The Advisory Board reviews all fiscal and capital matters of the town. This includes expenditures by town departments and officers, methods of conduct used in town business, conduct of town officers, and all articles in town warrants for Town Meetings. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Town Moderator for terms of three years. Members must be registered voters living in the town and cannot be a town officer or committee member with a role involving the care, custody, or disposal of town funds or property. They consider the needs of all citizens and then make budget recommendations at Annual Town Meetings.
from the website of Ashburnham, MA
The Advisory Board is made up of seven members, all volunteers, who are appointed by the Town Moderator for a term of three years. The Town’s General Bylaws direct the Advisory Board to give recommendations that it deems best for the interests of the Town and its citizens on all department budgets, transfer requests, warrant articles, zoning articles and by law articles. The Advisory Board’s goal is to give Town residents an objective viewpoint on all matters to be considered at Annual and Special Town Meetings. Their recommendations are intended to ensure the residents of Ashburnham are receiving the best mix of services for the amount of taxes being collected. Since the members of the Advisory Board are appointed by the Town Moderator, they act as a check and balance to the Town’s elected boards and committees as well as those individuals, boards and committees appointed by the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator.
from the website of Winchendon, MA
Finance Committee: It shall be the duty of the Committee to investigate the financial affairs of the town, including receipts of and expenditures by the different departments, or any Town Officer; the methods in which the town business is conducted; the general conduct of the town affairs; and all the articles in town warrants for town meetings referred to it; and, in the discharge of its duties, shall have free access to all books of accounts, books of record and all accounts, bills, and vouchers on which money has been or may be paid from the town treasury.
from the desk of selectmen Fortes:
Jeffery;
In some town's the advisory committee does the budget but in Templeton they do not. In some communities the finance committee is appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
We could circle around what some town's do but I'm going to be speak to Templeton. We are a 15 million budget and the Selectmen in this community create the budget. In this community they also dictate policy and direct town officials or designate the town administrator to manage day to day operations.
The advisory committee role is not to attempt to threaten or intimidate town employees. They are also not our community watch dog. 15 million is a small budget and the books are well managed by our town accountant.
We also have an auditor who check the books for illegal or unethical accounting or financial practices. These people went to college and are certified by a board to run a practice and I don't think I need to mention how the DoR operates.
Why is that hard to understand. Reach out to a few other communities and see how their advisory committee operates. Call up the DoR and see if your are within your scope to request transactional records? I'll save you the time and tell you no. No town does that and I don't see how spending your time chasing financial transactions is well spent.
Why not spend it making budget recommendations and giving quantative evidence to support that? I'm sorry I have to step in and tell a man of your caliber to act appropriately but I will not have your threats take place within our community and I will most certainly not be fighting with you over your role much longer.
I recommend you take your position seriously and start making your recommendations to the budget December 31st doesn't leave much time for impact.
Regards Jeffery,
Cameron Fortes
from Athol town web site ;
ReplyDeleteA Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee of seven members shall be appointed by the Moderator for three year overlapping terms. It shall be the duty of this Committee to investigate the financial affairs of the town, including the receipts and expenditures of the different departments of the town, the methods in which the town business is conducted, the general conduct of town affairs and all the articles in warrants for town meetings referred to it.
Templeton By-laws
ReplyDeleteSection 5: In the discharge of its duty, said committee shall have free access to all books
of record and accounts, bills and vouchers on which money has been or may
be paid from the town treasury. Officers, boards, and committees of the town
shall, upon request, furnish said committee with facts, figures, and any other
information pertaining to their several activities.
Selectman Fortes doesn't like people publicly pointing out errors in the accounting, bookkeeping and management of the town.
Why are the members of the BOS afraid of the AC members looking at the monthly Budget vs Actuals ? I do believe if you watch this committee work, you will see a number of times, they have questioned accounts with a minus balance, and have actually found a number of mistakes that were corrected by the accountant. Asking for information from department heads should not be a problem, as the information should be available to every person in this community. So I do think your narrow, biased way of looking at this situation is off kilter, and detrimental to the efficient growth of this town.
DeleteJeff - looks like the AC is doing the job the way is should be done but the BOS and MR. CF does not like that it is being pointed out that they are not doing what they should be doing for the town
ReplyDeleteMr Fortes is clueless. The auditor does an audit but only a limited one. The DOR does not get involved with whether or not an advisory board member can ask for info.
