[Year-Round Housing Committee] Draft minutes from Jan. 31

[Mlongreene2 at aol.com]

Hi All,  Attached please find last weeks draft minutes for your  review.  
Please bring any changes to the meeting.    Also,  this will basically be a 
workshop meeting to refine and hopefully finish the  surveys and cover letter so 
please bring further suggestions.   I  think we have noted the previous 
suggestions in the minutes.     We will be meeting again at the library at 7.    I 
could use a  volunteer to take minutes as Alden will be away.   Thanks,   Mark
 
 
Town of Long  Island 
Year-Round Housing Committee 
Minutes  1/31/07 
Present:  Mark Greene (Chair); Ruth Peterson (Selectman); Steve Train 
(Selectman); Tammy  Hohn; Tom Hohn; Will Tierney; Amy Tierney; Katie Wegner; Jonathan 
Norton; Alden  Robinson (Island Institute Fellow). 
Meeting  called to order at 7:00 p.m. 
Old  business: 
    1.  The committee agreed to accept the minutes of the previous  meeting 
as read.  Mark will submit  them to the upcoming issue of the Long  Islander to 
help raise awareness of these housing issues.

    2.  The committee discussed the proposed cover letter to be sent  with 
the upcoming housing survey.   It was agreed that the specifics of a housing 
project proposal should  not appear in the cover letter.   Mark will send out an 
updated version.

    3.  The committee discussed the survey to be sent to year-round  and 
seasonal residents.  

    1.  It was suggested that the survey avoid asking directly  whether 
respondents support year-round housing efforts on Long Island, and instead ask 
whether respondents think  it is important for the island to have young families 
living on it, and also  whether they know of anyone who has had to leave the 
island for lack of  housing.

    2.  It was suggested that survey question #4 provide brief  descriptions 
of housing possibilities and ask respondents to rank them by  their 
suitability to the island.

    3.  It was suggested that one survey question ask whether  respondents 
would support housing efforts on Long  Island if those efforts had no 
tax-impact.  Steve Train said it was possible  that selling town land for housing would 
actually reduce taxes.

    4.  It was suggested that the survey ask whether respondents  could 
afford to buy the home they own now, if that home were on the market  today.  

    5.  The committee agreed to go through the surveys  individually and 
compare changes before the next meeting.




New  business: 
1.      The committee briefly discussed  ownership models.  Mark Greene  
stressed that simply living on the island, even in rented housing, is often  
crucial to successfully owning a house here, as it is much easier to stay  informed 
of available houses and land coming to market.  If stable, dedicated, rental 
housing  were available, it could be the least costly option until families 
are certain  they want to buy here and have saved towards that option.

2.      The committee received copies of  the Island Institute’s affordable 
housing reports for Maine islands, including Islesboro, North Haven,  
Frenchboro, Cranberry Islands, Monhegan, Vinylhaven, and Isle Au Haut for more detailed 
study of housing  initiatives being carried out elsewhere.   

3.      The committee viewed a DVD produced  by the Genesis foundation, which 
provided an overview of some affordable housing  projects in the Midcoast and 
Down East and the role the Genesis Foundation can  play in financing island 
needs.

4.      The committee discussed the  mechanics of sending the surveys to 
year-round residents and planned to work  from the list of registered voters and 
add or remove people depending on whether  they really live here full-time. It 
was agreed that all residents 18 and over  would get their own survey even if 
it meant several copies per household.  Seasonal residents would get one per  
household, but could certainly add divergent opinions if more than one per  
household wished to respond.   
5.      The committee discussed  sending letters to the Long  Islander.  It 
was agreed to ask  Cade Brown to send a version of his previous email to the 
LongIslander. 
6.      The committee agreed to meet at the  same time next week and work on 
the surveys to get them ready to send out.  Members should bring in specific  
proposed changes to the surveys and cover letter so that they may be 
finalized.  This will be the major task of this meeting 
Meeting  adjourned at 8:25 

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