Town of Princeton, Mass. -- BOARD OF SELECTMEN -- December 2, 2013
6:00 PM Open Meeting The meeting was called to order in the Town Hall Annex. Present were Chairman Stan Moss, Edith Morgan, Neil Sulmasy and Town Administrator John Lebeaux. Advisory Board members, School Committee members and the Broadband Committee were also in attendance.
Scheduled Meetings/Appointments
6 PM Representative Kim Ferguson came in as she had requested a meeting. Selectmen asked about Chapter 70 funding for education and the disparity of using the “aggregate wealth” formula which has left Princeton paying over 98 percent of the cost of each local student in the WRSD—much more than any of the other four towns. Ferguson explained that she has been working on the issue and many communities are affected, whether or not they’re in regional school systems. She is looking for resolution on funding—in general--to cities and towns, including PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] and also reported on Chapter 90 transportation funds--although House and Senate both voted to spend a total package, the governor’s office didn’t so the total was not released this year. She noted that the
IT Bond Bill was passed. The funding for regional school transportation has increased somewhat and she continues to push for it. Advisory Board members asked her about getting more transparency about who controls Chapter 70 funding—basically, who to call? Ferguson advised them to connect with her and she has several contacts.
7:27 PM School Committee reps Bob Imber and Matt Lindberg came in to discuss WRSD financials including FY 14 budget status and FY 15 budget development. They said all budgets are frozen this year, and the current figure of $80,175,000 was a reduction from the previous year’s figure. They noted that the current bus company has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and bids are out for a new transportation vendor. Edith asked about MCAS scores going down among some grades in WRSD schools from Level 1 to Level 2. Imber said the MCAS was being replaced by PARCC [Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College & Careers] and that 40 states were using PARCC already. Imber and Lindberg also reported on the success of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) program at the Thomas
Prince School (TPS), and staff working with collaborators such as the WAM and WPI. They also noted that half of the kindergarten class at TP was School Choice students from out-of-district. The total non-Princeton student count is 54 out of district and 31 from within district at TP School this year. Selectmen want to consider a Maintenance Agreement between Princeton and WRSD for TP School, although the recent playground was completed independently and Princeton wants to retain control of its play fields. The reps agreed that maintenance agreements need to become more consistent for the entire district—right now it’s piecemeal and the last signed agreement ran out in July for FY’13. The Facilities Sub-Committee is currently collecting info and determining upcoming needs for buildings and grounds. Imber also pointed out that the BOS and John L. did an admirable job in quickly managing the PCB problem at TP School and using correct procedures. He noted that not all
schools have done that.
7 PM Official Town Perambulator Brian Keevan came in to submit a report on the town’s perimeter boundary markers. He had trekked the lines using a Garmin receiver, working from April – November, investigating all 24 monument stones—cleaning and dating them. State law mandates they be marked and dated every five years and he submitted photos in a hard-copy report. The BOS voted all in favor to accept the report as presented. Stan noted that Keevan had also inventoried about 10 percent of the town’s utility poles for the Broadband Committee.
7:08 PM The BOS started a discussion with the Broadband Committee and decided to explore the possibility of establishing if a private cable communications operator has real interest in providing service. Members reported that they have been in contact with Charter, Comcast and Verizon, and that until last January they had all said “no.” Recently, however, Charter indicated they might be interested in applying for a license in Princeton. They usually demand a density of 25 households per roadway mile. Stan said Princeton has almost 80 miles of roads and about 1,200 houses so the average is 15 homes per mile. Key question is what percentage of houses in town will be covered. All this plus infrastructure details must be negotiated. The Broadband Committee has already collected much required data,
including poles and household numbers. John L. reported that there is a highly regulated RFP process when a community enlists these servicers with several actions to take, each with successive deadlines. Selectmen had reviewed “A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO INITIAL LICENSING” from the Massachusetts Cable Television Division of the Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation. John L. pointed out that the Board is the issuing authority to award a license and may create a Cable Advisory Committee to assist. Selectmen voted all in favor to appoint the present members of the Broadband Committee as the Cable Advisory Committee for a term to expire June 30, 2014. Selectmen also voted all in favor to authorize John L. to engage legal counsel with experience in cable TV contracts.
New Business
7:50 PM Selectmen reviewed a public safety mutual aid agreement with the City of Worcester. This includes Worcester in a similar manner to that of a regional agreement that Princeton has with multiple other Central Mass. Communities. John L. explained that Worcester had not been included in previous agreements, but it could be necessary in extreme situations. The board voted all in favor to sign the Mutual Aid Agreement as presented.
7:55 PM John L. reported that the Bureau of Accounts at Mass. Department of Revenue--Division of Local Services has certified the FY tax rate at $17.24 per each $1,000 of valuation, down from last year’s $17.50. The certification allows individual tax bills to be mailed out before December 31, 2013 with a due date of April 1, 2014. The average residential tax bill (based on an average residential value of $303,702) is $5,236, $67 less that FY 13’s average residential tax bill. The average residential value increased for the second year in a row, after declining in each of the four previous years and values are slowly recovering after the recent economic recession. The annual Tax Recapitulation process is done by the Assessors and their staff (Jim Smith, Terri Longtine), Accountant Janice Barrett,
Treasurer-Collector Jim Dunbar, and Town Clerk Lynne Grettum also have major responsibilities in the process. Stan complimented Town Hall staff and wanted to recognize all parties for their excellent work on the recap process, as it is completed in addition to regular duties.
Other Business
8 PM Neil S. reported that the Boy Scouts in town are collecting for the Toys For Tots program of the U.S. Marines. Residents are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped gifts for boys and girls up to age 15.
Warrants and Minutes
8:15 PM BOS reviewed and approved Vendor and Payroll Warrants: FY14 # 11
The board voted all in favor to approve minutes for Nov. 18, 2013 and Nov. 20, 2013
Executive Session
8:15 PM Neil moved that selectmen enter into executive session pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A, Section 21(3), to discuss strategy with respect to litigation and not to reconvene into open session. Edith seconded the motion. Stan said “aye;” Edith said “aye” and Neil said “aye.” Stan announced that the Board would enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respective to litigation since an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the town and that the board will not reconvene in open session.
8:46 PM Selectmen voted all in favor to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, administrative assistant
Referenced Documents: Cable TV Initial Guide; Tax Rate & Valuation data; Mutual Aid with City of Worcester Agreement; Town Perambulator Report 2013.
Marie Auger
Administrative Assistant
Planning Department
978-464-2100
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