Town of Princeton, Mass., Selectboard Meeting Minutes
– June 26, 2018 – 9:00 AM– Town Hall Annex
Present: Chair Richard Bisk, Karen Cruise & Edith Morgan w/ TA Nina Nazarian
9 AM Richy opened the meeting in the Town Hall Annex and asked for any public comment—none offered.
ACTION: On a motion made by Karen, seconded by Edie, the board voted all in favor to open the June 26, 2018 petition hearing pursuant to M.G.L. c. 166, §22 at the request of Charter Communications Entertainment I, LLC for permission to erect and locate underground conduit, handholes, vaults, pedestals, and other sustaining and protecting fixtures to be owned and used by Charter Communications Entertainment I, LLC, along, across, over and under the following public ways: Richards Road, Country Lane, Parker Place, Ball Hill Road, Sam Cobb Lane and Brooks Station Road in Princeton, Mass.
Presentation -- Scott Burns, representative for Charter, explained how equipment would be sited and installed for routing buried lines for CATV. This is only on roadways with buried utilities—not serviced by poles. Charter will follow locations of PMLD and Verizon equipment on these roads with separate conduit housing the new fiberoptic lines. Selectboard had no questions.
Public comment –
- Dave and Christine Nichols of 19 Matthews Lane asked about how deep the lines are buried, as Dave had worked for PMLD when power lines were originally buried on certain roadways. He noted that empty conduit had been installed on Sam Cobb Lane in anticipation of future needs, at house numbers 42, 43, 44 and 45. Scott responded that they are about 2 feed deep.
- Paul Caneen of 44 Sam Cobb Lane expressed support for the project.
- A letter from Rick McCowan expressed unequivocal support for granting of the rights of ways.
- A letter from PWRZ (P&W Railroad) stated no objections but noted that all utilities affecting the RR right of way must be approved by PWRZ. Scott noted that Charter is not impacting RR easements and that town roads that pre-exist RR crossings have first rights.
ACTION 9:20 AM: On a motion made by Karen, seconded by Edie, the board voted all in favor to close the public hearing.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the order for conduit location for Ball Hill Road and sign the order.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the order for conduit location for Brooks Station Road and sign the order.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the order for conduit location for Country Lane and sign the order.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the order for conduit location for Richards Road and sign the order.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the order for conduit location for Parker Place and sign the order.
ACTION: The Selectboard voted all in favor to approve the order for conduit location for Sam Cobb Lane and sign the order.
Mechanics Hall well 9:25 AM Board discussed options around discontinuing water service to the Town Line Garage building. The issue is that a new public water supply well, with consultant fees etc. could cost up to $30,000 according to MassDEP and board members are reluctant to impose such a burden on small business owners.
Adjourn 9:40 AM
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, Admin. Asst.
S.B. Referenced Documents: Plans and diagrams for burying conduit from Charter Communications; Orders for conduit locations; Letters from Rick McCowan and PWRZ.
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