Projects

last updated 12/31/2023

PFAS in Town and Private Wells – updated 12/31/23

The Selectboard continues to work with Town Administrator Sherry Patch, Licensed Site Professional (LSP) Jeffrey Arps from Tighe & Bond, and Attorney Barry Fogel from Keegan Werlin on the   execution of the Immediate Response Action (IRA) Plan filed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP.) Residents are kept updated on the PFAS situation through updates on the PFAS page on the website (including links to reports filed with MassDEP), by updates during public Board meetings and public information sessions.  At the 10/5/23 information session, Jeffrey Arps informed residents of the status to date of the IRA and explained his thinking on the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) Phase 2, the final report of which was delivered in November. The next info session is scheduled for 1/16/24 at 6:30pm and will include information from that Assessment.

We have engaged special counsel Kevin J. Madonna, who specializes in complex environmental litigation, to represent Princeton in filing a suit in Federal court as part of the multi-district litigation against companies that designed, manufactured, marketed, distributed, and/or sold PFAS.  We hope to get some reimbursement of our PFAS-related expenditures as result of this litigation. The complaint was filed on 7/1/22 and can be found on the PFAS page under Additional Resources. The Board wants to remind residents that the litigation against the manufacturers and distributors of PFAS is a lengthy process and we have no guarantees of any particular outcome. Our attorney is paid on a contingency basis. We received two updates recently on the multi-district litigation. Links to those updates can be found at the top of the PFAS page.

There are new developments that residents should be aware of:

  • EPA took soil samples this spring at 30 Mountain Rd and found that the results did not meet their threshold for soil removal. The letter from EPA can be found on the PFAS page.
  • Construction is complete on a treatment system for runoff from a pipe coming out of the ledge near 30 Mountain Rd.
  • Our LSP filed the Phase 2 Comprehensive Site Assessment Report with MassDEP. A link to it can be found in the “Filings to and Responses from MassDEP” section of the PFAS page.

 

New Public Safety Building - updated 12/31/23

Voters at the 2023 Annual Town Meeting approved the transfer of funds to pay for the final design and construction documents of a new public safety building. The Selectboard updated the building committee’s charge and membership. Meeting agendas, meeting minutes, recordings, and other information can be found here

Senator Anne Gobi met with the Selectboard on 11/30/21 and expressed some thoughts on our public safety building. We are not alone in having outdated buildings that need to be replaced. Many towns in Senator Gobi’s district are in the same situation. She expressed concern that we were on our fourth committee. She also encouraged us to demonstrate that we are willing to spend some money on the building since it would help us go after money through the Governor’s capital plan. She noted that having design and construction documents is critical to any efforts to secure outside funding.  This message was reiterated in a subsequent meeting between her office, Helga Lyons and Phil Gott.

The Town did not receive a grant to cover the cost of the design and construction documents. We were told that our application was very strong and compelling but that the State had decided to not fund any building-related projects this year.

Knowledgeable and experienced Fire and Police Chiefs are reviewing our existing designs to help identify both missing and unnecessary spaces. The Board is looking forward to hearing what they determine.

The kickoff meeting for the next phase of the Public Safety Building Committee is scheduled for 1/11/24 at 6:30pm.

Sale of Mechanics Hall - updated 12/31/23

Since Red Cardinal notified the Town that it would not be pursuing a retail cannabis dispensary at Mechanics Hall, the Selectboard decided to revise and reissue the Request for Proposals (RFP).  The Board is hoping to find someone to redevelop the building where it is but is open to having the building relocated. If it is redeveloped where it is, the Board is looking for either a commercial or mixed-use application. The Board has discussed the option of razing the building at some point in the future if they can’t find a buyer. Creative proposals from all sources are encouraged including those from Princeton citizen groups who have a realistic plan and proposed funding sources to put the building to good use. The RFP is available and responses are due back by 2/8/24 at 1pm.

Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program - updated 1/31/22

Princeton received a $20,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to help Princeton meet the challenges of climate change and develop a Municipal Preparedness Plan. The grant funded a Community Resilience Building Workshop aimed at the rigorous identification of climate change impacts and best practices to enable Princeton to meet these challenges. Based on the workshop, the Town and the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission developed a plan and we were notified on 9/9/2022 that we have been designated as an MVP Community.  This accepted plan positions Princeton to gain further grants to create infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Mitigation grants could enhance, for example, Princeton’s installation of larger, more robust culverts, provide additional funding for tree trimming and forest management, improved firefighting water sources, natural fire barriers and water retention areas, etc. 

The town was notified in December 2022 that the MVP program had opened its Expression of Interest (EOI) phase for the upcoming round of MVP Action Grants. We were told that submitting an EOI would enable the EEA’s MVP team to provide feedback on our project ideas and help us brainstorm ways to make our projects more competitive.

 

CMRPC strongly recommended that we submit an EOI as soon as possible, especially since our ideas could use some refinement. This is an excellent opportunity to review our list of priority projects with the EEA’s MVP team and develop fundable project concepts.

