Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council delays action on Affordable Housing Study report after members raise concerns
Summary
Councilors split on whether to 'accept' the ad hoc affordable housing committee's 06/01/2024 report; several members objected to acceptance without more time and to some recommendations (including a $20 million bond), so the council voted to continue consideration to Aug. 5 to allow review and clarifying redlines.
The Westerly Town Council on July 8 debated receiving the Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee’s final report (dated June 1, 2024) and ultimately voted to continue the matter to the Aug. 5 meeting to allow members more time to review and request redline comparisons.
Councilors and citizen speakers expressed a range of views. Supporters thanked volunteers for a year of work and said the report provides useful data and proposed actions; several councilors asked for a permanent housing committee to review recommendations in detail. Opponents objected to the word "acceptance," which some councilors feared could be read as an endorsement; specific concerns included a cited suggestion in the report for a potential $20 million municipal bond and proposals they characterized as major departures in policy.
Solicitor Conley explained that "accept" or "receive" in this context means the report becomes part of the council record and does not itself constitute formal council endorsement or implementation. Several councilors nevertheless requested a redlined version showing any changes from draft to final and asked staff to produce fiscal notes where required. A motion to continue consideration and 'receive' the report at the Aug. 5 meeting carried (recorded vote and counts in the minutes).
Next steps: the clerk and staff will provide the final report to council members, prepare requested fiscal-impact clarifications, and produce redlines if feasible. The council discussed creating a standing or permanent housing committee to study implementation and integration with the comprehensive plan and planning processes.
The meeting record shows both support for the committee’s effort and significant reservations; the council’s procedural action was to delay formal reception into the record until members have had more time to review the final version.
