WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP HOUSING COMMITTEE COAH 

December 4, 2001 

Present: Chairperson Sue Molnar, Ruth Hall, Joan Van der Veen, Nancy Palladino, Linda Wilson, Betty Jane Hunt (arrived 7:25) 

Molnar called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting on October 25, 2001 were approved. Motion made by Palladino and seconded by Hall with all ayes. 

Let the minutes reflect the receipt of correspondence from COAH dated November 19, 2001, reviewing the affordable housing activity in West Amwell Township to date for the year 2000. COAH received the report in February 2001. Hunt will draft a letter in response to COAH’s letter of November 19, 2001 in order to correct inaccuracies on said correspondence. 

Hunt received a call from Harold Spencer, a builder working for Carol Ford. He asked about paying the COAH builder’s fee and to ask if Carol Ford would qualify for affordable housing. Discussion ensued to determine if the property and owner could qualify. Palladino will ask the tax assessor for a valuation. In the unlikely event that the property could qualify, the only program appropriate and available through COAH would require a 30-year deed restriction which would limit the resale price of the property. 

Discussion and revisions were entertained for amending, rewriting and editing the Bethlehem Ordinance 255-16-98 for ECHO and resulted in the attached edited and revised version. More revisions are expected upon review of the attached draft. 

Suggested items to include in the ECHO Housing package for applicants:

  1. Minor site plan
  2. Application for septic from Hunterdon County Health Department
  3. Certification from Social Security
  4. Sample of a disability verification letter from a physician
  5. Copy of the ECHO Housing Ordinance for West Amwell Township

Ownership, payment, rental possibilities and mortgage options for the ECHO Housing units were discussed. Mortgage options that were discussed included options in which the individual, the Township or Hunterdon County Housing might hold the mortgage. Discussion of control and financing led the group to seek more information. Palladino and Wilson will pursue various avenues to get questions answered before making any conclusions. Palladino will also raise the aspect of ownership of the ECHO units at the next Township Committee Meeting. 

With no further business before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 

We will meet again on Monday, December 17, 2001. 

Respectfully submitted, 
Joan Van der Veen