Town Council schedules Sept. 14 public hearing on Depot Road affordable housing purchase

The town council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on Sept. 14, 2026, to consider spending money from the town’s affordable housing trust fund to acquire property located on Depot Road.

Mr. Bruder moved the motion to schedule the hearing "to consider the proposed expenditure of affordable housing trust fund monies in connection with the acquisition of certain real property located on Depot Road for affordable housing, including a potential partnership with a nonprofit affordable housing developer and related municipal purposes," and it was seconded by Mr. Kiefner. Chair (S2) called the vote and said, "It is unanimous." The transcript does not record individual roll-call vote counts.

Council members said staff have been negotiating the sale behind the scenes and that several parts of the transaction remain under discussion. Chair S2 said the affordable housing trust fund was created several years ago and that an ordinance governs how the fund may be used. "This is the 1st time that we'll be, proposing to expend any funds from the, affordable housing trust," Mr. Bruder said, thanking staff including Frigno and Kaufman for their work.

S2 told members there is potential in the proposal for the town to purchase the property and for the trust fund outlay to function as a loan that could be replenished over time by a partner organization. The council asked staff to include details in the meeting packet for the Sept. 14 public hearing and invited the public to attend that hearing to comment on the proposed acquisition and funding.

The council then moved to enter a separate executive session that had been approved earlier in the meeting.