Westborough trust outlines Town Meeting strategy; to propose home‑rule petition and amend citizen petition

The Westborough Affordable Housing Trust reviewed its speaking strategy for the annual Town Meeting, planning presentations on two trust warrant articles: a request that the town transfer 45 High Street Extension to the trust for study and a home‑rule petition that would exempt specified trust projects from parts of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 149 procurement rules to preserve eligibility for federal and state low‑income housing tax credits.

Trust members agreed to remove detailed design slides from the Town Meeting presentation to limit premature design debate and to emphasize the legal warrant-language and reasons the town should transfer the site for affordable housing study. They discussed permitting pathways, neighborhood outreach and the select board’s authority to set terms and conditions on any transfer, including time-limited reclamation language if permits are not obtained.

On a citizen petition (Article 41) that proposed language about equitable distribution of affordable housing, the trust decided to prepare an amendment to clarify and align the petition with the trust’s mission and guiding principles. Members voted to authorize the chair to present that amendment on the Town Meeting floor; the authorization vote was recorded as 7–0.

Trust members said the home‑rule petition would not change prevailing wage obligations and would be project‑specific; staff expects the legislative process to take six to 12 months if the select board files the petition after Town Meeting.