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Housing Committee Meeting Minutes 05/27/2026

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Meeting Information

Date: 2026-05-27 19:19:53
Location: Town Hall
Participants: Jen, Kenn, Cara, Tom

Meeting Notes

  • Town Meeting Outcomes and CPA Seasonal Communities Measure

    • Members described a lengthy town meeting with unexpectedly broad support for CPA and seasonal communities measures. A brief celebration was suggested, but the real test will be the November ballot.

    • Conclusion: Support for the town meeting was positive; final approval depends on the November election.

  • Campaigning and Ethics for the November Ballot

    • CPC advised that advocacy should occur through a separate, independent campaign committee with its own bank account, rather than through town business or committee meetings. Members should not campaign as a quorum, in town buildings, or within 150 feet of polling places. The draft ballot question received positive feedback; the submission deadline is September 4. Kenn will follow up with the clerk to make sure it is sent. Tom proposed contacting the state ethics commission or counsel for clarification.

    • Conclusion: Agreement in principle to avoid campaigning as a committee and consider independent efforts; legal/ethics clarification pending.

  • Minutes Approval and Administrative Notes

    • Discussion on approving prior meeting minutes (April 29 referenced with uncertainty). A motion to accept minutes was made and seconded. Conclusion: Motion made and seconded.

  • Tiny Houses on Wheels, Trailers, and Bylaw Considerations

    • Questions on whether tiny houses on wheels are prohibited; a sense that the town disfavors trailers and prefers foundations. Existing bylaws reportedly prohibit trailer homes, trailer parks, and campground-style uses. Two tiny houses on wheels were noted in town; Care was urged not to target individuals; distinction between storage vs. habitation was discussed. Proposal for the housing committee to draft bylaws for seasonal communities, coordinating with the planning board.

    • Conclusion: Engage the community on whether tiny houses on wheels should be included in the new bylaw development; current bylaws limit trailer-style uses. 

    • Retrieval of Existing Bylaws. Important for the committee to become familiar with the current bylaws

    • Conclusion: Tom will contact Roger and retrieve the bylaws.

  • Grant Strategy and Prospects

    • One Stop for Growth Grant for Fox Hill Road Planning: Plan to pursue approximately $150,000 for pre-construction planning at Fox Hill Road (South Brown’s Road). BRPC involvement under an umbrella proposal with separate grants per town; Brett’s organization to handle grant work. Town portal setup is required; Kenn will work with Roger.. A misstep occurred when Roger did not place the item on the Select Board agenda; Brett did not attend because it was absent from the agenda. A partnership with a developer (e.g., a Habitat-like model) is envisioned for execution; the current grant is for a pre-construction packet.

    • Conclusion: Proceed with portal setup and coordination with Brett; follow up with Roger to resolve communication issues.

    • Proposal to Include Superintendent’s House in Fox Hill Grant: [Kenn] will speak with Brett about including the Superintendent’s House; 

  • CPA Outreach and Article

    • A CPA State contact wrote and published an article about passing CPA, linked from their card to the CPA website;

    • Deckard Platform Onboarding, Access, and STR Data Use Onboarding completed with mixed feedback; platform appears promising. Identified six individuals earning over $100,000 annually from STRs via Deckard data. Next training anticipated in July; current access is view-only; logins distributed with long passwords; Kenn will send Cara information and credentials. Many town bodies are requesting access; concerns about misuse and targeting individuals were noted. Preference to restrict access to the committee and specific officials (tax collector Mari, assessor Dawn), Put on next meeting agenda. Desire for clarity on Deckard’s service steps (billing, reminders) and responsibilities; plan to obtain more information and examples from Deckard.

    • Conclusion: Keep STR data access limited for now; avoid publicizing until bylaws progress; schedule second training in July; table broader access decisions to the next meeting after gathering details; consider restricting access to essential users.

  • Committee Membership Changes and Recruitment

    • The housing committee has seven seats with one open seat; plan to publicize the opening in the July Monterey News and invite applicants. Term staggering was discussed (2- and 3-year terms); September marks transitions for some members. Kenn plans to step down with his last meeting being June 24

    • Conclusion: Establish a transparent replacement process and criteria; confirm term assignments; publicize the opening and plan for transitions.

  • Housing Trust Structure and Select Board Involvement

    • Discussed forming the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust as a finance/auditing arm (“our bank”), separate from the Housing Committee’s program work. The state requires a select board representative; membership otherwise flexible. Mixed views on including non-resident experts; preference for a majority from the Housing Committee to maintain cohesion. Target membership is 9, with at 4-5 Housing Committee members; include at least 1 person with financial expertise. 

    • Conclusion: Aim for a nine-member trust with a minimum of four Housing Committee members; keep trust separate to manage funds; refine membership and roles.

  • Administrative Steps to Establish the Trust

    • Confirm recording of the declaration at the registry of deeds (reported done, not yet verified). Obtain an EIN; accountant or treasurer to complete. Town treasurer to establish bank accounts once documents are ready. The first trust meeting to be scheduled by appropriate parties (not by [Kenn]).

    • Conclusion: Clear next steps assigned to ensure legal and financial setup of the trust.

  • Evaluation of Swan Lodge

    • Kenn attended an RFP meeting put on by the State’s Historic Curatorship Program to discuss the possibility of housing at Swan Lodge and/or The Superintendent’s House

    • Swan Lodge has historical significance; converting it into housing is considered inappropriate. The state is seeking an organization to use the lodge.

    • Conclusion: Swan Lodge will not be pursued for housing initiatives, but the State is interested in engaging with the Housing Committee regarding housing possibilities for the Superintendent’s House. Kenn will follow up and meet with the program manager, Ethan Parsons

    • Conclusion: Proceed to gather plans, conduct a walkthrough, and explore grant inclusion; state contacts will review and respond.