Housing committee weighs communications plan, HomeShare expansion and ADU revival

Van Scott introduced a draft internal communications plan and urged improvements to how the Housing Committee communicates with the Board.

Jacob Testa, listed in the minutes as the committee liaison, described existing periodic reporting mechanisms that currently take the form of updates and recommendations to the Board; the minutes note that in practice Board review of those reports can reduce the need for in‑person committee appearances. Scott said he wants the plan to ensure two‑way communications so committees receive unprompted suggestions and clearer feedback.

The committee reviewed HomeShare updates. David Sokol asked members to review and expand the stakeholder list in the meeting agenda. The minutes say Janice La Motta, HomeShare program director, will present on extending the program to northern Dutchess at the RHHC meeting on March 23. Adrienne Truscott said she will use Bard graduate programs’ retreat on Feb. 9 to gauge departmental and dean interest in HomeShare participation and that she has already informed Dumaine Williams by email.

Committee members brainstormed subcommittee composition and one‑off initiatives. Cat Viega reminded the group about a Northern Dutchess County Housing Forum and David Sokol suggested socializing it with an organization called HVAHC before launching a new event. Truscott raised a pied‑à‑terre tax proposal as a potential model that could be adapted locally. The minutes record widespread interest in reviving accessory dwelling unit (ADU) efforts; Adrienne LaBelle offered to contact Tivoli residents who are working on ADUs.

The committee set the next meeting for Feb. 23 (the minutes list the year as 2025, which appears to be a typographical error given the Jan. 26, 2026 meeting date).