What your selectmen are up to:
To repair a pump on a fire truck, which has a repair price quote of $23,077.29, funds (money) will be taken from the Town's vehicle/machinery maintenance fund ($20,000.00) and $3,500.00 from fire department equipment maintenance fund.
From Town meeting appropriations at annual town meeting on May 14, 2016, town vehicle/machinery fund was $136,040.00 and fire equipment maintenance fund was $6,000.00.
According to the year end budget versus actual information provided by the town accountant on October 3, 2016 was Town vehicle /machinery appropriation was $90,000.00 with $89,997.07 being spent for the year. Fire equipment maintenance was $6,000.00 appropriated with $6,000.00 spent.
To use money from other funds while $50,000.00 sits in the town's reserve fund and for which purpose of replacing/repairing a pump on a fire truck from the reserve fund would be most appropriate and negate the need for future transfers or shortages in the fire department equipment maintenance fund before the end of the year. That would be the logical thing to do, but since the selectmen are unable or unwilling to follow Massachusetts General Law, we should not expect logic from them.
Another event defies logic as well; the roof at the fire station in the northern part of Templeton, referred to as baldwinville, is only being partially repaired, rather than replace the entire roof, which would be an investment in town infrastructure. The fire station roof in Templeton center is NOT being repaired/replaced at all at this time. Mean while, another fire truck is being repaired by volunteer work from Paige welding and by work from some members of the department with parts being paid for out of the fire department budget, (fire equipment maintenance fund?) in the estimated amount of $400.00 - $500.00.
The roof repairs for fire station being paid from fire department budget and town maintenace funds with no dollar breakdown stated by the town administrator. Most of this information is from the town administrator report on the town website.
posted by Jeff Bennett
Jeff. is right about the option to use funds to fix the fire truck pump from the reserve account. This account is for emergencies, and I would think having a truck without the pump working fits the bill. This money cannot be used for salaries, so take that off the list. Why not go for CPC money to replace the roof in Baldwinville, if the building is worth it ? The only people using the building is the CERT people, as far as I know. In my way of thinking, with the equipment we are using to maintain the roads this winter, it would be smart to leave the vehicle/maintenance fund alone. Bud is sure to have to tap into that, seeing we may have a long winter ahead of us. One question I have is why are we talking about problems with the roofs in two buildings now ? It is November !! We had all summer to take care of this stuff !! If the leak in Templeton Center is in danger of ruining equipment ?? Come get some money and take care of it, at least until spring !! Bev.
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