Town of Princeton, MA
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Special Meeting
May 4, 2009
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM. Present were Chairman Raymond Dennehy, Joe O’Brien and Alan Sentkowski. BOH Chair Greg Dowdy, Jim Hillis, Bob Mason and Terri Longtine were also present.
SWINE FLU UPDATE:
BOS members wanted to speak to the Board of Health regarding the town’s ability to react to the on-going concerns of the Swine Flu outbreak. The Board of Health works closely with Kenneth Gikas, Program Consultant for the Massachusetts Region II Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition. By working with them, the Board of Health and other emergency personnel have implemented an Emergency Dispensing Plan that is in place now in~the event of a pandemic and that a flu vaccine would need to be administered. The Thomas Prince School has been designated as the dispensing site. In talking with Ken, he stated that there is no vaccine currently available for the Swine Flu and that he doesn't foresee that the site would be activated any time soon. Also, the severity of the outbreak has been minimized. The BOS were satisfied in that the Town
could respond if called upon to do so.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT: (Mailing issue)
Traditionally the Special Town Meeting and Annual Town Meeting warrants have been mailed to every household. Alan stated that there is no state law requiring that the warrant be mailed. The requirements are that the "warrants be posted in three (3) conspicuous locations within the town". The Annual Town Meeting warrant requires that it is posted no less than 7 days before and the Special Town Meeting warrant requires that it be posted no less than 14 days before. Princeton By-Laws does not require mailing of the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting but states in the by-laws that a Special Town Meeting Warrant "be mailed to all town residents...”~The Board stated that it is impractical and expensive to mail the warrants this day and age with the Internet and town web site available to a huge amount of residents.~ After
this discussion, Joe moved to no longer be required to mail Annual Town Meeting warrants to every town resident after the May 12, 2009 Town Meeting. Raymond seconded. All in favor. (3-0).
They would discuss locations to post SPTM/ATM warrants at a future BOS meeting. Joe moved to adjourn at 5:00 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________
Terri Longtine
Administrative Secretary
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