Southborough CPC pauses vote on transferring CPA housing funds to new Affordable Housing Trust

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) discussed on Feb. 13 a request from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee to receive a transfer of the town’s CPA community housing funds but did not vote to approve the transfer, saying they need clearer goals, legal safeguards and updated application materials.

The discussion matters because the CPC would transfer roughly half a million dollars in community housing funds to the trust’s control; members said they want protections such as a sunset clause and a clearer plan for how the money would be used before placing the transfer on a warrant for town meeting.

Ben Smith, Community Preservation Committee member, opened the meeting by listing the affordable housing trust fund application as one of the session’s “most critical items.” Ellen Mariah, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee representative on the CPC, said the trust has met several times and is working to narrow strategic goals: “we spent some time … to put together…