Trust moves to award HomeBorrow administration, rebids emergency rental assistance solicitation

Unidentified Speaker 2 said trustees would negotiate and execute a contract with MetroWest Collaborative Development to administer the HomeBorrow down-payment assistance (DPA) program, after the Trust received only one bid and identified a typo in the solicitation.

The chair (Unidentified Speaker 1) seconded the motion. Speaker 4 (identified in the audio as Kate) explained that four solicitations were issued but “only 1 came back, and so there was a typo in the solicitation, so we are going to rebid it.” Trustees discussed that MetroWest would administer the program and that the Trust would take responsibility for marketing once the contract is in place — including outreach to realtors and bank lending officers.

Trustees emphasized outreach channels. Unidentified Speaker 1 said the Trust would produce a press release and update a trifold pamphlet for distribution to local realtors and lending officers. Trustees requested staff coordinate marketing tasks with the chair and Kate and encouraged targeted outreach to Eastern Worcester County realtors and banks to reach potential buyers who might not otherwise consider Westborough.

Next steps: the motion authorizing negotiation and contract execution with MetroWest was moved and seconded and the chair called for a vote; the transcript indicates the trustees moved the item forward (the written tally is not recorded in the motion section of the transcript). The Trust also will rebid the emergency rental assistance solicitation because of the typo and will return to the Board with the procurement results and a draft contract when available.

The Trust’s speakers on this topic: Unidentified Speaker 2 (moved motion), Unidentified Speaker 1 (second and chair), Speaker 4 (Kate) on procurement and marketing.