from Templeton town website, under town meeting -documents relation to town meeting/voters guide.

Article 7, November, 2017 special town meeting.

Summary: It is feared that the boiler in the emergency management building in Baldwinville may fail during this coming winter. The director has been able to obtain about $5,500.00 in grants towards its replacement. We need approximately $7,500.00 more to have sufficient funds to cover the replacement. Our 1996 6-wheel dump truck has deteriorated to the point it is feared it may not make it through the winter season. There is a seven month lead time to get it. This will allow us to have the new truck in place by next spring and - hopefully - before this one fails. The $160,000.00 will be supplemented with the monies we originally planned to use to buy a new dump body for it to complete the purchase.

Motion from special town meeting: 

On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($167,500.00) for a program of
capital expenditures as generally identified below:
Dept.                      Item                                             Amount
DPW – B&G Boiler Replacement                                $7,500
DPW- Highway 6 Wheel Dump Truck                      $160,000

And to meet said appropriation by a transfer of said sum from free cash in the treasury of the town.
Passed Unanimously/November 14th @ 8:13 pm

no mention of a transfer or anything about money previously appropriated to buy a dump body for a 6-wheeler dump truck.

There is this from the annual town meeting of May 2017:

On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and no cents ($172,500.00) for a program of capital purchases and improvements and to meet said appropriation with a transfer of One Hundred Fifty Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and no cents ($152,500.00) of unissued bond proceeds originally borrowed for 252 Baldwinville Road and the balance from taxation with the pricing for each item being generally illustrated as follows:

    Item                                                                                Amount
TH Mini-Split; Conf/Accounting, Misc.                               $ 17,500
Temp Center Fire/EMS - Roof Replacement                     $ 35,000
Senior Center Siding $100,000
A&E Assistance, Advertising, Printing                                 $ 2,500
Dump Body - 1984 Mack 10 Wheel                                   $ 17,500

no article found for a new dump body for a 1994 6 wheeler!

Consistent inconsistency:
Monday, December 24, 2018, page A11, senior news, Templeton; Community veterans oversight board along with friends of Templeton veterans meets every fourth Thursday of the month at the American Legion in Baldwinville, at 6:30 P.M. to discuss veteran issues. Today, Sunday, December 30, 2018, on Templeton community TV, I saw Templeton veterans advisory board meets every third Tuesday at the American Legion, Baldwinville, at 6:30 P.M. There have been no meeting notices on the Templeton town website for this entity, nothing listed under boards and committees; veterans advisory board on the Templeton town website, only one member name is listed. Nothing under the Veterans Service on Templeton town website.

So, which is it and who is in charge? By-law states the selectmen are to appoint members to this board. I found nothing under Massachusetts General Law, chapter 115 that demands this board exist, rather it may be formed. The old Templeton town by-law stated this board was required under MGL chapter 115, section 208. I looked at MGL chapter 115 and found only 15 sections. Perhaps the wrong general law was quoted in the previous by-law, that according to voters guide (how reliable?) that the MA attorney general found issues with that previous by-law. Something as important as this, veterans, should be on the "radar" of the selectmen! Of course, it might take too much time at a meeting.

Templeton creates economic development corporation; okay, but how has that accomplished anything under the law or pretense for creating such an entity?

 First paragraph as amended by 2016, 218, Sec. 219 effective November 7, 2016:


There is hereby authorized in each municipality in the commonwealth the organization of an economic development and industrial corporation, a public body politic and corporate, hereinafter referred to as the corporation. No such corporation, however, shall be organized, transact any business, employ any personnel or exercise any powers until the city council with the approval of the city manager, in a city having a Plan D or Plan E form of charter, or with the approval of the mayor in any other city, or by the board of selectmen in a town, shall by vote declare a need for such a corporation because unemployment or the threat thereof exists in the city or town or that security against future unemployment and lack of business opportunity is required and that attracting new industry into the municipality and substantially expanding existing industry through an economic development project or projects financed under this chapter and implemented by such a corporation would alleviate the unemployment and lack of business opportunity problems.

