News / Updates

On January 15, 2020, Allen Edinberg moderated an Affordable Housing Forum. Hosted by the Board of Selectmen, the forum was the first meeting of all stakeholders in housing affordability in Westborough in recent memory. Having led the effort to organize the forum, Allen's objective was to inform the community about the state of affordability housing in Westborough; introduce the different committees and boards, their roles and responsibilities; and to discuss opportunities for improving housing affordability. As creating a municipal affordable housing trust is one key tool, Shelly Goehring from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (mhp.net) also provided an overview of Municipal Affordable Housing Trusts as a structure for towns to support the maintenance and development of affordable housing.

You can review the presentations on the Town website:

• Affordable Housing Forum.FINAL

• MHP.Westborough MAHT presentation 011520

As a result of the meeting, the Board of Selectmen subsequently voted to create an Affordable Housing Trust Working Group. The goal for the group was to evaluate the applicability of a municipal affordable housing trust and, if applicable, to recommend a structure and next steps. Allen was selected to Chair the working group.

On October 22, 2019, Allen presented a proposal for consideration by the Board of Selectmen to modify the Comprehensive Fiscal Management Policies with respect to Capital Expenditures. Serving in the Capital Planning Expenditure Committee (CPEC), Allen noticed differences between the policies and the practice of the committee. Specifically he expressed concern that the practices of the committee were not providing a few of all capital expenditures as intended by the policies. As such, Town Meeting did not have a unified view of all capital projects in the five year window and some multi-year plans were not readily visible. His concern was that this gap makes it more difficult to plan capital spending across the entire town. In his presentation to the Board, Allen suggested modifications to the policies and practices. The Board, voted to direct the Town's Finance Team to consider the issue and propose changes to the process.

Update - FY22 Budget Cycle: Having proposed changes to the policies and practices to the Board and received guidance and approval, an updated process is in use for the FY22 budget cycle. Most notable differences include:

• All capital projects across all departments, including the school department, are identified

• The preferred source of funds is noted, including free cash, raise and appropriate, enterprise funds, and stabilization funds and reserves

• The five (5) year plan allows for inclusive scheduling of capital expenditures across the entire Town.

Working on the issue of affordable housing, Allen learned that the Gubernatorial appointment to the Westborough Housing Authority was vacant for several years. After researching Mass. General Law, Allen confirmed that absent an appointment by the Governor, the Board of Selectmen had the authority to make the appointment. He proposed, and the Board voted to act, to take the necessary steps to recruit and appoint on behalf of the Governor.