Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee

Meeting Minutes

October 19, 2009

Committee Members Present: Rocky Martin, George Bedard, Julie Pierson, Kellie Stoll, Carl Bohlen, Andrea Brainard, Dale Wernhoff

Also Present: Dan Baker (Dept of Community Development & Applied Economics, University of Vermont), Kelly Hamshaw (Community-University Partnerships, University of Vermont), Shaun Gilpin (Mobile Home Project, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity), Maggie Donin (student, Dept of Community Development & Applied Economics, University of Vermont), Carrie-Anne Palmeri (Student Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont), Peter Erb (Hinesburg Zoning Administrator)

The meeting came to order at approximately 6:40 PM.

Mobile Home Park Community Survey and Report: Dan Baker (Assistant Professor, UVM) discussed his department’s research project. They teamed with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) to survey residents of mobile home parks in Chittenden County to see what issues are important to them. The results would be contained in a report for each park, available at the CVOEO offices. The first park they surveyed was in Starksboro three years ago. They are currently surveying Sunset Lake Villa Estates and the Triple L Mobile Home Park in Hinesburg, having surveyed the Mountain View Mobile Home Park in the fall of 2008. Dan will inform the committee when the reports for the Hinesburg parks are available. Some possible uses for the surveys/reports include getting town officials more involved with the park residents and their concerns, either through meetings or “block party” type gatherings, and setting up meetings among the residents to work on improvements to the parks, such as weatherization workshops or ways to increase internet access.

Additional Topics: The committee shared with the UVM and CVOEO reps our plans for a Request For Proposal for a Housing Needs Assessment. We also informed them about the 11 acre lot that is undeveloped at the Mountain View Mobile Home Park (see the 6/05/08 minutes for info).

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:25 PM.

Next Meeting: November 4th – Bart Frisbie of Sterling Construction, Inc. will discuss his Thistle Hill development and we will review the RFP draft for the Housing Needs Assessment.

Respectfully submitted,

Dale Wernhoff