Look up Massachusetts General law chapter 121c;

2016 Massachusetts General Laws
PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE XVII PUBLIC WELFARE
Chapter 121C ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONS
Section 3 Economic development and industrial corporation; authority to organize; consolidations; members of board of directors; surety bonds; compensation and reimbursements.

from annual town meeting of 2008:
article 12
On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of One Million, Four Hundred Ninety-One Thousand, Nine Hundred Thirty-Six Dollars ($1,491,936.00) to operate the Sewer Department; said sum is to be apportioned as follows: the sum of Eight Hundred Thirty-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred Twenty-Seven Dollars ($839,327.00) to be used for salaries, operating, maintenance, legal, engineering, and other expenses of the Templeton Sewer Department and the sum of Six Hundred Fifty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred Nine Dollars ($652,609.00) to be used for sewer debt of the Town. Said total sum is to be raised from sewer user receipts and fees, entrance fees, tipping fees paid by disposal contractors, sewer betterment fees, certified free cash, monies raised by taxation, and other fees collected as per Sewer Department Rules by the Town of Templeton Sewer Department. Said debt payments are to be paid as follows:
Bond Payments for FY’09
Paid by Betterments $151,000.00
Paid by USRDA Restricted Account 35,000.00
Paid by Sewer Enterprise Certified Free Cash surplus 133,189.00
Paid by taxation 333,420.00
Total payments for FY’09 $652,609.00

Passed Unanimously/May 13th @ 7:58

A public relations tour? Or out to make them look bad and try to win at town meeting?

I think there may be a surprise in recent real estate tax bills that went out from Templeton town hall.

Think back about sewer lines, sewer department, waste water treatment upgrades. . . . sewer betterment, liens on your property due to these improvements and such. Memory serves me that there was already an uproar over this subject years ago. Someone thinks it is time to revisit this. Perhaps some left over mess that needs to come out now when the selectmen and sewer commissioners are having a little tiff and somebody must want their way . . . .at all costs. Another classic move from this board of selectmen. They already did this type of thing to the Advisory Committee. But I think the naughty list is going to catch up with them this time. The sewer lien story needs to be revisited but it is not time to take eyes off the current issues; selectmen ignored town meeting vote . . . actually they went against it, and now they ask how they can get more people to attend town meeting? How about listen to town meeting vote. 

How about listen to and let people ask questions and have debate at town meeting, rather than fight against that like  selectmen Brooks did at one town meeting.

Special Town Meeting December 1, 2008


Article 5.
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Sewer Enterprise Fund the sum of Four Thousand, Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,350.00) to fund the payment of $75 each to 58 residents listed on a document entitled “Taxpayers who paid the $75.00 to have liens released prior to the group release,” prepared by Deputy Assessor, Susan Byrne and on file in the Town Clerk’s office. Residents listed made individual payments to the Worcester County Registry of Deeds to release liens placed on properties prior to the Registrar of Deeds releasing liens for multiple assessed owners as one document with one $75.00 recording fee; provided, further, that the Board of Selectmen shall be authorized to adopt a policy relative to distribution of such funds, or to take any other action relative thereto.
A motion was duly made and seconded to let Luanne Royer speak.
Passed Unanimously/Dec. 1st @ 7:24 
A motion was duly made and seconded to move the question.
 Passed/Dec. 1st @ 7:38

 On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to transfer from the Sewer Enterprise Fund the sum of Four Thousand, Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,350.00) to fund the payment of $75 each to 58 residents listed on a document entitled “Taxpayers who paid the $75.00 to have liens released prior to the group release,” prepared by Deputy Assessor, Susan Byrne, and on file in the Town Clerk’s office to reimburse such residents for individual payments to the Worcester County Registry of Deeds to release liens placed on properties prior to the Registrar of Deeds releasing liens for multiple assessed owners as one document with one $75.00 recording fee; provided, further, that the Board of Selectmen shall be authorized to adopt a policy relative to distribution of such funds.

 Passed by hand count/yes-54 no 18/ Dec. 1st @ 7:42

That was an easy find (good to have old town reports handy) Under Sewer department, it mentions the payment from special town meeting vote in fiscal year 2009 annual town report. Found it under Town Meeting on Templeton town web site.

Is it an act of fraud when one asks for money for a particular item and it is spelled out that the money is for a specific item: then that someone (s) who asked for the money, go and use it for something else? If someone did that, who worked for you, would you consider that a fire-able offense and secondly, would you fire them?

a notation on the red line draft of codification of by-laws: interesting.

Comment [KS4]: 59-5 [Sick Leave for FullTime Employees] deleted in its entirety because it conflicts with the personnel bylaw. The substance of the bylaw will be captured in Town policies. 59-6 [Compensation to Incapacitated Firefighters and Rescue Squad Personnel] deleted in its entirety because its terms are set by state statute and the bylaw redundant.


Current personnel by-law states:

The Board of Selectmen is responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures. Passed 5-10-05, Amended 5-9-06, Amended 5-20-13, Approved by A/G 8-22-13

So, does the current personnel policy, including changes to sick time, constitute a violation of by-laws on the part of selectmen? Is that a reason for recall of selectmen?

