Town of Princeton, Mass., Selectboard Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2019 – 6:00 pm – Town Hall Annex
Present: Chair Richard Bisk, Karen Cruise, Edith Morgan, Student Kimberly Union and TA Nina Nazarian
6:01 PM Richy opened the meeting.
Minutes – The board voted unanimously to approve the minutes from April 17 (AM), 18, 22, 24 and approve but not release April 24 Exec. Session minutes. April 17 (PM) to be considered/approved at next meeting.
Public Comment – none
Appoint Heavy Equipment Operator -- Mr. John Mitchell was in attendance. The board had received his cover letter, resume and application. He described his former tree-service business and outlined his licenses for a long list of equipment and vehicles, including crane operator, and stated that these skills would be beneficial to the town.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to appoint Mr. John Mitchell to the position of heavy equipment operator in the Highway Department, subject to a successful reference check.
Appoint Assistant Town Clerk/Administrative Assistant – Ms. Susan Priest was in to meet the S.B. and outlined briefly her work history with the Mass. Firefighting Academy, Clark University and others.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to appoint Ms. Susan Priest to the position of Assistant Town Clerk/Administrative Assistant Building Dept, subject to a successful CORI check.
Fieldstone Farm Update – Tom Sullivan was in with Deb Cary and reported that they finally did finish this conservation/preservation project a month ago when the APR money came through—the process takes longer with federal monies involved. Besides the town-owned land, APR protected fields now belong to Hubbard Farm. Two houses have been built and added to tax rolls. One more will be built this year and there’s still one lot for future home. Tom pointed out that when Smiths owned the farm, the town collected about $13,000/year in taxes, and now as it’s been parceled out, will collect over $20,000/year.
He also announced a celebration at Wachusett Meadows on June 5 at 6 PM.
FY20 Budget / Capital Plan / Warrant – Nina noted several recent changes to some of the numbers in the budget articles and some corrections. With PMLD no longer doing holiday lights, the $3,000 they spent is now in the town’s budget under the selectmen’s expense item She explained increases in budgets of Fire Dept. owing to EMT coverage and Conservation Commission owing to the town hayfields.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to accept this version, as edited, as the final warrant.
Fire Dept. policy issue – ambulance readiness – In discussing Art. 10 which covers ambulance readiness, the Selectboard, in partnership with the Fire Chief are proposing increasing staff to cover medical calls on weekends but a F.D. health insurance budget increase is being avoided because the Fire Chief has agreed that he can manage this expanded coverage only using non-benefitted, under 20-hr. per week staff time.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve this policy of using part-time, non-benefitted staff for expanded EMT hours of coverage.
FY20-24 Capital Plan – The board reviewed spreadsheets outlining capital plan expenditures over future years, particularly FY’21 – FY’24. Group discussed items such as repaving T.P. School parking lot; emergency generators; IT upgrades for the Police Dept.; trucks/heavy equipment for DPW; fire truck and ambulance replacement; labor for library roof repairs and dedicated work space for building maintenance. Some items will require more consideration. The Collins Center will collect this information and provide a comprehensive report with explanations, in a Word document for editing.
Nina noted that the town could get help from CMRPC to apply for grant funds in becoming a Green Community.
The Community Compact program, for which the town is receiving regular grants will likely not fund computer workstation equipment.
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to approve the Capital Plan as presented with edits as discussed.
Bond Bill Efforts – The group agreed to postpone this discussion.
Public Safety Improvements “Stabilization” Project Update – The town received 90% plans for review and anticipates receiving specifications soon. Once S.B. comments have been provided to the architect and incorporated, the project goes out to bid. The construction estimate is close to $175k, and there is ~$138k remaining in the appropriations after the costs relating to the design work ($100k for Public Safety and $50k for the exhaust evacuation systems). The difference of about $40k, Nina reported, can come out of an old Town Buildings Maintenance appropriation, containing ~$57.5k, if needed, once the bids come in.
Bagg Hall Improvements--Stabilization project update: Nina and the ad-hoc group are meeting with the selected designer, Spencer, Sullivan and Vogt (SSV) on May 7 to kick of the project. The Historical Commission has been invited to participate in a portion of the initial
meeting, to discuss the general project.
A Contract/Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) is expected to be bid in mid-to-late May and signed by the Selectboard thereafter. This BAN is needed, given that the Town Accountant by statute (M.G.L. c. 44, §31C) is to certify “an appropriation in the amount of such contract is available.” Nina will work with Town Counsel on a contract possibly using existing funds, that would allow the project to get off the ground in the meantime.
Sign Corrected Police Chief Contract -- corrected – the board reviewed the contract with the Police Chief, with corrections to incorporate the retirement sick time buy-back negotiated with Chief Powers, which was inadvertently not included originally.
ACTION: The Board voted all in favor to approve and sign the contract with Chief of Police Michele Powers from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022.
Classification & Compensation Plan Updates/Changes – The board reviewed the recommended rates for the employees in the Highway Department: Mr. Ben Metcalf, Foreman (3 years) - $24.50/hr.; Mr. Ken Chapman, Mechanic-HEO/Operator (21 years) - $27.00/hr.; Mr. Andrew Santry, Heavy Equipment Operator (21 years) - $26.14/hr. which was already previously agreed upon by the Selectboard; Mr. Brennan Cheney, Heavy Equipment Operator (1 year) - $21.00/hr.; and, Mr. Chris Hotaling, Truck Driver/Laborer (4 years) - $21.00/hr.
