invitation from SMAHT

Dear friends in Gleasondale –

Your recent success in creating the community park and your inclusive process for decision making demonstrate what a group of dedicated individuals can accomplish when organized towards a meaningful purpose. With that in mind I’ve asked that this notice be posted on your Gleasondale website.

The Stow Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (SMAHT) is seeking two new members to help provide for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Town of Stow for the benefit of low- and moderate-income households. Currently the members are Mike Kopczynski, chair; Laura Spear, vice chair; Quince Papanastassiou; Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, representing the Board of Selectmen; and me, Cynthia Perkins.

The open meetings of the board are held monthly (or more frequently when needed) at the Town Building and in its eleven-year history have made some significant steps towards meeting Stow’s affordable housing goals. Some highlights include:

• Developing a Housing Production Plan (HPP) approved by our Town boards, and the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development.  Having the HPP in place creates a road map for affordable housing growth and helps maintain a ‘safe haven’ status for Stow to prevent unwanted over-development;
  · Maintaining the existing count of houses in the affordable housing inventory;
  ·       Supporting the project of Stow Community Development Corporation’s development of 30 rental units in Pilot Grove II;
  ·       Working with the Planning Department to explore avenues for the development of affordable housing.

For a Timeline of significant activity regarding affordable housing please read the attached document.

We hope you’ll consider serving on the board of the Stow Municipal Affordable Housing Trust; there is a lot more work to be done.  The vacancies are open to anyone in Stow, and it would be great if one of the two seats available was filled by a person living in Gleasondale.

The next meeting is scheduled for November 21, 7:00 pm at the Town Building.  For more information contact me, or Chair, Mike Kopczynski at mgkstow@gmail.com .

Thanks so much for your consideration,

Cynthia Perkins, SMAHT Board member
cbhperkins@earthlink.net

To read the bylaws for the SMAHT go to http://www.stow-ma.gov/pages/StowMA_BComm/StowMA_HousingTrust/Housing%20Trust%20Bylaw%20SECTION%2018.pdf