Search

All News & Events

rss

News & Events

News & Event

The Block Island Times: On the horns of a (housing) dilemma

on October 20, 2017 in All News by Amy Cola

By: Cassius Shuman, Friday, 10/20/17

With the current travails of Edward Roberge, the Town Council appointed Town Manager, whose negotiations are on hold until he finds housing on Block Island, the Town of New Shoreham is facing what Town Councilor Chris Willi says is a “critical issue” that should be addressed by providing a “housing stipend.” (Roberge told The Block Island Times on Wednesday that he feels he’s getting closer to finding housing.)

“Securing any credentialed employee, or employees in general, for any position in the private or public sector requires housing,” said Willi. “It’s obviously much harder here, so it is critical to retain someone. Case in point; look at the (Block Island) Medical Center and Dr. (Mark) Clark — no different.”

The Town Council appointed Roberge by unanimous vote as its new Town Manager on Sept. 25. The problem is Roberge has been unable to conclude negotiations with the town and move into office at Town Hall because he has not secured housing; a dilemma that the town and many of its hires have been burdened with in the past.

To view the complete article, visit The Block Island Times 

Courtesy of The Block Island Times

Related Articles

  • The Block Island Times: Housing Board looking ahead

    Pleased by the favorable reception the Planning Board gave the Cherry Hill Lane affordable housing development on May 9, the members of the Block Island Housing Board turned toward implementing that project and others at their May 15 meeting.

  • Rhode Island Alliance for Healthy Housing: NELCC Conference

    New England Lead Conference Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Nashua Courtyard Marriott and Event Center 2200 Southwood Drive, Nashua, NH

  • Block Island Times: Expanding eligibility for affordable housing

    The Block Island Housing Board is seeking to expand the affordable housing applicant pool on Block Island. In order to do so the board needs to do something that might seem counterintuitive; raising the island’s median income bracket. Increasing the medium income limit could provide more people on the island with the opportunity to apply for affordable housing.

  • The Block Island Times: Letters: Housing, yes, but at a reasonable cost

    I'd like to weigh in on the housing issue for the town manager. We have to realize that a few key positions on the island in the 21st century need to be filled by persons with skills not commonly found on the island and some of these positions have a fairly high turnover rate. At present, there are two such positions on the island: The doctor and the town manager.

  • Block Island Times: Property converted to affordable housing

    The Ocean View Foundation is converting its two rental properties into affordable housing units. The non-profit is splitting a minor subdivision located off Cooneymus Road into two separate lots to establishing two single-family dwellings that will go toward the island’s affordable housing inventory.

  • The Block Island Times: Council expands employee housing proposal

    After its initial housing proposal was met with criticism from some members of the public, the New Shoreham Town Council went back to the drawing board and is now proposing that the 2.5-acre Thomas property be used for a community housing campus consisting of two separate dwellings that would house a total of seven town employees. The estimated cost for the project is about $1.5 million.


Comments are closed.
2721 Views
Tagged With:

Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter!

Newsletter Sign Up

Contact Us

401.276.4806
Email Us
Newsletter Sign Up

Visit

One Empire Plaza
Providence, RI 02903
Directions

RI Alliance for Healthy Homes

A project of
HousingWorks RI