Saturday, December 31, 2016

I haven't seen any of this

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 17, 2016, at 6:02 AM, jpb01468@comcast.net wrote:
Paul, I am wondering if these articles have been forwarded to you? Hope to see you at the special Town Meeting. Jeff Bennett From: "Robert Markel" <townadministrator@templeton1.org> To: "Mark Barrieau" <mbarrieau@verizon.net>, "Bev Bartolomeo" <bartsfarm@comcast.net>, "Katharine Fulton" <fult…
<March 21, 2016 STM Warrant w. Motions.docx>


 pderensis@aol.com
Jeff:
 
I asked the town administrator about the special town meeting warrant, and he advises that Bond Counsel assisted with the borrowing articles, that he is trying to save money so he felt it unnecessary to have two counsel review the same issues, that there is a procedure in place in the town such that requests for counsel are to be presented to the Town Administrator for approval before any work i undertaken, etc. etc.. However, he did invite me to attend the special town meeting on Monday night.
 
Hope all is well with you
 
Best regards,
 
Paul
 
In a message dated 3/17/2016 8:09:49 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, jpb01468@comcast.net writes:
I am concerned about the legalities of the first article giving a department authority to borrow on behalf of Town. Regards; Jeff Sent from my iPhone On Mar 17, 2016, at 8:04 AM, Paul DeRensis <pderensis@aol.com> wrote: I haven't seen any of this Sent from my iPhone On Mar 17, 2016, at 6:02 AM,…

posted by Jeff Bennett


Massachusetts general law, chapter 39 - section 10:


The selectmen shall insert in the warrant for the annual meeting all subjects the insertion of which shall be requested of them in writing by ten or more registered voters of the town and in the warrant for every special town meeting all subjects the insertion of which shall be requested of them in writing by one hundred registered voters or by ten per cent of the total number of registered voters of the town whichever number is the lesser. The selectmen shall call a special town meeting upon request in writing, of two hundred registered voters or of twenty per cent of the total number of registered voters of the town, whichever number is the lesser; such meeting to be held not later than forty-five days after the receipt of such request, and shall insert in the warrant therefor all subjects the insertion of which shall be requested by said petition. No action shall be valid unless the subject matter thereof is contained in the warrant. Two or more distinct town meetings for distinct purposes may be called by the same warrant.


Do not blame the lawyer if the wording on a petition is incorrect or illegal. It is the responsibility of the petitioners to ensure what they want or ask for is correct and legal.


Why can’t the Town write citizen petition articles and motions?

While the Town in certain instances can give advice on matters, it is generally not considered appropriate for the Town to write citizen petition articles or motions. Citizen petition articles are the citizens right to petition government. Sometimes they may involve matters which the local government leadership does not support or feel are appropriate. Therefore, to have the Town involve itself too directly in such petitions by writing the article or motion would potentially cause too much intermingling of the government into the citizens’ affairs. This is especially so if there was to be a challenge or dispute over the citizens’ article or motion. In appropriate cases, suggestions can be made.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Friday, December 30, 2016

https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ag8wbGi1Ag0zgXIvvAu2OAeKrYwB

the above link should open the Town of Templeton's resonse to the secretary of the commonwealth concerning a public records request. I will now request a copy of this ruling by the supreme judicial court of MA.

This board of selectmen talk a good game about being transparent and open but with another familiar name on the board along with the chair apparently being the intern of another former select board member and light manager, there seems little chance of either transparency and/or honesty in Templeton town government. That is my opinion.

posted by Jeff Bennett
From: Tom Jeleniewski [mailto:tom200is@juno.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2016 8:18 PM
To: townadministrator@templeton1.orgrdennis5870@comcast.netsewsup@yahoo.comm129@comcast.net
Cc: templetonwwtp@verizon.net
Subject: RE: Joint meeting

All;
I just discovered that my iphone SMTP server was not configured properly. So mail that I thought was sent from my phone had been sitting in my "outbox". I have pushed all that mail out just now.  Anyone who thought I was ignoring them, I apologize. Some mail I just sent may no longer be relevant. But the following post IS relevant if you did not receive it the first time.

