CPC updates consultant job description, seeks contract revisions and quick approval to continue consultant pay

The Southborough Community Preservation Committee reviewed an updated job description for its paid consultant and discussed the process to renew the consultant contract. Committee members added language that the consultant should "track funded projects and communicate with project managers on a quarterly basis for updates" and to "help educate the committee about the bonding process and bonding capacity."

Members also raised concerns about the town’s standard contract form. One long-serving committee member said they and a predecessor had previously needed an attorney to review the town’s standard contract and had to mark many inapplicable clauses "NA" before signing. "You'd be out of your mind to sign that," the member said of the unmodified standard form. Committee members asked the chair to retrieve a copy of the last contract the consultant signed so the committee can see which clauses were struck or initialed and to work with the town administrator to draft a contract consistent with the revised job description.

Committee members discussed timing: the consultant’s contract is lapsed and the consultant needs to be able to submit hours. The chair said she would ask the town administrator to prepare a contract and, if necessary, schedule a short August meeting to approve the contract so the consultant can be paid. The committee did not change the job description’s operating duties except to add quarterly project updates and support for an up-to-date five-year plan. The committee did not vote on a final contract at the meeting; it asked the chair to produce the last signed contract and to circulate a proposed contract for an in-person or virtual vote as soon as practicable.