The MVP team submitted expressions of interest for Engineering for Fire Pond Upgrade and Culvert Resizing Hobbs Road, Promoting Resiliency through Landscape Stewardship, Climate Resiliency Education Campaign, and a PMLD Sterling Road Power Line. Due to the feedback received from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs during the expression of interest process, it was decided not to pursue these projects at this time.

Town Administrator Sherry Patch is working with CMRPC and neighboring towns to identify larger, regional opportunities. The MVP process is very cumbersome and lends itself to larger projects.

Worcester Road Project - added 12/15/23

VHB was awarded the contract for engineering services for design and preparation of construction documents for full depth reclamation and milling of Worcester Road from the center of town to the Holden Town Line (approximately 3 miles). The project will also include installation of 3200’ of new sidewalk from Sharon Drive to the second entrance of Hickory Drive. The Town applied for a MassWorks grant for a portion of the project but was denied, in part, because the Town hadn’t invested enough of its own money. We have received a $498,000 Complete Streets grant that can be used for part of this project. The Selectboard held meetings on February 13 and September 20 to get input from residents on the sidewalk portion of the project.

The Town must finish the Worcester Rd sidewalks, drainage, and crossings Complete Streets project before applying for additional projects through Complete Streets. We will be putting the project out for bid shortly and hope to begin construction in the spring.

Green Communities - updated 7/26/23

The application to become a Green Community has been approved. The Town has submitted our application for the projects we’d like to complete with our $130,869 designation grant. A team met several times to discuss the projects that were proposed for the designation grant. Central Massachusetts Regional Planning has advised us that the State really likes to see weatherization projects done before projects like new HVAC systems. We worked with a firm called Guardian to select the weatherization projects we should do (those with a good payback) so that we could apply for HVAC-related projects during the next round of funding.  The team agreed to move forward with some lighting projects and a request for funds for plan implementation by CMRPC.

The State approved our plan for the designation grant spending and the project kickoff meeting was recently held. The Town Administrator, Special Projects Coordinator and Building Maintenance Superintendent are currently working with CMRPC to put a Scope of Services together for lighting improvement projects at the Library, Highway Department, and Station 2.  We are also working on getting proposals for weatherization studies of these buildings so that we can apply for HVAC Improvements under a future Green Communities Competitive grant round.  The Energy Audit for the Thomas Prince School is complete and is available on the Town website.  Funding for this project was received under a Municipal Technical Assistance (META) grant.  The audit was conducted by Peregrine Energy Group.

Our first Green Communities project, lighting improvements at the Library, Bagg Hall, Highway and Station 2, is now complete. We have received a Request for Quotes from CMRPC for weatherization updates at Bagg Hall, the Library, Station 2, and the Highway Barn. Once we have done the weatherization improvements, we will be able to apply for grants for heating and cooling improvements.

 

Housing – added 12/15/23

We applied for and received a Community Compact Grant under the Best Practices Program to have CMRPC help develop a Housing Production Plan for Princeton. The Selectboard formed a Housing Production Plan Committee to work with CMRPC. The Selectboard voted to accept the resulting Plan on 12/28/22 and the State has given its approval. The final plan can be found here. The Plan lays out proposed next steps that should be taken by the Selectboard and the Planning Board. The Selectboard formed a Housing Production Plan Implementation Committee which is fully staffed and has begun work.

 

Updating of Town Master Plan – updated 12/15/23

The Selectboard voted on 1/25/23 to form a Master Plan Steering Committee to work with CMRPC and Town employees and officials on the first phase of the Master Plan update. We received a $50,000 grant from the State that was used to fund CMRPC’s contribution. The Committee has draft versions of the Land Use, Economic Development and Open Space and Recreation chapters which are under review and revision. The Town applied for a grant for the next phase of the Master Plan but did not receive it. The Selectboard will be discussing whether to use other funds or to reapply next year.

 

Waste & Recycling – added 12/31/23

The Waste & Recycling Committee put out its Request for Proposals (RFP) for a preferred waste/recycling hauler program on July 6, 2021. Only one proposal was submitted and the Committee did not find that proposal acceptable.   At the committee’s request, the SB voted to not accept that proposal and to reissue the RFP at a later date. The Committee believed that labor shortages and the small number of residents in Princeton were factors in the lack of acceptable proposals.

The Waste & Recycling Committee is exploring the feasibility of joining with several neighboring towns to have a transfer station and/or a preferred hauler.

Please note that programs would be voluntary. Residents would not be required to change haulers or use the transfer station.

Residents recently received a Town Census mailing which includes a survey intended to help in these efforts. The Committee asks you to fill it out even if it seems to be similar to one you filled out in the past.

 

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds – updated 12/31/23

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319), also known as ARPA, into law. The $1.9 trillion package was intended to combat the COVID19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts.

