Town of Princeton, Mass. – October 26, 2015 -- 5 PM
BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes
5 PM The meeting was called to order in the Town Hall Annex. Present were Chairman Edith Morgan, Jon Fudeman, Stan Moss and T.A. Nina Nazarian.
Autumn Kelly, a junior at Monty Tech, organizes a Project 351 collection for a food bank and requested use of Town Hall Annex to stage a movie night on Dec. 5. A double feature would be aimed at families for early evening and teens/adults for the 2nd show. Admission would be non-perishable food. She outlined rules for participants and said her team would be leaving the space at least as good as they find it. Selectmen voted all in favor to permit the Project 351 use of the annex on Dec. 5 from 4 pm to midnight.
5:10 PM Town Clerk Lynne G. was in to explain purchase of new voting equipment. Funding in the amount of $8000.00 for a new vote tabulator was approved at the May 12, 2015 Annual Town Meeting. The selected tabulator is the DS 200 from Election Systems and Software, our current vendor. The price of the new tabulator and training is $6,641.33. In order to move forward with the purchase and use of a new tabulator the following two BOS votes are required by the Secretary of State’s office: to purchase the new voting machine and to discontinue the use of the current machine and indicate the start date of the new machine.
Stan M. made a motion, “to purchase the DS200 scanner from Election Systems and Software.” Seconded by Jon F.; all voted in favor. Stan then moved, “pursuant to MGL Chapter 54, Section 34, to discontinue the use of the Optech III-P Eagle vote tabulator, including hand counting, on February 29th 2016, and to employ the new DS 200 scanner from Election Systems and Software starting with the March 1, 2016 Presidential Primary.” Motion was seconded by Jon F.; all voted in favor.
They then voted all in favor to authorize the town administrator to enter into a contract with Election Systems & Software.
5:15 PM Nina reported that a request was made from a Ben Thompson of Boston for employee salary information, which is public record. She is working with with Jim D., treasurer/collector to send out the public record request. She announced that WRSD is hosting a school budget round-table on Nov. 4. She also noted that Jordan Farm in Rutland is again trucking sludge-soil through Princeton, and Stan suggested that the police chief be notified.
5:20 PM Bob and Deb Berube in attendance to discuss their food vending trailer operation set up on south side of Mechanic's Hall. The lot is believed to be zoned residential-agricultural, which has created a question of whether or not this trailer could even lawfully operate at that location, even with the Selectmen’s agreement. John Wilson, Inspector of Buildings/Zoning Enforcement Officer indicated there is not any provision which would allow this type of use. Bob B. said the boundary of the Business zone overlaps onto the Mechanics Hall frontage by 47’, and goes 300’ back from the street. He believes the Business zone therefore dictates use for the entire lot. He also presented an insurance policy, as BOS was concerned about liability. The selectmen want to have the zoning boundary
measured manually and want more information at an upcoming meeting.
5:40 PM Fieldstone Farm Steering Committee was in with Advisory Board members John Shipman, George Handy and Wayne Adams. In attendance were Deb Cary and Charlie Wyman from Audubon and Brian Keevan and Tom Sullivan from Princeton Land Trust. Tom gave a Powerpoint presentation. The ad hoc Fieldstone Farm Working Group has identified funding sources and numerous options with timelines. They answered a list of questions from the Advisory Bd. and reviewed that list. Edith M. stressed the need for keeping additional Town land for future needs (i.e. 8-acres at corner of Calamint Hill and Rt. 62). The initial appraisal was $2.74 million total; the sellers agreed to $3 million. Each agency involved requires their own appraisals. Deb C. outlined sources of private fundraising that is projected to be $750,000.
Princeton’s initial net cost would be $250,000 assuming a reimbursement of $400,000 from the LAND grant. If raised and appropriated, the average tax bill, on an average property valuation of $305,000 would see an increase of $170./yr, or $.57/thousand. George H. described it as a forced donation and suggested that it should be done with voluntary donations rather than a tax increase on every household.
