Town of Princeton, Mass., Selectboard Meeting Minutes
– September 17, 2018 – 6:30 PM – Town Hall Annex
Present: Chair Richard Bisk, Karen Cruise & Edith Morgan w/ TA Nina Nazarian.
6:30 PM Richy opened the meeting.
Student Involvement/Attendance at Selectboard meetings, meet with candidates – Four candidates applied for the student S.B. position (a deliberating but non-voting member). The candidates were Cameron Espy, Oscar Gal, Kimberly Union and Mason Greene. The Selectboard interviewed each of them for approximately 15 minutes to answer questions previously agreed upon. The Board was impressed by all of the candidates
ACTION 7:20 PM – The board and T.A. decided on a procedure for choosing a candidate. They each listed their top two choices for the student position and Kim Union alone received one vote from each, therefore she was selected as the student member on the Selectboard and will be invited to begin attending regular meetings.
Minutes 6:50 PM – The board had a pause between interviews and voted all in favor to approve minutes of Sept. 4 & 6 but not release the Executive Session minutes from Sept. 4.
Public Comment – Richy welcomed the public to the meeting and explained the process for public comment. (The public participation policy is posted on the Selectboard web page.) There were no comments from the public.
Appoint Inspector of Buildings/Zoning Enforcement Officer, if ready 7:25 PM – No action taken--position still pending.
Grant Opportunity: Community Compact Best Practice Areas – Based on Nina’s recommendation, the Board took the following action:
ACTION – The board voted all in favor vote to authorize the town administrator to apply for grants EMT training for police officers and cyber security training for town staff through the Community Compact program.
Advisory Committee Role in FY20 budget process and other roles for AC – Nina suggested all initial FY20 budget meetings with Department Heads be held before the Advisory Committee and with the T.A. attending. The Advisory Committee and T.A. would make either a joint or separate recommendation(s) to the Selectboard for the FY20 budget. The Selectboard would then make the final decision on the budget placed on the warrant. The A.C. will meet soon to elect officers and also consider taking this role in the budget process.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to request the Advisory Committee consider the FY20 budget format outlined by the Town Administrator.
Nina noted additional projects that the A.C. might address, including:
Town Insurance: Look into the FY20 town insurance budget: compare insurance companies, insurance limits, offerings from different vendors, etc.
Financial policies for the town: Review policies adopted by other communities and make policy proposals to the Selectboard. An example would be determining a percentage of free cash to go into a specific stabilization fund.
Propose a budget calendar: Review other towns’ budget calendars, collaborate with the T.A. with a schedule that can be applied in future years and make a recommendation to the Selectboard.
Several A.C. members had questions. Krista Penning commented on the importance of getting enough information from department heads, up front on their budget requests. Wayne Adams agreed that the committee needs facts and data to scrutinize requests with fresh eyes and seek possible options or alternatives.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to request the Advisory Committee consider taking on the three additional roles as noted above (town insurance, financial policies for the town, and proposal of a budget calendar).
Roundtable Meeting in Holden on 9/11 regarding WRSD FY20 Budget, Update – Nina, Richy, and Adv. Cmte. members Judy Dino and Mary Jo Wojtusik attended the roundtable with member communities. The member towns voted the following general items. The votes were non-binding but intended to identify where community representatives may be able to garner support of their respective Selectboards and Advisory Committees.
- Operating Budget: Voted 3-0-2 to request that the WRSD not propose an overall operating budget increase greater than 3.5% over FY19. Rutland and Paxton abstained, given that they were uncertain if they could support a 3.5% increase, given other potential cost increases.
- Line Item Budget: Voted 5-0-0 to request that the WRSD provide a line item budget for FY19 and FY20.
- Plan for OPEB: Voted 5-0-0 to request that the WRSD provide their plan for addressing the WRSD’s OPEB obligation.
- 5-10 Year Capital Plan: Voted 5-0-0 to request that the WRSD provide a 5-year capital plan, with a 10-year plan for major building projects.
- Educational Goals: Voted 5-0-0 to request that the WRSD provide a list of known goals which may impact future budgets (i.e. Kindergarten program, etc.).
Group discussed the problem of school districts lacking transparency as line items are not broken out in the budget. Also, the issue of OPEB (other post-employment benefits) contributions is lacking, with the WRSD liability of $133 million as of FY17. As of FY18 $10,000 has been saved against the liability. A letter regarding the above requests is going to be drafted and circulated to member communities for vote by each Selectboard and Advisory Committee.
Mechanics Hall Committee’s Work, Discuss Next Steps – At Nina’s suggestion, group agreed that the Mechanics Hall Cmte. will meet with the T.A. and that a joint meeting with the Selectboard was not required at this time
Clarifying Roles & Responsibilities: Better Definition for CoA and CoA Director – The board received a draft document proposed by Karen and having Nina’s support, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the Council on Aging and how it relates to the director, town administrator, and Selectboard. It will be sent to the CoA and director for their input/recommendations before it is voted/finalized by the Selectboard. All agreed on moving forward with the outline.