Another Templeton by-law:
Veterans Advisory Board
Section 3. Purpose

The Board shall meet no less than quarterly to consider matters brought to its attention by the Town’s Veterans Services Officer, other Town Officers or employees, the general populace and of its own initiative pertaining to the health and well-being of the Town’s veterans.

Section 4. Report
The Committee shall annually file a report on its work, to include such recommendations as it deems worthy of consideration, with the Board of Selectmen in December of each year.
Passed 5/19/18, Approve by A/G 8/3/18

There is no record of a posted meeting on the Town website for this fiscal year. The board of selectmen appoint members to this entity, but the town website shows only one person appointed to the veterans advisory board.

More by-laws not being followed? Again, perhaps the selectmen are too focused on trying to manage the Advisory Committee and neglecting their real duties.

Good day to all and to all, Merry Christmas!

I finished watching the selectmen meeting of December 19, 2018 and I heard selectmen  saying Templeton has a low tax rate. So, I took seven minutes to look at the most recent data I could find. The division of local services, tax recap sheet, which anyone can do. I wanted the most current data, not old information.

This is what I found regarding to your approve community comparisons:

Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate (selectmen choice) - $17.24 per thousand

Ashburnham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate                                       $22.55 per thousand

Athol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate                                      $17.45 per thousand

Ayer   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Multi tax rate  (residential)               $13.63 per thousand

                                                                                      (commercial)            $28.80 per thousand

Dudley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . .Single tax rate                                       $13.50 per thousand

Monson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single tax rate                                        $18.34 per thousand

Montague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Multi tax rate (residential)                   $17.13 per thousand

                                                                                    (commercial)                 $26.19 per thousand

Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate                                        $22.52 per thousand

Shirley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..  . .. . .Single tax rate                                        $16.08 per thousand

Townsend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single tax rate                                        $19.33 per thousand

Winchendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single tax rate                                       $16.71 per thousand

So, the information shows that of the comparison communities (10 ),  five are higher than Templeton and five are lower than Templeton for residential taxes. How does this equate to Templeton having a low tax rate with regards to other communities on the list? Please check this information (as you should) Percentages can be manipulated to fit anything, but the per thousand tells residents where they stand regarding charges, in dollars and cents, to pay bills charged to them. 

Question: How many residents do the selectmen propose go to the Assessors office and question what percentage of their median family income goes to their tax bill? Now, how many residents do the selectmen propose go into the Assessors to question their tax bill or inquire about the tax rate? I suggest you inquire in the Assessors office or speak with elected members of the Board of Assessors.

note: Selectmen referenced a column on the comparison community chart showing average tax bills as a percentage of median income. 

On the average single family tax bill,  4 communities had a lower total average tax bill than Templeton. Six communities had a larger total average tax bill than Templeton. Templeton is near the middle of those averages. How does any of this information justify telling people that Templeton has a low tax rate? 

Templeton selectmen seek to eliminate a Town By-law because it conflicts with a policy they voted on to put in place. That would be the personnel policy, specifically, regarding sick time.

You can see this on the red-line draft of the proposed by-law changes that selectmen wish to enact.

This item is on page 17 of 202 pages. So, my question is, when the selectmen, particularly Diane Brooks, who has spoken about this on multiple selectmen meetings, when they created, wrote, crafted, etc., this policy, why did they not write it around the existing by-law, you know the thing that was presented to town meeting and approved by town registered voters, ie; the legislative body of Templeton. Why does town meeting vote have to go, rather than the selectmen adjust their policy to town meeting vote?

Is that not how most of these messes happen, the committee of the whole not looking at everything involved and ensuring that any proposed changes will not conflict with the already existing rules, laws, guidelines? Appears the selectmen have their priorities wrong, they are suppose to serve the people, the people are not suppose to serve them. It is after all, the residents who vote selectmen into office and it is the residents who can vote to remove them.

Latest job openings in Templeton:

Job Openings

Foreman-Buildings & Grounds

Part-Time Laborers

Full-Time Firefighter/EMT-P

On Call Snow Plow Driver (DPW)

Thought we increased salaries and had a tax override to pay for these things and to attract and keep qualified employees?

Management the problem???

Templeton selectmen need to keep up!!!

an email to the Templeton Advisory Committee from the office of the Board of Selectmen:

On other related matters, I would like your Board to be aware that payroll is done in the Accounting Office not the Treasurer/Collector’s office.   This change was made some 18 months ago in the FY ’18 budget.

(received on December 6, 2018 at 9:41 A.M.

from the personnel policy posted on Templeton Town Website:

B. Employee Time Records - Each Department Head will submit to the Town Treasurer, with the weekly pay warrant, a time sheet for each employee. This time sheet will specify the number of hours worked and any leave taken.

