Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust votes to enter executive session; announces award nominations and new town real estate specialist

The Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust voted unanimously Feb. 21 to enter executive session to address real-estate matters and approved its meeting agenda, the trust chair said, while also announcing nominations for the Howard Dickler Citizen Award and introducing a new town real estate specialist.

The vote to enter executive session carried by roll call after brief procedural confusion about the statutory purpose cited. By roll call the motion was recorded as passed with votes in favor from Thomas Dixon, Abby de Molina, Forest Bell, and the chair, who said she voted aye. Earlier in the meeting the trust approved its agenda by roll call; Forrest Lehi, Tom Stickson, Abby de Molina and the chair recorded votes in favor.

The executive-session item was read into the record by a board member for a discussion that initially cited purpose number 6 describing real-estate negotiations including references to properties on Gooseberry Place, then was corrected on the floor to purpose number 7, described in the meeting as approval of executive-session minutes. The chair and members clarified the intended purpose before the roll call.

Tracy, a housing-department staff member, introduced Bob Vostrowski as the town's new real estate specialist. "This is the second real estate specialist for the town," Tracy said, and added that Vostrowski will work "in tandem" with the trust and the housing department. Vostrowski did not speak at length during the public portion of the meeting.

Tracy also announced that the Affordable Housing Trust is accepting nominations for the Dr. Howard Dickler Citizen Award, which recognizes community members who have advocated for housing on Nantucket. Nominations open Feb. 18, 2025, and close April 4, 2025; the trust plans to announce the recipient at the annual town meeting on May 3, 2025. Community members were given a contact name for nominations during the meeting.

A board member provided a construction update for the 31 Fairgrounds project: certificates of occupancy had been issued for Buildings 1 and 8 (four units) and final sign-offs for Buildings 2 through 7 were expected by the end of the day. The trust said it is anticipating occupancy for the remaining units on April 15 and that the project is within its final budget.

The meeting was brief and moved quickly through non-substantive items and announcements before adjourning into executive session. No public commenters attended the meeting and no formal votes on ordinances, contracts or budgets were taken during the open session.