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Sudbury’s boards and committees continued their work this week. Here’s the short summary of each:
Sudbury Housing Authority
- The Housing Authority received an RFP response for their Pine Lakes conversion project. According to comments from member Sherrill Cline, the proposal included houses with accessory dwelling units, not duplexes. “My understanding is that the RFP is proposing that they be houses with ADU’s. And that they be modular. And that they can be done quickly.” (28:30)
- They will need to complete several diligence steps, get clarity on State grant funding “conveyance,” and get a contract executed. They’re simultaneously looking for a new development consultant.
- Town Meeting passed a Citizen Petition in May that appropriated free cash to repair the existing single-family homes. This proposal is a twist in the story, as it seems to eliminate the duplex concerns in the neighborhood, while simultaneously achieving the goals of the SHA to provide smaller housing units in order to house more people.
- The SHA voted to proceed with the process subject to multiple conditions, including contract review and conveyance clarifications through the State.
Finance Committee
- The headline is that Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Victor Garofalo informed the Committee that the Town has brought in nearly $1 million in tax title settlements this year. This will boost the Town’s free cash moving forward. He also reported that investment income is looking very strong again this year. The Committee discussed that it will likely lead to another strong free cash number.
- The Finance Committee may be asked to vote on a Reserve Fund transfer as an upcoming meeting to pay for higher-than-expected vocational education costs, and potentially some costs associated with the May 20 Special Town Meeting. Garofalo noted that the Town may be able to absorb the cost of the Special Town Meeting without a transfer.
Goodnow Library Trustees
- Elizabeth Iwasaki is the new Chair following their reorganization. Megan Kelley is Vice Chair for the year ahead. (Sudbury TV recording)
- They voted to close the Library on December 26 — the Saturday after Christmas.
Sudbury Housing Trust
- The Trust discussed parcels at Camp Sewataro, with frontage on Haynes Road, for potential affordable housing units. This included one parcel that has a house already, and an adjacent lot that is undeveloped with frontage on Haynes Road. They also discussed some land with frontage on Greystone Lane. (49:00)
- The Trust concluded that they should further explore the housing potential on certain portions of the land, agreeing that it was important to make it clear that they were not suggesting the existing camp would be displaced by any housing. There was no predetermined type of housing cited during the discussion, which included mention of market rate housing with an “affordable component.”
- The Trust resolved to do a tour of the property in coordination with the Camp Operator. Amy Lepak from the Sudbury Housing Authority (SHA) commented to voice interest in the SHA joining the tour.
Planning Board
- They held a very short meeting this week. Adam Burney, Sudbury’s director of planning and community development, informed the board that there was an incoming project involving Eversource and a scenic road that will require multiple meetings to process.
Board of Health
- Representatives from Sudbury’s Roche Bros. store joined to present a recap of their recently-completed renovation. They emphasized the collaborative process with Sudbury’s Health Department, and a desire to give Sudbury the best store in the state.
- There will be a grand re-opening celebration this weekend. (June 13 and 14)
