Town of Princeton, MA
BOARD OF SELECTMEN -- April 10, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM in the Conference Room, Lower Level, Rutland Public Library, 280 Main St., Rutland, MA. Present were Chairman Stan Moss, Neil Sulmasy and Town Administrator John Lebeaux. Edith Morgan was absent.
Also present were Princeton Advisory Board members Wayne Adams and David Cruise and several elected and appointed officials from Holden, Paxton, Rutland and Sterling.
Scheduled Meetings/Appointments
Attend Regional Boards of Selectmen Meeting:
Discuss Wachusett Regional School District (WRSD) Fiscal Year 2015 Budget
Rutland Board of Selectman Chairman Peter Letsky led the discussion.
He recognized State Representative Anne Gobi of Spencer who briefly addressed the meeting and mentioned that the General Court may seek an increase in Regional Transportation funding from what is currently appearing in FY 2015 Cherry Sheets.
Representatives from Rutland and Paxton acknowledged that the WRSD FY 15 budget seeks an overall 1.45% increase, but the effect on each of those towns was much greater. Selectman Letsky stated that meeting the present WRSD budget request would “wipe out public safety” in Rutland. Paxton Selectman Peter Bogren stated that Paxton would need to pass a $120,000 Operational Override to meet the WRSD budget.
Sterling Selectman Robert Cutler remarked that Sterling had long supported WRSD requests and anticipated the same in FY 15.
Selectman Moss called to the meeting’s attention that Princeton is essentially paying 102% of the per pupil cost and has paid at higher than the “retail rate” for a number of years.
Holden Selectman Jeremy Kurtz informed the meeting that Holden was satisfied with the WRSD budget.
Rutland Selectman Sheila Dibb remarked that Rutland and Paxton must each find relief through a WRSD budget reduction or additional revenue from an operational override. Absent that relief, each town’s municipal budget would need severe reductions.
Selectman Sulmasy raised the issue of recent WRSD capital requests along with Maintenance Agreements between WRSD and the respective Towns. Rutland Selectman Michael Pantos referred to the District Agreement as the controlling document. There was discussion of the District Agreement, Lease Agreements and Maintenance Agreements.
There was consensus that the WRSD capital requests should be viewed regionally in order to achieve economies of scale from possible combined procurements for similar projects, and that the matter of maintenance should be looked at more carefully.
No votes were taken.
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM. All were in favor (2-0).
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________
John Lebeaux
Town Administrator
Referenced Documents:
WRSD FY 15 Assessment-Public Budget 3/17/14
Marie Auger
Administrative Assistant
Planning Department
978-464-2100
| 
