Boxborough Housing Board sets outreach plan after Fifer’s Day; staff to correct recertification letter and handle BRAP eligibility

The Boxborough Housing Board handled several administrative and outreach items, approving prior meeting minutes, reviewing the successful Fifer’s Day outreach and youth drawings, and setting steps to get more targeted feedback from residents in affordable units.

Minutes and meeting housekeeping: The board approved the prior meeting minutes by voice/roll-call vote. Members then discussed the Fifer’s Day booth, where volunteers collected survey responses and children’s drawings; staff will scan the drawings and circulate them along with a QR-linked Google survey.

Targeted survey outreach: To get actionable feedback from households most affected by local affordable-housing policy, members agreed to concentrate outreach on people living in 40B affordable rentals, recipients of BRAP or other rental-assistance programs, and households on the local waitlist. Action items: Wendy will email her client list (roughly 90 families), Ian will explore whether MetroWest or property managers can distribute the survey, and Abby/Boxboro News will post announcements; the board will use a Google form (QR code) and accept written responses for residents without internet access.

BR/BRAP eligibility cases: Staff reported two client cases. One client currently receives homeBASE assistance and is expected to remain on state aid through November/December 2026; the board agreed to defer local placement until state support ends. Another client moved into a market-rate unit and, according to the housing manager’s communication with a property manager, now exceeds local program eligibility; staff planned to remove that household from the assistance list after confirming paperwork with MetroWest/Stephanie.

Recertification letter correction: The board flagged a recertification cover letter sent by a contractor that incorrectly advised owners to track capital improvements; staff will ask the contractor to issue a corrective notice clarifying that older deed restrictions in Boxboro Meadows and Summerfields do not include the same 'capital improvements' requirement.

Next administrative steps include scanning and posting Fifer’s Day materials, circulating the revised survey, and scheduling the July meeting as a joint focal point for the Stow Road discussion and the housing production plan forum.