Selectboard Update - May 2020
Dear Residents,
We’d like to take this opportunity to fill you in on some COVID-19-related schedule changes and update you on the status of several projects in Town. As you may have seen already, the Selectboard voted on new dates for our Town election and our Annual Town Meeting. The election will take place on Tuesday, June 23. The Town Meeting will take place on Saturday, June 27, at 10 am. We will let you know how we will be running these events in a way that promotes safe distancing but also allows as many people as possible to participate.
The Selectboard recently had a virtual “breakfast” with our board and committee chairs. Most committees have been meeting virtually without a problem and are continuing to function and make progress on their goals and tasks. Several committee chairs report that they have been getting more residents to attend virtually than they did in person. The Selectboard has already voted to allow remote participation in meetings (with some caveats) but they will be looking into how to continue effectively with some virtual participation and some in-person participation in the future.
Road work has begun again for the season. Lynch will be finishing up the Route 140 project in E Princeton. Sidewalks are under construction. The roundabout will be completed; which we expect will ameliorate some of the safety concerns expressed by residents. The rest of Calamint Hill Rd will be paved this season as well.
There will be two new road projects beginning in June. There is a bridge replacement on Rte 31 near the highway barn that will force the closure of that section of Rte 31 for most of the summer. There is also a culvert replacement on Mirick Rd near Rte 31.
Many volunteers and employees are involved in projects spearheaded by the Environmental Action Committee. Their three main areas of focus are the Green Communities Application, the MVP (municipal vulnerabilities preparedness) plan, and waste disposal. The deadline for the Green Communities application is in October and several things need to be complete by that time. This will include an energy audit by PMLD and others to set a baseline. The Town also needs to vote to adopt the Stretch Building Code at Town Meeting. The EAC will be giving several presentations on the Stretch Code leading up to Town Meeting so everyone can get their questions answered.
The MVP program is designed to help communities plan for and manage the impacts of climate change such as more severe storms or more prolonged periods of drought. The kickoff meeting took place, and planning for a day-long workshop is well underway. We just learned that the June 30 deadline for the MVP Plan has been extended for a year and the team is currently discussing whether to move forward as planned with two multi-hour virtual sessions or wait until it is safe to meet and do the workshop in person. Many believe that the process would work better in person.
At the suggestion of the EAC, the Selectboard appointed a Waste and Recycling Committee to look into options for handling the Town’s solid waste. Members include Claire Golding (EAC rep), Richy Bisk (SB rep), Sherry Patch (TA), Shaunna Knuth, Marsha Paine and AC liaison Helga Lyons. They will be working with Board of Health admin Terri Longtine. The Committee shall examine MassDEP’s Save Money and Reduce Trash (SMART) options and weigh their viability in the Town of Princeton. They shall study the impacts both SMART and curbside pickup may have on Princeton and its residents. The committee created and distributed a survey and is working on tabulating the responses. The upheaval caused by Town offices moving and COVID-19 slowed the committee’s progress a bit but work should be resuming soon.
Work on stabilizing the existing public safety building is wrapping up and the stabilization of Bagg Hall has begun. While Bagg Hall is under construction, the office staff have moved to the lower level at PO Place (206 Worcester Rd). For now, nobody from the public is allowed in to the temporary space for health reasons.
Tighe & Bond has begun doing the fourth round of PFAS well sampling. They are only testing where they can do so safely (for example, at an outdoor spigot). It is time to begin the quarterly round of sampling as well but that will be delayed until it is safe to go into residents’ homes. The Selectboard recently approved an additional $5000 (from the amount already authorized by voters) be spent by Tighe & Bond to solicit analysis of our PFAS by Newfields. We believe Newfields will be invaluable in helping to differentiate between multiple possible sources, types of foam, and manufacturers. Tighe & Bond will use them to better understand release timelines and to revise their overall Conceptual Site Model. Newfields will provide general consulting to help us interpret the data, suggest additional analyses or samples to help ID sources, etc. This will be critical to support possible legal action against manufacturers, should that be warranted.
Caolo & Bienek have been working on design options for a new public safety building. This work was authorized at Town Meeting last spring. They will be meeting virtually with members of a working group which includes Police Chief Michele Powers, Fire Chief John Bennett, Town Administrator Sherry Patch, Karen Cruise, Ian Catlow, and Rick McCowan to review and discuss four different options. Caola & Bienek has quite a bit of experience designing public safety buildings in our area and for towns similar to Princeton. So far, the working group is pleased with what they have developed. The goal is to bring three design options, including cost estimates and schematics, to a Town Meeting later this year for a vote to fund design and construction documents. As you might recall, though there is money in the Governor’s bond bill for this project, we have been told that we really need to have skin in the game to have the funds released. We were advised that having design and construction documents was very important. The working group will be providing multiple opportunities for these designs to be reviewed and discussed with the public.
The Selectboard recently reissued the Request for Proposals for the sale of Mechanics Hall. Those proposals are due on June 1st and we hope to have several proposals to review. Though we were in discussion with a developer last summer and fall, we were unable to reach agreement.
The Selectboard, Advisory Committee, and Financial Team continue to work diligently on the budget, five-year budget forecast, and debt forecast. We intend to provide you with these three items and other related information approximately four weeks before the Town Meeting. We are particularly pleased by the increased role that the Advisory Board is taking in the budget process. Their experience with the Town budget process and budget history, and their focus on asking questions and understanding options, will lead to a better result.
In response to the COVID-19 situation, our Memorial Day plans have changed. The Memorial Day Committee is working with Chief Bennett on ways to safely honor those who died fighting for our country. They are also discussing how to handle the planting of geraniums on graves of our soldiers.
This has been a difficult time for our students. Many have ended their high school years without those rights of passage typically enjoyed. Proms have been non- existent or virtual, at best. Graduation will not happen in its usual form. A group of parents and seniors have been organizing a graduation car parade as a way to help our seniors celebrate. The Selectboard congratulates all of our seniors. We wish you well in whatever you do next.
We would like to thank all of our employees who have continued to work through the COVID-19 crisis and all of our residents who have been understanding, cooperative, and tolerant during these difficult times. Most residents have been diligent in following the advice about safe distancing, wearing of masks and hand washing. We know it’s a pain, but it has played a critical role in keeping our citizens safe. We know that many of our residents are health care workers, first responders or essential employees. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.
We wish you all a safe and restorative summer.