Select Board adopts senior tax work‑off and grants management policies, sets 40 senior work slots

The Southborough Select Board on April 28 adopted two administrative policies intended to improve fiscal oversight and senior services.

The board unanimously adopted an updated senior tax work‑off policy that removes a prescriptive dollar threshold and authorizes the Select Board to set the number of available positions annually. The board voted to set the number of available slots at 40 (motion seconded and approved by voice vote). One member noted the prior number was 30 and that expanding slots would help departments seeking volunteers.

The board also adopted a new grants management policy to centralize tracking of grant applications and to require disclosure of potential future fiscal impacts. Under the policy the town’s grants administrator will assess each opportunity for programmatic and financial impacts and — where a grant would increase FTEs, benefits or create capital obligations above $10,000 — the administrator will recommend Select Board or School Committee acceptance and note ongoing costs. The policy is intended to prevent surprises where a grant award creates recurring local costs after state or external funding ends.

Officials praised staff for drafting the grants process and said the policy will be implemented with an internal spreadsheet tracking applications, awards and closeout reports. The board approved both policies during the meeting’s consent and financial policy items.

(Policies presented by staff and approved by voice vote.)