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
