Town of Princeton, MA
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
July 30, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM in the Annex. Present were Chairman Edith Morgan, Stan Moss, Neil Sulmasy and Town Administrator John Lebeaux.
FY12 Warrant #29 & FY13 Warrant #02
The Board reviewed and signed the payroll and vendor warrants from the Treasurer and Accountant.
Minutes
Stan moved to accept the minutes of July 7, 2012. Neil seconded. All in favor (3-0).
Stan moved to accept the minutes of July 16, 2012. Neil seconded. All in favor (3-0).
Scheduled Meetings & Hearings
Underutilized Assets Committee
Members Larry Deblois, Dave Krashes, Phil Mighdoll and Mickey Splaine were in attendance. Discussion revolved around a draft Implementation Plan dated July 2012. Committee’s day to day interaction will be through John. There was discussion of best means to segregate revenue from sale of property. John will research. The Board agreed with the Committee’s proposed next operational steps are to (1) inquire with a forester to walk properties to ascertain potential value of timber, (2) walk the properties, (3) seek estimates for surveying.
Discussion of Princeton-ma.us email address
Phil Mighdoll spoke with the Board about the email address suffix that is used for approximately four hundred different addresses from approximately two hundred households. The address was first made available by PMLD whet its wireless Internet service was established whether one subscribed to the service or not. PMLD has since sold the wireless Internet to Ayacht Technology Solutions. Hosting the email service was not part of the sale. PMLD has been doing so at a cost of $75 per year to maintain the Internet domain, but it wishes to end offering the service. PMLD agrees to continue through June 30, 2013.
Phil is willing to handle all administration at no charge but wants the Town to assume the annual cost. He cited the pride users take in the Princeton-oriented address and the inconvenience of having to change one’s email.
John reported to the Board that even at the relatively minor cost this amounted to a policy decision: does the Board want the Town to essentially become an email service provider? He recommended that the Board not do so. Even with Phil assuming primary administration, John was concerned that Town Hall would receive “Help Desk” calls that it could not adequately address. He also asked about what would happen when Phil decided he no longer wanted to provide administration.
Edie inquired if the ongoing Mass. Broadband Initiative program as an opportunity to pass the service to a third party for long-term administration. Stan gave a brief report that concluded with his strong impression that high speed wired Internet connections to Princeton residents is still years away,
On a motion by Edie, seconded by Neil, the Board voted to take no action and table the matter to a future meeting. All in favor (3-0).
Conservation Commission
Members John Vieira (chair), Tom Lynch and Holly Palmgren were in attendance. The Commission provided a detailed overview of the Commission’s statutory duties and responsibilities. Tom Lynch discussed the Commission’s role in the recent Mount Wachusett Reservation project. The Board inquired about the enforcement actions the Commission took as part of the project and requested notification of similar actions in the future. John asked the Commission for the necessary backup documents to allow rental revenue for Bentley Hayfields to be kept in a special account. The Board recognized the expertise of the Commissioners and thanked them for the work they do to protect natural resources.
Old Business
Thomas Prince School Green Repair Project
John reported that a water leak test to be witnessed by the Commissioning Agent was re-scheduled to August 1. On July 18 he submitted the most recently paid invoices totaling $176,188, anticipating a reimbursement of $93,186.
Thomas Prince PCB Project
John met July 18 with Contractor and Consultant to finalize what will be included in report of actions taken and plan of remaining work. What is being proposing to do is relatively quick work but there is a question if EPA will sign off quickly enough that it can be done before back to school for teachers on August 27. Otherwise there will be the need to revise how proposed work is timed. A change in timetable could affect when the Green Repair and PCB projects are permanently financed.
Assessor Appointment
The Board received a July 24 letter from the Board of Assessors formally notifying it of the vacancy created by John Lanpher’s resignation. Pursuant to Mass. General Law Chapter 41, Section 11 the Board announced that it would like to meet jointly with the remaining Assessors on August 13 to select a new Assessor to serve until the next Town Election on May 13, 2013.
New Business
Cemetery Deeds
Stan moved to allow transfer of ownership from Karson Y. and William E. Aubuchon to Roger P. Desilets, Jr. of 20 Worcester Rd. of (3) one body spaces in Woodlawn Cemetery Main, known as Lot 24B, spaces b, c, and d. Neil seconded. All in favor (3-0).
Stan moved to sell to Karson Y. and William E. Aubuchon of 105 Merriam Rd. (3) one body spaces in Woodlawn Cemetery Main, known as Lot 18D, spaces c and d and Lot19C, spaces a and b. Neil seconded. All in favor (3-0).
Cemetery Commission – New Lot Prices
The Board reviewed the Cemetery Commission’s recent vote to raise fees for burial lots. Stan moved, Neil seconded to approve increasing the fees as presented:
Effective immediately:
Full body lots -~~~~ $450.00~(current price 300)
Cremation Lots -~$300.00~(current price 200)
~
Effective July 1, 2013:
Full body lots -~~~~ $600.00
Cremation lots -~~~$400.00
All in favor (3-0).
Election Officer Appointments
Stan moved, Neil seconded to approve the appointments as presented by the Town Clerk for a term effective August 1, 2012 through July 31, 2013. All in favor (3-0).
ZBA Filing Fee
Stan moved, Neil seconded to approve the ZBA’s recommendation to increase the filing fee for ZBA Special Permit/Variance petitions from $360 to $400. The action would match the ZBA’s fee with that of the Planning Board Special Permit that has duplicate advertising and administrative expenses. All in favor (3-0).
Other Business
As requested by John, Stan moved, Neil seconded to appoint Police Chief Michele Powers as Assistant Parking Clerk effective immediately, through July 31, 2015. All in favor (3-0).
Public Comment
None
Executive Session
None.
The meeting adjourned at 7:28 pm. All were in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________
John Lebeaux
Town Administrator
Referenced Documents:
Underutilized Assets Committee, draft Implementation Plan dated July 2012
Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners, Chapters 1 and 2
Letter from Board of Assessors, 7/24/2012
Administrator’s memo on Assessor vacancy 7/24/12
Mass. General Law Chapter 41, Section 11
Cemetery Commission email on lot fees, 7/23/2012
Election Officer Appointments – 2012
Memo from ZBA Chair John Puricelli on ZBA filing fees, 7/12/11
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