ORDER-2023-68 : Appointment of Helena Widtfeldt, 44 Briggs Street, to the Melrose Affordable Housing Trust for a one-year term, said term to expire on the last day of January 2024. Ms. Widtfelt’s term fills the unexpired term of resigned Affordable Housing Trust member Carolyn Federoff.

Transcript (~7 min @ 1:42)

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▶ 1:41 Manjula Karamcheti: Seeing no objections public comment is now closed. We have one order and four appointments before us this evening. Our first order is order number 2023-68 the appointment of Helena widfelt 44 Briggs Street to the Melrose affordable housing trust for a one-year term said term to expire on the last day of January 2024, Ms. Windfeld's term fills. The unexpired term of resigned affordable housing trust member Carolyn federoff and this is offered by mayor Paul Broder who is here. So at this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to suspend the rules. Seeing no objection. The rules are suspended, please mayor Broder and Helena. Come join us.

▶ 2:31 Speaker 1: And mayor when you are ready, please speak to

▶ 2:35 Speaker 3: your appointee. Very good. Thank you madam. Chair members of the committee.

▶ 2:38 Paul Brodeur: There's good to see you all here this evening and blooded us Monday and not Tuesday which might prevent some more significant challenges given the weather. But here we are. So I am here as you know to offer, you know, consideration the appointment of Helena whitfelt to the Mel's affordable housing trust you recall that that trust has a little bit over 300,000 in it as we sit here today. His father off I should know is was quite disappointed to leave but she actually moved out of the city. So she was incredibly gracious in apologetic and her approach as she as she let me know what's going which is not at all to disrespect you Helena, Helena, actually Will be very effective in stepping into Carolyn's shoes. She's been working in the affordable housing industry world for over a decade. I know we have a long agenda this evening. So suffice to say when there was an expert in the room let the expert speak and shut your mouth. So Elena over to you to talk a little bit about your your sure people's location.

▶ 3:48 Speaker 1: So Helena Whitfield, I've been in Melrose resident for about eight years now and particularly as mayor Boudreau mentioned. I've worked in the affordable housing industry for 15 years. I've done 10 years collectively with a affordable housing consulting firm and spend about five years doing affordable housing research as well my background. I have a master's in Community Development planning. Most of my Consulting work is more with the public housing authority sector. So this is a little bit of a departure from that, but I'm well versed in generally affordable housing and certainly the need for it here in Melrose.

▶ 4:28 Speaker 1: Do we have questions from any counselors?

▶ 4:32 Speaker 1: Go ahead president Grigoraitis Adam chair. Thank you. It's lovely to see you both tonight. And I just wanted to say to you Ms. Woodfelt. Thank you for your willingness to serve. I'm so excited to hear about your expertise. I'm I know many of us here are passionate about affordable housing and concerned about the looming crisis throughout Metro Boston. And so I just was wondering if you could give any insight that you have on to how we continue to educate the community about the need for housing. That's a good question in terms of communication. I mean, I think I've seen a few things pop up here and there about the the current plan is underway. I think there's probably not enough communication about that. You know, I know that there's some other planning activities going on on the agenda later this evening that are I don't know if it's the property over at Greenwood, but you know, there's a lot of conversation about affordable housing and people's misunderstanding about requirements of how much affordable housing has to be in place and just sort of I think it's general knowledge about what is required when a new development comes in and what that implications of that are for the community, you know, I think people assume affordable housing means that taxpayers directly paying the bill for that subsidized unit. And I think educating people about the different sources of of subsidy that are coming into these units where they come from how they're funded ultimately I think is also an important step and people understanding that maybe it doesn't necessarily directly impact their their build the end of the day.

▶ 6:01 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, thank you. We have a great team in the planning office and it's wonderful to know that you'll be you know, somewhat of a part of that through this boarding commission. Thank you madam chair. Council Williams

▶ 6:10 Ryan Williams: a big plus one to man president. It's really great to have somebody with planning background and expertise in this and somebody who has a lot of experience working with all of these various elements of affordable housing. It's really important, and we're lucky to have you so thank you for stepping up. My one question is kind of an open-ended one. What do you think the most important thing the city can do is what do you think is the most important thing if you had to pick one that a City municipal entity

▶ 6:39 Speaker 1: no pressure though. Yeah, get a little price. Okay. Let's

▶ 6:43 Ryan Williams: see if I get this right let's you know philosophically even what do you think is the most important thing a city can do on affordable housing?

▶ 6:50 Speaker 1: I mean, I think there's a so much that can be done. That's a loaded question. But I think I always go back to thinking about families. I think having a safe stable sanitary, you know affordable place that family can set down Roots kids can kind of be living in a home that they can then stay in as they age through the school system and having that structure and that stability allows kids to flourish and families to flourish. So my passion is thinking about family units whether it's homeownership or rental, but creating that space for them to really Set some roots for their young ones. Well, you'll be

▶ 7:26 Ryan Williams: in good company with some of the folks on the trust. That's nothing else. Thank you.

▶ 7:33 Robb Stewart: Counselor Stewart, thank you. Madam. Chair Miss Whitfield your Your resume and background is impeccable your ideally suited for this and with that. I will make a motion to recommend to the full Council your appointment second.

▶ 7:47 Manjula Karamcheti: So we have a motion made by a counselor Stewart seconded by a President Grigoraitis. on discussion I just want the opportunity to say thank you also for volunteering I think your expertise in both affordable housing and in planning, it will be just such a value add to the work we're trying to do and I think that really understanding of why affordable housing is actually a value add to a community I can hear in what you're saying that you'll be able to help us communicate that in a variety of ways so That's all I had for discussion. So all in favor.

▶ 8:28 Speaker 1: I any opposed.

▶ 8:31 Manjula Karamcheti: Alright this motion carries. Thank you so much for being here tonight. If your time this motion will be moved to full Council and you don't need to appear at that time, but you're always welcome to join us. Thank you.