Saturday, August 5, 2017

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

Financial wizardry or cooking the books?

Board of Selectmen tell the voters, by way of Town Meeting, that we need $100,000.00 for fuel to serve town vehicles. Then use $47,000.00 of that money to pay other bills, charge fuel to snow & Ice deficit, thus creating a larger deficit that needs to be paid off somehow. The selectmen then use $12,500.00 from town vehicle fuel to help pay the snow & ice deficit debt (included in the $47,000.00 figure). So, get $100,000.00 for fuel, then use it to pay other bills, while they charge fuel and the genius part, take from the fuel account to help pay off the snow & Ice deficit, which includes fuel!  Now that is some awesome financial management. No wonder the selectmen do not like questions and criticism.

It just may be time for the town of Templeton to go to a 50/50 split on health insurance. The Town covers half the cost of health insurance for Town employees and Town employees pay the other half out of pocket. (the paycheck) Whatever happens, the charade of moving money around (robbing from peter to pay paul as the saying goes) needs to stop.

Disclaimer
Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 
posted by Jeff Bennett
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.


TO: Board of Selectmen
 FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 3, 2017
CC: All Departments


Public Works:
 Highway Department: Completed street sweeping and began the road side mowing on Barre Road. Hauled several loads of gravel and sand from the pit to the DPW storage area. Crosswalks were painted on Baldwinville Road, Hubbardston Rd, Cross Rd, Partridgeville Rd, S. Main and Pail factory Rd. Excavation on the corner of Wellington road where it meets Dudley Rd in preparation for the change in traffic direction to “ONE WAY”. In the mechanics area, The MOW (MEALS on WHEELS) vehicle got new tires and the COA’s #3005 passenger van had repairs done to the A/C and was taken for an inspection sticker. The mechanic is continuing to install a new engine on the (H23) bucket truck.
Buildings & Grounds:
The director attended the Special Select Board meeting. A grave site was prepared for a funeral in Green Lawn Cemetery. Filled in ruts and holes with loam around the Gazebo and seeded. Addressed an issue of a clogged drain on the Library roof, further investigation is required to clear the pipe to fully resolve the problem. A resident requested that the Tether Ball area be cleaned up @ Gilman Waite and they are willing to donate a tether ball and rope. Brought a tractor to Padula’s for service and picked up supplies for the weed whackers and mowers. Loamed and seeded new walkways @ the TC fire station. Removed trash and cardboard from all common areas in town Put all flags to half-staff per the Governor‘s request. Moved mulch pile @ Gilman Waite. Mowing and trimming done in Pine Grove and Green Lawn cemeteries as well as Templeton center and Baldwinville common. Added new cribs (Raised lots) at Pine Grove.


Disclaimer
Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 
quote of the day - "I'm melting, I'm melting" from the wicked witch of the west
posted by Jeff Bennett
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

TOWN OF TEMPLETON 
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING 
November 9, 2015


ARTICLE 5 FY 2016 APPROPRIATION TO THE OPEB ACCOUNT:

To see if the Town will vote amend Article 5 of the May 16, 2016 Annual Town Meeting , the Annual Operating Budget, by raising and appropriating a sum of money for deposit into the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) account; or take any other action relative thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to raise and appropriate Sixty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred Eight dollars ($64,608) to be deposited into the Selectmen’s Office Expenses Budget (01-122-5400-5421).

 Passed/November 9th @ 9:20pm

Where is OPEB account? Where is the money? End of the year Budget versus Actual does not show this account/fund. (OPEB)


Annual Town Meeting of May 14, 2016

ARTICLE 2 OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FUND To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 32B of the General Laws; and pursuant to said section to direct the Treasurer of the town
 (1) to establish a separate account to be known as the "Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund" (OPEB) in the Treasury of the Town; and
 (2) to develop a funding schedule for the funding of the Town's liabilities for other post employment benefits; and
(3) to seek and obtain the approval of such funding schedule by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission or as otherwise provided by state law; and
(4) to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or transfer from available funds a sum of money for deposit into the OPEB Liability Trust Fund; or to take any other action related thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen
On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to accept provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 32B of the Massachusetts General Laws and to direct the Town Treasurer to establish an Other Post- Employment Benefits Trust Fund in the Treasury of the Town; and further, to charge the Town Administration with developing an OPEB funding schedule and obtaining approval of said schedule by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission of the Commonwealth; and further, to transfer Sixty Four Thousand Six Hundred and Eight Dollars ($64,608) from the FY’16 Selectmen’s Expense Account (1000-122-100-54-5420-0000) to the OPEB Liability Trust Fund.
 A motion was duly made and seconded to move the question.
Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 10:13am
On main motion. Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 10:13am

Disclaimer
Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.


Tic Toc Tic Toc, still here and the blog is still here! Get The Hint/GTH

From the Annual Town Meeting on May 16, 2015.

ARTICLE 2 FISCAL 2015 FINANCIAL TRANSFERS:
  To see if the Town will vote to approve financial transfers within the Fiscal 2015 operating budget; or take any other action relative thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen  

Transfer from Diesel Fuel -$23,500.00 / transfer to Group Insurance -$23,500.00.

Another example of the current board of selectmen using some accounts as a slush fund to cover other items such as town employee health insurance (group insurance)
Keep in mind that the voters were originally asked to appropriate a certain amount of their money to pay for group insurance and for diesel fuel (or town vehicle fuel) If the town needs less money for fuel and more for health insurance, the board of selectmen should ask for it.

According to the spread sheet (May 14, 2016) showing appropriations for town operation expense (budget/spending plan) which does not seem to be on the Town web site any longer , it has a history of what Town Meeting was asked for and appropriated. According to this document presented to the voters by the selectmen, it shows town vehicle fuel - $56,116.00.  It also shows town vehicles/diesel fuel expense - $17,816.00.  Interestingly, the words town vehicle fuel has a line drawn thru it along with town vehicles/diesel fuel expense.

For fiscal year 2016, the document shows ATM budget of $131,300.00, then revised FY2016 budget with $100,000.00 for town vehicle fuel.

There are other end of year financial transfers that you will not find within the annual town meeting documents nor the annual town report. Those transfers will eventually be reported here so all can see.

Disclaimer
Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 

posted by Jeff Bennett