Princeton has received its full allocation of $1,042,587.02 as of 9/29/2022. Funds must be allocated to projects by 12/31/2024 and must be completely spent by 12/31/2026. Ineligible uses include payments into a pension fund (OPEB), debt payments, transfers into stabilization accounts, and replenishing of reserve accounts. Other limitations on the funds were removed for municipalities that received less than $10 million.

To date, ARPA funds have been allocated as follows:

 

Approved

Allocated

Spent

Bagg Hall Water System

11/17/2021-STM

 $      22,460.00

 $    22,460.00

4 Bldg HVAC Assessment

03/22/2022

 $        6,800.00

 $      6,800.00

Fire Department Assessment

06/15/2022

 $      25,950.00

 $    25,950.00

Deposit Engine 5 Replacement

03/22/2022

 $      87,500.00

 $    87,500.00

Police Department Assessment

06/15/2022

 $        9,750.00

 $      9,750.00

Police Reform Offset

07/13/2022

 $      73,500.00

 $    34,582.96

Speed Plateaus

03/22/2022

 $        7,000.00

 $      3,545.50

Multi Purpose Trailer

07/13/2022

 $        8,500.00

 $      8,162.49

Library Ethernet Cabling

07/13/2022

 $        6,000.00

 $      6,000.00

Police Repeater Replacement

07/13/2022

 $        8,203.80

 $      8,203.80

Compensation Study

08/10/2022

 $        8,000.00

 $      8,000.00

POET Install Project

09/14/2022

 $      10,200.00

 

Ecotourism Grant Match

11/02/2022

 $        5,031.00

 

Wellhouse Demolition Project

11/02/2022

 $        1,200.00

 $      1,200.00

Fire Dept Turnout Gear

5/10/2023

 $      30,000.00

 

Highway Truck Lift

5/10/2023

 $      13,000.00

 

Highway Mini Excavator

5/10/2023

 $      85,000.00

 

Security Improvements TPS

5/10/2023

 $      50,000.00

 

Hwy-Snow Plow Blades/Temp Sensor

6/1/2023

 $      40,000.00

 

Highway Generator – Fuel Pump Sys

6/1/2023

 $      15,000.00

 

PFAS Engineering & Well Monitoring

6/14/2023

 $    150,000.00

 

Walkway Repairs

6/14/2023

 $      20,000.00

 

Slate Roof Repairs

6/14/2023

 $        7,500.00

 

Library Window Repairs

6/14/2023

11/29/2023

 $      12,684.00

 $        3,663.00

 

Defibrillators

6/14/2023

 $       19,000.00

 

      Total to date

 

 $     725,941.80

 

 

Notes:

  • The Selectboard discussed possibly allocated $80,000 to a Ball Hill culvert project as part of a grant application to make the application stronger. We were told that having money allocated was stronger than saying we would vote on it at our Annual Town Meeting.
  • The Board also discussed funding grant writing assistance but no number has been mentioned yet. We recently sent out a RFP with a proposed budget of $10,000.
  • Once the agreement with the Police Union has been finalized and ratified, we will need to determine how to fund any resulting increase in the Police budget. Two of the options on the table are free cash and ARPA. The Selectboard agreed on 12/27 that the spending would be brought to voters at a yet-to-be-scheduled Special Town Meeting.

 

Police & Fire – updated 12/31/23

The Selectboard continues to work with the police department to monitor requirements stemming from police reform legislation. We are already feeling the effects of changes to the certification of part-time officers. We could also be impacted by new certification requirements for police departments but they have yet to be released.

Board member Phil Gott is working with the Chiefs on developing and reporting on metrics that can be used to drive future budgeting and planning decisions. Those metrics can be found here.

The Selectboard will be voting on the ratification of the Police Union contract for the 3 years ending 6/30/26 at their meeting on 1/10/24.

 

Speeding – added 4/15/23

The Selectboard continues to work with the Police and Highway departments on what can be done to control speeding on our streets. The Board hears regularly from residents in all parts of town about this continued problem. The deployment of electronic speed control signs helps in many instances. The Police continue to enforce speed limits to the best of their ability but can’t be everywhere. Voters said no at a Special Town Meeting on 3/7 to two warrant articles that would have allowed the Board to set speed limits as low as 25 mph in some heavily settled areas or 20 mph in a declared safety zone.  Without these articles, speed limit changes must be approved by the state after a costly speed study.  Voters expressed their desire for more enforcement of existing speed limits. There is continued interest in and discussion of other speed control measures such as speed bumps, humps, or tables.

Budget and Related – updated 12/15/23

The FY25 budget process is kicking off. The Selectboard’s budget guidance this year is that non-salary parts of the budget should be level-funded. Salaries will be adjusted based on existing contracts and the most recent wage and compensation study performed by the Collins Center.

The Board hears often from residents who would like to reduce residential taxes by bringing in more commercial and industrial taxpayers. One effort to do this is work on an EcoTourism plan. The newly formed EcoTourism Committee had their kickoff meeting in December.