Westborough to contract clinical services with Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services; one member recused

The Westborough Select Board voted on May 14 to authorize the town manager to finalize and execute contracts with Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS) to provide clinical services for the town’s Youth and Family Services department beginning July 1.The contract package presented to the board included the main contract, a scope of services, a memorandum of understanding and a business associate agreement addressing HIPAA protections. Staff said the arrangement would retain one full-time town outreach/resource coordinator while contracting two full-time clinicians to be located in Westborough and supervised by SYFS clinical director Jen Rifkin. The projected FY25 cost for the contracted services, including clinical oversight and benefits, was presented as $194,000.A Select Board member recused themself from the discussion and vote because the contract specifically referenced that member’s spouse’s role in the department. The board authorized the town manager to finalize and execute the agreements; the transcript records the vote as three voting members in favor, with one recusal.