Selectboard targets housing improvements

The Springfield Selectboard took action to implement improvements to residential and rental housing at its regular meeting on Monday, April 25.

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2016-04-26 / Front Page Selectboard targets housing improvements By Tory Jones Bonenfant toryb@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Selectboard took action to implement improvements to residential and rental housing at its regular meeting on Monday, April 25. Chair Kristi Morris and the selectboard reviewed a list of proposed actions that may help improve safety, maintenance and stability, especially in dealing with dilapidated and vacant homes. After a lengthy discussion, the board approved a motion 4-0 to authorize funding for a fiscal agent to work with and enable neighborhood associations to access grants and donations to support their activities, with a target date of July 15. That motion included an amendment, also approved, that the fiscal agent be “required to act as such” for the neighborhood associations, and that a representative from area neighborhood associations be included on any board created to act as a fiscal agent. “I think we have the funds in this year’s budget,” said Town Manager Tom Yennerell. The line item for that type of service is “really underspent” so far, at about $5,000 to $8,000, Yennerell said. “We can afford to do it,” he added. The board did not present a specific dollar amount in regard to that funding to create a fiscal agent. Board members suggested several possibilities as to who could act as the fiscal agent, and which already had nonprofit status, or could obtain it quickly. Selectboard member Stephanie Thompson, who recused herself from the discussion and vote to speak on behalf of local advocacy and community education group Project Action, presented a proposal that the organization obtain nonprofit 501 (C) (3) status and act as the fiscal agent. The board approved the town manager and Project Action as the two responsible parties for that action step. “We would be eager to work with the neighborhood associations,” Thompson said. She later added that she would like to see a “broad range of stakeholders at the table” on the board, which will now need to be formed, as the group currently acts as a steering committee. As a fiscal agent, Project Action would not have the authority to affect neighborhood associations’ policy stances, or to reject projects, Thompson said. Board member Walter Martone suggested that the organizations involved could operate on a contractual agreement, with “safeguards” built in to reflect that non-authority. Three representatives with Union / Park Neighborhood Association attended the meeting, and representative Lori Claffee said the association would be satisfied with having a fiscal agent to enable access to grant funding and donations. Other approved action steps approved by the board on Monday night included a motion to “encourage neighborhood associations to actively participate in the creation of zoning rules and ordinances to enhance neighborhoods,” overseen by the Planning Commission, and to encourage the creation of neighborhood programs that assist with property improvements and maintenance problems, overseen by the Administrator’s Office. Also approved were action steps to encourage creation of neighborhood programs that assist with property improvements and maintenance problems, overseen by the selectboard, and to promote relationships with law enforcement agencies to cooperate on crime prevention and the reporting of crimes. All had an action date set as “ongoing.” The purpose of the objectives is to have “safe and attractive residential neighborhoods, with home values comparable to those in other thriving Vermont towns and increasing with the growth of Vermont’s economy,” according to the action plan presented Monday night. The selectboard also tackled a second round of objectives, focusing on the implementation and enforcement of regulations to promote a “balanced housing stock,” according to that action plan. Those steps and projects, all approved by majority vote, included “aggressively enforcing” the existing Rental Registry ordinance, with an ongoing target date, and overseen by the Administrative Officer. That motion passed unanimously. Yennerell said that at this time, the town is already enforcing the Rental Registry. The count has increased from 850 to about 1,163 registered rental units, he said. The board also unanimously agreed to identify ways to increase and target inspections of rental properties identified as having “serious maintenance issues and possible criminal activity,” overseen by the Administrative Officer, the Health Officer and the Division of Fire Safety. When asked about the relevance of fire safety and criminal activity, Selectman George McNaughton indicated a connection. “If you’re running a meth lab in a building, there are people who would say that permanently damages a building,” McNaughton said. The board also approved a motion to “create or modify ordinances to require maintenance standards for dilapidated, unmaintained and vacant homes,” 4-1 with the chair opposed. The target date for that action is October 2016, with Ordinance Committee and Selectboard overseeing. Also approved unanimously on Monday were motions to evaluate the benefits of employing a town building inspector, with a target of November 2017; to encourage modification of the town plan and zoning regulations to require that the conversion of single-family dwelling units, into rooming or boarding houses, undergo “careful conditional use review,” and to identify “ways to limit the number of new rooming houses.” The board agreed at 9 p.m. to table the remaining objectives and further economic development goals discussion until the following regular Springfield Selectboard meeting. .