Carter:
I am getting quite weary of all this email beating around the bush!  When I sat down with you and Kent in your office you made some helpful budget suggestions for which we thanked you. You also clearly stated that you had no intention of using sewer department enterprise funds to help balance the town budget.  This board intends to hold you to that.  So why is our sewer Supt. coming unglued over the budget? If this issue is not solved soon to our satisfaction, we will feel obliged to take further action which could include legal and media involvement.  The sewer department has always been solvent and we expect it to stay that way.

The following question to you has a binary answer:
Is it your intention to raid the sewer enterprise fund to help balance the town budget?
YES        or      NO

Respectfully,
Tom Jeleniewski
Sewer Commission


---------- Original Message ----------
From: "townadministrator" <townadministrator@templeton1.org>
To: "'Kent Songer'" <sewsup@yahoo.com>,        "'Carter Terenzini'" <carter.terenzini@gmail.com>
Cc: "'Carol Osborne'" <templetonwwtp@verizon.net>,        "'Bobby'" <rdennis5870@comcast.net>,        "'Tom Jeleniewski'" <tom200is@juno.com>, "'Mark'" <m129@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: Joint meeting
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2016 11:56:23 -0500
I believe the discussion would be most productive if it wasn’t rushed by a crush of other business so that people are able to feel somewhat relaxed and with adequate time.    Can you kindly confirm your commissioners might be available for those nites/times and I’ll work with those when I raise this subject tomorrow evening? 

Many Thanks

Carter Terenzini
Interim Town Administrator

posted by Jeff Bennett
Massachusetts General Law, chapter 39:

Section 15: Moderators; powers and duties

Section 15. The moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes, and may administer in open meeting the oath of office to any town officer chosen thereat. If a vote so declared is immediately questioned by seven or more voters, he shall verify it by polling the voters or by dividing the meeting unless the town has by a previous order or by-law provided another method. If a two thirds, four fifths or nine tenths vote of a town meeting is required by statute, the count shall be taken, and the vote shall be recorded in the records by the clerk; provided, however, that a town may decide by by-law or vote not to take a count and record the vote if a two-thirds vote of a town meeting is required by statute; and provided, further, that if the vote is unanimous, a count need not be taken, and the clerk shall record the vote as unanimous.
A town may pass by-laws, subject to this section, for the regulation of the proceedings at town meetings. Such by-laws shall be approved and published in the manner prescribed by section thirty-two of chapter forty.
In any town having a representative town meeting form of government the town meeting members shall not use the secret ballot when voting in the exercise of the corporate powers of said town or on any motion unless two thirds of the town meeting members present and voting thereon vote that a secret ballot be used.

Towns

Most towns (well over 200) operate with an Open Town Meeting where any voter is permitted to attend and vote on legislative matters: budgets, bylaws, zoning, etc. Fewer than 50 towns operate with a Representative Town Meeting where voters vote for representatives to attend town meeting. These representative legislative bodies vary from less than 100 to more than 300. Towns of less than 12,000 may not have a city form of government and towns of less than 6,000 must have an open town meeting. The executive authority in towns is held by elected boards of selectmen together with an appointed chief administrative officer called a Town Manager or Town Administrator.
 
The 2/3 vote is when a town has a representative town meeting rather than an open town meeting. There is a difference and we need to know and remember the difference.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Monday, December 26, 2016

In regards to the perpetual care fund balances and investments of the Town:

Massachusetts general law chapter 114;

Section 19: Deposits for care and improvement of burial places or lots; records; investment of deposits

Section 19. A city or town may receive, hold and apply any funds, money or securities deposited with the treasurer thereof for the preservation, care, improvement or embellishment of any public or private burial place situated therein, or of burial lots situated in such burial places. Such funds, money or securities shall be entered upon the books of the treasurer, and held in accordance with ordinances or by-laws relative thereto. A city or town may pass ordinances or by-laws consistent with law, necessary for the purposes of this section. Each treasurer shall invest such deposits under his control to insure a maximum income from such deposits. Upon the receipt of a deposit for the preservation, care, improvement or embellishment of individual lots in public burial places, said treasurer shall so inform the city or town clerk, who shall record the facts relating to such deposit in the margin of his records of said lots.

