Selectboard Meeting: February 5, 2025

Attending:

Robert Cumming (RC), Karen Cruise (KC), Phil Gott (PG), Sherry Patch (SP)

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 PM.

Appointments

RC moved to appoint Ann Charrette to the Open Space Committee. Term to 6/30/2025. KC 2nd Voted 3-0.

RC moved to appoint Brian Specht to the position of Associate Member Open Space Committee. Term to 6/30/2025. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

Approval of Minutes

RC moved to approve the minutes of 1/9/2025 as amended. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

RC moved to approve the minutes of 1/22/2025 as amended. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

Approval of Treasury Report -Warrant # 15

RC moved to approve the Treasury Report for Warrant # 15 as follows:

Payroll: $153,917.87

Accounts Payable: $135,277.50

Light Department: $139,552.63

Total: $428,748.00

KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

Public Comment

None

New Business

Discuss Setting Annual Town Meeting Date Open and Close Warrant Articles

RC moved to hold the Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 13th at 6:30 PM at the Thomas Prince School. Warrant articles to be accepted until 3:30 pm on Monday, April 7, 2025. Warrant to be posted by Tuesday, May 6th. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

2024 Outstanding Citizen Nominations

RC moved to accept nominations for Outstanding Citizen until 4/30/2025. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0. Winner to be announced at the Annual Town Meeting.

2024 Town Report Photo Contest

Submissions accepted until 3/26/2025. All entries should be submitted to townadministrator@town.princeton.ma.us

Fire Chief Analysis Full-Time EMS

KC stated the Chief Bennett is only recommending the addition of two EMT’s this year, which we currently have. He is not concerned about adding two more in FY 26. RC would like to know if adding two more full-time firefighter/EMT’s would improve the town’s ISO rating which would lower insurance costs and be a benefit to all residents. RC also noted that Safer Grants will cover wages for 3 years. Westminster recently received $3M. RC stated that if we had a full-time service we could respond to calls at the mountain. KC stated that John thinks we need another ambulance if we are going to respond to calls on the mountain. The board noted that they have not received the Fire Department’s 5% decrease budget for FY 26. SP will follow up.

Discussed the 4 and 2 Police Department schedule. Clarification on hours and costs is needed. Chief Patriarca will follow up.

RC moved to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Princeton and The Fraternal Order of Police. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

RC moved to approve the Seven Saws Brewing, LLC One Day Liquor Application for March 1, 2025 Winter Carnival Event. PG 2nd. Voted 3-0.

RC moved to approve the Central Mass Striders Running Club Wachusett Mountain Race to be held on May 24, 2025. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

KC moved to approve the Patrick Cumming Memorial St. Patrick’s Day 5k to Benefit the Patrick Cumming Memorial EMS Scholarship Fund to beheld on Sunday, March 16th at 10AM. PG 2nd. Voted 2-0-RC abstained.

Correspondence and Communications

Ed Cichon would like the FY 26 Budget Presentation to be in person/hybrid. The board agreed to schedule the FY 26 Preliminary Budget Presentation in person in the Town Hall Annex and virtually on Wednesday, February 12th at 6PM.

Old Business

Discussion Selectboard Sign Policy

KC stated that the only request for wayfinding signs that the board has received was from Cornerstone Ranch a few years ago. RC expressed concern that signs would detract from the scenic town. PG stated that the target audience would be Ecotourists. PG sent a letter to local businesses regarding forming a Business Association but has not received any responses yet. No action was taken on this matter. The board agreed that they are not ready to do anything with signs at this point

Senior Tax Work-Off Policy

KC presented changes to the existing policy including changing the appointing authority from the selectboard to the Town Administrator. Discussed expanding the available jobs (attachment B) based on department needs. RC moved to accept the edits. PG 2nd. Voted 3-0.

Bid Awards

RC moved to award the bid ($526) for the Library table and chairs to Bill and Judy Dino. KC 2nd. Voted 3-0.

Grant Opportunities and Status of Existing Grants

SP reported that Mass Trails grant has been submitted ($31,500). If funded, the grant will provide a trail assessment and opinion of cost for the project construction phase. SP thanked the members of the Open Space Committee for their work and CMRPC for their assistance with the grant application and Carlos from Berkshire Design for assistance with developing the scope of work and budget for the project.

SP will attend the MVP Grant meeting tomorrow to discuss the Expression of Interest the town submitted for the Mount Wachusett Fire Management Plan. This would be a joint project with the Town Princeton and Westminster to create a fire management plan for Mount Wachusett and surrounding forests to protect vital communication infrastructure and old growth forests, as well as eco-tourist trade at Mount Wachusett. The project will require coordination with DCR as well as state and federal agencies, local stakeholders and non-profits.

Community One Stop Grant Program is accepting EOI’s for projects through 3/26. Application period is 5/5-6/4.

Town Administrator Report & Update on Working Groups

SP attended the WRSD Budget update meeting with Phil and Peter last night. We have updated our budget for next week’s preliminary budget presentation. We will continue to update as we receive more info.

Selectboard Report

KC advised the Mechanics Hall Committee is going to review their draft report at their meeting in March. KC stated that survey results indicate that residents would like to see something done with the property. Commercial or mixed use is preferred. PG attended Men’s Club Meeting last week where Chief Patriarca discussed traffic calming. PG learned that the speed data from the signs indicates that on average there is compliance with speed limits. However, there is still a perception of speeding in town. PG also attended the WRSD budget meeting with Sherry and Peter Guimette. WRSD is likely to go for a Level service + 1% budget, which would increase Princeton’s share of the regular school budget by abut 8.2%. RC advised that he reached out the Oxford Community Center regrading nonprofit use of the center and liability issues. They advised that anyone using the center must sign a waiver of indemnification. KC advised that Caolo & Bieniek are ready to discuss mechanical systems for the new public safety building. This will happen at the committee meeting in a couple of weeks.

Executive Session

RC moved to enter into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the government’s bargaining position and the Chair so declares. Chair so declared. Pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 30A, §21, ¶3. (Town Administrator Contract Renewal). Not to return to open session.

The following roll call vote was recorded: KC: aye; PG: aye; RC: aye. Voted 3-0.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry Patch

Town Administrator