Montpelier — The City Council approved a streamlined charge and a reduced membership structure for the city’s housing committee, with the committee to recommend housing-trust-fund priorities to the council.
Councilors Ben, Adrian and Carrie had been working on a simplified draft charge to clarify the committee’s role, which the council adopted. The committee’s responsibilities include reviewing local housing needs, advising on priorities for the housing trust fund and recommending ways to accelerate affordable- and mixed-income housing projects.
The council also changed the committee composition: seven voting members and two alternates (down from nine members), and clarified that the committee would make recommendations to the council rather than administer the housing trust fund directly. Planning Director Mike Miller asked that the committee not be described as administering the trust fund; council adjusted the language to specify the committee’s advisory role.
Councilors asked for regular check-ins so the council can confirm priorities and track deliverables. The motion passed by voice vote.