ACTION: The Board voted all in favor to implement these new wages effective July 1, 2019 for the above listed personnel.
Administrative Consent Order for town water well – The board needed to sign this order from DEP regarding the need for a “Public Water Supply” at the Town Hall campus.
ACTION: The Board voted all in favor to authorize the Town Administrator to sign the Administrative Consent Order by MassDEP regarding the need for a certified “Public Water Supply” at Town Hall Drive.
2019 Proposal for landfill monitoring -- Tighe and Bond has a contract for the Hubbardston Road landfill monitoring in 2019 which requires Selectboard approval because it is in excess of $10k, Because of time constraints, Nina has already signed it.
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to retroactively authorize the Town Administrator to sign the 2019 Proposal for Landfill Monitoring, effective April 23, 2019.
FY19 Police cruiser lease and surplus old cruiser – Nina indicated that a lease contract needed to be executed.
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to authorize the Town Administrator to sign a 3-year lease agreement for the purchase of a police cruiser in FY19, and to vote to retroactively declare the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria (vehicle being replaced) as surplus, effective April 1, 2019.
Appoint temporary clerk, Ms. Lynne Grettum – Since the new Assistant Town Clerk/Bldg. Dept. Administrative Assistant starts in mid-May after a two-week notice at her current position, it was agreed to hire Lynne on a temporary, as-need basis to assist Ginger who is new town clerk and is still managing the Building Dept..
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to appoint Ms. Lynne Grettum to the position of temporary clerk from May 1, 2019 through May 31, 2019
Appoint Election Officers – The board reviewed requests from volunteers to serve as election officers including Ms. Lynne Grettum, Ms. Beverly Stewart, and Mr. Mark Stuart
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to appoint Ms. Lynne Grettum, Ms. Beverly
Stewart, and Mr. Mark Stuart as election officers through August 5, 2019, with the provision that Ms. Grettum’s appointment is expressly voted with the small-town exemption, allowing her to temporarily hold two positions.
Road Advisory Committee Alternate, Appointment – The board reviewed a notice by Ms. Ann Neuburg of her interest to serve on the Road Advisory Committee as an alternate member.
ACTION: The Board voted all in favor to appoint Ms. Ann Neuburg to the Road Advisory Committee as an alternate member for a term through June 30, 2019.
Approve Wachusett Mountain Road Race on Saturday, May 25th – The board reviewed information and a map of the proposed race.
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to approve the Wachusett Mountain Road Race on Saturday, May 25th, subject to the Police and Fire Department requirements and the submission of a Certificate of Liability Insurance covering the town.
Approve Minuteman Road Club Grand Fondo on July 20th– The board reviewed information and a map of the proposed bicycle race. Nina explained that the organizers were willing to avoid the $150. fee for non-residents using the gazebo and use pop-up tents instead, but the board concluded that there would be less impact on the grounds if they used the gazebo, and that it’s essentially a public event, so they decided to waive the fee.
ACTION: Board voted all in favor to approve the Minuteman Road Club Grand Fondo on July 20th--and waive the fee--subject to the Police and Fire Department requirements and the submission of a Certificate of Liability Insurance covering the town.
Correspondence/Communications:
1. Letter from Charter – The board received a letter from Charter regarding the completion
of their build out.
2. Public Records Request from the Ervins’ Attorney – The board received a letter from
the Dr. Dan Ervin’s attorney, John Flick, which contains what appears to be an extensive public records request.
Town Administrator’s Reports: none at this time
7:05 PM Executive Session: The board voted in roll call vote, with Richy saying “Aye,” Karen “Aye” and Edith “Aye” to enter into executive session, in accordance with M.G.L. c. 30A, §21 under Exemption 2: to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, interim T.A., police chief, fire chief & highway superintendent, then to resume in regular session with the Advisory Cmte.
See separate minutes
7:28 pm - Board joined the Advisory Committee meeting that was already underway.
Discussion on citizens’ petition on ATM warrant --Karen and Richy had many questions for Ed Cichon and the current Advisory Committee relating to the Citizens Petition that is on the FY20 ATM Warrant. They attempted to gain clarification on the roles that the SB, Town Administrator, and new Finance Committee would play in the creation of the budget; what role the chair of the FC would play when reappointing himself; and other aspects of the proposal. Karen brought up the changes that were attempted this budget season to bring the AC in earlier and provide them with a greater role. Some AC members expressed their view that nothing had changed and, in fact, it had gotten worse.
The Board asked about the work that had been done by the Advisory Committee Review Committee. Mr. Cichon indicated his low opinion of their report.
See AC minutes for more information on this joint meeting.
10:00 PM Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, admin. assistant & joint meeting minutes by Karen Cruise
Referenced Documents: Application and resume materials from Mr. John Mitchell; draft versions of FY20 Budget, Capital Plan and ATM Warrant; employment contract with Chief of Police; list of new wages effective July 1, 2019 for the DPW personnel; Administrative Consent Order by MassDEP; 2019 Proposal for Landfill Monitoring; 3-year lease agreement for the purchase of a police cruiser in FY19; requests from volunteers to serve as election officers; a request by Ms. Ann Neuburg to serve on the Road Advisory Committee as an alternate member; proposal and map for Wachusett Mountain Road Race on Saturday, May 25; proposal and map for Minuteman Road Club Grand Fondo on July 20; letter from Charter; letter from
the Dr. Dan Ervin’s attorney.
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