Town of Princeton, Mass. – June 8, 2015 -- 6 PM
BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes - PBMLP Working Meeting
6 PM The meeting was called to order in the Town Hall Annex. Present were Chairman Edith Morgan, Stan Moss, Jon Fudeman and interim T.A. Robert Reed. Advisory Board present were: Chairman John Shipman, Wayne Adams, Jim O’Coin, David Cruise, George Handy and Bill Lawton
Old Business
Board discussed various procedures for choosing T.A. – either Mickey Splaine or Nina Nazarian. Edith explained her reasons for favoring Mickey; Jon and Stan agreed to voice vote and Jon also chose Mickey. The board voted 2 to 1 to offer the position to Mickey and Stan abstained.
6:15 PM Selectmen agreed to the “charge” to the Facilities Planning Committee as synthesized by Stan, adding “cost estimates” to #5 and summarizing at the end with a call for urgency. The board voted all in favor to approve the charge as edited
6:20 PM They voted all in favor to recess the BOS meeting and convene as PBMLP. Stan reported that Mass. Broadband Institute (MBI) had promised a grant application ready by the end of June, at $920,000 for construction and make-ready of the utility poles. John Kowaleski, chairman of the Broadband Cmte., is maintaining documents and starting a business plan and is in contact with several potential vendors. Almost all poles are jointly owned by Verizon and PMLD. Over 400 poles need upgrading and 80 need to be replaced. For the grant, the owners must do the work to get poles ready for fiber-optic lines, which could take 8-9 months. Total cost for make-ready estimated at $1.2 million and includes non-construction components for legal and technical help. Verizon needs to be
paid for assessment and upgrade of poles and could take 12 months.
Boards discussed crafting an RFI and suggestion made to use Town of Everett RFI as an example since it has one professionally written. The RFI must include a pre-subscription financial commitment; a length of time commitment and a license to access (right of way) on private properties. About 750 subscribers must be committed as a minimum to make the project work. There are 1,453 mail addresses in town, which includes multi-family buildings. Towns have three options if working with MBI: the regional build with MBI; a regional build of towns on their own; and, the town alone. Princeton’s share of the MBI grant could expand if other towns back out. Also, Princeton is ahead of all other towns in the Wired West area in its readiness to have
poles assessed and prepped for stringing fiber-optic.
Jon F. explained that Selectmen have a fiduciary responsibility and wants to get the Advisory Board involved ASAP and pitch in to craft a business plan. He noted that the total project cost will be around $5.5 million, mostly paid by subscribers, but he’s like the Advisory Board to analyze if subscriber funding will be enough to avoid a negative cash flow that the town will be responsible for.
Stan stressed that the process of borrowing the money is completely different from the process of spending the money. Jon pointed out that there’s no need to act immediately to spend any money and that the individuals from all involved committees can write a business plan. John Kowaleski from the Broadband Committee pointed out that expert advice from consultants and attorneys has indicated that the make-ready portion of the project, which the town owns, contains minimal risk.
Discussion moved to Verizon and pole situation. Stan reported that Verizon is transferring its ownership of poles in many communities as it is not in the business of hardware. It was noted that PMLD is negotiating with Verizon about this potential transfer of poles. Having PMLD own all poles would forward the broadband initiative but PMLD would lose some lease fees it currently collects from Verizon, although PMLD would benefit from some upgrades. Boards also debated using the towns Reserve Fund for certain initial costs, and they agreed on the importance of getting PMLD Gen. Mgr. Brian Allen into the process.
Almost two dozen residents were in attendance, voicing support for spending the $1.2 million allotted at town meeting on make-ready work, with many sounding frustrated at time passing with nothing happening. Many pointed out the overwhelming support shown at the town meeting when the funding was approved. Both boards agreed to study the figures and start a business plan and be ready in one week to authorize the borrowing of the $1.2 million. They will post a joint meeting for that purpose on Tuesday, June 16 at 6 PM.
8:30 PM Board voted all in favor to adjourn PBMLP meeting and reconvene BOS meeting. Advisory board moved to small room and everyone else left.
Selectmen discussed the town’s personnel policy and voted all in favor to have Bob R. engage Atty. Brackett to check the policy if it can be done at a fixed rate.
Executive Session
8:40 PM Selectmen then went into executive session. Stan M. made a motion: “I move to enter into Executive Session pursuant to MGL Chapt. 30A, Sect. 21, (a)6 “Disposition of real property” and (a)3 “Pending litigation” and (a)2 “Contract negotiation.” and not to reconvene into open session” and Jon F. seconded the motion. Edith M. called for a vote and in roll call Jon voted “Aye,” Edith voted “Aye” and Stan voted “Aye.” Edith then announced that “the Board will now enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to disposition of real property, contract strategy and pending litigation since an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining
position of the Town.”
9:55 PM Adjourn
Respectfully submitted, Marie N. Auger, administrative assistant
BOS Referenced Documents: Charges to the Facilities Planning Comte.
Marie Auger
Administrative Assistant
Planning Department
978-464-2100
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