MINUTES - October 11, 2023
MONROE TOWNSHIP AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023 @ 6:00PM
The Township of Monroe Affordable Housing Board met in the Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza, for a meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen with a Salute to the Flag.
Chairwoman Miriam Cohen requested the Board Attorney to read the following SUNSHINE LAW:
In accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, it is hereby announced and shall be entered into the Minutes of this meeting that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the following:
- Posted on the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Township Clerk;
- Posted on the Bulletin Boards within the Municipal Complex;
- Printed in the Home News Tribune on December 30, 2022; and
- Posted on the Monroe Township website
UPON ROLL CALL by the Affordable Housing Secretary Alicia Gonzalez, the following members of the Board were present: Chairwoman Miriam Cohen, Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly, Member Richard Lans, Member Hemant Patel, Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi and Alternate II Board Member Arnold Riback.
ALSO PRESENT: Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci, Board Attorney Jerome J. Convery, Board Planner Malvika Apte and Board Engineer Mark Rasimowicz.
ABSENT: Board Member Kenneth Hilyard.
Chairwoman Miriam Cohen confirmed that there is a five (5) minute standing rule that applies for the public portion of the meeting.
(1) Member of the Public was in attendance.
Approval of Minutes: MTAHB Meeting – July 12, 2023
UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly and seconded by Alternate II Board Member Arnold Riback, the MINUTES of the July 12, 2023 Monroe Township Affordable Housing Board Meeting were approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Absent
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
Board Attorney’s Report, Jerome J. Convery, Esq.:
- RESOLUTION APPOINTING PROFESSIONAL TREE CONSULTANT IN REGARD TO THE VETERANS HOUSING PROJECT
Board Attorney Jerome J. Convery stated that the Administration indicated the need for tree removal services in regard to the Veterans Housing Project.
UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly and seconded by Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi, the Resolution appointing a professional tree consultant in regard to the Veterans Housing Project was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Absent
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
- RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE RELEASE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIEN MT-362-21
Board Attorney Jerome J. Convery gave a brief overview of the request for hardship consideration of MT-362-21 stating that the homeowner has passed away and the family is wanting to now sell the property.
UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Alternate II Board Member Arnold Riback, the Resolution recommending the release of affordable housing lien for MT-362-21 was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Absent
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
Board Planner’s Report, Malvika Apte – No Report.
Board Engineer’s Report, Mark Rasimowicz, Centerstate Engineering
- RESOLUTION APPROVING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CONSULTING ENGINEER IN REGARD TO THE VETERANS HOUSING PROJECT
Engineer Rasimowicz explained that this resolution was for Engineering funds in regard to the Veterans Housing Project to come directly from the Affordable Housing Trust.
UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly and seconded by Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi, the Resolution approving additional funds for consulting Engineer in regard to the Veterans Housing Project was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Absent
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
- RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER #1 AND FINAL PAYMENT FOR REHABILITATION CONTRACT MT-379-22
Engineer Rasimowicz explained that this resolution was for a Change Order which decreased the contract amount by $82.00, making the final amount $45,110.00.
UPON MOTION made by Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the Resolution authorizing change order #1 and final payment for rehabilitation contract MT-379-22 was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Absent
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
New Business:
- No new business.
Old Business:
- No old business.
Public Comment:
Michelle Arminio, Township Resident – Mrs. Arminio stated the Midpoint Review was supposed to be presented at the last Affordable Housing meeting and asked where and when it would be presented. Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci stated that it was presented at the April 19, 2023 Affordable Housing meeting and that it was provided to her at that time and also located on the Township website. Mrs. Arminio asked how many affordable housing units under the settlement have been constructed. Board Planner Malvika Apte stated that information is listed in the Midpoint Review that is located on the Township website but did not know the exact number of units at this time. Mrs. Arminio asked if any developments were being built that did not have any affordable housing units and if the developers paid the affordable housing developer fees. Board Attorney Jerome Convery stated that currently any developers not under obligation to build affordable housing units under the settlement would pay the affordable housing developer fees. Mrs. Arminio stated that Director Joseph Stroin told her that 96% of the building is under the affordable housing settlement and that only 4% of new construction is not. Mrs. Arminio stated that the Township should look to the future as any new construction not accounted for under the affordable housing settlement or counted towards future affordable housing settlements may be used against the Township. Board Engineer Mark Rasimowicz stated that no developer is building without either paying the affordable housing developer fee or building affordable housing units in conjunction with the required number of affordable units per the most recent Affordable Housing settlement. He went on to state that the Veteran Housing Project initially had 37 approved affordable housing units but we have increased that total to 80 affordable housing units, having those additional 43 units put towards the next affordable housing obligation. Mrs. Arminio stated that the Township does not have “organic growth”, which she went on to explain means having a population grow slowly and naturally. Mrs. Arminio went on to opinionize that our Township has grown exponentially in the past few years because of the additional 4,800 – 5,000 units being constructed and has negatively impacted the school district as it cannot keep up with the rapid growth and our children deserve to be taught inside schools and not cramped classrooms or trailers. Lastly, Mrs. Arminio stated that our Governing Body needs to do more to curtail the ongoing overdevelopment.
UPON MOTION made by Board Member Hemant Patel and seconded by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Absent
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
Tanya Pannucci, Affordable Housing Coordinator
NEXT MEETING: JANUARY 10, 2024