posted by Jeff Bennett






Things to check on for the new year: What are the balances of the funds that hold the perpetual care monies for the cemetery department. what is the balance of the fund that holds the building maintenance money. Are the selectmen, via the town administrator having the cemetery superintendent Alan Mayo take or attend management courses and if so, where is that money coming from. Are the selectmen, via the town administrator telling the highway superintendent to take over building maintenance for the town? Any answers to those questions will be posted here.


posted by Jeff Bennett
TOTAL CERTIFIED UNENCUMBERED EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY: $335,846.00. 

That is the amount listed for Narragansett regional school district for 2016. You can find this information on the MA dls website, under the gateway tab to the right of the website. Look for regional school district excess & deficiency and when you get to the list, scroll down to narragansett and then choose a year and see what was filed. In theory and very practical, it looks like the district has enough "free cash" left over through the years to be able to give back to the two towns that make up the district. The amount of $10,000.00 per town does seem to be out of reach. These funds could be used to help build both town's savings fund which in turn would result in better financial health for both towns. That usually results in better interest rates for the town's borrowing to benefit the schools. It is also possible that this action would put taxpayers in a better position or mood to support the schools better, from a financial stand point. That is my thought, anyway.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Sunday, December 25, 2016

The secretary of state’s office this afternoon released the final set of rules to implement the new public records law, which was signed by the governor in June and is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1.
 
• Link to secretary of state’s office for regulations
 
The new law (Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016) imposes strict new requirements on cities, towns and state agencies governing timelines to respond to and comply with requests for records, including how much can be charged to cover costs and what penalties could be imposed on state and local government agencies.
 
The law required the supervisor of records in the secretary of state’s office to finalize regulations by Jan. 1.
 
The new rules will necessitate that cities and towns review and update local practices for responding to records requests, and that they be ready to implement them on the first of the year.
 
The MMA is in the process of reviewing the regulations in detail.
 
The MMA and the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association are sponsoring a workshop at the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Jan. 21 on the requirements of the law and regulations, as well as best practices that cities and towns can implement to facilitate compliance with the new rules.

posted by Jeff Bennett
Massachusetts General Law, chapter 39:

Section 16: Appropriation, advisory or finance committees; appointment; tenure; powers and duties

Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election.
In every town having a committee appointed under authority of this section, such committee, or the selectmen if authorized by a by-law of the town, and, in any town not having such a committee, the selectmen, shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting.


posted by Jeff Bennett
Massachusetts General Law, chapter 39:

Section 15: Moderators; powers and duties

Section 15. The moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes, and may administer in open meeting the oath of office to any town officer chosen thereat. If a vote so declared is immediately questioned by seven or more voters, he shall verify it by polling the voters or by dividing the meeting unless the town has by a previous order or by-law provided another method. If a two thirds, four fifths or nine tenths vote of a town meeting is required by statute, the count shall be taken, and the vote shall be recorded in the records by the clerk; provided, however, that a town may decide by by-law or vote not to take a count and record the vote if a two-thirds vote of a town meeting is required by statute; and provided, further, that if the vote is unanimous, a count need not be taken, and the clerk shall record the vote as unanimous.
A town may pass by-laws, subject to this section, for the regulation of the proceedings at town meetings. Such by-laws shall be approved and published in the manner prescribed by section thirty-two of chapter forty.
In any town having a representative town meeting form of government the town meeting members shall not use the secret ballot when voting in the exercise of the corporate powers of said town or on any motion unless two thirds of the town meeting members present and voting thereon vote that a secret ballot be used.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Friday, December 23, 2016

from Town meeting, May 20, 2013:


Article 59
To see if the Town will vote to rescind Town By-Law XLVII, the Personnel ByLaw, and replace it with the following:

The Board of Selectmen is responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures. Submitted by the Personnel Board On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted that Revised General By-Laws, Article XLVII- Personnel By-Law, be amended to read as follows: The Board of Selectmen is responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures.

