10/25/2016
Dear Members of the Holyoke Community Land Trust,
Please come to the Annual Membership Meeting, Thursday, November 3, 5:45PM. It will be held in the Community Room of the Holyoke Public Library in Holyoke.
Holyoke Community Land Trust (HCLT) has not been actively meeting during the past two years, and has had no staff during that time. Those who have been volunteering for HCLT have serious concerns about its on-going capacity issues. HCLT has been unable to consistently maintain an active board and membership and has been unable to effectively manage the refinances and transfers of HCLT homeowner/lessee homes. HCLT has been unable to carry out any additional acquisitions or rehab work.
In 2015, a group of volunteers and affordable housing professionals were interviewed and convened to discuss the pros and cons of dissolving HCLT. Overwhelmingly they recommended the transfer of the land back to the homeowners and the dissolution of HCLT.
Since that time, HCLT volunteers have approached the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO), and discussed the steps necessary for HCLT dissolution. A group of volunteers, primarily HCLT homeowners, has been meeting to put together this meeting, plan for the next board of directors, and explore the options available to HCLT for transfer of its land.
We have put together this meeting so that HCLT Membership can come together to discuss the situation, and make some meaningful decisions around how to resolve it. Kids welcome, and feel free to bring a friend. There will be pizza and drinks for all. It is important that we have at least 20 Members attend in order to vote in a board empowered to work on this, so please make every effort to attend!
We hope to see you on Thursday Nov. 3rd.
