MacAskill Reappointed To Housing Trust On Split Vote

 HARWICH – On 3-2 vote Monday, the select board reappointed Michael MacAskill to the affordable housing trust. 

The board held interviews with MacAskill, a former select board member and current chair of the trust, and Kimberly Bourgea, executive director of Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless, Inc. (HECH).

 The interview process was brought to the full board after its interview subcommittee of two members split their votes. Select Board members Donald Howell and Anita Doucette serve on the interview subcommittee, but Howell recused himself from the interview because he is the chair of the board of directors of HECH. Select Board Member Mark Kelleher replaced Howell.

 On Monday, Select Board member Jeffrey Handler questioned Howell on why he recused himself from the interview process, yet he was not recusing himself from the select board vote.

 “Conflicts are based on personal feelings, not imposed externally,” Howell responded. He said there were no financial or beneficial interests that would preclude him voting, Bourgea does not work for him directly, and she is not a family member. 

 “And as such I will not be recusing myself,” he said.

 Howell responded to questions of potential conflict of interest, asking Bourgea how much he got paid for his position at HECH. “Nothing,” she responded. Howell then asked Bourgea if he had signature authority over any checking accounts, or if he could unilaterally hire or fire her. Bourgea said “no.” 

 Handler then asked Bourgea if she received a pay raise, would Howell have to be part of it. She said “yes.”

 The actual interview process went relatively smoothly. Hander said he was thrilled to have two qualified candidates from which to choose. 

 MacAskill has served as chair of the trust since being appointed five months ago to serve as Town Administrator Jay McGrail’s designee. MacAskill said he was on the select board in 2017 when the initiative conversations about establishing the affordable housing trust committee took place and he was there when the select board put forward land transfers to the trust for development or sale of land to raise trust funds in 2018.

 MacAskill said his leadership of the trust has led to more organized, shorter meetings while getting the trust’s work done. The trust is focusing on homeownership, buydowns and rental assistance programs, he said.

He said he is not a supporter of large housing developments, such as the Pine Oaks Village IV development proposed for North Harwich and is an opponent of state 40B provisions. As for great challenges facing the town, MacAskill said holding the state back and “controlling our destiny” is important. 

MacAskill also said the trust is finally moving forward with requests for proposals for development or sale of three properties the select board transferred through town meeting action to the trust on Depot Street and Oak Street. 

Howell questioned whether MacAskill could control his anger in meetings. MacAskill responded that Howell needed to articulate when and where incidents occurred in meetings. MacAskill said he has the right to speak his opinions as a citizen. 

Bourgea has been the executive director of HECH, which has more than 40 housing units primarily in Harwich, for 12 years. Her tasks include property management, capital improvements, budgeting, and dealing with regulatory issues. Bourgea emphasized she has a lot of contacts with state and federal regulatory agencies and could assist the trust with regulatory issues and potentially funding. 

She presently serves as vice chair of the Harwich Housing Authority and has been involved with the community preservation committee. She also said she knows the difficulty families are having in locating affordable housing in town and how important it is to create housing opportunities, especially for younger families to stay and work in the community.

 “I am a single mother who has had to utilize affordable housing and housing programs in the past,” Bourgea said. “I don’t think I’d be here today without those opportunities offered to me. Our residents deserve those opportunities. I would love to offer that, and be able to give back to those residents, and allow them the same opportunities I’ve had.”

 “I think you epitomize affordable housing, you’ve lived it, and now you administer it,” said Kelleher of Bourgea.

Bourgea said she thinks the POVIV project is too large, and the town should be looking for smaller developments throughout the community; there are developers who would like to build three- and four-unit housing projects, she said.

Kelleher proposed putting off the vote on who to appoint to the trust for a week, allowing the taxpayers of the community to weigh in on the decision. But Select Board Chair Peter Piekarski said it was urgent that a decision be made and that it is a decision for the select board to make.

Select Board members Handler, Piekarski and Anita Doucette voted to appoint MacAskill. Howell and Kelleher supported Bourgea.