Select Board approves housing rehab program waivers and a lien subordination to unblock work for homeowners

Representatives of the MASP Housing Rehabilitation Program (speaker 18) asked the Select Board to approve three routine but substantive items: (1) a subordination agreement to place the town's existing mortgage in second position behind an approved home equity line of credit for a homeowner who completed rehab under the program (the assistance amount was approximately $24,000), and (2) waivers that raise the local per-unit cap from $45,000 to $60,000 for two specific cases so work can proceed without state waiver requests.

Staff explained that construction costs have risen and bids frequently exceed the local cap; approving a local waiver to $60,000 aligns with state guideline ceilings and prevents delay for homeowners. The board voted to approve the subordination agreement and both waivers. "We're asking to give us approval to spend up to $60,000 so that if a small change order happens during the course of the construction, we don't have to stop and come back to you again to get that extra waiver," the housing program representative said.