There was then discussion about the town receiving a parcel for future municipal use such as public safety facilities. Selectmen agreed that the town should get something out of this deal. They proposed adding more houselots down Calamint Hill Road to compensate for the town taking up potential houselots at the corner of Route 62 and Calamint Hill. Tom S. stated that the stakeholders/investors for conservation would lose interest if development expanded in that way.
Nina had crafted funding options for a special town meeting and had a report on tax bill impacts under the various options. It was discussed that STM approval is technically only authorizing selectmen to direct the treasurer to borrow money, not set the borrowing timeframe. The Fieldstone Steering Committee prefers the STM be scheduled for December rather than November. There is an issue about when the tax rate is set.
7:05 PM Selectmen voted all in favor to schedule the STM for Dec. 15 for a proposal to borrow $250,000. The decision about whether it is a debt exclusion or simple raise of the tax rate was put off to next week’s BOS meeting. As the town dues not spend up to its levy limit, there is room there to raise taxes without going over Prop. 2 ½. An argument from an audience member stressed that raising the levy limit is almost always permanent, even when the intention was for a temporary raise (in taxes). Another member suggested that $250,000 is such a small amount that it wouldn’t make sense to exclude the debt.
7:10 PM Dept. Chief Tim Kelly was in and selectmen discussed recommendations from the Facilities Planning Committee which is calling for improvements to fire alarms in six public buildings. The Committee had put together a rough draft cost estimate for the installation of fire safety needs in Bagg Hall, Town Hall Annex, Library, Public Safety, Fire Station 2, and the Princeton Center. Nina suggested advertising for qualified design firms, through a Request for Qualifications with the idea of hiring the most qualified design firm to begin the process of addressing cost, logistics/solutions. Selectmen voted all in favor to authorize the town administrator to submit a ‘request for qualifications’ for fire alarm systems.
Tim described the leaking roof at Station #2 in East Princeton which has damaged electronics in addition to interior surfaces. Repairs have been estimated at around $40,000, but one quote received was as high as $80,000.
7:30 PM Selectmen reviewed the bid submissions for Bagg Hall roof repair and voted all in favor to award the low bidder, Stanley Roofing Co. of Ipswich, with a low bid of $135,100, and to authorize the Town Administrator to enter into a contract with Stanley Roofing Company, Inc. for the Bagg Hall, roof renovations & repair project.
Selectmen agreed to defer the development of testimony supporting a House Bill aimed at the Wetlands Protection Act for drainage work on public ways. It will move to the Nov. 2 agenda.
The Building Maintenance vehicle continues to need repairs and is rusted. Both the Highway Department and Nina recommend that this vehicle be replaced. The Highway Department found a vehicle suitable to meet the needs of Building Maintenance operations, a 2003 Chevrolet C2500 with utility body, with a cost of $7000. The Board voted all in favor to authorize the Town Administrator to enter into a contract with Village Truck Sales, Inc. out of Lanesboro for the purchase of the new vehicle. The Highway Department will fund half of the purchase and the Buildings Maintenance expense account will fund the balance.
The Town will be receiving a $4,400 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for its annual grant awards. Documentation requires the Chief Executive Officer to sign the documentation. Selectmen voted all in favor to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the necessary state paperwork to complete the final submission necessary for the 2016 local Cultural Council funds.
Christine Trudeau has submitted her resignation to the Advisory Board, as a result of a conflict with the Town Bylaws, Chapter III, Section 1. The board voted all in favor to accept her resignation and will convey their regrets. Since the PMLD budget and department as a whole is not part of Town Meeting, the board noted possible revisions to this bylaw.
7:36 PM Selectmen then went into executive session. Stan M. made a motion: “In accordance with Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 30A, Section 21, I make a motion to enter into executive session under Exemption 3, discuss strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body and to adjourn from executive session.” and Jon F. seconded the motion. Edith M. called for a vote and in roll call Edith voted “Aye,” Jon 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 the Lease agreement with WRSD since an open meeting may have a
detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Town.”
Respectfully submitted, Admin. Assistant Marie Auger
BOS Referenced Documents: Request from Autumn Kelly; request from town Clerk.
Marie Auger
Administrative Assistant
Planning Department
978-464-2100
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