 Passed/May 20th @ 8:10

The above seems to say the selectmen and not town meeting approves personnel policies and procedures such as hours compensation etc. The people who pushed for this should not now speak of "it should go to town meeting" or "it has gone to town meeting in the past" That has/was changed with this town meeting vote along with other votes.


posted by Jeff Bennett
The following is from a division of local services "A guide to financial management for Town officials"


11.1 WHAT ARE THE BASIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TOWN MEETING RELATIVE TO MUNICIPAL FINANCE?

Town meeting is the legislative body and appropriating authority of a town. As the legislative body, town meeting enacts bylaws and other measures to provide for the operation of municipal government and the administration of town affairs. For example, town meeting typically enacts personnel, zoning and building code by-laws and establishes various town select committees. As the appropriating authority, town meeting also approves the annual budget and — by approval of appropriations — authorizes specific expenditures. With the exception of the school operating budget, town meeting may vote a budget on a line-item basis, in which case each separate line item constitutes a separate appropriation. Alternatively, town meeting may vote appropriations more generally and thereby afford department heads a measure of flexibility in expending funds to operate their departments. The budgets adopted by town meetings in Massachusetts are affected by the Proposition 21 ⁄2 limitations upon local property tax levies. So-called overrides of these tax limitations, which allow for additional taxing capacity to fund the budget, may only be approved by a general referendum vote of all town residents. The initial town budget is approved at annual town meeting prior to the July 1 commencement of the fiscal year. During the course of the fiscal year, special town meetings may be convened to refine the budget, transfer funds or address other municipal business. Town meetings are generally referred to as open town meetings if all residents may participate and vote on matters being considered by the meeting

By contrast, some communities act at representative town meetings, where only elected town meeting representatives vote and decide matters being addressed. Town meeting must also approve the issuance of debt. A two-thirds vote of the meeting is required for this purpose. Approval of town meeting is also necessary to establish a stabilization fund and appropriate monies into it. Likewise, a two-thirds vote of town meeting is required to make appropriations from the stabilization fund. Town meeting may also enact additional by-laws concerning the financial management and organization of the town. As the legislative body, town meeting ratifies major policies concerning the financial management of the municipality.

11.3 W H AT CAN BE DONE T O MAKE TOWN MEETING AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE ?
Because town meetings convene infrequently and generally have a great deal of business and information to deliberate upon, it is important that issues be identified , data and information assembled , and analysis completed by municipal officers , committees and interested persons in advance of the meeting . Committee meetings , publi c hearings , cable television programs and news  paper articles offe r convenient forums for the dissemination of important information on municipal matters . Computer technologies may also help to develop informational reports to assist town meeting . In any event, advance preparation of relevant information and its presentation to town meeting in a concise and meaningful manner will result in a more effective meeting.

posted by Jeff Bennett


Authority versus responsibility:

you can delegate authority but not responsibility. Bev, you need to look at the current job description of the Town Administrator and see what responsibilities the administrator has been given by the selectmen. Then look at the articles brought to Town meeting about the personnel board. I believe you will find an article to abolish the personnel board and allow the selectmen to act as such. Then look at the warrant article that created the town administrator position. Look at who brought these articles to town meeting.  What ever authority the town administrator has, he was given by the selectmen and or town meeting.  It seems odd that some of the same people who were in favor of abolishing the personnel board and making the selectmen act as such suddenly now think it should all go to town meeting. Remember the personnel by-law was abolished or changed and the personnel policy was changed. The place to begin is with those two items and perhaps bring a citizens petition to try to change them. It really all begins and ends with the residents. They get the government they allow.

In my opinion, a citizens group should begin looking at those items and how they could be changed.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Thursday, December 22, 2016

I am pretty sure the Town's legislative body can demand the style of budget presented and they can ask for a line by line review if they so wish. Regarding the amount of detail in an expense sheet seems like less information to the people paying the bills resulting in less transparency and honesty in government. If the people let this slide, they get what they deserve. People should demand a transparent line by line explanation of the spending of their money. If they do not get it, vote them out. That is my opinion and I will be looking for the details of what Town meeting can demand and I think it is time for a written newsletter to be sent to the people of Templeton.


posted by Jeff Bennett
To the citizen of Templeton who took the time to send me information and newspaper articles on Carter Terenzini, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to find these and read them and send them to me. I have seen these, read them and posted some of them here already and perhaps I will re-post them so people can see them again.

