Southborough members approve $1,000 one‑time aid from Faye Fund for utility and water bills

Town of Southborough members voted to allocate $1,000 from the Faye Fund on a motion to help an applicant with past‑due utility and water bills.

The vote, moved by Stivers and seconded by Sue, passed with two recorded aye votes. Members said the award should be a one‑time payment and emphasized that the town is not committing to ongoing assistance.

Stivers, a committee member, said he was “inclined to help people” but was “very leery about ongoing obligations,” and described the award as “a sort of a one time kinda deal.” Brian, a staff member who reviewed the applicant’s file, said, “I verified his his information,” and described having checked the applicant’s records and household circumstances.

Discussion among members focused on which bills to pay directly and how to prioritize limited fund balance. Members said the water bill was the reason the applicant came to the town and discussed applying funds toward National Grid or the electric account; one speaker noted the past‑due electric amount as “a thousand even.” Members agreed the town would pay vendors directly rather than giving cash to the applicant.

Committee members reviewed the Faye Fund balance while considering the award. Brian reported the fund’s investment earnings had grown and that the balance was “up to, like, 20 now,” which members discussed as sufficient to cover the $1,000 allocation without exceeding their customary annual spending.

After discussion, Stivers moved “that we allocate $1,000 for applicant 66,” the motion was seconded by Sue, and both members voted aye. Members instructed staff to pay the specified bills directly and to communicate to the recipient that the payment was intended as one‑time relief.

Less urgent procedural items followed and the meeting was adjourned.