Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee

Meeting Minutes

November 8, 2007

Committee Members Present:  Rocky Martin, Julie Pierson, Bruce Wheeler, Donna Constantineau, Alan Norris, Dale Wernhoff.

The meeting came to order at approximately 7:10 PM.

Discussion of Community Bond Vote for Town Wastewater System Upgrade and Expansion:

From The Burlington Free Press Wednesday, November 7, 2007:

“Hinesburg rejects sewer expansion”

Voters in Hinesburg voted Tuesday against expanding the town's wastewater system from a maximum capacity of 250,000 to 450,000 gallons per day. In a vote of 548-146, voters rejected a bond of $3.7 million to fund upgrades to conform with new regulations, increase electrical and operational efficiencies and operator safety, and replace worn components at the plant.

The bond would have been subject to receipt of available state and federal grants. About $1,789,200 would have covered the cost of upgrading the facility, and $1,910,800 would have been earmarked for future expansion.

Alan said he wanted the bond to pass but based on the wording of the article he could understand people not voting for it either.  Rocky responded the wording follows the state statute for bond votes.  He was unsure of the next step the town was going to pursue.  There were three main reasons the bond did not pass: 1) people don’t want the increased taxes; 2) people don’t want development concentrated in the area that would be served by the sewer; and 3) people don’t want increased development in town, period.

Discussion of AHC Community Survey:  Numerous completed surveys have been mailed in.  The data on these surveys needs to be entered on to the survey’s web site.  Committee members will split up these surveys and do the data entry.  Enter the data as shown on the survey.  The last day to fill out the survey on the web site is Saturday, November 10, 2007.  The next step will be after all the survey data is entered we need to assess the results.  After that Rocky will compose an article with the tabulated results for publication in The Hinesburg Record.

Discussion of Tax Sales:  Bruce brought up the topic of using tax sales (a public sale, usually at auction, of the deed to the property of a delinquent taxpayer) as a source of affordable housing.  Rocky said there were no plans at this time to do this.  Rocky said the town goes out of their way to work out payment plans so people can stay in their houses.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:00 PM.

Next Meeting –

December 6^th – Andrea Morgante will discuss plans to incorporate affordable housing into the Hinesburg Land Trust LaPlatte Headwaters Conservation Initiative (the Bissonette land purchase).  

Respectfully submitted

Dale Wernhoff