[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6123487,"mediaKeyId","2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882","parentId",2689580,"title","CPC finalizes FY2026 warrant articles; approves budget language and housing trust article after debate over sunset clause","audioSeconds",8203,"startMs",1127000,"endMs",9330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882&start=1127&end=9330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882/thumbnail_1127000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123487/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/CPC-finalizes-FY2026-warrant-articles-approves-budget-language-and-housing-trust-article-after-debate-over-sunset-clause","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123487-cdd1056ee655cbaa907c3d12b6d5ab48/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448601&Signature=mWI43k6FGlqO7usHpUuvkWkoNKt1JKKIEqIQQttwn2ejlTVSKSxtLzLgWF5tp-FK4MHGYLgsMJNILE6KsZ5hXUEEJY2qCqtMTM~xja21x29BjrJlkOJLGp5TqW3YFYOu6Vv4L4FGpj~wggAONPMX3WbTQjxnjlNsNPggtCADnkxvf5xwgDXAI4uWGirepG6H3ia3skPeqmifvSzXJ33T--yfK9nMGwjftVxNQft2PiFG~fo3uKZ7s6wk1kTFPHVgUvjWa0~XDLxv~aPskJ6kM19AR6VRSHeGkwdeZ68Lu3AqlAYUItvqAzz-5gX3hGDFRdeG~X4DoV4Pk2cDFH1zrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Southborough, MA","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Community Preservation Committee reviewed multiple FY2026 warrant articles and voted to approve the committee’s recommended articles after detailed discussion, including changes suggested by town counsel and the Department of Revenue guidance.

Committee members discussed terminology changes requested by counsel and state guidance, agreeing to use the term “trust fund distribution” instead of the older phrase “state match” to avoid confusion about the timing and basis of the distribution. The committee also reviewed and preserved a budgeted reserve (the set-aside) that will appear in the warrant as $176,291; members said that reserving funds makes them available for projects that may come forward after annual town meeting and before the next tax-rate setting.

The group considered whether to include bond-debt-service line items in the article and kept them for transparency; town counsel will meet with the committee in the summer to provide further explanation. Members also discussed market risk for invested CPC funds and were briefed that the Town Treasurer controls investment decisions; because some members were concerned about principal volatility, the committee chose funding sources for specific articles accordingly.

Committee members debated language that would have required unspent funds transferred to the Affordable Housing Trust to revert to the CPC after a set period (a “sunset clause”). Town counsel advised that the CPC may lack authority to require such reversion once funds are properly transferred to a statutory housing trust; after discussion the committee accepted counsel’s recommendation and removed a forced sunset provision while noting concerns about long-term fund use and requesting closer communication with the Affordable Housing Trust.

Votes at a glance
- Article 1 (FY2026 reservation & distribution language including set-asides and debt-service reporting): approved (roll-call vote recorded as yes by Kristen LaVault, Grant, Brett, Claire and Lisa Braccio; tally 5–0).
- Article 2 (adjustments / trust fund distribution adjustments): approved (roll-call vote recorded; tally 5–0).
- Article 3 (historic downtown railing funding): approved with one abstention (Claire abstained; other members recorded yes).
- Article 4 (transfer to Affordable Housing Trust and conditions): approved (roll-call vote recorded as yes by Kristen LaVault, Grant, Brett, Claire and Lisa Braccio; tally 5–0).

Members asked staff to produce a clean warrant draft incorporating the committee’s edits (capitalization, punctuation, consistent statutory citations such as MGL Chapter 44B and references to the Department of Revenue’s IGR) and to circulate the final text to the committee and to town staff prior to printing. The committee agreed to host a pre–town-meeting review session and to coordinate presentations for town meeting, noting that project proponents (for example, the Select Board for the railing project) should be prepared to present and answer questions on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Southborough: Community Preservation Committee 3/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Community Preservation Committee approved multiple FY2026 warrant articles, preserving a $176,291 budgeted reserve and adopting counsel-suggested wording changes; members debated but did not adopt a sunset clause for funds transferred to the Affordable Housing Trust.","taxTitle","Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",56453,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123490,"CPC keeps historic fire truck restoration application open for fall town meeting",413,646000,1059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882&start=646&end=1059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882/thumbnail_646000.jpg","/articles/6123490/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/CPC-keeps-historic-fire-truck-restoration-application-open-for-fall-town-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123490-92b2bd9f8595e2120c463ee8007d51d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448601&Signature=lWcBHkak~vcaSvoMBDndWqS1B5zAj4JzgX~LXlIO356p8a3CL7sbYGlTw7CxfeyoxpTO33zCehvHy6vjxw2tSqBRTFO08B7m9pLnmWyL~eUtSCemsrp6MmAc6chrwfKJKp06KXFw7UX73xQH7O3YEwnokpr2yQbmxehV-xYAo7tJ62VMGfVSNgIjIKELtZu9y~uBYgKWC54m1eGoP0jRphwpCEZXaJiqCFXajzFWqsiLNQuETBSXWjKGR~N8mI4X8fo8K46UPrAsIaYO-gDLArvP5Lv3SHhz6ysPIgzIVYp07jN3pcOlbVUeVM7peoxpLyRIIjdg-ATMNn7UjnWBsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Kendall, the applicant for the historic fire truck restoration project, asked the Community Preservation Committee to keep his application open and to withdraw the specific Article from the upcoming town meeting so he can rework the submission and return in the fall.