If the payroll is done in the office of the Town Accountant, why would department heads send it to the Treasurer's office?

Stop trying to manage the Advisory Committee and pay attention to things in your lane! If the selectmen have made any changes to personnel policy or any other item, the postings on the town web site should be up to date, real time. I thought that is one reason people in town hall make the big bucks. They are suppose to be the pros!

from the Templeton personnel policy as posted on Town website:

Procedures:
                   a. Performance review schedule Performance reviews may be conducted on an annual cycle based on the employee’s hire date. Employees will typically receive a performance review one month prior to their anniversary hire date each year.

                    b. Merit increase schedule Merit increases are not guaranteed and are based on Town budget constraints. If the employee’s performance is satisfactory, a merit increase, if awarded, would be approved for the next fiscal year. Merit increases are designed to reward individual performance and must be allocated within The Town’s budgetary constraints 

                     c. Performance reviews—salary increases Each Department Head is responsible for the assessment of the performance and contribution of employees. The Human Resources Assistant will send a reminder to the Department Head stating when an employee’s review is scheduled to be due. A performance review may not always result in an automatic merit increase. The employee’s overall performance and step level relative to position responsibilities must be evaluated to determine whether an increase is warranted, and within budgetary constraints. 

                      d. Responsibility The Human Resources Assistant will provide the forms and spreadsheets to be used, and the completed evaluation will be retained in the employee’s personnel file. The performance evaluation will be discussed and signed by both the employee and the Department Head to ensure that all strengths, areas for improvement and goals for the next review period are clearly communicated. The Town Administrator will be fully informed of each review and will approve any pay increases based on the Town’s budgetary constraints.

In the fiscal year 2019, I find no reference to a salary or expense for a Human Resource Assistant.

As for budgetary constraints, there are no budgetary constraints regarding pay increases for non-union Sewer Department employees because 1.) Sewer expenses, including pay increases for non-union employees are not tied to tax dollars, rather, they are tied to Sewer revenue, for the most part paid for by sewer users. 2.) Those pay increases were budgeted for in the Town Meeting voted on and approved Sewer budget / spending plan for FY 2019.

Annual Town Meeting of May, 2018:

ARTICLE 16: FY 2019 SEWER DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Million Seventy Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Five Dollars and No Cents ($1,077,355.00) to operate the Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2019 and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of Thirty Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Six Dollars and No Cents ($36,656.00) from the certified retained earnings of the Sewer Fund and the balance from the receipts and revenues to be collected on behalf of the Sewer Department for said fiscal year. Or take any other action related thereto.

Submitted by the Board of Selectmen for the Sewer Commission Majority Vote Required

On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of One Million Seventy Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Five Dollars and No Cents ($1,077,355.00) to operate the Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2019 and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of Thirty Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Six Dollars and No Cents ($36,656.00) from the certified retained earnings of the Sewer Fund and the balance from the receipts and revenues to be collected on behalf of the Sewer Department for said fiscal year. 

Passed Unanimously/May 19th @ 12:16 pm

Templeton selectmen propose to take this section of Town by-laws:

Article IV: Advisory Committee
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Advisory Committee annually to consider the expenditures in previous years and the estimated requirements for the ensuing year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as may be prescribed by said committee. The said committee shall add to such statement of expenditures and estimates another column, giving the amounts which in its opinion should be appropriated for the ensuing year, and shall further add thereto such explanations and suggestions relating to the proposed appropriations as it may deem expedient, and report thereon as provided in section five of Article II.

and change it to read:
4. Review of proposed warrant articles.

Article II - Town Meeting already states:
Section 6. All articles in any warrant for a town meeting shall be referred to the Advisory Committee for its consideration. The Selectmen after drawing any such warrant shall transmit immediately a copy thereof to the chairman of said committee. A public hearing shall be held, upon all such articles, unless a public hearing by some other tribunal is required by law, and a notice of such hearing shall be given by inserting in the local newspaper. Said committee shall, after due consideration of the subject matter of such articles, report thereon to the town meeting, in writing, such recommendations as it deems best for the interests of the town and its citizens. Copies of the report of the Advisory Committee shall be made available to the voters at least two days before town meetings and at all town meetings.

So, what is the objective here? Perhaps to make the advisory committee  like another policy; so they can simply say, well, we have an advisory committee. I hope Towns people take notice and let the selectmen know if they agree with this or not. Looks like the selectmen are trying to remove any checks, any entity that can question them per a Town by-law or policy.

I have to wonder if the selectmen have read the current town by-laws and realize if the proposed change happens, there will be two by-laws that state the same thing. Is that what $10,000.00 of tax payer money was spent on? Thought it was to straighten that type of thing out?

