2025 Templeton special town meeting, article 2, asks town meeting to amend their vote of May 16, 2006 regarding open space committee. That vote created an open space committee of from 5 to 9 members with all votes shall be considered passed and valid provided at least 3 members of the committee are present and a simple majority is attained. How can 3 votes be a majority (quorum) if there are 7, 8 or 9 members? That does not work, even with Templeton math. Also, it is harder and harder to get members on these various committees, so town meeting will be asked to amend that vote to set the open space committee at 5 members and the committee members will be appointed in June and change Board of Selectmen to Select Board.

That is all that article is about. I believe there are 3 people waiting to serve on this committee.

2025 November 12, Templeton special town meeting, articles 3, 4, 5, and 6 ask town meeting to expend CPA money on 4 various projects.

Article 7 asks town meeting to approve a debt exclusion for the towns share of expense of roof work on NRSD high school, a building Templeton voted to expend money to build back in the 1990's

Article 8 asks town meeting to approve using money from TCTV retained earnings fund to their fiscal year 2026 budget. Retained earnings are an enterprise funds money equivalent to town free cash. This is another move to try and keep tctv afloat while the budget, funding and charge of this town entity results in a decision on it's true mission and as a service to town residents. To date, many proposals and plans have been presented to the select board and town, but none so far have brought about any real financial impact, as in bringing more funding to the town to keep this entity running. Just like a town, a dept. cannot keep spending onetime funds for reoccurring expenses.

 On Templeton Town website, annual town meeting May 2018, article 21 - fy2019 general fund operating budget $8,220,298.00 plus article 24 - supplementalfy2019 operating budget - $470,246.00, for a total fy19 general fund operating budget of $8,690,544.00

So as to be clear, this article 24, added money to the budgets of fire/EMS, police, insurance & benefits, highway, snow & ice, all of which are funded in general fund budget.

So May 2019, annual town meeting, article 26, general fund budget for fiscal year 20, $9,660,274.00;

A one-year increase in Templeton general fund budget of $999,730.00. Close enough to one million, what is $270.00 among friends?

 Over time, there have been some agreements signed that have been beneficial to other towns at the expense of Templeton residents. One of them signed on May 15, 2019 and is on town website was accounting agreement with Hubbardston, which had Templeton moving from a parttime assistant town accountant to fulltime and giving more money to fulltime town accountant, this resulted in lower accounting cost for Hubbardston and increased cost for Templeton. That agreement has ended but the cost increases from it are still with the town today. Perhaps not good idea to call out the current board when you signed off on that very bad agreement. You failed in financial fiduciary responsibility to Templeton. Especially after signing off on another agreement with a different town for dispatch service, agreeing to lower cost to one town while increasing costs to Templeton. This is easy to check, do not take my word, it is on your website. Can the town use more money to provide more things and/or better, yes, but it is very hard to ask for more with a history of making those bad deals for Templeton, which have placed a financial burden on residents that are still affecting things today. Again, failure in fiduciary responsibility to Templeton.

 It is a bad showing that all select board members vote to spend residents' money on something but then refuse to do their part. Pretty much shows a lack of concern for public money and their responsibility.

 There is no compelling reason for a town senior tax work off program should have to be done in steps, such as raising the amount that can be worked off from say $500.00 to $800.00, then $1000.00, and take 3 or 4 years to get to $1,500.00 per senior while being told if the limit is just increased from $500.00 to $1,500.00 per senior because it would not be sustainable. The funding for senior work off program comes from town's overlay fund, which is raised by the board of assessors by raising it on the tax recap sheet and when there is over $700,000.00 dollars already available. Senior tax work off program policy is set by selectmen rather than assessors, according to state law. Templeton seniors deserve the increase; the money is there and there is no reason Templeton should not have the amount set to $1,500.00 per senior. It will require a town meeting vote to undo something done many years ago and bring this item up to date. Everyone will be a senior one day!

 A while back, I donated a hard cover version of Town Meeting Times to the Templeton library, it is the lates copy of Town Meeting Times, which is the official guide book for Templeton Town Meetings. You can go there and check this out without having to to buy a copy. Moderators Association will not let the town post an electronic copy on Town website.

Page 217 - section 9.1 in Town Meeting Times, at bottom of page, an interesting paragraph of information.

Concerning the practice of anyone wishing to speak before the meeting, identify themselves, no matter how well they may be known in town. There is one sentence that is interesting: "Although this is accepted practice, there is no legal authority which expressly accords to the moderator the power to compel speakers to identify themselves if they do not wish to do so."

Town Meeting Times is a product of MA Moderators Association.

One member of the committee that produced this latest edition of the book, Templeton Town Counsel Tom Harrington.

 Join us to show your support of the Municipal Empowerment Act (MEA) next Tuesday October 28th!

 

Why the MEA is Important

 

The MEA is an important opportunity for the Commonwealth to further its support of all 351 cities and towns. This legislation promotes efficiencies in local government, reduces regulatory burdens, and provides tools for communities to solve age-old problems through additional revenue options and operational flexibilities.

 

The MEA:

• Reforms outdated procurement rules and thresholds including:
• Raising the 30B threshold for ALL municipal purchases to $100,000
• Exempting snow hauling from 30B requirements to match snow removal
• Eliminating the COMMBUYS publishing requirement
• Streamlining cooperative purchasing agreements for goods AND services
• Codifies existing COVID-era allowances for remote public meetings, currently set to expire on June 30, 2027
• Updates enforcement mechanisms and removal procedures for double poles
• Provides new or expanded local option revenues including:
• Option to increase the meals tax
• Option to increase the lodging tax
• Option to establish a new motor vehicle excise tax
• Improves efficiency of local operations through longer borrowing terms for school projects, tools for critical workforce shortages, and much more!