Again, thank you for taking the time and for being interested in your town.

Jeff Bennett
We don't care about no law, we got our school!


October 23, 2016

Holly;
This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10). I am requesting that I be provided a copy of the following records:
I am requesting a copy of the contract between the Town of Templeton (through it's light department) and the Narragansett Regional School District.
I recognize that you may charge reasonable costs for copies, as well as for personnel time needed to comply with this request. If you expect costs to exceed $10.00, please provide a detailed fee estimate.
The Public Records Law requires you to provide me with a written response within 10 calendar days. If you cannot comply with my request, you are statutorily required to provide an explanation in writing.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bennett
77 Partridgeville Road
Templeton, MA 01468
978-360-4634

MGL chapter 164
Section 56C. Every municipal light commission or manager thereof, who makes or executes a contract on behalf of a municipal lighting plant, where the amount involved is five thousand dollars or more, shall furnish said contract or a copy thereof to the city or town auditor within one week after its execution. Said city or town auditor shall keep such contract or copy on file, open to public inspection during business hours. Such contracts or copies shall be kept in a separate book, arranged according to the subject of the contract, or in other convenient form. An index of the subject matter of the contracts and to the names of the contractors shall be made semi-annually, and shall also be open to public inspection in some convenient form. All allowances under and additions to such contracts, or copies thereof, shall be filed with the city or town auditor, together with a sworn statement of the officer making such allowances or additions that the same are correct and in accordance with the contract. A city or town auditor, municipal light commissioner or manager wilfully failing to comply with this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.

Mr. Bennett:

Regardless of the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 64, §56C, those records are not provided to and are not in the possession of this office. You will need to make your request directly to Templeton Light & Water.

Holly A. Young
Holly A. Young,
Assistant to the Town Administrator

Templeton selectmen working for you

posted by Jeff Bennett
To FOX 25 news: news tip of problems with town government.

Ms. Handy,

           I am writing to you with a concern/question. In May of 2016 at the Templeton annual Town meeting, voters were presented a budget spread sheet that showed among other things a revenue sheet with local receipts/motor vehicle excise tax as $1,110,000.00. This number was part of total revenue dollars used to show a "balanced" budget - revenue versus expense being equal. However, one the most recent Templeton tax recap sheet, which is now available on the DLs website, that figure is $1,000,000.00. This to me now means that there is not a "balanced" revenue versus spread sheet. My question is this: is this practice legal and is it the practice of the department of revenue to let these things slide by? I will be mailing to you hard copies of these documents. 

Thank you in advance for any assistance you may provide with this matter.

regards;
Jeffrey Bennett

MJ Handy is the current director of accounts at the MA DOR. Similar emails sent to attorney general, state treasurer and other members of the MFOB, questioning whether it is a good idea to lend Templeton money or allow Templeton to borrow 24 million dollars with a payback of 24 million plus 14 million in interest. Templeton did not present a balanced budget to town meeting again!

posted by Jeff Bennett
Money to burn? Is there a better way to spend taxpayer dollars?

The city of Gardner recently received 12 property tax bills (separate) for zero dollars. Here is a paper copy of property you own and for this quarter, you owe nothing. You will owe nothing for the entire year because you are tax exempt. Why does the tax collector send out bills for nothing/ Could these properties be listed together and sent electronically or on one bill rather than 12? How much time does this take? Are these the things being looked at to save time and money? How often does this happen? How many other entities receive the same billing? Does the town send it self property tax bills for zero dollars?  Does the treasurer/collector know what they are doing?

Perhaps the selectmen can pay the collins institute $5,000.00 to study this too?


posted by Jeff Bennett

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Interesting email from the selectmen:

Under the selectboard work plan for 2017 through 2020 is one item that is a head scratcher;

board of selectmen policy/handbook. This is interesting because they already have a policy & procedures document and there is already a selectmen handbook put together by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Apparently this board of selectmen does not have enough to deal with already, they wish to reinvent the wheel again!