Where the hell is the Templeton Veterans Advisory Board? Not one single meeting posted on Templeton Town Website. Only one member listed on Templeton Town website. Where is the new dump body for 1984 Mack truck that Templeton Town Meeting voted for? The money appropriated for it was spent, but not on what it was voted for. You can check it out under Town Meeting on Templeton website, You may even read the email confirming the body was not bought. Another case of selectmen flipping you the finger (in my opinion) They want to know how to get people to attend town meeting? How about they listen to the people, ask for what they (selectmen) want and use the money for what it was appropriated for! If you look at the recently voted for by-law concerning Veterans Advisory Board, a meeting is to be held at least quarterly, but not one shown on the town website calendar and only one member shown under that committee. Either no one is keeping up with website or there is a serious lacking in followup by selectmen! One has to wonder how many people have been sworn in for this board.

Perhaps more important than town meeting articles not being read is the fact that raises for non-union sewer department employees that were approved by the board of sewer commissioners and approved by town meeting vote have been continually denied by the selectmen/ T/A.

Another thing you voted for but selectmen have waved you off and flipped you the middle finger!

I would encourage people to attend the 01/29 public meeting with the Town Moderator and Town Clerk at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room.

"No, the Town did not buy a new dump body for a 1984 Mack it did, however, buy a Dump Body (as we advised people we would with those monies in seeking approval of the $160k for the 6 wheeler)."

If the selectmen / town did not buy a dump body for a 1984 Mack truck, how can they state that has been done?

Want to improve town meeting attendance, stop putting out BS to us!
Something cannot be stated as complete if it was never done!!!!

Article 20 of annual town meeting May 2017 shown on Templeton website
shows $17,500 for dump body 1984 Mack.

Article 7 of special town meeting November 2017 shown on Templeton website
shows $160,000 for six wheel dump truck. You appropriated $160,000.00 for a truck.

Monthly expenditure report shows $17,500.00 for dump body 1984 Mack spent,
it also shows $158,800.00 for six wheel dump truck spent. What was the $17,500.00 spent on?

November 14, 2018 - Board of Selectmen meeting;
item f - adopt selectmen goals:

CAPITAL PROJECTS
 Cost
   Done
In Process
  Defer
Planning
Dump Body - 1984 Mack 10 Wheel
$17,500
      X

Mini Split A/C Town Hall
$17,500
      X

Templeton Center Fire/EMS Roof
$35,000
      X

Senior Center Siding
$195,000
      X

6 Wheel Dump Truck
$160,000
      X

Infield Groomer
$10,000
      X

Fire Training Room AC
$3,500
      X

Fire Chief Vehicle
$35,000
      X
Cemetery Garage Roof
$10,000
      X
Cruiser / Dump Truck
$138,000
      X

Fire Engine
$550,000
      X

from the Massachusetts Division of Local Services:

Credit rating agencies weigh healthy reserves as a positive when assessing a community’s overall ability to honor its debt obligations. Local finance officials should understand credit rating agency threshold percentages for all reserves, especially if they intend to borrow funds or seek a rating upgrade.

Interesting item in the Templeton town by-law codification work;

Currently in article 1 the general by-laws of Templeton, the penalty for violating a by-law is $20.00 for each offense. The current state statue allows for a maximum of $300.00 and codification recommends the penalty be increased to the current maximum.

Public Hearing
Re: Royalston Road
December 12, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. Meeting Room of Town Hall

Public Meeting
Re: Codification
January 15, 2019 @ 6:30 p.m. Meeting Room of Town Hall

In case the selectmen have forgotten:

Town Meeting vote has spoken on many things concerning the Templeton Sewer Department, charged with overseeing those things are the elected Templeton Sewer Commissioners, I also recall Town Meeting voted for raises for non-union Sewer department employees, no strings attached. Where are those raises?

ARTICLE 16: FY 2019 SEWER DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of One Million Seventy Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Five Dollars and No Cents ($1,077,355.00) to operate the Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2019 and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of Thirty Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Six Dollars and No Cents ($36,656.00) from the certified retained earnings of the Sewer Fund and the balance from the receipts and revenues to be collected on behalf of the Sewer Department for said fiscal year. Or take any other action related thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen for the Sewer Commission -Majority Vote Required

On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of One Million Seventy Seven Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Five Dollars and No Cents ($1,077,355.00) to operate the Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2019 and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of Thirty Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Six Dollars and No Cents ($36,656.00) from the certified retained earnings of the Sewer Fund and the balance from the receipts and revenues to be collected on behalf of the Sewer Department for said fiscal year. 
Passed Unanimously/May 19th @ 12:16 pm

