PFAS Update – POET System Advisory Committee Reports
Currently Princeton is providing point of entry treatment systems (POETS) for residents in the area of the town center whose well water tests at or above the 20 parts per trillion (ppt) acceptable limits. We provide bottled water for those home with detectable levels below 20 ppt. The Selectboard asked the Advisory Committee to research whether we should provide POETS for these households too.
By a 4-1 vote, the Advisory Committee recommended that the Selectboard not provide the additional POETS. At the Selectboard’s meeting on August 10th, Advisory Committee members Helga Lyons and Holly Burgess presented the AC majority and minority reports, respectively, on the town providing POETS for residents under the 20 ppt acceptable limit. Copies of the reports can be found at https://www.town.princeton.ma.us/board-health/pages/pfas-information
Karen Cruise has recused herself from PFAS deliberations. The remaining Board members agreed to follow the majority recommendation. Due to the large additional expenditure required, these Board members felt it would be more appropriate to put this issue to a town meeting vote in the future.
The Selectboard would like to thank the Advisory Committee for their continued efforts in researching this difficult issue. Both reports are extremely thorough and we recommend that interested residents read them.
Princeton Receives Grant For Housing Production Plan
Princeton has received a $17,500 grant under the Community Compact Best Practice Program to create a Housing Production Plan. The plan will account for changing demographics, including young families, changing workforce, and an aging population. We will be working with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, members of the Planning Board, and Selectboard to develop the plan. Please forward any questions to Town Administrator Sherry Patch at [email protected] or by calling 978-464-2102.
Masks Required in Princeton Municipal Buildings
Due to the rise in positive cases in the region and the increase of the highly transmissible COVID Delta variant in Massachusetts starting Monday, August 16, 2021, masks will be required in all Town of Princeton municipal buildings regardless of vaccination status. This will include Town Hall, Town Hall Annex, Princeton Public Library, Department of Public Works, Senior Center (COA), Police Station, and the Fire Station.
For more information on COVID-19 in the Town of Princeton including helpful links, please visit https://www.town.princeton.ma.us/covid-19-information
