MINUTES

HOUSING COMMITTEE

APRIL 16, 2002

PRESENT:  Co-Chair Lois Bronz and Legislator George Oros

Staff:  Barbara Dodds and Jean Cloidt

GUESTS:  Nancy MacMillan, Planning Dept., Sandra Dolman, People’s Housing Coalition, Stanley Schear, FSW, George Raymond, Housing Opportunity Commission, Bill Randolph, County Executive’s Office, and Lauren Blake, Community Housing Resource Center

Co-Chair Lois Bronz called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.

Motion by Co-Chair Bronz to review and accept minutes of April 2nd, seconded by Legislator Oros.  All in favor – Aye - motion passed.

Co-Chair Bronz introduced Mr. George Raymond, our guest speaker for the meeting.  Mr. Raymond then proceeded to give the Committee a history of the Housing Opportunity Commission.  The Board of Legislators established the Commission in the late 1980’s.  The Commission in 1992 established a statement of need and estimated that the County needed 5,000 units of affordable housing.  In the fall of 1994 an allocation plan was submitted. 

At this time the commission is recommending inducements for municipalities to participate in affordable housing projects.  When the Commission submitted their report to the Board each municipality had a goal of affordable housing units, to date Peekskill, Mamaroneck Village, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Elmsford and Tarrytown have met their goals.  The City of Peekskill has exceeded their goal by 32 units.

Discussions centered on open space money allocations and how the County might work with municipalities in order to foster more affordable housing units.

Co-Chair Bronz suggested to Mr. Randolph that he might want to have Mr. Dave Meyers attend our next meet so that the Committee could get an update on the County Executive’s plan for affordable housing.

Ms. Lauren Blake, Community Housing Resource Center stated that what her center is doing is going to communities and trying to foster a climate for affordable housing.  She is trying to help communities move forward with housing by answering their concerns and providing them with information.

Meeting adjourned by motion of Legislator Oros, seconded by Co-Chair Bronz.  Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.