ReplyDeleteword is that CF has never read the selectmen handbook which states that the AC is the towns watch dog on finances
ReplyDeleteWell, it does seem that this town's tradition's do not mean anything to our little darling selectman, or the chairman of the BOS. In fact it does seem to me, there is a push to destroy all we have worked to keep over the years. Last night I asked why zoning changes were on a Special Town Meeting ? These should have been on the ATM floor. Mr. Caplis would not let me finish my comment ! He said he did not have to listen to me. I had said traditionally these questions were on the ATM warrant. Mr. Fortes turned to Caplis and mocked my saying traditionally ! So think what you want, but I know our town is in big trouble. Julie and I walked out the door. Where did our democracy go ? Why don't we vote on where our money is spent ? I do think we have to take the behavior seriously! What can a little old lady do ? They will find out !
DeleteWhat I wanted to say is " putting ATM articles on a STM warrant, is a way to push anything you want out the door, because no one goes to a STM. People do not live in town anymore. They get home late ! Maybe someday people will vote online.
DeleteBev.
DeleteIf you watch the rest of the meeting you'll see that shortly after you Kelli used the term "traditionally" and the BOS was............crickets. I haven't been to every meeting of the BOS, but when I've gone I've only heard Wil and Beverly talked to in such a manner. It appears that traditionally people had respect for their elders and granted them a little leeway because we all hope to be there some day. Would it have destroyed the meeting to hear what Bev had to say, no. Did it come across as harsh behavior, yes.
Well , as I recall I do believe there is mention of “ fast tracking “ the permitting process. This was in the meeting here :
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/eGGMA2Ckp5s
Kind of reminds me of the “ fast tracking “ of the TRUMP EPA . Maybe Mr Fortes has some additional insight since he seems to be a fan of Trump.
I do think our Selectmen have turned into a big bunch of bullies. So we think they are only on the playground? I Don't think so. I don't know what their motives are, but it does not look good in my estimation. Call us shut me up, because he could ! What a big man !Bev.
DeleteI did mean Caplis. I hope you all understood that. Bev.
DeleteOJ 9:47 AM -
DeleteWhile there was mention of "fast tracking" it was part of the proposal for an Economic Development Corporation... which was supposed to have public hearings and informational hearings...and be voted on at the Special Town Meeting this fall.
It doesn't appear to be on the warrant for the special town meeting this fall.
Wouldn't be the first time this town put the cart before the horse and is acting as if we already have "fast tracking".
In my opinion, this town should not do anything "fast". "Fast" = "Templeton will get screwed".
Why is the FY 17 audit presentation delayed? Everything is awesome , right?
You believe that? Then you get what you deserve!
let's tell it like it is. the BOS and TA do what they want and say what they want and no one in this town say anything. So as long as people don't say anything the BOS and TA will do what they want even if it is not good for the town
ReplyDeleteWhat will they do when the tax bill they receive hits them between the eyes ? Go crying to Lu Ann, or even yelling at her, like it is her fault that they believed the 1.74 lie !! Town Government is supposed to be taxpayer friendly. People should be able to make comments, or give input into any article. That is how democracy works, unique isn't it. Bev.
Deletethe Gardner News has 3 foreclosures in Templeton in today's paper. that means less school aged kids to go to the new school
ReplyDeletecheck out Littleton Mass Bylaws on finance committee
ReplyDeletesee attached
§ 13-1. Creation; membership. [Amended 5-9-1988 ATM, Art. 2]
There shall be a Finance Committee composed of seven members, appointed as follows: two
members by the Board of Selectmen, one member by the Board of Electric Light Commissioners, two
members by the School Committee, one member by the Board of Assessors and one member by the
Moderator
guess who pointed templeton selectmen CF to this
Echo
ReplyDeleteEcho
Echo
This is a little like putting the Fox in the chicken coop to guard the chickens. Good luck with that ! All we would have left is a fat fox and feathers ! If people are foolish enough to vote for this, then they will certainly get the government they deserve. This kind of management goes back to the days of echo hill. Incase you are wondering, the town has not recovered from that management, and it will take decades to pay off all of those wonderful USDA loans.
Delete@ Anonymous 9:45 AM I watched the “ working group “ meeting of this past Monday. The level of obfuscation in regards to land in Templeton for potential monetary gains of certain members of certain boards and committees was not lost on this awake citizen. Some of the same individuals keep coming up in certain aspects of past environmental degradation as well.
Delete