MINUTES - October 9, 2024
MONROE TOWNSHIP AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9, 2024 @ 6:30PM
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 6:30 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 29, 2023; and
- Posted on the Monroe Township website
UPON ROLL CALL by the Affordable Housing Secretary Jeff Mogila, the following members of the Board were present: Chairwoman Miriam Cohen, Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly, Member Kenneth Hilyard, Member Richard Lans, Member Hemant Patel, Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi, Alternate II Board Member Arnold Riback and Secretary Jeffrey Mogila.
ALSO PRESENT: Board Attorney Jerome J. Convery, Board Engineer Mark Rasimowicz and Board Planner Malvika Apte.
Chairwoman Miriam Cohen confirmed that there is a five (5) minute standing rule that applies for the public portion of the meeting.
- Members of the Public were in attendance.
Approval of Minutes: MTAHB Meeting – July 10, 2024
UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Board Member Kenneth Hilyard, the MINUTES of the July 10, 2024 Monroe Township Affordable Housing Board Meeting were approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Aye
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 RECOMMENDING THE RELEASE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIEN FOR MT-380-23
UPON MOTION made by Board Member Richard Lans and seconded by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly, the Resolution recommending the release of affordable housing lien for MT-380-23 was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Aye
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 FOR MT-348-20
UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chariman Randy Beverly and seconded by Board Member Hemant Patel, the Resolution recommending the release of affordable housing lien for MT-348-20 was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Aye
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 Engineer’s Report, Mark Rasimowicz, Centerstate Engineering
- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REHABILITATION MARKETING, ROUND 4 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANNING & VETERANS HOUSING ADMINISTRATION TO CENTER STATE ENGINEERING
UPON MOTION made by Vice-Chairman Randy Beverly and seconded by Alternate II Board Member Arnold Riback, recommending the professional services contract for Affordable Housing Rehabilitation Marketing, Round 4 Affordable Housing Planning & Veterans Housing Administration to Center State Engineering was approved.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Aye
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 Engineer’s Report – Mark Rasimowicz, Centerstate Engineering – Reported that he attended a walk through of the Valor Pointe development with Construction and shared that the inside of the units are being worked on with paint, cabinetry, as well as the outside waiting on the final course of asphalt.
Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci added that applications are not yet available for Valor Pointe but are expected to be released by the end of the year with fulfillment beginning in the new year.
Board Planner’s Report, Malvika Apte – Reported that there is a new affordable housing reporting system that the State is requiring all municipalities to utilize. She gave an overview of where we are in meeting our obligation, summarizing that we are on target.
New Business:
- No new business
Old Business:
- No old business.
Public Comment:
Rosaline Ng, Township Resident – Mrs. Ng explained that she went to Piazza & Associates inquiring about Affordable Housing and Piazza & Associates told her that rental units were for sale. Mrs. Ng stated she is looking to buy an Affordable Housing unit to which Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci explained that applications are online with a listing of all the units. Mrs. Pannucci offered Mrs. Ng to stop in the office and she will go over with her personally.
Thomas DiPasquale, Township Resident – Mr. DiPasquale asked how many affordable housing units are assigned to veterans and seniors to which Chairwoman Cohen answered all of them are available for veterans and seniors to apply to. Mr. DiPasquale proceeded to ask if there is a quota from the State and what would happen if we are unable to fulfill our obligation; to which Board Planner Malvika Apte gave a brief overview of the Mount Laurel case, adding that there is an affordable housing constitutional requirement for every state and if we do not meet our obligation we lose our immunity from the lawsuit and a developer would then be permitted to sue the Township and ask the court to allow the developer to build the affordable housing.
Yann-yn Lin, Township Resident – Ms. Lin asked what the price range is for affordable units to which Affordable Housing Coordinator Tanya Pannucci answered.
UPON MOTION made by Board Member Hemant Patel and seconded by Alternate I Board Member Andrea Pellezzi, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Chairwoman, Miriam Cohen Aye
Vice-Chairman, Randy Beverly Aye
Board Member, Kenneth Hilyard Aye
Board Member, Richard Lans Aye
Board Member, Hemant Patel Aye
Alternate I Board Member, Andrea Pellezzi Aye
Alternate II Board Member, Arnold Riback Aye
Jeffrey Mogila
Affordable Housing Secretary
NEXT MEETING: January 8, 2025