Westborough committee adopts Community Preservation Plan, sets outreach and application calendar

The Town of Westborough Community Preservation Committee voted June 9 to adopt its final draft Community Preservation Plan and moved to begin community outreach and an application cycle ahead of the fall town meeting.

The committee chair told attendees the town has roughly $1.2 million in its Community Preservation (CPA) fund and that the committee will open a pre-application period in August and September, with full applications due Oct. 1. The committee said recommended projects will go to Town Meeting for final approval and emphasized that Town Meeting can reduce or reject recommended amounts but cannot increase or substitute projects recommended by the committee.

Why it matters: the CPA establishes a dedicated local fund — supported in Westborough by a 0.5% real-estate surcharge adopted at Town Meeting — to pay for historic preservation, open space and recreation, and affordable housing. By adopting the plan and launching outreach, the committee is setting the process that will decide how the town’s CPA money is allocated in coming years.

The committee’s presentation summarized key program rules: state law requires the town to set aside at least 10% of annual CPA revenue for each of the three main categories, permits up to 5% for administrative expenses, and limits ineligible uses such as routine maintenance and many private facilities. The committee also noted that most awarded projects are reimbursed after work is completed and documented and that projects are expected to be completed within about 24 months unless a reasonable exception is granted.

“Roughly without the interest through today ... about $1,200,000,” the committee chair said when asked about the fund balance. The chair and committee members advised potential applicants to use the CPA Coalition website and the plan’s eligibility matrix to gauge whether ideas qualify before preparing full applications.

Members and members of the public urged a broad outreach effort. “You’ve done a lot of good work,” a community member identified as Bill said, offering to help distribute information through local civic clubs. Judith Tully asked what happens if Town Meeting reduces or rejects a recommendation; committee members said a project could be revised and returned in a subsequent year.

The committee agreed to produce a brief one-page flyer and share a presentation deck members can use when visiting local clubs and civic organizations. It also directed staff to post materials and links on the town website and Westborough TV, and set the committee’s next meeting for Aug. 4 at 5 p.m. to begin preliminary application reviews.

The meeting record shows the committee approved the final draft plan by roll-call vote. With the plan adopted, the committee will accept pre-applications in August–September and expect full applications by Oct. 1; funded projects will be those recommended by the committee and approved at Town Meeting.

The committee adjourned after scheduling outreach work and confirming the August meeting date.