Sunday, June 11, 2017

from the Templeton Town Face Book page
Message from Town Administrator Bob Markel
The Department of Revenue has always discouraged the use of free cash to balance the budget. Bond rating agencies do the same, and the low bond rating for the Town reflects, in part, the lavish use of free cash to fund the operating budget. However, this is not illegal; it is simply unsound financial policy.
The amount of free cash available changes yearly, and it is not predictable. Free cash is considered one-time revenue, and the Department of Revenues recommends that it used to augment the Stabilization Fund (reserves) or for one-time purchases like capital items.
Audit firms do not do a thorough job of auditing the books (unfortunately). They come and test various areas of the town’s finances to see if there are problems, but some problems are not caught and can persist for years. They tell you up front that they cannot do a thorough audit for the relatively modest amount they charge. The DOR representative at today’s meeting called the standard municipal audit a “hit and run” audit. Still, some firms are more reputable and more competent than others. I cannot name names in this message, but there are several firms that I would never hire.
Recommendation: The Selectboard should create an Audit Committee of knowledgeable citizens who will have two responsibilities: 1) Bid the audit contract every three years, and hire an independent auditor; and 2) Receive the annual audit and do a public review of the findings and the management letter. Municipal auditors are typically hired by the Town Administrator, Town Accountant or Finance Director. This is an inherent conflict of interest since town officials who do the hiring are the ones whose work is being audited. Hiring and receiving the audit should be an arm’s length transaction from the Town’s financial team.
The Department of Revenue oversees 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. They accept data provided by the Town Accountant, the Treasurer/Collector and the Assessors. They often question the data, but they are not always able to verify if data submitted on the Tax Recap or Schedule A are accurate. The DOR does not have access to the town’s accounting system. For example, the DOR was in Templeton today to question whether the Town has properly reported debt obligations on the DE-1 section of Schedule A. Some debt is paid from general revenue within the town budget and some debt is paid through debt exclusion. There is a correct way to report these two types of debt on Schedule A. The DOR representatives checked to see if the Town reported the data correctly, but they are limited in their ability to verify the accuracy of the data.
The long term solution to Templeton’s financial problems is to hire a professional Town Administrator who will put in place a competent financial management team – Accountant, Treasurer, Collector and Assessors. The Selectmen and Advisory Board have the responsibly to oversee the T.A. and the financial team on their management of the Town’s finances. To complement the BoS and Advisory Board, the Audit Committee should retain a reputable accounting firm to conduct an annual audit with the results made public.
Bob Markel
Interim Town Administrator


I believe there should be more of this on the Templeton face Book page and less individual photos, updates and the like. It is one more tool to make available to any and all, valuable public information on things such as budget, board and committee make up and schedules.

my opinion and posted by Jeff Bennett

Section 49: Annual town reports; publication; penalty for noncompliance

[ First paragraph effective until July 1, 2015. For text effective July 1, 2015, see below.]
  Section 49. The selectmen, before the annual town meeting, shall at the expense of the town print the annual town report for the use of the inhabitants containing the report of the selectmen for the calendar or fiscal year preceding said meeting, the report of the school committee, statements in tabulated form prepared under section sixty of chapter forty-one unless otherwise printed as provided in said section, the annual report of the town accountant for the preceding fiscal year as provided in section sixty-one of chapter forty-one, the annual report of the town treasurer as provided in section thirty-five of chapter forty-one, and except as otherwise provided by vote or by-law of the town, of such other officers and boards as consider it expedient to make a report, the jury list as required by chapter two hundred and thirty-four, and such other matters as the law, or the town by vote or by-law, requires or as the selectmen consider expedient. If the selectmen neglect or refuse to make the annual report, they shall severally forfeit fifty dollars.
[ First paragraph as amended by 2015, 46, Sec. 62 effective July 1, 2015. See 2015, 46, Sec. 216. For text effective until July 1, 2015, see above.]
  The selectmen, before the annual town meeting, shall at the expense of the town make available the annual town report for the use of the inhabitants containing the report of the selectmen for the calendar or fiscal year preceding said meeting, the report of the school committee, statements in tabulated form prepared under section sixty of chapter forty-one unless otherwise printed as provided in said section, the annual report of the town accountant for the preceding fiscal year as provided in section sixty-one of chapter forty-one, the annual report of the town treasurer as provided in section thirty-five of chapter forty-one, and except as otherwise provided by vote or by-law of the town, of such other officers and boards as consider it expedient to make a report, the jury list as required by chapter two hundred and thirty-four, and such other matters as the law, or the town by vote or by-law, requires or as the selectmen consider expedient. If the selectmen neglect or refuse to make the annual report, they shall severally forfeit fifty dollars.
  A town may by by-law provide for the printing of such fiscal year reports as it deems suitable within ninety days of the close of the fiscal year. A copy of such fiscal year reports shall be transmitted by the town clerk to the state library before the first day of November. A town may also by by-law provide for the printing of all reports of town officers and boards, committees and commissions on a fiscal year basis in place of the calendar year report required by this section.


posted by Jeff Bennett
 
Tue 5/30, 9:47 AM
Inbox
Information in a letter from DLS to Templeton Board of Selectmen:

Since 2012, Templeton contracted with a succession of three individuals to serve as interim Town Administrators. I believe the correct number is two.

In fiscal year 2013 (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013) the Town did not renew the accountant's contract.

In 2012, longtime vendor CPA Scott Sawyer resigned his position as Town Accountant effective in June of 2012.

Sometime in the fall of 2012, Fred Aponte was hired as Templeton Town Accountant, so I am not sure where the DLS got their information but it does not seem to be accurate.


Fred Aponte       3/15/2014 1:57 PM
                                                                               
Deb,

I have submitted Templeton's Schedule A.  The balance sheet will follow.  I will be attending the MMAAA annual meeting at the beginning of the week and will submit the balance sheet during the week of March 24th.  I will monitor my email and have my laptop if needed.

Please remember that my last day in Templeton is March 28th.

Thank you

Fred Aponte

Accounting


posted by Jeff Bennett