.
Resale price calculators would be determined by guidelines specified in the
lease to preserve its affordability, yet preserve the investment that the
owners have put into the house. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
house might then be available for resale to the next eligible candidates, if
interested<BR><BR>4.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The committee was generally in favor of studying further the leased-land
model. They discussed the mechanics of reselling the house and how
the price should be determined. Steve Train said that the proposal
the committee brings to town meeting should be flexible in the parcels
of land it incorporates.<BR><BR>5.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>A map of possible parcels was discussed; it was suggested that two
parcels near the school might be best to start with since they are
<BR>conveniently located and wouldn\u2019t require building a road like other
parcels at the east end.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Several
other parcels are not yet legally cleared as fully town owned, but are in the
process and may also be considered later.<BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">6.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Leah Maloney asked who would perform perk tests to the properties
to determine their suitability for building. Steve Train suggested
that<SPAN class=GramE> </SPAN><BR>the town could pay for the tests
initially and if successful, the tenant could reimburse the town
later.<BR><BR>7.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The committee agreed to consider criteria for eligibility for
its next meeting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Members were asked to bring their ideas for proposed criteria to the next
meeting along with other questions about refining this proposal.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN> Next meeting will be of
Wednesday, March 14th at 7 p.m.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Meeting adjourned: 8:25 p.m.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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