| Town: | Templeton, MA |
| Board: | Board of Selectmen |
| Time: | Monday March 7, 2016 6:30 PM EST |
| Location: | Town Hall 160 Patriots Rd., East Templeton, MA 01438 Conference Room |
| Agenda: | Templeton Board of Selectmen Town Hall, 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton Monday, March 7, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Agenda 6:30 P.M. Call to Order Pledge Town Administrator Report Appointments Action on Contract for Designer Services~Library Project Templeton Water USDA Grant/Loan-Vote on Authorization for project documents & loan authority Action on Special Town Meeting Warrant Action on Selectmen's Office Job Descriptions Discuss Personnel Policy Discuss Complete Streets Program Action on Adopting Complete Streets Policy Vote to go into executive session & state whether the Board will reconvene in open session after the executive session has adjourned~ Per M.G.L. c. 30A, Sec. 21.3, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. Adjourn The listing of Agenda items is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent it is permitted by law. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE |
Saturday, March 5, 2016
One item within the municipal modernization act is this;
SECTION 75. Subsection (b) of said section 33B of said chapter 44 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Alternatively, the selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee or other entity established under section 16 of chapter 39, may transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year, any amount appropriated other than for the use of a municipal light department or a school department to any other appropriation.
What s the second sentence?
(b) A town may, by majority vote at any meeting duly held, transfer any amount previously appropriated to any other use authorized by law. Alternatively, the selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee or other entity establish under section 16 of chapter 39, may transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year, any amount appropriated for the use of any department other than a municipal light department or a school department to the appropriation for any other department or within a department, but the amount transferred from 1 department to another or within a department may not exceed, in the aggregate, 3 per cent of the annual budget of the department from or within which the transfer is made or $5,000, whichever is greater.
This removes the limit from which the select board can operate independently of town meeting. Yes, it eliminates the need and cost of a town meeting for some transfers to be completed, but it also takes away one more check of your elected officials.
Jeff Bennett
SECTION 75. Subsection (b) of said section 33B of said chapter 44 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Alternatively, the selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee or other entity established under section 16 of chapter 39, may transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year, any amount appropriated other than for the use of a municipal light department or a school department to any other appropriation.
What s the second sentence?
(b) A town may, by majority vote at any meeting duly held, transfer any amount previously appropriated to any other use authorized by law. Alternatively, the selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee or other entity establish under section 16 of chapter 39, may transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year, any amount appropriated for the use of any department other than a municipal light department or a school department to the appropriation for any other department or within a department, but the amount transferred from 1 department to another or within a department may not exceed, in the aggregate, 3 per cent of the annual budget of the department from or within which the transfer is made or $5,000, whichever is greater.
This removes the limit from which the select board can operate independently of town meeting. Yes, it eliminates the need and cost of a town meeting for some transfers to be completed, but it also takes away one more check of your elected officials.
Jeff Bennett
Perhaps some "dry" reading but very important to residents, in my opinion.
SECTION 55. Section 56 of said chapter 41, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentences:- For purposes of this section, the board of selectmen and any other board, committee or head of department consisting of more than 1 member authorized to expend money may designate any 1 of its members to approve all bills, drafts, orders and payrolls; provided, however, that the member shall make available to the board, committee or other department head, at its next meeting, a record of such actions. This provision shall not limit the responsibility of each member of the board in the event of a noncompliance with this section.
All of the changes can be read on the DLS web page under "municipal modernization" section.
Jeff Bennett
Legislation Progress
Filed with the House on December 7, 2015 and given House Docket # 4338.
Filing Letter
December 7, 2015
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives:
We are filing for your consideration a bill entitled “An Act to Modernize Municipal Finance and Government.”
As former local officials, we clearly understand the significant challenges encountered in our local communities and are committed to supporting and investing in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.
To that end, since taking office in January, we have released $100 million in chapter 90 transportation funds, worked with you to increase local aid in the FY2016 budget, distributed $30 million to help cities and towns fill potholes, and provided additional funding for MassWorks. In addition, because supporting our communities goes beyond direct aid, we elevated the Division of Local Services to the senior deputy commissioner level within the Department of Revenue and created the Community Compact Cabinet, which has already signed best-practice agreements with seventy-one municipalities.
We have continued our commitment to cities and towns across the Commonwealth by seeking input on how we can empower them to be more efficient and better equip them to address local issues.
This Municipal Modernization Act addresses many of the concerns we have heard from cities and towns. It promotes smarter and more efficient government at both the state and local level by updating obsolete laws, increasing local independence, streamlining state oversight, and providing municipalities with greater flexibility.
We look forward to working with you to pass this legislation and continuing our work on these important issues in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles D. Baker
Governor
Governor
Karyn E. Polito
Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor
SECTION 55. Section 56 of said chapter 41, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentences:- For purposes of this section, the board of selectmen and any other board, committee or head of department consisting of more than 1 member authorized to expend money may designate any 1 of its members to approve all bills, drafts, orders and payrolls; provided, however, that the member shall make available to the board, committee or other department head, at its next meeting, a record of such actions. This provision shall not limit the responsibility of each member of the board in the event of a noncompliance with this section.
All of the changes can be read on the DLS web page under "municipal modernization" section.
Jeff Bennett
The following is an electronic copy of budget versus actual figures of elementary school project. Clearly some clarification and some laymens information so all can have a good picture of what has been spent so far. This would be nice information from the select board at an open public meeting. Still too many layers of bureaucracy, which in my opinion is a result of a BOS to keen on just sitting there and taking what is laid at their feet rather than question it and allowng the school district to spend taxpayer monies at will without many questions, if any at all. As in the changes to layout and other things that have to be paid for in some way, most likely out of the contingency fund, which at this rate, will be gone quickly. This is about accountability of public money rather than just open complaining.
| Jeffrey Bennett | |||||||||
|
Jeff Bennett
| |||||||||
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)