Also, an item which states "to bring audits current" - $140,000.00. There is not enough funds currently budgeted to pay for this. $5,000.00 for a uniform budget document for all departments.
Again, reinventing the wheel, the selectmen have the Massachusetts division of local services - technical assistance bureau that you all already pay for through state taxes, that could be used for this service. Again, it appears there is an effort to strain the finances of Templeton more than they already are.

$5,000.00 to refresh town website and greater use.

$10,000.00 for a compensation study, again, spending money you do not have for something that should be put on hold until you have your financial house in order. This was done in the past and it resulted in a plan with no funds to make it happen, Wasted money because you cannot follow through on.

In my opinion, it looks as thought this select board is doing alot of talk and little else, bringing up many items so it appears there is progress when there is none. Someone on that board will say "we are solving issues, they are not" and that will again turn out to be a lie, it will again be untrue. That is my opinion.


posted by Jeff Bennett


Monday, December 19, 2016

Selectmen minutes not on the website, that would be a question for them. Perhaps they are too busy trying to spend money they do not have on someone to do their job.

As for the grant, it is similar to the one used by the city of Gardner back in 2013 to study the idea of Templeton, Phillipston and Gardner moving together to create a regional emergency communications center, which showed Templeton could save about $90,000.00 per year by doing so. Selectmen Brooks used it as an election thing with signs saying "save dispatch" rather than lets save Templeton financially. Very short sighted in my opinion.


posted by Jeff Bennett
from Massachusetts Division of Local Services alerts: cities & Towns.

Recently I received an email from DLS / city & Town alert - I signed up to receive these. It contained advice and clarification on municipal "free cash, what is it, how you get to use it, time frame, what credit rating agencies look for etc. Also included was this:

Dec. 31 Selectmen:
 Begin to Finalize Budget Recommendation for Review by Finance Committee.
          In Templeton, it would be the Advisory Committee.

This DLS "alert" was within an article from DLS concerning updates on community grant program, which I believe Templeton selectmen opted to apply for and take part in.

I hope they read these things and understand them, this is one item that is NOT the responsibility of the Town Administrator; budget and policy. Selectmen cannot have it both ways, in my opinion, blame the T/A when things are bad, such as the budget, then take credit when and if anything goes well. There is no reason that Advisory Committee should not have all deaprtment budget requests by the end of January, unless the selectmen do not want the Advisory Committee to have time to discuss them in an open public meeting and to make recommendations in time for residents/taxpayers to look at and ask questions in advance of the annual town meeting.

In my opinion, if the time line does not happen, it is a deliberate effort on the part of selectmen to keep the advisory committee from having time to look at and question or make recommendations on any financial proposals put forth by the selectmen. After the 2017 fiasco and 2014, I would think everyone would want more rather than less discussion and time spent on this most important document, Templeton's financial spending plan for the next year.

posted by Jeff Bennett


Friday, December 16, 2016

The details of how a town administrator came to be - in Templeton

Annual Town meeting of 2013, began on May 14, 2013.

On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted that:
 Article III of the Revised General By-laws be amended, by adding the following new section 4, as follows: Section 4: Town Administrator- “The Board of Selectmen is authorized and empowered to appoint a town administrator who may be appointed for a term of one or three years, and to remove the town administrator at their discretion. The town administrator appointed under the provisions of this section shall be sworn to the faithful performance of the duties of the office. During the time that the town administrator holds office the town administrator shall hold no elective town office, but may be appointed by the Board of Selectmen or, with their approval, by any other town officer, board, committee or commission, to any other town office or position consistent with the town administrator’s office. The Town Administrator shall receive such aggregate compensation, not exceeding the amount appropriated therefore, as the Board of Selectmen may determine. The Town Administrator shall act by and for the Board of Selectmen in any matter which the Board may assign to the town administrator relating to the administration of the affairs of the town or of any town office or department under their supervision and control, or, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, may perform such other duties as may be requested by any other town officer, board, committee or commission.” And, further, to reflect the above-mentioned amendment to Article III of the Templeton Revised General By-Laws, the following Templeton Revised General ByLaw sections will also be amended by replacing the title of “Town Coordinator” with the title of “Town Administrator” in Article XLII-Capital Planning By-Law- Section 1: And in: Article XLVII-Personnel By-Law –Section 3(b) and Section 3 (c)
 Passed/May 16th @ 8:37