Sonoma lease for COA – Nina reported on progress working with Aimee Kindorf, Linda Farineau, David Cruise, and Jim O’Coin on the new COA location at P.O. Place in the former Sonoma Restaurant. Nina noted that it was her hope that the lease would be ready to be signed in the next few weeks and suggested that the Selectboard authorize her to sign in the event it would assist with timing.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to authorize the T.A. to sign the lease for the COA for the space at P.O. Place.
Sign By-Law and postings on utility poles 8:25 PM – At Nina reported receiving some negative feedback about the restriction of posting signs to utility poles, as the numbers have increased in recent months and the people posting have been warned that it’s prohibited by Princeton by-law. Board agreed that enforcement of by-laws is required. The Board noted that the sign by-law was supported unanimously by the Planning Board and the Advisory Committee and overwhelming supported by voters at the 2018 annual town meeting. Members recognized the thoughtful work of the Planning Board when consolidating the sign by-laws last year and suggested that residents could speak with the Planning Board, who seems open to discussing any
concerns with the by-law.
Assistant treasurer/collector & executive assistant to the T.A., accept resignation & post position – Board received a resignation from Amy Drumm.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to accept the resignation by Ms. Amy Drumm and authorized the T.A. to post the position.
Accept Disclosures of Appearance of Conflict of Interest – Board received two disclosures from Nina for acceptances of gifts worth less than $50.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to accept the disclosures from T.A. Nina Nazarian.
Annex & Public Safety Building Improvements, Designer Selection – Nina explained that the Designer Selection Procedures adopted by the Selectboard in 2013 called for the Selectboard to negotiate with the highest ranked designer. She suggested that the Selectboard delegate to her to the responsibility to negotiate with the highest ranked firm. She has received six bids from designers for the current building upgrades and is working with some citizen volunteers for input and guidance.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to not require that the ranked finalists be submitted to the Selectboard and authorize the Town Administrator to directly request a fee proposal from the first ranked designer and begin contract negotiations. If the Town
Administrator is unable to negotiate a satisfactory fee with the first ranked designer, negotiations shall be terminated and undertaken with the remaining designers, one at a time, in order in which they were ranked by the Town Administrator and any citizens working on the project, until agreement is reached.
MBI’s Planned Reimbursement of $100k for Make-Ready Work – The Mass. Broadband Institute (MBI) will be reimbursing the town $100,000.00 for the make-ready expenditure the town spent over recent years for Broadband preparation of utility poles.
Agenda items for Oct. 3rd S.B. meeting – The board will discuss whether all boards and committees should have a Code of Conduct, similar to the Selectboard’s Code of Conduct. The Selectboard will also consider the charge of the Facilities Steering Cmte. II..
Correspondence:
- Planning Board Report on Marijuana Issues for Princeton – The Planning Board has developed a report on this topic and the group decided to place this on a future agenda for discussion.
- Conservation Law Foundation – Board received an email about report on the impact of autonomous vehicles here in Massachusetts.
- Massachusetts Collectors & Treasurers Association – Board received a letter regarding Treasurer/Collector Jim Dunbar’s certification as a Massachusetts Municipal Treasurer.
- Massachusetts Municipal Associations MunEnergy fall program series
Treasurer-collector certified – Treasurer-Collector Jim Dunbar is now certified as both a treasurer and a collector, after a three-year process.
ACTION – The board voted all in favor to congratulate Jim Dunbar on his achievement.
Executive Session 8:55 PM – Richy moved and Edith seconded to go into executive session, and not return to regular session: in accordance with M.G.L. c. 30A, §21: A. Exemption Two – To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel – police chief. In roll call Edith voted “Aye,” Karen voted “Aye” and Richy voted “Aye.”
SEE SEPARATE MINUTES
Meeting Adjourned 9:44 PM
Respectfully submitted, Marie Auger, Admin. Asst.
S.B. Referenced Documents: Applications and resumes from students for S.B. non-voting position; Public Participation Policy; list of projects A.C. could address; draft document outlining the roles and responsibilities of the Council on Aging; resignation from Amy Drumm; two disclosures from Nina for acceptances of gifts worth less than $50; report from the Conservation Law Foundation on autonomous vehicles; Planning Board Report on Marijuana Issues for Princeton; letter from Massachusetts Collectors & Treasurers Association regarding Treasurer/Collector Jim Dunbar’s certification as a Massachusetts Municipal Treasurer; and Massachusetts Municipal Associations MunEnergy fall program series.
Marie Auger
Administrative Assistant
Planning Department
978-464-2100
| 
