The Board of the Affordable Housing Trust voted unanimously to hire the consulting firm Community Scale to prepare the town's Housing Production Plan, the board decided during a meeting called to order at 9:05 a.m.

Board members said Community Scale's proposal appeared better positioned to meet the project's timetable and offered a more interactive, actionable product than the competing proposal from Judy Barrett's team. The board also agreed to hold release of certain executive-committee minutes until outstanding matters are resolved.

Board members said two strong proposals were submitted. A member of the trust noted Community Scale’s ability to meet the schedule and provide interactive, community-facing materials: "Definitely felt like they could hit the schedule or at least seem to be much more ready to hit the schedule." The same member said Community Scale’s website and presentation materials were differentiators.

Trust members contrasted that with Barrett's proposal, noting Barrett’s extensive experience with the Town of Southborough but expressing concern about the shorter proposal and its ability to hit the tight schedule. One board member said Barrett's firm presented a briefer proposal focused on team experience, while Community Scale offered more detail about methods and concrete, place-based steps.

"I I I think we're all on the same page. I'll I will move to accept the proposal from community scale," said Speaker 4, who moved the motion; the motion was seconded by Speaker 2. The board then conducted a roll-call vote: Ellen—aye; Al—aye; Paul—aye; Doug—aye. The motion passed.

After the vote, board members discussed next steps. The chair asked that an email be sent to staff member Melanie, copying Mark Purple and Vanessa, to make arrangements to hire Community Scale. The board agreed to designate a smaller liaison group to work directly with the consultant and report back; the meeting record indicates Alan and Jesse were suggested as liaisons. Jesse did not participate in the meeting discussion.

Members set the next meeting for the fifteenth (month not specified) at 6:30 p.m. and invited a representative from Habitat for Humanity to attend that meeting to discuss potential coordination; one board member also mentioned a recent conversation with Jim Castares, the head of Boston Habitat. The board ended the meeting after agreeing to move forward with contracting and coordination.

Other business: at the start of the meeting the board briefly addressed an administrative matter about releasing executive-committee minutes that had previously been approved. Because there were outstanding items said to remain unresolved, the board opted to continue holding those minutes and revisit release at the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned following the vote to hire Community Scale.