Town of Princeton, Mass., Selectboard Meeting Minutes
– February 6, 2019 – 6 PM – Town Hall Annex
Present: Karen Cruise & Edith Morgan and TA Nina Nazarian. Chair Richard Bisk was absent.
6 PM Edith opened the meeting.
Minutes –The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve minutes of Jan. 23 (5:30 PM & 7 PM) but not release executive session minutes of Jan. 23.
Public Comment – There was no public comment
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 – Continued from Jan. 23.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to re-open the public hearing and to waive reading of the legal notice.
Katherine Huck, principal in the business, distributed floor plans and answered questions. Hours initially will be 7 AM to 9 PM. The first floor has a main room with maximum capacity of 49. A café is planned with take-out and one hot meal, family style, served from 4 – 9 PM. This license allows full liquor service. The second floor will be office space and possible meeting/classroom space if state waives ADA elevator requirement, as it’s an historical building. Ms. Huck noted that the garage, with a finished second floor, is available as well.
The board opened the hearing to public comment; there was none.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to close the hearing and deliberate.
ACTION 6:10 PM: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve an All Alcoholic Liquor License to be drunk on the premises for 213 Mountain Road DBA Mountainside Bakery and Café, and sign the ABCC document.
Facilities Steering Committee Phase II member 6:13 PM – Mr. Ian Catlow has expressed interest in serving on the FSC Phase II. Members of the FSC Phase II were contacted for their individual recommendations on this matter as there was no time to address it during a meeting. Nina reported that a majority of members responded and welcomed Mr. Catlow as a new member.
ACTION: The board voted all in favor to appoint Mr. Ian Catlow to the FSC Phase II for a term through May 31, 2019 and vote the Small Town Exemption, allowing Mr. Catlow to hold more than one position.
Annex & Public Safety Improvements “Stabilization” Project Update – Mr. Jim O’Coin and Mr. Chris Conway were in to discuss various options (below) designated as “Add Alternates.” Add alternates are additional items of work that may be awarded as part of the contract if the bids come within the budget specified in the contract. Add alternates may include adding length or additional quantity to a project of similar type work or adding enhancements of different type work to a project
Chris explained #2 - #5 as necessary fixes that could not be avoided. The two S.B. members questioned the need or desire to spend money on buildings that may be demolished if a new public safety complex reaches fruition at the Princeton Center site. Chris pointed out that the Police, Fire and Annex buildings will be in use for at least another five years and these repairs are required for safe occupancy during transitional periods, as when the Annex will serve as office space while Bagg Hall—a multi-year project--is stabilized and renovated.
Edith and Karen were reluctant to spend funds on a tear-down and insisted that the town needs to hear it: that voters must step up and approve funding for a new facility, or else the “band-aid” approach will never end as facilities continue to deteriorate.
Alternate #1
Furnish and install all labor and materials for a complete new fire alarm system in Bagg Hall (Town Hall) as shown on Drawing E-XX including removal of any existing fire alarm devices and wiring not to be incorporated in the new fire alarm system and new wireless transmitter to Library Building.
Alternate #2
Furnish and install all labor and materials to complete the structural reinforcement of the Police Garage floor slab in the Public Safety Building as indicated on Drawing S-1.0
Alternate #3
Furnish and install all labor and materials as required for upgrades to existing fire alarm system in the Public Safety Complex as shown on Drawing E-XX including removal of any existing fire alarm devices and wiring not to be incorporated in the upgraded fire alarm system and new wireless transmitter to Library Building.
Alternate #4
Furnish all labor and materials as required to demolish and remove from the site the existing CMU chimney and related work at rear of Town Hall Annex building. Patch existing CMU wall and roof.
Alternate #5
Furnish and install all labor and materials as required to raise the floor in the General Office area as noted on Drawing D-1.0. Raised floor to align with finish floor in center section of the building.
Council on Aging - Sonoma Space renovation– The renovation has begun and work is generally ahead of schedule. Nina and Aimee Kindorf are working on mapping out the use of the Council on Aging/Community space and plan to send information out to departments in the near future. Edith offered to help ascertain what information to publish.
Bagg Hall Improvements “Stabilization” update – The draft RFQ is nearly complete and will be advertised soon, Nina noted, after budget issues are wrapped up.
