2010 Report of BOS

Report of the Board of Selectmen

Your Board of Selectmen has had an interesting and productive year in 2010. We welcomed Edith Morgan to the Board with her election in May. Alan Sentkowski finished his six years of service as Selectman following several years as Town Clerk. We were lucky to get Alan back to Princeton’s service with his appointment to the Advisory Board.

Fiscal constraints continue. Revenues for the Town and State have been down because of the prolonged fiscal crisis in the nation. Though budgeting is difficult due to the unknowns of diminishing revenues Princeton has not suffered too badly. Our employees, like all of us, have felt the restraint that is necessary in these times. Raises, whether cost of living, merit, or union negotiated have all been held to the minimums we all expect in these difficult times. Benefits like health insurance contributions by employees and their coverage have been adjusted to help control these rapidly escalating costs. The expectation is that this type of restraint will be necessary for the time being.

There were changes in the Public Safety departments. First, Michelle Powers was appointed to the position of full time Police Chief. Michelle has served for more than twenty years on the Princeton Police Department as an Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Interim Chief and finally as Police Chief. The Board was pleased to offer Michelle a three year contract.  In addition to Michelle’s appointment Town Meeting voted funding for a sixth police officer. This has been a need for several years. With the retirement of Charlie Schmohl Princeton no longer enjoyed the 24/7 coverage Charlie provided as a long time Princeton resident. Lastly, because Princeton is lucky to have well trained police personnel we were able to promote Michael Trafecante to the position of Sergeant.

Other changes are stirring for the Public Safety Department. With continuing fiscal constraint it is time to look at all our public safety service in a concerted way. A committee of citizens was appointed in the fall of 2010 with a charge to look at all aspects of the way public safety was dispensed in Princeton. Incentives from the state for regionalizing services are available. The public Safety Committee is exploring the possible regionalization of dispatch, advanced life support ambulance, the need for a full time fire chief and the myriad of topics encompassed by all of the above. They are making progress and are expected to be making some recommendations before the annual town meeting this year

Princeton’s highways continue to be a concern. Our Road Advisory Committee has made great progress, but we live in an area with poor soils and bad drainage. Roads that were first on the list to be repaired at the beginning of the process are now due to be attended to again. Princeton has been very fortunate to receive a significant amount of federal and state assistance. We thank the Road Advisory Committee for their continued efforts in the pursuit of funds from grants and other governmental sources.

The road improvement process was enhanced with the appointment of the Route 140 Task Force. This is a committee comprised of three members and an alternate for each of the towns of Sterling, Westminster and Princeton. The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and Montachusett Regional Planning Commission funded a “Corridor Study” which allowed a detailed analysis of the users, crash data, environmental factors, pavement conditions, structure conditions, historical factors and many other elements along Route 140 from the intersection of Interstate 190 in Sterling, through Princeton and ending at the intersection of Route 140 at Route 2 in Westminster. The report will be available on the Princeton website. This process and the collaboration between the three towns will allow access to federal and state funds for multiple safety improvements along the route.

In the fall of 2010 two issues arose involving Thomas Prince School, one being a looming problem and, the other an opportunity.  The problem is declining enrollment which will jeopardize our middle school level education in the coming years. The Select Board appointed a committee to investigate and recommend corrective steps to be taken. Their work should be done by April 2010. This is a serious problem, but not insurmountable. Princeton, like many small and rural communities is experiencing declining birth rates. This topic will be front and center in coming months.

The opportunity is to fix a leaking roof at Thomas Prince School with the help of the last bit of federal stimulus money. We have been nursing a leaking roof on the older portion of Thomas Prince School for several years. The Green Schools Program, a part of the Federal Stimulus Package, was offered. This process is just starting in early 2011 and includes opportunities to replace older less energy efficient windows and possibly upgrade the boiler. Town meeting action will be required to appropriate funds for these projects which will be reimbursed at a rate of approximately 52%.

Fiscally Princeton is in reasonable shape. By the end of fiscal 2011 much of the Town’s debt will be repaid. The bond rating for the town is very healthy. Though the tax rate increased in fiscal 2010 the average tax bill was less for this year than the prior by about $250.00 per household. The explanation is that though assessed values continue to decline with the current market conditions so has the amount of money necessary to cover expenses and especially debt. Because of the constrained fiscal environment, Princeton has deferred some items which will necessarily need to be addressed in the coming years.

In closing, the Select Board would like to thank all the department heads and employees who provide  for the daily needs of Princeton. Turnover in employees is minimal and most department heads have graduated through the ranks of their department. The result is that tasks are handled with efficiency and little fanfare . They have done a good job with limited resources.

We thank all who volunteer and serve on the numerous town committees. Princeton is fortunate to have many volunteers who bring their professional expertise to our committees. Princeton volunteers give our town the flavor and perspective we enjoy and minimize financial demands to the taxpayers for the services they provide.

Respectfully submitted,
Princeton Board of Selectmen
2010