Town of Princeton, Mass., Selectboard Meeting Minutes
– January 23, 2019 – 5:30 PM – Town Hall Annex
Present: Chair Richard Bisk & Edith Morgan w/ student member Kimberly Union and TA Nina Nazarian. Karen Cruise was absent.
5:40 PM Richy opened the meeting.
Minutes –The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve minutes of Jan. 3 (TownBuzz) 9, 14, 16 (Town Buzz) & 17 (Town Buzz) but not release executive session minutes of Jan. 9.
Public Comment – There was no public comment
Increase Selectboard focus on long-term strategic thinking – Edith suggested a review of S.B. goals and long-term budget planning. Group may call a separate meeting for this purpose.
Proposed Westminster Landfill expansion – The S.B. crafted and mailed a letter to Princeton’s legislative delegation voicing opposition to a proposed expansion of the Fitchburg/Westminster landfill on Route 31, with copies to officials at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Selectboard discussed and agreed to attach the letter to these minutes to make it easily available to any interested party.
Council on Aging, Sonoma Space lease signed – Construction has begun as the lease was recently signed. A preliminary schedule was provided to Nina by the management company, which estimates the renovations work being completed by the end of March. Nina suggested that before anything is planned around this timeframe, that we see how things track with the renovation project.
Memorial Day Committee, review comments; appoint– The group considered the response to their call for volunteers to manage Memorial Day activities. Charles Steele and Jon Fudeman offered to serve on a committee. A suggestion from Ed Carlson is to enlist Parks & Rec to organize the parade, and maybe get Police and Fire departments involved, but the question arose about staff volunteering or doing it on work time. Another comment made was to possibly have the group consider music that was a smaller scale than a formal marching band. Edie agreed to reach out to Terry Hart to request that he document his knowledge on the logistics for the Memorial Day event.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to vote to appoint Mr. Charlie Steele and Mr. Jon Fudeman to the Memorial Day Committee for a term through June 30, 2019, and then continue to solicit for further volunteers.
Police & fire chief contract renewals, ratify in open session – The board reviewed the employment contract for the fire chief through the end of FY’20. On January 9th in executive session the board had voted to renew the police chief contract.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to ratify its January 9th executive session vote to renew the police chief contract through June 30, 2022 and to renew the fire chief contract through June 30, 2020.
Facilities Steering Committee Phase II, work with JWA & general update–
1. Reserve Fund transfer - The FSC Phase II will be requesting a Reserve Fund transfer from the Advisory Committee for $22,000. Nina noted it would be beneficial to the FSC Phase II if the Selectboard voted to support this fund transfer to further the work of the proposed Public Safety Complex. The FSC II group will use the $22,000 for JWA (architects) to develop a conceptual design using plans, elevations and perspectives.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to support the FSC Phase II’s pending transfer request through the Advisory Committee for $22,000.
2. Accept resignation and advertise – Ms. Noelani Chase has expressed a need to resign due to personal reasons and has submitted a notice of resignation. A letter will be forwarded to thank her for serving on the committee.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to accept the resignation of Ms. Noelani Chase and advertise the position.
6:03 PM – Public Hearing: new All Alcoholic Liquor License to be drunk on the premises for 213 Mountain Road DBA Mountainside Bakery and Café – Nina explained that abutters were notified and the hearing was published in the paper but she didn’t get it onto the agenda on time. Plus, Richy would be abstaining and with Karen absent, there is no quorum for a hearing.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to open the public hearing and take no action.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to continue the hearing to Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 6:00 PM in the Town Hall Annex.
Public, Education and Governmental (PEG) Access support, Vote to request the commencement of payments (1.25% of Gross Annual Revenue to the Town) – Section 6.4 of the License Agreement states:
a) Licensee shall allocate one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) of Gross Annual Revenue to the Town for annual PEG Access Support, commencing within ninety (90) days of the Issuing Authority's written request. Each such payment shall be accompanied by a general statement of the total amount of Gross Annual Revenue subject to the fee and the revenue attributable thereto, and the total PEG Access Operating Support amount due. Such annual support shall be payable not later than forty-five days after the end of each twelve-month period hereunder.
b) The request for PEG Access Support shall not be made without an affirmative vote of the Issuing Authority.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to request funding for PEG Access Support as outlined in Section 6.4 of the License Agreement.
Appoint temporary project assistant for Council on Aging/Community Space construction project – Nina described need for a temporary project assistant and recommended former COA director, Linda Farineau, who is willing to step in. There is funding already allocated and Nina speculated the position would last maybe 12 weeks, about 10 hours/week and around $20/hour. Since it’s not advertised it requires an exemption from the Personnel Policy.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to appoint Ms. Linda Farineau as temporary project assistant for the Council on Aging/Community Space construction project, until renovations are complete and declare a one-time exemption to the advertising requirements outlined in the Personnel Policy.
Veterans agent, accept resignation & advertise – The board considered a letter of resignation from Ms. Sarah Custer as the town’s veterans agent.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to accept Ms. Sarah Custer’s notice of resignation, effective February 14th, and advertise the opening pursuant to the Classification & Compensation Study.
