[Adopted 11-6-2006 by Ord. No. 780]
A. The Town Council shall adopt, after a public hearing,
the methodology for the determination of the fee in lieu of construction
to be charged under this article.
B. Fee collection. The Finance Director shall receive
and collect all fees and shall deposit and maintain such fees dedicated
to the development and preservation of affordable housing in a separate
and segregated account known as the "Affordable Housing Trust Fund,"
which shall be administered and distributed as provided herein. Any
funds that remain unused or unallocated in such fund at the end of
the Town's fiscal year (including interest, other earned income, or
repayment on loans) shall remain deposited in and for the use of the
Affordable Housing Commission in the next fiscal year.
[Amended 3-9-2009 by Ord. No. 802]
A. Establishment. There shall be and is hereby established
a commission consisting of five members to be known as the "Affordable
Housing Commission."
B. Appointment. The members of the Affordable Housing
Commission shall be appointed by the Town Council.
C. Qualifications. Each member of the Affordable Housing
Commission shall be a resident and elector of the Town of East Greenwich
and shall not be delinquent on any tax obligation to the Town of East
Greenwich. Each member of the Affordable Housing Commission shall
be chosen for his or her demonstrated interest in preserving and/or
promoting the development of affordable housing and the stabilization
of neighborhoods in the Town of East Greenwich.
D. Term. Members shall be appointed for terms of three
years. Initial appointments shall be made so as to stagger term expirations.
Two members shall be appointed for three years, two members shall
be appointed for two years, and one member shall be appointed for
one year.
E. Compensation. Members of the Affordable Housing Commission
shall serve without compensation.
F. Quorum. For the purpose of conducting any official
business, three members of the Affordable Housing Commission shall
constitute a quorum.
G. Election of officers. The members of the Affordable
Housing Commission shall elect, by a majority vote of the total members
of the Affordable Housing Commission, officers consisting of a Chair,
Vice Chair and Secretary.
H. Compliance with Open Meetings Law. All meetings of the Affordable Housing Commission shall
be held and conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law. All
records of the Commission shall be held and be subject to public disclosure
in accordance with the law.
A. The Town Manager or designee shall be responsible
for the carrying out of the functions, duties and purposes of the
Affordable Housing Commission and shall perform these and such additional
duties as assigned by the Town Council.
B. Budget. The budget of the Commission shall be approved
by the Town Council and subject to all Town policies and procedures.
[Amended 6-12-2017 by Ord. No. 871]
C. Annual report. The Commission shall prepare an annual
report at the conclusion of the Town's fiscal year. The report shall
set forth the state of affordable housing in the Town, describing
the activities and functions of the Affordable Housing Commission,
summarizing the developments, programs and services funded by the
Affordable Housing Commission, and setting forth the expenditures
made by the Affordable Housing Commission from the Affordable Housing
Trust Fund.
D. Powers and duties.
(1) Study and recommendations. The Affordable Housing
Commission shall make (or seek from other sources) an ongoing study
of the status and quality of affordable housing in the Town of East
Greenwich and shall make annual recommendations regarding actions
to be taken by the Town of East Greenwich to improve the quantity
and quality of affordable housing in the Town of East Greenwich.
(2) Programs. The Affordable Housing Commission shall
establish and provide funding for a development loan program and a
grant program. In addition, the Commission is authorized to create,
sponsor, fund and promote such other and further programs and services
designed to develop and preserve affordable housing in the Town of
East Greenwich, including, but not limited to, education, consulting
and technical support.
(a)
Loan programs.
[1]
The Commission is authorized to make low-interest
and no-interest loans to housing developers for the rehabilitation,
modification, construction and preservation of affordable housing
in the Town of East Greenwich, provided that all loans made hereunder
shall be subject to land use restriction agreements that the units
will be used for affordable housing for their entire useful economic
life, and all loans for new construction shall incorporate universal
design standards to provide affordable housing for the disabled. The
loan proceeds shall be disbursed by the Finance Director as approved
by the Town Council with a recommendation by the Affordable Housing
Commission. Loans shall be for approved eligible construction costs
actually incurred and not for administrative project costs such as
developer overhead, development fees, or other expenses.
[2]
Notwithstanding any ordinance to the contrary,
construction of any new affordable housing units under this article
shall be exempt from the Town's impact fee.
(b)
Grant programs. The Affordable Housing Commission
is authorized to make forgivable loans and grants to housing developers,
property owners and tenants to promote the development and preservation
of affordable housing in the Town of East Greenwich, provided that
all grants made hereunder shall be administered to promote neighborhood
stabilization and shall contain, where appropriate, conditions such
as reasonable restrictions on and provisions for the oversight of
tenants and landlords. Projects eligible for grants include, but are
not limited to, projects such as modifications to accommodate people
with disabilities; lead-based paint abatement; emergency home repair
assistance; temporary emergency services to prevent homelessness (including
mortgage assistance, rent assistance, and utility assistance); emergency
and transitional housing; security deposit, utility deposit, down
payment and closing costs assistance; and correction of building or
fire code deficiencies. Each project eligible for funding shall be
sponsored by a housing or neighborhood organization operating in the
immediate project area. The grant proceeds shall be disbursed by the
Finance Director as approved by the Town Council with a recommendation
by the Affordable Housing Commission. Grants shall be approved for
actual construction costs actually incurred and not for administrative
project costs such as development overhead, development fees or other
expenses.
(c)
Construction program. The Affordable Housing
Commission is authorized to acquire property for the purpose of construction
or conversion to affordable units which are managed or sold by the
Affordable Housing Commission and the Town Council.
E. Support services. All loans and grants made hereunder
shall include provisions for support services where appropriate to
promote the development and preservation of affordable and accessible
housing in the Town of East Greenwich.
F. Review standards. For the purposes of carrying out
the provisions of this article, the Affordable Housing Commission
shall have the authority to establish written standards, rules and
regulations for funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund that
shall be made to and for the benefit of households earning no more
than 80% of the area's median income.
G. Funding restrictions and preferences.
(1) Health and safety. The recipient of any expenditure
of funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall comply with
all applicable federal, state and local laws relating to health and
safety, including, but not limited to, housing codes, occupation safety
codes, product codes and standards, and consumer safety.
(2) Antidiscrimination. The recipient of any expenditure
of funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall comply with
all applicable federal, state and local laws relating to discrimination
on the basis of race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age
or other prohibited classifications. The Affordable Housing Commission
may give preference to funding projects that require the use of 30%
or greater participation of minority business enterprises or disadvantaged
business enterprises or that promote the employment opportunities
of persons with low income or persons with disabilities.
(3) Environmental impact. The recipient of any expenditure
of any funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall comply with
all applicable federal, state and local laws relating to the environment.
The Affordable Housing Commission may give preference to funding projects
that exceed existing environmental requirements and standards or that
incorporate energy-efficient designs and materials.