ARTICLE 17: DEFERRED MAINTENANCE SEWER DEPARTMENT
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Seventy Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($70,000.00) to address a series of items upon which maintenance has been deferred and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of said sum from the certified retained earnings of the Sewer Fund. Or take any other action related thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen for the Sewer Commission
Majority Vote Required
On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of Seventy Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($70,000.00) to address a series of items upon which maintenance has been deferred and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of said sum from the certified retained earnings of the Sewer Fund.
Passed Unanimously/May 19th @ 12:16 pm

ARTICLE 15. RATIFICATION OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED SEWER BOND
see if the Town will vote to ratify, approve and confirm the vote adopted under Article 10 of the Warrant at the May 14, 2016 Town Meeting, pursuant to which the Town voted to authorize the borrowing of Two Million and Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and no cents ($2,300,000.00) to pay costs of the Pleasant Street sewer pump station project, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto; or take any other action relative thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen for the Sewer Commission - 2/3 Vote Required
 Advisory recommends for this article.

On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted that the Town ratify, approve and confirm the vote adopted under Article 10 of the Warrant at the May 14, 2016 Town Meeting, pursuant to which the Town voted to authorize the borrowing of Two Million and Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and no cents ($2,300,000.00) to pay costs of the Pleasant Street sewer pump station project, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto.
Passed Unanimously/May 13th @ 11:37am

ARTICLE 10 PLEASANT STREET PUMP STATION REPLACEMENT
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, or transfer from available funds the sum of Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,400,000) to pay for the replacement of the Pleasant Street sewer pump station; said sum is to be raised from sewer user charges and fees, entrance fees, tipping fees paid by disposal contractors, betterments and other fees and monies collected as per Sewer Department Rules by the Town of Templeton Sewer Department; or to take any other action relative thereto.

Submitted by the Board of Selectmen for the Sewer Commission
On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, or transfer from available funds the sum of Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,300,000) to pay for the replacement of the Pleasant Street sewer pump station; said sum is to be raised from sewer user charges and fees, entrance fees, tipping fees paid by disposal contractors, betterments and other fees and monies collected as per Sewer Department Rules by the Town of Templeton Sewer Department. 

Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 12:49pm

I watched a recent selectmen meeting on the tv and I listened to Julie Richards complain that some department heads did not show up for a meeting, she followed that up with "if a manager cannot make a meeting, they should get their butt on the next agenda for selectmen meeting." She went on that she feels disrespected and insulted. So, I looked at the agenda for last nights selectmen meeting, five sets of meeting minutes for approval, of those five meeting minutes, Julie Richard was shown absent for three of them. I went and looked at past selectmen meeting minutes and I found Julie Richard absent from the following meetings: May 30, June 25, July 11, July 25, October 1, November 7, November 14. I think that selectmen Julie Richards should get her butt to selectmen meetings before she complains about anyone else!

Well, at least the firms hired and paid to look at things and make suggestions are doing their homework???? Right!!

from the Collins memo concerning Advisory Committee:
TO:     Templeton Board of Selectmen 
FROM:    Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management
DATE:     October 16, 2017
RE:     Miscellaneous findings regarding the Advisory Committee in Templeton

Although the primary focus of this Community Compact project is Templeton’s budget document, process, and related financial policies, throughout the research for the project, the Center project team has become aware of various issues affecting the Town’s ability to develop its budget and financial policies. This memo addresses one of these topics: the role and responsibilities of the Town’s Advisory Committee. (Future memos may address other aspects of the process.)

Advisory Committee Vacancy Appointments :
  The Center project team was reviewing the Town’s finance‐related bylaws and noticed an unusual provision related to how the Advisory Committee is constructed (emphasis added): 

Article IV, Section 3. The said committee shall fill any vacancy which may occur in its membership, by vote, attested copy of which shall be sent by the secretary to the Town Clerk. If any member is absent from five consecutive meetings of said committee, except in case of illness, his position shall be deemed to be vacant and shall be filled as herein provided. The term of office of any person so chosen to fill a vacancy shall expire at the final adjournment of the next succeeding Annual Town Meeting, and the Moderator thereof shall appoint his successor to complete the unexpired term of the member in whose office such vacancy originally occurred.”

 The project team is aware of only one other town (Townsend) that similarly provides for the Advisory Committee to select its own members in the event of vacancies. In those towns where the Moderator is the appointing authority of the Advisory Committee (which is a plurality of Massachusetts towns), the Moderator typically fills vacancies that appear. Allowing a board or committee to appoint its own members, even for a short period of time, risks creating a situation where any traits or points of view can become self‐reinforcing. 

