Town of Princeton, Mass. – December 19, 2016 – 5 PM
BOARD OF SELECTMEN w/ Advisory Committee
– Budget Meeting Minutes
Chairman Stan Moss, Jon Fudeman and Edith Morgan present, and TA Nina Nazarian present. Advisory members present were Bill Lawton; Jim O’Coin; John Shipman; Don Schoeny and Wayne Adams.
5:07 PM Stan opened meeting in the Town Hall Annex. Mary Barroll in for library with Jane Weissman and Wendy Pape of the Trustees and Judy Dino for Friends of the Library. Mary explained state funding cuts causing increase in C/W Mars fees—up $440. Computers need updating, and Trustees paid $500 for a consultant, Guardian Computer Services, which will craft a report on needs and solutions—they’ve advised upgrading to business-quality hardware and security as retail-level (currently in use) doesn’t hold up well. The operating budget also added $1,500 for computer upgrades. Mary explained the revolving fund which takes in fees and fines. That the Library receives state aid of about $4,000/year plus any grants that may apply. The 5-year capital request sheet
includes $27,500 in repairs for portions of the roof and there was some additional discussion on other concerns with the roof (i.e. electrical roof heating cable). The library is also asking for funds (amount unknown as they are waiting on an estimate from Guardian) for IT infrastructure improvements. Within a few years the windows need replacing at est. $16,000 and heating system will be due for replacement at $31,200 in today’s dollars. Mary then extended thanks to both boards and to Trustees and Friends.
5:40 PM Andy Brown came in with cemetery commissioner Ron Milenski and reported his budget was level-service except a capital request for small backhoe is needed to move monument stones, now done manually. Selectmen asked about alternatives and Andy agreed that sub-contracting at about $350 per lot probably evens out to cost of owning a Kubota, which needs maintenance and storage, for average 4 – 7 burials per year. Fee for burial is now $700 and is probably low by comparison. Building a columbarium or crematory mausoleum is expensive with a 100-year ROI, Andy said. After all agreed that sub-contracting for Kubota work is a wiser choice, the Cemetery Commission will come back with recommendations about passing those costs on to customers. Cemetery commissioner Lynne Grettum has
already researched comparable costs and pricing in neighboring towns.
6: PM Glenn Lyons came in to report same operating budget—level funded for FY’18. Snow & ice budget request is up $10,000 as costs have gone up, also 2 percent increase in seasonal staffing. Nina explained that state law allows salt/sand budgets to run into deficit. Glenn explained that level of service (in winter) has increased constantly, while funding hasn’t increased equally, and seasonal staffing has been a real challenge of late. Glenn outlined capital requests for next five years. In FY’18 he plans on replacing the 1995 6-wheel Int’l dump truck (bought new) with a used one, and used sander body. Later will need to replace AWD Mack Truck bought new in 1986, also find a used one.
6:23 PM Larry Greene Sr. came in with summary of the Road Advisory Committee Road Program. He anticipates up to $6.8 million in federal and state funding coming to Princeton for FY’19. Projects in the pipeline include drainage and paving on Calamint Hill Road to do in stages. Also, re-do Hubbardston Road from the center to Calamint Hill. Larry outlined bridge repair slated for East Princeton and one near the Highway Barn. Work will continue on Route 140 to the Westminster line since a corridor study was completed after two years in conjunction with Sterling and Westminster. Larry extended thanks to his committee members; selectmen, taxpayers, Arthur Frost, Mickey Splaine and Rich Rydant from CMRPC, who did planning for no cost to town along with staff from MRPC. Also, current and past
state reps and senators such as Bill Naughton helped get funding for engineering work.
Stan noted that he, Edith and Joe O’Brien served as regional reps on the MPO at CMRPC for a number of years, which helped keep Princeton on the front burner for road projects. Larry’s report highlighted federal grants in 20 years which totaled $15.2 million, leveraged with $1.045 million spent by the town. Nina thanked Larry and his committee on the BOS’s behalf and called their efforts unique and remarkable.
6:50 PM Jon F. suggested getting PMLD in after the regular department budget sessions, to ask them questions and not for their presentation. Nina said Jan. 30 is confirmed for a budget meeting with WRSD, but it’s too early for Monty Tech. For the Dec. 27 BOS meeting, both boards agreed to skip it as a budget session with the Advisory Committee—Edith and others will be absent. Stan mentioned that spending maintenance money on Princeton Center—when its future is uncertain--is an issue to be addressed in January.
7 PM Nina presented a protocol for appointing members to boards and committees, as some board’s complained of being excluded from the process. First step is to ask for qualifications from candidates for a board position. This info would be forwarded to BOS and the chair of the board in question. The chair forwards a recommendation to BOS who then make a decision. Nina will put the protocol in writing and present it at the next meeting for a vote.
John S. then advocated for appointing Bill Holder to the Advisory Committee, which is seeking to fill the 7th seat. Jon F. agreed and offered to move for a vote, but Edith and Stan started a discussion about diversity, such as finding a woman to fill the seat. After some discussion, with the Adv. Cmte. supporting Bill H., Jim O. demanded to know what was the issue with Bill H., Edith explained that Bill had talked about town finances being in trouble and it was a bleak headline in the local paper. She felt he had made allegations that were not based on facts. Jon F. countered with a statement that it’s valuable to have someone disagree with you if it’s a reasonable argument; it makes you look at the issues a different way. Edith said Bill made statements with no knowledge of
selectmen’s previous work, misrepresenting the town which resulted in “financial ruin” headlines. John S. finally conceded that the Advisory Committee has made their case.
Stan reported that he and Nina attended a PMLD meeting on Dec. 14 and Stan read aloud the letter of gratitude which selectmen offered for outstanding efforts in the “make ready” work for broadband.
7:30 PM Voted all in favor to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, admin. assist.
BOS Referenced Documents: Budget books and pages; 5-year capital request sheets; Road Advisory Committee Road Program; Letter of thanks from BOS to PMLD
Marie Auger
Administrative Assistant
Planning Department
978-464-2100
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