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Selectboard Update - April 3, 2020

Posted on: April 3, 2020 - 10:11am

The Selectboard voted on March 31 to declare of State of Emergency in Princeton. Though there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 here at this time, the declaration enables the Town’s Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief John Bennett, to operate more effectively and efficiently, should there be a need. State and Federal declarations have already made us eligible for future Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) funds and allowed for emergency spending should it be needed. You can read the Selectboard’s declaration here.

The situation is extremely serious and life-threatening. John Bennett and the Emergency Management Team would like to emphasize several points:

  • If you have not signed up for CODE RED and Town-wide Alerts & News, we urge you to do so. Sign up for CODE RED here. Sign up for Town-wide Alerts & News here.
  • A new COVID-19 page contains important information for our residents about the virus.
  • Regular hand washing is essential to everyone’s wellbeing. Twenty seconds with soap and very hot water, including between your fingers, the backs of your hands, and up past your wrists is the recommendation. Other guidelines can be found here.
  • We all need to maintain social distancing (6’ apart) from those we are not living with. You put yourselves, other residents, our first responders, and medical staff at risk when you do not do this.
  • COVID-19 parties, slumber parties, playdates, and other violations of the social distancing advisory are not smart, funny, or allowed.
  • Playgrounds in Town were closed because their surfaces are not cleaned between users and the virus can be transmitted. In addition, they encourage people to gather and to not maintain safe distancing.
  • People have been seen chatting with others at an unsafe distance, shaking hands, holding large parties, and walking in overly large groups. This must stop.
  • We all need to reduce our exposure to the virus by only making extremely necessary trips to stores and pharmacies. Take advantage of curbside pickup and home delivery, if offered. Note that Monti’s is beginning online ordering and offers curbside pickup and delivery for groceries. Mountain Barn will take your order and credit card over the phone and bring your order out to your car for takeout meals.
  • If you are unable to manage on your own, regardless of age, contact Aimee Kindorf or Nickole Boardman at the Council on Aging at 978-464-5977. Leave a message and your call will be returned.
  • If you are caring for another person or family outside of your home, you may benefit from reviewing the PPE Guidelines for Community Volunteers put together by John Bennett.
  • During this time of crisis, you can help your friends and neighbors most by keeping your physical distance but increasing your communication. Pick up the phone and call a neighbor!

The Selectboard has postponed the Annual Town Meeting and the Town Election. New dates will be selected and announced at a later time.

Despite all of the virus-related disruptions, the business of the Town is still getting done:

  • Boards and Committees are meeting virtually. These meetings are public and are accessible via phone or WebEx. Go to the calendar on the Town’s website and click on the meeting to open its agenda. In the agenda is a link to the WebEx session. You should be able to click on that link to join the meeting. If you prefer to just call in to the meeting, the agenda should also have a call-in number and a meeting ID for you to enter. Instructions on how to use WebEx are on the Selectboard page.
  • Town employees are working from home when possible, and maintain safe distancing and good hand washing procedures when at Town facilities.
  • Town Hall operations have moved to temporary office space at PO Place while the stabilization of Bagg Hall takes place. You will soon be seeing signs of construction at Bagg Hall.
  • The stabilization of the town center fire and police station is wrapping up.
  • Contracts are in place for engineering work for Leominster Road and Coal Kiln Road projects. The Highway Barn Bridge Replacement and Mirick Road Culvert projects are out to bid.
  • Work on Green Communities Designation is continuing.
  • The Mechanics Hall Request for Proposals is about to be reissued since the original party is no longer interested.
  • Work continues on the budget, financial forecast, debt forecast, and articles for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting with the financial team, Selectboard, and Advisory Committee.

PFAS detection and mitigation has been slowed by COVID-19. The fourth set of wells to be tested has been identified and letters have gone out to those homeowners. Plans on when and how to resume testing safely are under discussion. Though MassDEP has informed us that it is okay to delay testing, we understand the need and desire to keep making progress. For those who are interested in having their own wells tested, there is guidance on the PFAS Information page.

The Selectboard would like to thank all the medical professionals who responded to the Board of Health’s request for their contact information. We would also like to thank our Police, Fire, EMS, and other Town employees who continue to work to keep us safe and to keep the Town running.

If you have any questions or comments on any of these matters, please contact Town Administrator Sherry Patch at 978-464-2102 or townadministrator@town.princeton.ma.us, or any members of the Selectboard. Our contact information is on the Selectboard page.

Most important, we thank you in advance for minimizing contacts with others and helping stop the spread of this dangerous pandemic.