Kendall said he planned to “pull the article for this town meeting and leave the application open in hopes of coming back in the fall,” citing concerns raised at a recent Select Board review and the need to revise quotes and materials. He also described confusion about whether the historical commission had taken the vote required for the project’s advance review; committee members confirmed no new official vote had been recorded and that a January 2024 vote on related documents did not substitute for the required historic-resources finding.

Committee members discussed steps to avoid a procedural disservice to the applicant, including asking the Historical Commission to schedule a short meeting (the commission’s next regular meeting was noted as April 3) or to hold a brief Zoom vote so the record is complete before any town-floor action. Several members encouraged outreach to the historical commission and to the Select Board to ensure the application is revised and accompanied by the necessary commission vote.

The committee then moved to keep the application open with the expectation the applicant will submit a revised application for review; the motion to keep the historic fire truck restoration application open passed on a roll-call vote with Kristen LaVault, Grant, Brett, Claire and Lisa Braccio recorded as voting yes.

Members said they support giving the applicant an opportunity to revise and educate the public—suggested steps included showing the truck at summer events and additional fundraising or outreach events. The committee also apologised for an oversight in scheduling historical commission review and committed to improved coordination on those process steps going forward.","Applicant Jason Kendall asked the CPC to keep his historic fire truck restoration application open after advisory-board concerns; the committee voted to keep the application open and asked for a final revised application prior to fall presentation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123494,"CPC elects Lisa Braccio chair; Kristen LaVault chosen vice chair",347,0,347000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882&start=0&end=347","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689580-3772bb1a68cb79e78add04f1a8002882/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6123494/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/CPC-elects-Lisa-Braccio-chair-Kristen-LaVault-chosen-vice-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123494-fa8923ce30d84e5049a8c50787e76a28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448601&Signature=bDFad193Btp5gtWkRvIt6LTc2VzRT0TKXucNx7T~0tn04ziYikujzJIzsP4jx1DseNiibCOERFZmq-D-UhmNl2XK9EGRyXBAcBsM-qFV07yyuNBlFOiqYtxd8yX3g7Oqc61Uj4sZEWwHXKvWByRxNSaw3s04ivYe9zH5EGfT7Y2etqAYLwxVbB-sV~eeT7j68eoW-PuC81iIaLT9C~zjl-wLAou~wLIK5kr42~qfEfS4iJmK6Cr12EFEBoj7EZWRP2MQ8uSLK91x~2Jtml9WV5wOwR-F9MF5B6CAH77FP~tZ8dTLU48nUZiMPvqF4snh6Y5OadLRKSRIfnBWyMPitQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Preservation Committee voted to install Lisa Braccio as chair and Kristen LaVault as vice chair during its regular meeting, following the recent departure of longtime member Ben.

Committee members said Ben’s absence left a gap in institutional knowledge. Grama moved to nominate Lisa Braccio as chair; the motion was seconded and approved in a roll-call vote with Kristen LaVault, Grant, Brett, Blair and Lisa Braccio voting yes.

The committee then nominated Kristen LaVault to resume the vice chair role. Grant moved to nominate LaVault; the motion was seconded and carried in a roll-call vote with Kristen LaVault, Grant, Brett, Blanche and Lisa Braccio voting yes.

Members also discussed filling a clerk/minutes role to share the workload of preparing minutes and posting documents online. Several members said they preferred to rotate the duty or share it, and no formal appointment was made. The committee said it will revisit the clerk assignment at a future meeting and take advantage of an AI-assisted transcript/minutes tool to reduce the burden on a single volunteer.

The committee opened with several members speaking about Ben’s years of service and the knowledge he provided; members said they plan to rely on institutional supports and cross-training as the committee transitions to new leadership.

A roll-call vote record was read aloud for the two leadership motions; the committee did not take other formal personnel actions at the meeting.","At its meeting, the Town of Southborough Community Preservation Committee (CPC) nominated and voted to elect Lisa Braccio as chair and Kristen LaVault as vice chair after longtime member Ben stepped down; the committee also discussed but did not decide on a clerk role.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CPC finalizes FY2026 warrant articles; approves budget language and housing trust article after debate over sunset clause

CPC keeps historic fire truck restoration application open for fall town meeting

CPC elects Lisa Braccio chair; Kristen LaVault chosen vice chair