[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6207187,"mediaKeyId","3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3","parentId",3759289,"title","Committee delays decision on Needham Housing Authority legal-fee reimbursement after town counsel advises ineligibility","audioSeconds",2998,"startMs",482000,"endMs",3480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3&start=482&end=3480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3/thumbnail_482000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207187/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Committee-delays-decision-on-Needham-Housing-Authority-legal-fee-reimbursement-after-town-counsel-advises-ineligibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207187-28c8b9005a289bb957cdf84a5e030a22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185203&Signature=b4SC7ZEcutuvHojF71nhGKU1T3aq7Kq76tEOnCf2~T~EBE6~T65G-WsHKm3He5PGziLqa8ybXknk40d-Arn5QXIFmGdmCrjGvbs4-n8bCxdcHEs4G2C60eKCyP~VpgdAdys6dEcI609DaGsn3Ot-9OZAh3IZFhjRws8vPeH2DWCkya47DD5ekjR4mYedznwHB17xMkI6afqhrM39shM1AuxIc8~hHFgZVUD8zkffKUVZ9SBnZiDdq1uxhWebqUxfR0Qkd1uU36zUrir9pXs6q3dC8u5RO9fUXIJU0K1DBUwyE9LoQPBpflV-p8r-Hxtb3wvb1fZufXByt54fa49HSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-06-11T07:58:17.74Z","article","The Town of Needham Finance Community Housing Oversight Committee voted on June 9 to postpone a decision on a $14,339.53 reimbursement request from the Needham Housing Authority that the authority said covered legal fees tied to litigation over the Linden Terrace/related development.

Town counsel advised by letter — which committee members discussed during the meeting — that the legal expense was not presented in the warrant article language when Town Meeting approved Article 17 (2022) and therefore did not clearly meet the Community Preservation Act (CPA) eligibility as the committee interprets the appropriation. Committee members expressed concern that the letter did not address questions the committee had previously requested, and several members said they were dismayed that town counsel had not contacted the housing authority for further clarification before issuing the opinion.

During discussion, Needham Housing Authority representatives told the committee the underlying lawsuit is a nuisance suit filed after Planning Board approval and that the authority has insurance (errors-and-omissions) that the authority’s counsel said will cover the claim beyond a deductible. A housing authority representative said the insurer has accepted the claim and that charges billed so far were limited to modest filings and assigned-counsel work.

Committee members raised multiple concerns: whether Town Meeting members would have understood the warrant article to include litigation-related costs, whether reimbursements might run afoul of the state Department of Revenue (DOR) enforcement if they stray from the approved warrant language, and whether CPC (Community Preservation Committee) or town council should be asked for additional, clarifying guidance. Several committee members said they were reluctant to override town counsel’s written opinion without further clarification.

After discussion, a member moved and the committee voted to continue consideration of the request until the committee receives additional clarification from town counsel and/or the courts; the housing authority agreed to provide supplemental materials, and staff said the committee could forward specific questions to town council for written answers. Committee staff also said that if the committee ultimately decides to approve reimbursement, the matter could be brought to the Community Preservation Committee for concurrence.

The committee did not approve the $14,339.53 request at this meeting; it scheduled the item for further consideration at a later meeting and asked staff and the housing authority to provide additional documentation and, if possible, documentation showing the insurer’s position on coverage and the authority’s deductible exposure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Financed Community Housing Oversight Committee 06/09/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Community Housing Oversight Committee voted to postpone action on a $14,339.53 request from the Needham Housing Authority to reimburse legal expenses tied to litigation over a redevelopment project, following a town counsel opinion that the costs may not be eligible under the Article 17 (2022) appropriation or the Community Preservation Act.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207192,"Needham committee approves three architect reimbursement requests for Linden Terrace design work",301,154000,455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3&start=154&end=455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3/thumbnail_154000.jpg","/articles/6207192/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-committee-approves-three-architect-reimbursement-requests-for-Linden-Terrace-design-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207192-0290697780f507b2437a13fc948fd2ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185203&Signature=OCgBUCaspWdK6Y7UMPx4HHLeUZGMN9A5JPiMJbHv0NBm3nfm8jfvZ-EUFPsABGDo7vcr9kndj6n~2S8IRXS~C-mAh5nvXDOOEOmm8Dv6Ot8v8BcQ~HQu2jvvOqf6rz89fX4I2VMARz~P3mrCtuf9D81ET5AnLlcCKqZ5Vya7VtQV-SyhbH~7EDZpt20HaHR8ElHEgpJS5z5kpRZWvchgpfqeCYqU-dByJtQyG3mgQBKnRqyMDdzgvyAC9PRmX~yrWNt3pvJfIU5voKWTrLp13Fb6X3hezxVOdiuROo8R5mkmQunn~yD577koxUUfkzCkRAIvoWlW14mzR7p59hxjWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Needham Finance Community Housing Oversight Committee approved three reimbursement requests from the Needham Housing Authority totaling $383,859.15 for architect invoices tied to final design and 70% construction documents for the Linden Terrace Phase 1A project.

The three disbursement requests approved on June 9 were: request number 13 for $200,519.55, request number 14 for $111,399.75 and request number 15 for $71,939.85. Committee members voted in favor of each item during roll-call votes.

