Thursday, May 26, 2016

Area items of interest - take notice.

On Hubbardston Town website, there is a link titled Rumors regarding Hubbardston Center School which addresses apparent Town rumors. An example of a board trying to communicate with the Town. Another item from Hubbardston is what comes to your mail box, A report from the Finance Committee, Town meeting and special Town meeting warrant with the budget included. Also an explanation of what a yes or no vote means for some ballot questions tied to contingency votes from town meeting. Hubbardston Town meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2016 and this item was received by residents this past week. 

Some how Hubbardston has their budget completed and in the mail to residents at least two weeks prior to Town meeting. Apparently their "living breathing document" is in better condition than Templeton's. Imagine being able to go over the warrant and budget for two weeks before going to meeting and if you have any questions, plenty of time to track someone down and talk or ask questions.

They even have explanations about limitations of revolving accounts.

Take note the Town Administrator's salary is budgeted at $86,800.00 for FY2016 and FY2017 proposed at $81,500.00.

According to the Town's website, there is a Town Administrator and one secretary with a salary of $24,977.00. 

There is an indication that the Town no longer employs an accountant as a town employee but now has accountant services as roughly the same salary expense of the former employee but without the benefits package, which other communities may be looking at or may be forced to look at due to rising budget costs.

Look no further than Phillipston using Templeton's dispatch service for on the cheap. Think of it, Templeton taxpayers are spending at least one million dollars for police station updrades and pays all of the maintenance costs of the building and equipment along with all of the salaries and benefits for the dispatch employees and all phillipston pays is $54,000.00 per year with perhaps a 10 thousand dollar increase proposed?  

posted by Jeff Bennett



Everything I write is public and I have chosen to do that as I have nothing to hide, I am not malicious in my posts and I enjoy the conversations or I want to inform you of something. If you are choosing to cut and paste from my FB post only to put it on your blog or FB page, please do not guess at what I may have been referring to. If you are doing so, then you are surely taking things out of context. I would ask like I have always asked, please call me, email me or send a message and simply ask what I'm speaking about, as I will answer.
I am your Selectwoman and this is my hometown and I believe I have come a long way and I know I have a long way to go. I am human and I am in no way perfect. It's a learning process and a LARGE one and I have done the very best that I can. It does take me a while to process information, but I do my homework to the best of my ability and weigh all information I am given and then make a decision at that point in time. When I was elected our town was in financial crisis and that has been completely overwhelming.
Please remember that I have a career that has 2 jobs, a family and I volunteer where ever I am able. I work hard at serving my community and have done so in various capacities over the last 10 years. This has not been a thankless job as I have great relationships with employees, department heads and so many residents. I am grateful for that. I am even more grateful for all the help I have received in learning all I can.
If you feel that I am not cut out for the job then let me know that. If you feel I have been dishonest, deceitful or working against our town, then you should call me and have a conversation; not talk behind my back or make accusations you know nothing about.
My word is my honor and that means more to me than anything. I don't make rash decisions and contrary to what some may think, I look at ALL sides of a issue. I have responded to all calls, emails and research anything a resident has asked including some that seem to be accusing me of a lack of honesty, integrity and leadership.
Today I am disappointed about many things that have taken place over these last weeks and I am working to rectify where I believe changes need to be made. Also, please remember there are things that are confidential that cannot be discussed in public (see above about how I make decisions) and I have never put myself above the needs of our community. I believe wholeheartedly we need to work together to stay on track and get things accomplished.
I am testing my privacy settings ~ Robin, can you see this?

sent to me by a friend and as you can see, or not, because I can not see this from face book, which kind of creates a question: Is every thing she writes public or just public to a select few? You make the call. I did ask if this was in entirety and was informed it is.

posted by Jeff Bennett