At the annual town meeting of May 2014, this happened:

ARTICLE 20           CHANGE TO THE TOWN BUDGET PROCESS

To see if the Town will vote to change Article IV “Advisory Committee,” Section 4 of the Town By-Laws to read: 
“It shall be duty of the Town Administrator in conjunction with the BOS to consider expenditures and develop a budget for the ensuing fiscal year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as prescribed by the Town Administrator.”; or take any other action relative thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen
On a substitute motion duly made and seconded the Town voted that Article III “Town Officers“ of the Town By-laws be herby amended:

4. “It shall be duty of the Town Administrator in conjunction with the BOS to consider expenditures and develop a budget for the ensuing fiscal year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as prescribed by the Town Administrator.”
Passed Unanimously/May 19th @ 8:38pm

As you can see, Article III, town officers of the Templeton general by-laws have been changed twice in 2 years. The question is was it suppose to be section 4A or was it meant to completely change section 4?  That question was asked of Town counsel and hopefully the email from counsel can be brought to the next Advisory Committee meeting so all members can see what Town legal counsel suggested in their opinion. It differs from what was put out at the last select board meeting. Just another glitch in Templeton governance. Templeton light, as in the rate payers , paid for a really detailed and expensive study of Templeton town governance. Perhaps that can be shared with the whole town through the Town website.


posted by Jeff Bennett




Thursday, December 15, 2016

This is not NOT a fake news story. It may be old news but sometimes history is worth looking at.
This is from the Town of Warwick, MA annual town report of 2007:

Selectboard Report for Fiscal Year 2007

 Personnel: The year saw many changes in both elected and appointed personnel. Ken Alden, who had retired effective July 5, 2006, after forty-four years of service to the Highway Department, died July 14, 2007. On August 14, 2006, Marcel Varney, who had been made acting Fire Chief on April 2, 2006, was appointed Fire Chief. A new town accountant, Tracey Baronas, was appointed and resigned after a brief tenure. The position of treasurer also became vacant in the spring when, after five years of devoted service under trying circumstances, Mary Neville Wall accepted a better-paying and less stressful position in southern Worcester County. Dana Robinson and Janice Barrett, respectively, were appointed to fill the treasurer’s and accountant’s positions. Terry Kemerer was appointed to a three-year term as Tax Collector and Rosa Calcari to a three-year term as Animal Control Officer. The board negotiated the resignation of Administrative Coordinator John Columbus. 

after reading the released executive session minutes, one quickly learns it was not really a mutual business as usual type of resignation.

Town of Warwick
Selectboard
May 14, 2007
Minutes of Executive Session

Present: Rick Abbott, Patricia Lemon, Jim Toth, Town Counsel Fernand
DuPere
I. Call to Order:  Executive session called to order at 4:05 p.m.

DuPere told the Board that Columbus had offered his proposal
unsolicited, indicating that he didn't enjoy working with the Board and
that the inclusion of Petition Articles 8 and 9 in the Town Meeting
Warrant had prompted his proposal.  The proposal (attached) included:
* Mutually amending his contract to end on November 30, 2007, rather
than June 30, 2008, which period was chosen to give him 5 months' salary
(one for each year as Town Coordinator) as severance pay (which Lemon
reported as $8,631.45=1726.25*5, based on an annual salary of $20,715)
* Continuing the Town's 75% share of his benefits until the end of
the amended contract (which Lemon reported as $292.12/month for Health
Insurance and $6.03/month for Life and Disability Insurance, totaling
$1490.75, according to information received earlier from Treasurer
Robinson),
* Taking his FY '07 vacation time (not cumulative) beginning on June
11 (which would be his last day in the office),
and
* Nothing in writing to prevent him from collecting unemployment
after the end of November.