Committee staff described the invoices as partial billings covering September 2024 through January 2025 for final design work and 70% construction documents. The packet showed the architect’s invoicing with percent-complete figures and earned totals; committee staff stated the work was listed at roughly 85% complete on the submitted invoices.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about review and sign-off procedures. A committee member asked whether project partners—referred to in the discussion as planning board reviewers or partner entities—had signed off on the percent-complete statements; staff answered that the partner(s) had acknowledged the invoices and percent-complete figures.

With no additional discussion, the committee moved and adopted votes to approve each of the three disbursement requests as submitted.

The approvals cover predevelopment funds allocated under Town Meeting Article 17 (2022) and were described in the meeting packet as reimbursements for architect services. The committee did not adopt any new conditions or amendments to the invoices during the votes.

Committee staff said the payments will be processed against the project’s appropriation once administrative steps are complete. The committee proceeded after the votes to other agenda items, including further reimbursement requests that were discussed separately.","The Town of Needham Finance Community Housing Oversight Committee voted to approve three reimbursement requests from the Needham Housing Authority for architect invoices tied to final design and 70% construction documents for the Linden Terrace Phase 1A project under Town Meeting Article 17 (2022).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207182,"Housing projects update: Linden Terrace funding resubmission plans, Seabeds Way HUD steps and Charles River Center’s mixed-supportive housing proposal",298,2692000,2990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3&start=2692&end=2990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3759289-cdfbfa061a870fc340e86c52e651d3b3/thumbnail_2692000.jpg","/articles/6207182/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Housing-projects-update-Linden-Terrace-funding-resubmission-plans-Seabeds-Way-HUD-steps-and-Charles-River-Centers-mixed-supportive-housing-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207182-6945b3ec26b7415f8335229fa5087452/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185203&Signature=CQTsDFE1wIAS6CyzIMQKw7xFM0bN79Q56KbfjF94RCoAX-5Ib70LkKLk2Pl4QHkeKaGNhgqnLdEsihf2tlwdgwJs3IYkIUvoZvylRihYG~w4cccmx~v8dMdD8biqF2s8vgJWz~MxfF9tQ32V3bTgPPwA9-HZHcwmZFZUkZx4vXxCfd49VvASPugTzKBBku60RA2tcU2~X~P8Ex10ptnwLRk2X2-CeVq3IL0oh6V89Nqdzhs1T1v-5bW3QcTFq7WByreQcvYpMT6hqZ1NZV3-dJhndwNXp9eFWI5SqKZV6v643-xw7OKN5uUGS8kyesJRnAE-Sc~CNaBdGtQ6nleDAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff and project partners gave the Finance Community Housing Oversight Committee progress reports on several Needham housing projects with updates on funding applications, procurement and next steps.

On Linden Terrace Phase 1A, committee staff said the Town submitted a $58 million funding application to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and does not expect to win in the current competitive round. Staff said the housing authority will reapply in a subsequent round; they also explained they will engage an independent consultant (estimated under $10,000) to run an RFP that would make up to 20–30 portable Section 8 (‘‘mobile’’) vouchers available as project-based subsidy for Linden Terrace.

On Seabeds Way (the town’s HUD‑assisted repositioning effort), staff reported that Town Meeting approved $3.2 million in local funding and that the team is advancing the HUD RAD Section 18 submission steps, capital funding plans and contract amendments. Consultants who had covered both Seabeds Way and another site (Cook Drive) were renegotiated to split work between the two projects. Staff summarized solar‑PV options for the projects (a private Power Purchase Agreement versus NHA ownership) and said an RFP for bridge and construction financing had been issued, with responses due in the coming weeks. The town has an earmark of $4 million in a state bond bill that staff said is essential to the financing package; staff described ongoing outreach to legislative offices to shepherd the earmark toward an appropriation.

Representatives from the Charles River Center and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs presented a separate project: an 86‑unit mixed supportive housing development on land the Charles River Center purchased from the U.S. Army. The proposal would include 43 units reserved for Charles River clients (including fully accessible units), five staff units, a 4,400‑square-foot community center for public programming and a mix of studios, one‑ and two‑bedrooms. The development team said the project will pursue Chapter 40B or 40D provisions for subsidized units, target Passive House energy standards, include rooftop solar and propose shuttle service for clients who do not drive.

Project teams described funding timelines: submissions to state and federal programs will continue in mid‑2025; staff anticipates some funding decisions in late 2025 and hopes for a construction start in early 2027 if key awards are secured. Committee members asked for a concise quarterly update format; project leads agreed to provide regular brief notes to the committee and to circulate any materials remote members must see under Open Meeting Law requirements.

Committee members asked technical and financial questions (solar procurement approaches, tax-exempt financing limits, insurance and budget sequencing). Staff noted the need to consult bond counsel on tax and financing constraints before finalizing solar ownership structure and reminded the committee that HUD and federal program rules also shape options for federally assisted sites.

Project teams said they would return with updated schedules, procurement results and the RFP outcomes for financing and consultant work.","Staff and project partners updated the committee on Linden Terrace (funding application to EO HLC and an RFP to reassign 123 mobile Section 8 vouchers), Seabeds Way (HUD RAD/Section 18 steps, contract renegotiation, solar options and financing RFP) and Charles River Center’s proposed 86‑unit mixed supportive housing project.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee delays decision on Needham Housing Authority legal-fee reimbursement after town counsel advises ineligibility

Needham committee approves three architect reimbursement requests for Linden Terrace design work

Housing projects update: Linden Terrace funding resubmission plans, Seabeds Way HUD steps and Charles River Center’s mixed-supportive housing proposal