Appoint Road Advisory Committee and Zoning Board of Appeals alternate; vote small town exemption – the two boards have responded with support for Jon Fudeman as alternate.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to appoint Jon Fudeman as alternate member on both RAC and ZBA for a term through June 30, 2019, taking the “Small Town Exemption” for one person holding multiple positions.
Correspondence/Communications:
1. Email from the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce regarding a Build North Central Report.
2. Letter to Town on Proposed Zoning By-Law Amendments from the Planning Board.
Town Administrator report:
1. Town Common Holiday Season Decorations – A communication from PMLD states they will no longer be performing the decoration work for the town—lighting, greenery etc. After discussion, S.B. members will consider alternatives after Memorial Day.
2. Four Corners Agricultural Lease – The Conservation Commission noted that the 10-year lease ends soon for the Four Corners land. Nina or the chair may contact Town Counsel.
3. Charter/Mass Broadband Institute Update – MBI sent notice that they plan to send out a press release on the Princeton success story and possibly have the Governor and/or Lt. Governor out for a visit to Princeton.
4. Route 140 Tree Removal – The Conservation Commission chair expressed some questions/concerns regarding the lack of a tree hearing for the Route 140 project and Tree Warden Chris Courville responded.
5. Calamint Hill Road North Project – Letters were sent out to residents on Tuesday regarding a road walk for the Phase II portion of the project.
Executive Session 6:25 PM
Edith moved and Richy seconded to go into executive session: in accordance with M.G.L. c. 30A, §21. Exemption Three – To conduct strategy with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares, and not to return to open session. In roll call Edith voted “Aye” and Richy voted “Aye”.
SEE SEPARATE MINUTES
Meeting Adjourned 7:03 PM
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, admin. assistant
S.B. Referenced Documents: Letter from S.B. regarding the Fitchburg/Westminster landfill; applications for volunteer positions from Charles Steele and Jon Fudeman; police chief and fire chief contracts; letter of resignation from Noelani Chase; letter of resignation from Sarah Custer; Email from the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce; Letter to Town on Proposed Zoning By-Law Amendments from the Planning Board; communication from PMLD; letters from Conservation Commission regarding Four-Corners lease and tree removal for the Route 140 project in East Princeton;
Notice from MBI.
Pursuant to the minutes section above on the "Proposed Westminster Landfill expansion", the following is a letter from the Princeton Selectboard to Senator Harriette Chandler and Represenative Kimberly Ferguson, which was sent out in late January. Attached is a copy of the same information, in a formal letter format.
Please also see attached or click here to be linked to a Town News publication to view the response from Senator Chandler and Representative Ferguson on this very subject.
Honorable Harriette L. Chandler
24 Beacon Street, Room 333
Boston, MA, 02133
Honorable Kimberly N. Ferguson
24 Beacon Street, Room 473B
Boston, MA, 02133
January 22, 2019
Dear Senator Chandler and Representative Ferguson,
We are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed expansion of the Fitchburg-Westminster Landfill. For this expansion, the Town of Westminster seeks to acquire 85 acres of Article 97-protected land currently within Leominster State Forest. The landfill is currently projected to reach capacity in 2024. The proposed expansion is estimated to extend capacity to 2034. As you are aware, this proposed expansion requires legislative approval.
At its closest point, the landfill is located approximately 4000 feet north of the Princeton/Westminster town line. The proposed expansion would bring the landfill to within approximately 2500 feet of the town line and destroy another beautiful natural habitat. Many Princeton residents report that they have suffered years of occasional noxious odors emanating from the landfill. During the past 6 months, the problem has become considerably worse. Many have filed complaints with the Department of Environmental Protection. They describe the smell as nauseating. The odors are clearly affecting quality of life for many of our residents. In addition to the nuisance odor and short-term health effects, it is unclear what long-term health effects Princeton residents may face due to air contamination from the landfill. Groundwater contamination from the landfill and its impact on the environment is also a concern since Princeton residents rely on wells for their water supply.
A group of residents attended the Princeton Selectboard meeting on Wednesday January 9 to seek our assistance. Also in attendance were four employees of Waste Management, the operator of the landfill. Fred Confalone, Senior Manager of Business Development for Waste Management, addressed us and acknowledged that they are having a problem with odors and that they are working to resolve it. Waste Management was aware that they had a problem, but did not appear to be proactive in notifying surrounding communities of the problem. It is difficult to have confidence that an expanded landfill will be run in a manner that minimizes its impact on the Town of Princeton.
Unlike the Town of Westminster and the City of Fitchburg, the Town of Princeton receives no compensation in host fees or otherwise from this facility. An expanded landfill that is even closer to our town will likely continue to have a negative impact on the quality of life and health of our residents, as well as result in potential environmental consequences, infrastructure costs and decreased property values to the Town of Princeton and its landowners. For these reasons, we oppose any expansion of the landfill in favor of the utilization of alternative technologies for solid waste disposal, coupled with increased public education and efforts for waste reduction, composting, reuse, and recycling.
Sincerely,
The Princeton Selectboard
Richard Bisk, Chair
Edith Morgan, Clerk
Karen Cruise
Cc:
Mr. Martin Suuberg, Commissioner, MassDEP
Ms. Mary Jude Pigsley, Regional Director, MassDEP Central Regional Office
Mr. Leo Roy, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Mr. Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary, Massachusetts EOEEA
| 