PRINCETON — The Select Board debated an approach for making another attempt at funding a new public safety building at the special town meeting Nov. 15. Members decided to ask voters to pay for design and construction documents and leave full construction costs until another meeting.
The topic will be discussed at an online Town Buzz meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22. The meeting link will be published on the town’s webpage.
Advisory Committee member Peter Giumette offered the opinion that funding for the design and construction documents would be more likely to win approval from town meeting voters.
Select board chair Karen Cruise noted that doing these documents first would give a more accurate construction cost estimate.
Other articles on the special town meeting warrant include an easement for Harrington Farm and a proposal to reduce speed limits in town.
In other business
• The board also voted to set a salary range of $105,000 to $135,000 for the vacant police chief position.
The position requires skills in police work, management, budgeting and communicating with the public, Cruise said.
Other towns searching for police chiefs are offering $96,000 with some stipends in Barre, Town Administrator Sherry Patch said, and $100,000 with $3,000 increases for the next three years in Northfield.
• Norco Club president Wayne Adams requested a change to the liquor license to allow serving alcoholic beverages on the lawn, which is surrounded by stone walls and is oriented away from the street.
The club is situated on 350 acres and is the site for town activities such as winter carnivals, Adams said.
The select board approved the request. There were no objections from abutters. Previously, the club had a license to operate an indoor bar.
• The town still an opening for senior center outreach coordinator. The single applicant turned down the position, said Cruise.
• The board briefly discussed the maintenance agreement for Thomas Prince School.
Cruise thinks replacing the septic system will cost in the range of $150,000 to $200,000 and the town should be saving for it. There is currently $8,000 set aside for replacement and repairs.
Town administrator Sherry Patch said that usually a septic system is not replaced all at once but in sections, like the distribution box or a leach field.
According to the lease agreement with the Wachusett Regional School District, the town is responsible for the replacement costs, she said.
Patch said there is a meeting on Friday with the school schools superintendent and facilities manager.
