The Affordable Housing Program in Bedminster had Board oversight until 2021, when the Bedminster Hills Housing Corporation (BHHC) contract was discontinued by the Township. Since that time, there has been no independent review of the current agent (CGP&H), or any independent oversight of the use of the Bedminster Township Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was up to over $2.5 million per the last posted report on March 31, 2024. We believe an oversight Board, such as existed under BHHC, is necessary for accountability and transparency and to ensure that the funds are used to benefit the affordable housing in Bedminster as was intended.
A Board of Trustees of 8–10 members:
No member shall receive any renumeration for serving on the Board.
Every affordable unit sold in Bedminster pays a 20% recapture fee on the net profit through the first sale at market rate. the main source of funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Currently, it seems to be used mainly to give homeowners $5,000 interest-free closing-cost loans.
The Township Committee has said it’s open to letting qualifying residents apply for funding for needed improvements—but no method exists to approve projects or payouts without a Board.
CGP&H, the current administrative agent, takes applications, qualifies buyers, prices units, and matches buyers to homes. There are indications some buyers aren’t qualified until they’re ready to make an offer, and some view homes that don’t fit their needs—slowing sales. A Board should review these incidents and hold the agent to protocol.
