Council reviews Thomas property unit plans and adopts draft rental policies for town‑owned housing

The New Shoreham Town Council reviewed draft policies and application forms for rental of units at the Thomas property (a town project involving two buildings and multiple apartments) and for the town manager’s house. Council members directed staff to consult with the Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Unit to confirm any restrictions in existing consent orders and to bring amended consent language or clarifications back to the council if needed.

Town staff presented a proposed occupancy hierarchy consistent with the existing consent order language: first priority for police officers, then town and school employees, then town residents, and finally the general public. The draft policy describes a public application process with posted notices, an application form, and a lottery for each eligibility tier when vacancies occur.

On rent, staff proposed initial fixed monthly rents as a starting point—proposed examples in the draft policy included $900 for a one‑bedroom and $1,200 for a two‑bedroom unit as conservative starting figures. Council members debated fixed rents versus rent tied to a percentage of income; several members favored a fixed rent for administrative simplicity while asking staff to re‑examine the levels to ensure they are reasonable given island costs. Town staff agreed to revisit rent numbers and present revised recommendations.

Members discussed operational details in the draft lease and occupancy policy: security deposits (one month’s rent), utilities to be paid by occupants, pet approval process, occupancy limits (recommended: two persons per bedroom), and lease‑termination timing (for non‑police occupants, a 30‑day or end‑of‑school‑year accommodation could be used depending on circumstance). The council asked that lease language be clarified to allow renewals in one‑year increments while preserving the priority hierarchy.

Council also received a construction and readiness update for the Thomas property. Town construction staff reported the back building would finish first and that, as of the meeting, the project was approximately 90–95% complete: furnaces and plumbing were installed, electrical and final connections were pending, and landscapings such as hydroseed and minor deck steps remained. Town staff estimated a realistic target for substantial completion in June 2025, contingent on final contractor schedules and utility tie‑ins.

The council instructed staff to confirm the consent‑order interpretation with the Attorney General and to return with final leases, clarified rent recommendations and the finalized assignment/lottery procedures for council approval.