Road Advisory Committee charge – Board members reviewed and agreed on the final charge for the R.A.C.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the Road Advisory Committee charge, including information on roles and responsibilities, membership, the voting right of members, officers, and meetings of members.
Appoint new member to Parks & Recreation Commission – Board members have received an application from Rosaura Miranda and the P & R Commissioners voted in favor of recommending her to the Selectboard to become a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
ACTION: Board members voted all in favor to appoint Ms. Rosaura Miranda for a seat on the Parks & Rec Commission for a term through June 30, 2019.
Appoint Community Representative to S.C.M Elderbus, Mr. Michael Warren – The board received a letter from S.C.M. Elderbus. Mr. Michael Warren has volunteered to serve as the Community Representative to the S.C.M. Elderbus on behalf of the Town of Princeton.
ACTION: Board members voted all in favor to appoint Mr. Mike Warren to the S.C.M. board member position as community representative for Elderbus on behalf of Princeton.
Calamint Hill Road North, Phase II Engineering contract – the board reviewed a proposal for engineering services for Phase II of the Calamint Hill Road North reconstruction project. The RAC is in favor of moving forward as outlined.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the January 23, 2019 proposal by WDA Design Group for engineering and environmental permitting services for Calamint Hill Road North, Phase II.
Landfill Expansion communications- As Richy had requested that a letter be attached to the minutes and made available to residents. The letter is from Senator Chandler and Representative Ferguson in response to the Selectboard’s letter on the Westminster Landfill expansion. After some discussion, Karen offered to coordinate the two letters and post them on Town News as well as with the minutes on the town website.
Correspondence/Communications:
- Notification of Abutters Under the Mass Wetlands Protection Act for 143 Calamint Hill Road North – Conservation Commission has an enforcement order at that site. As an abutter (town owns a 4-acre parcel adjacent to 143 Calamint Hill Road North), S.B. was notified.
- Charter/Spectrum Internet Assist – A low cost option for low income families/seniors.
- Letter from Senator Chandler and Representative Ferguson in response to the Selectboard’s letter on the Westminster Landfill expansion – previously discussed
- Central Mass Disaster Animal Response Team – Letter soliciting cities/towns respond to an opportunity to partner with them for natural or manmade disasters involving pet owners. I do not plan to take action on this at this time, unless the Selectboard would like to ask that it be explored.
- The Research Bureau’s letter on nominations for the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.
Town Administrator report:
1. FY20 Budget Development:
A. Schedule
-Wednesday, February 6th from 5 to 6 PM – Meeting with the Police Chief
-Wednesday, February 13th from 5 to 6 PM – Meeting with TBD
-Wednesday, February 20th from 5 to 6 PM – Meeting with TBD
-Saturday, March 2nd from 11 AM to 1:30 PM (30-minute lunch break in between) – Meeting with TBD and TBD.
The TBD departments/groups are as follows:
- Highway Superintendent/Road Advisory Committee
- Fire Chief
- Library/Parks & Recreation/Council on Aging
- Town Administrator & Treasurer/Collector
- Letter from Parks & Recreation Commission re: FY20 Budget. There is no action to be taken on this subject at this time. A copy of the letter has been forwarded to the Advisory Committee for use during budget discussions.
- Estimated FY20 Assessments from the WRSD. The Minimum Local Contribution worked in the town’s favor this year. With a flat or reduced enrollment for FY20, there should be a low estimated increase for FY20.
- PEG Access Support - A letter was sent to Charter.
- Sealer and Weights and Measures – Princeton falls into the category of small towns that do not have a sealer of weights and measures.
Executive Session 6:55 PM
Edith moved and Karen 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 Karen voted “Aye”.
SEE SEPARATE MINUTES
Meeting Adjourned 7:00 PM
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, admin. assistant
S.B. Referenced Documents: ABCC license document; List of Add Alternates; R.A.C. charge; Letter from S.C.M. Elderbus. Volunteer applications from Ian Catlow, Roaura Miranda and Michael Warren; proposal by WDA Design Group; Letter from S.B. regarding the Fitchburg/Westminster landfill; Notification of Abutters Under the Mass Wetlands Protection Act; Charter/Spectrum Internet Assist; Letter from Senator Chandler and Representative Ferguson in response to the Selectboard’s letter on the Westminster Landfill expansion; Central Mass Disaster Animal Response Team; The Research Bureau’s letter on nominations for the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.
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