Some things in Estes aren’t controversial. The breakfasts in Estes are universally loved. I don’t get complaints about the activities and purpose of, among others, Crossroads, Crisis Advocates, the Dementia Day Center, The Art Center and Arts District, Harmony, Partners, or The Bridge of Estes. Who argues with support for the hungry, the abused, and those who are suffering medically?
Some organizations can be polarizing. The Estes Park Housing Authority is one of those. There can be widely differing opinions about the actions they take.
Eighty percent of 6E funds go to EPHA, and 20 percent to childcare initiatives. That 80 percent is a substantial help for housing projects, though it’s typically only a fraction of the cost of the complex deals to buy or build housing.
And so, the town board pays attention to EPHA’s decisions. And since the citizenry voted for 6E funds, it’s important for you to understand how those funds are used.
The town board agreed to hold a study session on town oversight of EPHA board decisions regarding Fall River Village, requested by Trustee Igel, and the session was a good event. Trustee Igel is often the first to ask probing and tough questions, and so he’s a valuable part of this board.
My view: EPHA is doing what we created EPHA to do. It’s working as designed. Information is forthcoming from EPHA when needed, except for certain necessarily confidential information.
At the recent joint town board and EPHA study session, both the EPHA leadership and the board were present. We discussed two items related to Fall River Village. First, there were questions about the use of the SkyView building for EPHA office space.
This space was previously used for weddings and other events. The second issue was about the recent turndown of an unsolicited offer from a contractor to buy a couple of dozen FRV units.
Our board discussion focused on transparency and financial responsibility. It was a good session.
First topic, the office move, makes sense to me. It saves on high rental fees, consolidates staff in one place, and allows a simple move-in without changing the nature of the building. In the long run, that building may very well be used by some revenue-generating business. It should be. And EPHA will move out then.
The first mission of the EPHA is to work effectively and efficiently to create financially sound housing units, and this office move helps.
Regarding the second item, the EPHA board explained its decision to decline the offer. The main reason was that the original 2024 plan involved the sale of about a dozen units to help finance the whole venture. They held true to that intent. They stuck with a plan that the town board was comfortable with when this whole project was approved.
I’m comfortable with the EPHA decision on this item. They did their job.
This study session was worthy and should lead to more openness between the boards. I believe that we and the community received the relevant information on both FRV topics. I see complexity but not mystery.
I must say that all the town trustees take their positions seriously. All the trustees understand their fiduciary responsibility to residents regarding taxpayer funds, including 6E. All of them weigh that during their deliberations, among other things. They may not state it explicitly, but they all take it to heart. True.
The town board will continue to provide oversight of the EPHA board. What I heard June 9 was that there was a strong consensus of the town board that it was comfortable that the EPHA had followed a reasonable, explicable course on the actions discussed. There was sufficient transparency in explanations.
I also really appreciate the revealing articles that EPHA Director Scott Moulton has begun publishing in the last couple of months. Read those, please. Despite the complexity of the housing deals, if you read those articles, you’ll see a lot of light is cast on these very important topics. Transparency happens when light is allowed in, and these articles and the study session bring lots of light.
Other suggestions I’ll offer to the EPHA: Make the EPHA board recordings very easy to find online. Make sure all supporting documents are available to the public in the packet at the appropriate deadline before meetings. And finally, the more you can work with local developers on your land-banked holdings, the better. Keep those channels cultivated and open.
It falls to the EPHA board to make decisions in line with their mission; it falls to the town board to provide oversight and ask for light when appropriate.
The EPHA board will undergo significant changes in the next few months, with several members moving on. Recruitment and interviews will begin apace. This would be the time, if you are interested, to step forward and apply for that board.
Despite divisive topics, I am pleased that we have civil conversations about tough topics. Estes is a sterling example these days with our balanced discussions, even when we have vastly different opinions. Communication is everything.