10/21/26 Affordable Housing Commission Meeting, Town of Madison, Connecticut

Summary

The Affordable Housing Commission welcomed Cara, a new member who recently moved to Madison and works as a local realtor. Members also described their roles and connections to affordable housing, including input on seniors’ housing needs and support from town social-services and planning staff.

The commission unanimously approved the previous meeting’s minutes.

Public Comment: Proposed Housing Trust Fund

Resident Jeff D’Alessandro questioned whether Madison needs a separate housing trust fund. He argued that the town could instead consider specific affordable-housing expenditures through its regular budget and Board of Selectmen process.

The chair said a dedicated fund would reserve money for affordable housing, allow it to accumulate over time, and make it possible to accept donations and outside funding.

The discussion also addressed state housing requirements. Commission members said a trust fund could help the town prepare for future obligations and strengthen its ability to negotiate with developers. They referred to House Bill 8002 and the existing 8-30g process. The legal requirements and timing were disputed or not fully clarified during the meeting; the chair said they would provide the bill number and additional information.

Coordination with Other Town Committees

Members reported on two recent meetings involving town committees and land-use planning. They said committees need better communication because their work can overlap.

Suggestions included:

• Holding joint meetings quarterly
• Sharing agendas and minutes with other committee chairs
• Having commission members attend relevant committee meetings

One participant suggested involving several committees when building permits are considered to better coordinate development decisions.

Planning and Zoning Update

Mark Easton said consultants had completed a consolidation and reorganization of the existing zoning regulations, making them easier to navigate. The broader planning and zoning rewrite is still underway, but its timeline was unclear.

A development moratorium was raised as an idea at a public input session. A planning and zoning member clarified that no moratorium is currently in effect and that the existing regulations remain in use.

Housing Trust Fund Ordinance Timing

There was no substantive update on the proposed ordinance. The chair said discussions with town officials would resume after the upcoming election, explaining that the town was avoiding potentially controversial or attention-intensive issues during the election period.

The chair also noted that a hurricane warning had disrupted town priorities and that they would be recovering from hip surgery.

No additional new business was raised, and the meeting was adjourned.

Presenters and Contributors

• Meeting chair — Name unclear in the subtitles
• Cara — New commission member; surname not captured
• Mark Easton — Former commission chair
• Heather — Town Beach, Recreation and Senior Services representative; surname not captured
• Jen Gordon — Board of Selectmen liaison
• Richard — Commission member; surname not captured
• Jeff D’Alessandro — Public commenter
• Erin Mannix — Town planner, discussed as a commission resource
• Molly Feeney — Social-services coordinator, discussed as a liaison
• Mike Miller and Tony — Listed as remote attendees; no comments were captured in the subtitles