It would be worth considering a revision to the bylaw to remove this provision to reduce the potential that a future Advisory Committee becomes self‐reinforcing.

from the website of the town of Bolton, MA:

chapter 10; boards, committees and other bodies
article I Advisory committee

Templeton All Boards Meeting 

Monday, November 26, 2018, at 6:30 P.M 

Kamaloht-1 North Main Street, East Templeton, MA-01438 

Board of Selectmen is hosting this third joint meeting of all Town Boards and Committees

Agenda
1. Call the Meeting to Order
2. Chairman of SelectBoard ~ Finance & Progress Overview FY’18
3. Timeline & Outlook for FY’20
4. Round Robin of Board & Committee Members a. Needs/Wants for improved efficiency & service to the community; b. Possible Goals for their units c. Comments, Additions, Revision to BoS Goals
 5. Wrap-UP & Comments

You Are Invited!  

All Boards Meeting 

 Monday, November 26, 2018, at 6:30 P.M 

Kamaloht-1 North Main Street, East Templeton, MA-01438 

The SelectBoard will be hosting this third joint meeting of all our Town Boards and Committees on November 26, 2018. Based upon what we learned from the last two years’ meetings, we hope to improve upon this avenue of communication. The purpose of this meeting is several fold. Certainly, we hope to convey to you the progress we have made this past year. However, we also hope to hear from you with respect to your view of that progress, the direction you feel our organization should be heading in and - most importantly - your ideas of how we might better work together to improve communications, efficiency, and better serve our community. My fellow Board members and I look forward to seeing you on the 26th for some great communication!

The subject that no one seems to want to talk about:

Tax over ride for the school district. The district has said it will seek a tax override but so far, no amount or reason (s) have been given. The school supporting selectmen all of a sudden want answers about this, as if they seem upset, surprised or both. This subject has been talked about multiple times, especially this past budget season.  Get ready for an interesting time and remember, you have already voted on and approved three tax increases since May of 2018. In case you forgot, override for ambulance service, meals tax and the new animal control by-law that increased the cost of dog licenses and fines for any violations. It has been stated the tax increase will be significant. Then there will be the tax increase to pay for the building itself. Remember, you voted on that back in 2015, so enjoy all of the tax hikes you voted for and remember to break out the check book.

Countdown to 2020 Town Meeting

Checkpoint                                                                                  Day                          Date

Town Election                                                                             Monday                    May 20, 2019

Town Meeting                                                                             Wednesday               May 15, 2019

Advisory Committee Drop Dead to Issue Report                        Monday                    May 13, 2019(1)

Annual Town Report in Town Clerk’s Office                                Monday                    May 13, 2019(2)

Target Date for Voter’s Guide to be Available to Public              Wednesday                May 8, 2019

Drop Dead for Warrant & Advert to be Posted/Published           Wednesday               May 8, 2019(3)

Drop Dead for BoS to Submit Warrant to

Constable & Advert to Newspaper                                               Wednesday               May 1, 2019

BoS Takes Final Vote on Warrant                                                Wednesday               April 24, 2019

Advisory Committee Public Hearing on Budget TBD TBD Advisory Committee(4)

Drop Dead for Ballot Questions for Annual Town Election           Wednesday               April 17, 2019

BoS Drop Dead to Transmit ATM Warrant & Budget

Recommendations to Advisory Committee                                  Monday                     April 8, 2019(5)

Last Day to return nomination papers Monday April 1, 2019

BoS Adopts Budget & Warrant Recommendations                      Wednesday               March 27, 2019

BoS Budget Workshop (Answers to Q’s) SNOWDATE                 Monday                    March 25, 2019

BoS Budget Workshop                                                                  Thursday                  March 21, 2019

Desired Date for NRSD to Adopt OPEX budget                            Monday                   March 18, 2019

BoS Budget Workshop Presentations SNOWDATE                      Saturday                  March 16, 2019

BoS Budget Workshop – Presentations                                         Saturday                  March 9, 2019

ATM Warrant “Closes”                                                                     Monday                  March 4, 2019(6)

TA Presents Budget & Warrant Package                                        Wednesday             February 27, 2019

Nomination Papers Available at Town Clerk                                    Monday                  February 25, 2019

Drop Dead TA Concludes 2nd Review                                           Tuesday                   February 19, 2019

BoS “Opens” ATM Warrant to Citizen Petitions                              Wednesday              February 13, 2019(7)

Drop Dead TA Concludes 1st Review                                             Wednesday              February 6, 2019

Request to BoS for Suggestions of Cover & Dedication                 Thursday                  January 31, 2019(8)

Budget Estimate from WRRS                                                          Thursday                 January 31, 2019

