[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Wrightstown as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning and land development — See Ch. 219.
[Adopted 9-13-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-09]
The purpose of this article is to create the administrative
mechanisms needed for the execution of Wrightstown Borough's
responsibility to assist in the provision of affordable housing pursuant
to the Fair Housing Act of 1985.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The employee charged by the governing body with the responsibility
for oversight and administration of the affordable housing program
for Wrightstown Borough.
The entity responsible for administering the affordability
controls of some or all units in the affordable housing program for
Wrightstown Borough to ensure that the restricted units under administration
are affirmatively marketed and sold or rented, as applicable, only
to low- and moderate-income households.
A.
Establishment of position of Municipal Housing Liaison. There is
hereby established the position of Municipal Housing Liaison for Wrightstown
Borough.
B.
Subject to the approval of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH),
the Municipal Housing Liaison shall be appointed by the governing
body and may be a full- or part-time municipal employee.
C.
The Municipal Housing Liaison shall be responsible for oversight
and administration of the affordable housing program for Wrightstown
Borough, including the following responsibilities which may not be
contracted out:
(1)
Serving as Wrightstown Borough's primary point of contact for
all inquiries from the state, affordable housing providers, administrative
agents, and interested households;
(2)
Monitoring the status of all restricted units in Wrightstown Borough's
fair share plan;
(3)
Compiling, verifying, and submitting annual reports as required by
COAH;
(4)
Coordinating meetings with affordable housing providers and administrative
agents, as applicable;
(5)
Attending continuing education opportunities on affordability controls,
compliance monitoring, and affirmative marketing as offered or approved
by COAH;
D.
Subject to approval by COAH, Wrightstown Borough may contract with
or authorize a consultant, authority, government or any agency charged
by the governing body, which entity shall have the responsibility
of administering the affordable housing program of Wrightstown Borough.
If Wrightstown Borough contracts with another entity to administer
all or any part of the affordable housing program, including the affordability
controls and affirmative marketing plan, the Municipal Housing Liaison
shall supervise the contracting administrative agent.
E.
Compensation. Compensation shall be fixed by the governing body at
the time of the appointment of the Municipal Housing Liaison.
F.
Administrative powers and duties assigned to the Municipal Housing
Liaison.
(1)
Affirmative marketing: providing counseling or contracting to provide
counseling services to low- and moderate-income applicants on subjects
such as budgeting, credit issues, mortgage qualification, rental lease
requirements, and landlord/tenant law.
(2)
Household certification: employing the random selection process as
provided in the affirmative marketing plan of Wrightstown Borough
when referring households for certification to affordable units.
(3)
Resale and rental.
(a)
Instituting and maintaining an effective means of communicating
information between owners and the administrative agent regarding
the availability of restricted units for resale or rental; and
(b)
Instituting and maintaining an effective means of communicating
information to low- and moderate-income households regarding the availability
of restricted units for resale or rerental.
(4)
Enforcement.
(a)
Securing annually lists of all affordable housing units for
which tax bills are mailed to absentee owners and notifying all such
owners that they must either move back to their unit or sell it;
(b)
Securing from all developers and sponsors of restricted units,
at the earliest point of contact in the processing of the project
or development, written acknowledgment of the requirement that no
restricted unit can be offered, or in any other way committed, to
any person, other than a household duly certified to the unit by the
administrative agent;
(c)
The posting annually in all rental properties, including two-family
homes, of a notice as to the maximum permitted rent, together with
the telephone number of the administrative agent where complaints
of excess rent can be made;
(d)
Establishing a program for diverting unlawful rent payments
to the municipality's Affordable Housing Trust Fund or other
appropriate municipal fund approved by the DCA;
(e)
Providing annual reports to COAH as required.
(5)
The administrative agent shall have authority to take all actions
necessary and appropriate to carry out its responsibilities hereunder.