Upon questions about the cost of the severance package, Lemon replied
that Columbus demands would add up to $10,122.20 in FY '08. Toth noted
that Hurlburt's unemployment had increased the Town's cost from about
$1000 to about $7000, an increase of about $6000, but that considering
the salary differential, Columbus' unemployment would most likely
increase it by more like $4000, bringing the potential cost of Columbus'
proposal to as much as $14,000, vs. completing his current contract
through June 30,2008 for $24,292. Toth noted that allowing him to
complete his current contract could leave the Town exposed in the event
of a serious error, whether innocent or vengeful on Columbus' part.

Lemon noted that any unemployment claim might be complicated by
Columbus' second job as a convenience store clerk, and DuPere added that
he believed the current period during which unemployment could be
collected is 26 weeks, lacking a disability claim, which could be up to
39 weeks.
Lemon offered the opinion that Columbus could be fired for cause, citing
a number of instances of mal- and non-feasance. DuPere agreed, but
warned that unless the Board was prepared to be sued - probably
successfully and certainly VERY expensively - it would be a long, draining
process, starting with a formal evaluation resulting in specific,
written complaints and specific steps for curing them and that given the
individual in question, the curative period would require constant
monitoring on the part of the Board, and even then his departure could
not be guaranteed.
Lemon MOVED that the Board authorize DuPere to offer Columbus 5-months'
severance pay, beginning July 1, 2007, and including benefits, but
specifying that his resignation was both voluntary and irrevocable.
Abbott SECONDED.  With a roll-call vote required, Toth voted "aye,"
Abbott voted "aye," and Lemon voted "aye."
DuPere said that the vote had been unnecessary, but that all the Board
had needed to do was give him a sense of their wishes, which he now felt
he had.
DuPere then retired to the SelectBoard office to confer with
Columbus. Upon his return to the Boards room, DuPere reported that he
had finally persuaded Columbus to accept the Board's terms and that he
could now draw up an iron-clad agreement that would protect both parties
from litigation on the subject but warned that Columbus could take up to
21 days to review the agreement before signing and that the only
guarantee that he would do so was his spoken word, which had already
proven unreliable in this matter as well as previous ones.
Lemon assured all in attendance that in the event he withdrew from the
agreement, she was prepared to begin the evaluation and reevaluation
process immediately.
Lemon and Toth both affirmed that they would be available to take over
Columbus' contractual duties between his departure on June 11 and the
hiring of a suitable applicant for the position, Lemon from June 11
through Toth's return to town in late July or early August, and Toth
after his return.  Both expressed their determination to be in the
office as often as possible to be sure they get the necessary computer
passwords and know how Columbus' filing is organized. There was
inconclusive discussion of appropriate actions in the event Article 8 of
the Town Meeting Warrant were to carry as written, and the Board agreed
on the wording of the statement Columbus had agreed to read during
discussion of the article, to wit:  "I have reached an agreement with
the Board of Selectmen that my last day of employment will be the last
day of November, 2007."
Toth MOVED that the Board direct DuPere to prepare a severance agreement
and release of all claims consistent with the previous motion with
regard to John Columbus' employment by the Town of Warwick.  Seconded by
Abbott.With a roll-call vote required, Toth voted "aye," Abbott voted
"aye," and Lemon voted "aye."
DuPere agreed that with time of the essence, he would fax or e-mail a
draft to Board members for amendment or approval at the earliest
possible date, possibly Monday or Tuesday, but certainly before Friday,
and that once it was finalized the Board could either call a Special
Meeting (with 48-hours' notice) or go into executive session with him
and Columbus at the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, May 21 to
sign the final agreement.
Lemon MOVED that the Executive Session adjourn.  Toth seconded.  After
receiving advice from DuPere that it was necessary to go back into open
session long enough to adjourn that, the necessary roll-call vote was
taken: Toth "aye," Abbott "aye," and Lemon "aye."
At 5:20, Lemon called open meeting to order, whereupon Toth immediately
MOVED that open meeting be adjourned.  Lemon seconded.  Unanimously

approved. Minutes taken by Lemon for review by Abbott, Toth, and DuPere.


posted for your reading pleasure by Jeff Bennett