Affordable Housing Trust plans town-meeting communications, updates Wiggles housing timeline and votes to enter executive session

The Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust on Feb. 4 agreed to form a small communications group to prepare materials for the upcoming annual Town Meeting, received an update on the 22-unit Wiggles housing development and related occupancy timeline, and voted in roll call to enter executive session to discuss a real-estate negotiation.

The communications discussion grew out of members’ concern that the public lacks a concise summary of what the trust has done and where housing funds have been spent. Bridal Sullivan, chair of the Affordable Housing Trust, said the goal is to have at least one trust member work with the town communications department to develop a strategy and materials for Town Meeting. Volunteers offered to help compile and refine existing documents so the communications office receives a near-final package for distribution.

Members identified several items to highlight: a concise accounting of units produced and in the pipeline, and clarifying the trust’s role in visible projects. The trust noted an existing presentation the group could use as a starting point and asked staff to circulate that packet to members. The trust also opened nominations for the annual Howard Dittler Citizens Award; nominations may be emailed to eramus@nantucket-ma.gov or dropped off at the housing office at 16 Broad Street. The nomination deadline was given as April 4.

On project updates, members were told the Wiggles development is on a revised finish schedule and that initial move-ins are expected in March. According to the update, 10 of the 22 units have been assigned to households largely at or below 80 percent of area median income; 12 units remain to be selected. Certificates of occupancy have been issued for Buildings 1 and 8 (four units), and building permits or sub‑contractor sign-offs for Buildings 2 through 7 are complete, with final inspections expected shortly. Trust members said Housing Nantucket is the developer and Billy Cassidy was the builder. The trust discussed holding a ribbon-cutting or open house for the community between the first move-ins and Town Meeting.

Trust members also noted that the state and the Executive Office of Housing/EOHLC recently issued final guidance on accessory dwelling units (ADUs); Tom Dixon said planning and the planning board plan to review how the guidance affects local regulations. A planned update on transfer-fee communications was postponed when the presenter was unavailable.

The meeting closed with two formal roll-call votes: the trust first approved the meeting agenda by roll call, then voted to adjourn open session and enter executive session to consider the purchase, exchange or lease of real property and to preserve the trust’s negotiating position. The motion to enter executive session specified the body would not return to open session after the executive session.