House 1 w/Cherry Sheets Released                                                Wednesday             January 23, 2019(9)

TA 1 on 1 DH Reviews (Week of)                                                     Monday                   January 21, 2019

BoS Meeting w/Legislative Delegation for Session Review              Wednesday            January 9, 2019

Capital Improvements Committee Submits Proposed CIP                Wednesday           January 9, 2019

DH’s Submit all Budget & Warrant Materials to TA                            Wednesday           January 2, 2019

TA Sends “Budget Guidance” Memo out to all                                  Thursday                November 29, 2018

BoS Adopts Revenue Estimates                                                        Wednesday           November 28, 2018

Convention of the Committees                                                           Monday                 November 26, 2018(10)

Drop Dead for Monty Tech to apportion OPEX budget                      Friday                    November 16, 2018

BoS Finalizes Goals & Objectives                                                     Wednesday            November 14, 2018

BoS Holds Goal Setting Retreat                                                         Done

TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: November 8, 2018
CC: All Departments

Important Notice to All Departments 

Open Positions 

On-Call Plow Operators - DPW 

Driver/Operator/Laborer – DPW 

Clerk – Treasurer/Collectors Office 

Accepting Applications for Hired Equipment for Plow Operations 

(Better tell dave smart Town is hiring big bad contractors)

Business Meeting or Workshop: This is to expand upon items where the attached memos may need some expansion or where a full memo was not required.

5. b. This is required to determine if you will have a single or split tax rate. Once you make this decision, we can finalize our submission to DOR of the so-called recap sheet and set the tax rate.

5. f. This is from your workshop of 11/07 with a few minor changes as discussed. Please notify us of any further changes you might like by CoB 11/13 that we can have them prepared for your final action on 11/14. 5. h. We had six great submissions which I narrowed down to three for interviews by me, Adam L. and Bob S. After presentations and interviews we narrowed our interest to the firm of Milone and MacBroom at which time we opened the fee proposal. Thankfully, upon opening the fee proposal, we found that they were within budget (As we told you the fees ranged from $35k to $143k. I’m not sure why the others were so high - and we had no clue which fee was tied to which vendor as I had the AA open them, so we knew only the range – but I will tell you it was a concern for a bit. Fortunately, their fee proposal allows us some room for change orders to develop the information required by various grant agencies.

5. i. This is to rollover the current BANs on the School and PD together with an additional tranche of $9m for the school. At this time, it appears we will have our credit rating in time to take a portion of the BANs to permanent financing in February. The balance will go to Bond about12 to 18 months later. This will mean there will be a full payment on those Bonds in the FY 20 budget and we can phase the tax rate impact in over a couple of years.

5. j. This is for the Board to discuss what type of presentation it will be making and what it hopes to gain from the All Boards Meeting.

Weekly Report: We had a meeting/tel con with representatives of FEMA, MEMA and Rich Curtis our EMD concerning emergency funding we are eligible for relating to the March 13-15 storm. We have completed a draft damage inventory and have a 60-day window to finalize it. We can get 75% of cost items which are above $3k resulting in a potential reimbursement to us of $17.5k+/- at this time. We filmed another Talk of the Town, completed another evaluation and prepared adverts for the several open positions and contract opportunities as well as finalizing Draft contacts for Stone Bridge and hired equipment.

 Interesting reading:

Today's Bible Lesson ... 

In today ’s world with President Trump getting hit daily, I decided a little Bible Lesson might be appropriate.

Remember what Jesus said: 'Goats on the left, sheep on the right' (Matthew 25:33). 

Jesus also told Peter that if he wanted to catch fish do it from the right side of the boat. He did and filled the boat with fish. 

John 21:6 (NIV) ... He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." 

Origin of Left & Right… I have often wondered why it is that Conservatives are called the "right" and Liberals are called the "left". 

By chance I stumbled upon this verse in the Bible: Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV) - "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.    Thus, sayeth the Lord.    Amen! 

It surely can't get any simpler than that. 

Spelling Lesson: The last four letters in American... I Can 

The last four letters in Republican........ I Can 

The last four letters in Democrats....... Rats 

from the finance committee handbook - just so you know.
chapter 3, page 3.3

The format found in the law addresses itself to budgetary
basics. Almost all towns and cities in the Commonwealth go
well beyond this in their annual budget presentation package
(see Chapter 2). DOR has also ruled that only a town
meeting — not the finance committee or selectmen — may
determine the exact budget format to be used (see In Our
Opinion, 92-145). As a practical matter, town meeting
would have to vote to reject the present format and request a
new one for the following year.

following is a link so you can check for yourself.

http://goo.gl/ZGVe5Y