Selectboard
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
July 13, 2023
Town Hall Annex & Virtual Via GoToMeeting
Attending: Karen Cruise (KC), Robert Cumming (RC
Absent: Phil Gott (PG) and Town Administrator Sherry Patch
announced recording
Call to Order
KC called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.
Karen moved to appoint Robert Cumming as temporary town clerk. RC seconded. All in favor.
Discuss and Vote on Request for Special Legislation Regarding Warrant and ATM
KC read the following:
Whereas, the Town of Princeton conducted its most recent Annual Town Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023 in the location where the Town has generally held its town meetings, which is the auditorium of the Thomas Prince School at 170 Sterling Road, Princeton; and
Whereas, notice of the time and place of the meeting was posted on the Town’s website as early as March 22, 2023, almost three months before the meeting, and remained in place until the date of the meeting; and
Whereas, notice of the time and place of the meeting were also publicized through automated telephone calls and other means; and
Whereas, the warrant for the meeting was duly posted in the town hall, public library and post office at least seven days before the meeting, as required by applicable law and the bylaws of the Town; and
Whereas, the 2023 Annual Town Meeting was attended by 256 registered voters of the Town, a number that was well in excess of the required quorum and that in fact has been exceeded only three times in the last 16 years; and
Whereas, the work accomplished by the 2023 Annual Town Meeting included the approval of a budget for FY 2024, the enactment of general and zoning bylaws, and the resolution of other important public business; and
Whereas, belatedly, it has come to light that although the posted warrant correctly identified the date of the meeting, it failed through a clerical error to set forth the time and place of the meeting;
Karen made motion for the Selectboard to request that the Honorable Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, recommend to the General Court that the following special legislation be enacted as soon as possible, subject to such amendments as she or the Legislature may think fit, within the scope of the general public objectives of this vote:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law or by-law to the contrary, all acts and proceedings taken by the town of Princeton at the annual town meeting held on June 20, 2023 and all actions taken pursuant thereto are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed to the same extent as if the warrant for the town meeting had been published in full compliance with law.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
RC 2nd. Voted 2-0.
KC read a letter from Ed Cichon that was delivered to town hall. Holly Burgess said motion was missing something. RC asked to hear what it was. Holly said that the warrant had changed after being posted. KC informed her that the motions changed but not the warrant.
Bob signed certification of vote.
KC moved (see all the transfers), RC 2nd . Voted 2-0
The meeting adjourned at 4:29pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Cruise