Affordable Housing Trust approves letter reaffirming $450,000 commitment to Brown School proposal

The Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust voted to approve a draft letter of support for the Brown School proposal to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, reaffirming a $450,000 commitment from the trust.

Chair Maline Nash introduced the draft letter, addressed to Jennifer Maddox at the Executive Office, and summarized that the trust would reiterate its prior financial commitment. A member asked whether the addressee was correct given a reported personnel change at the state office; the trust kept Jennifer Maddox as the recipient while noting the staffing report but did not change the letter’s addressee.

A motion to approve the letter was made (mover: Bob) and seconded. During the vote, the chair noted that Barb Cullen had not yet been sworn in and therefore did not participate in the roll-call vote. The recorded votes were: Drew Shapiro — yes; Elaine Nickerson — yes; Bob — yes; Maline Nash (Chair) — yes. The motion passed and the trust authorized sending the letter. Members agreed that Drew Shapiro would sign the letter on the trust’s behalf, and staff will place the letter on official letterhead and deliver it before the application deadline noted in the meeting (members referenced an ON TOP applications deadline of March 16).

During the discussion one member said they would recuse themselves from evaluation of the proposal in their professional capacity and would sign the letter only in that limited administrative role; the trust acknowledged the recusal and proceeded with the vote.

Next steps: staff to place the approved letter on official letterhead and obtain a signature (Drew Shapiro will sign); ensure the signed letter is included in the state application package before the stated deadline.