Looking through some older newspapers for information on bleacher replacement, I came across some interesting articles that might raise some eyebrows, at least in the context of how this school project is still in murky water (my opinion)
November 3, 2017, The Gardner News, page 1, the article states that the Narragansett Regional School District School Committee voted to accept a bid from Fontaine Brothers for 32.5 million dollars for the new elementary school in Templeton. I thought this was a Town rather than a district project.
November 15, 2017 in The Gardner News, an article has Town approves $25,000.00 in inspection Fees for new school project. Templeton board of selectmen stated it is a Town project and Narragansett Regional School District cannot pay for these charges by statute. These are/will be Town expenses.
Okay, who is on first and I don't know is pitching. What exactly is being pitched seems to be a wild guess. Right up there with a secretary in the selectmen's office rather than the Town Treasurer processing bills/invoices for the elementary school. Seem to recall this concern being brought up before and a repy was the Treasurer was going to get trained and handle this. Oh wait, I do not think that particular Treasurer is with the Town any longer. Did Templeton hire and experienced/certified Treasurer/Collector the next time around? No, they did not. They are right to suspect an override will not pass.
Now about them bleachers.
“Tabloid journalism is often criticized for its propensity for exaggeration, sensationalization, scare-mongering, and otherwise producing misleading and low quality news” See Gardner News - I was hoping for a fact based discussion - not click bait on the top about bleachers .
ReplyDeleteVery disappointed this proves what exactly ? Gardner News reporters are uniformed ? Not researching ( I would think that they ( editor would FACT ck ) Perhaps someone in town didn’t relay it loud enough ? These are public documents - voted on and available on line - and I would assume in greater detail than the ordinary citizen.
This is exactly why people don’t participate in this town - rumor and innuendo should not be on the mission statement of the Finance/Advisory board members who have influence on town policy.
Next up : Flouride made me sick says heavy smoker
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DeleteIf an override vote is say a nonstarter for residents. I read that other towns strategy has seen communities maximize their levy capacity with business owners.
ReplyDeletePeople make the difference in making the system better or worse. Those people are us. It is up to us to think, work hard, be prospective, anticipate problems, and come up with creative solutions to those problems. The best means to develop an understanding of improvements in assessing is to pursue education. How timely a discussion.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't make sense, for years the townspeople have wanted and voted on one thing, and the selectboard does whatever they want with no regards to what was voted on. And No Repercussions.
ReplyDeleteIt's happened in the past and it's happening right now.
An override is a fricking joke, do things right and by the book and you won't have to beg for money.
What does that mean? Your government is only as good as the citizens make it. Oversight is critical and everyone who is a citizen should and needs to be answerable for both the positive and negative in ones town.
ReplyDeleteI was listening to the selectman chair Mr Caplis and he said ( I paraphrase ) to have what we have for services we need 20.00 per thousand ...
Seems that our town needs leaders - all leaders to get up and lobby if ...this is in fact what our town requires for the services it now has. The young lady who spoke eloquently for the ALS was exactly what this town needs.
You can’t go back in a time machine and fix things. The taxes in Templeton were kept artificially low and people should have spoken up but who wants to pay more taxes right ?
This town like every industrial and rust belt town that relied on heavy manufacturing were decimated in the 80’s. These “ job creators “ left pollution , a tax bill , infrastructure breakdowns , false sense of security of incomes and jobs & long term health issues.
Your future is your children. Don’t say either or - do the right thing and do all of it. Templeton is never going to grow and create wealth fast enough to eliminate this death by 1000000 cuts every year.
Technology is wonderful it allows citizens to have access at a moments notice to information. My hope is that our towns citizens listen to what is being said and who is saying it. I hope they research on their own and not rely on information being whispered around or thru a blog . Thank you
Boilerplate is a good screen name, since you regurgitate the default nonsense. Templeton does not need to provide ALS with full time employees. An ambulance company will be happy to do the job. We won't have to further stretch our town finances with employees and their associated costs. If you look around, very few neighboring communities have $20 per thousand tax rates. Oh - and we have a big bill coming for a school.
ReplyDeleteTempleton has shitty roads that are poorly maintained. We manage to spend about as much as every neighboring town, yet we have the worst roads. On the plus side, we have a shitload of excavators and loaders. With shitty roads and higher taxes coming, don't look for people to flock to Templetonia.
Thanks for your kind words. I would agree people are not going to “ flock to Templetonia “
ReplyDeleteDid these magical excavators just appear or were they purchased thru town finances that should have been overseen by town managers and or dept heads. I would have assumed they would have shown in a line item budget expenditure and discussed on open meeting as well.
You sir/madam I hope are not the kind of flippant person that perhaps was involved in this town and their horrible decisions over the past decades- as I see a lot of regurgitated faces on the TCTV YouTube channel.
Maybe you can tell us a few items you would like to eliminate besides Ambulance perhaps an all volunteer Fire Dept again ? I don’t know ?
What do you think the school district should get ? Thank you
You must be new to town or have only just started paying attention. Please note that all of the selectmen and coordinator that kept paying the budget with savings are no longer in obvious power.
DeleteThe line item budget is gone, thanks to our TA and selectmen. In reality you do know what you are voting for. In my opinion "the budget book" is a old way to do things. Give me a computer spread sheet any day. The only way things will change is when the public stands up for themselves, and demands to see the numbers.
DeleteThankful for TCTV YouTube or local cable access. You can listen for yourself about what can and can’t be seen by the Advisory Board .
DeleteTempletons AC has access to Finances of a town that no other town in this Commonweath has — you have VADAR read only access now that was purchased with the AC budget appropriated at town meeting(s) so now open the budget and get details when and if you so choose. Take advantage of it and use it to bolster your case.
With all due respect - me March 3 on this blog
ReplyDelete“
BoilerPlate4:17 PM
Just because one is not present at the meetings of course doesn’t mean one is not engaged. My wife and I have lived in this town (Templeton) my entire life 53 years - never had any children (she is from Phillipston originally) I/We understand both sides and as far as I am concerned. ”
Those are NOT the only people who steer policy in this town . Thank you
Anon.6:32. The Advisory Committee's job is to Advise the public, and hopefully work with the BOS. It is not their job to make policy for the town. The reporters job is to report what is said at a meeting or function. The reporters are not investigative reporters. I guess their sources are supposed to be honest !
DeleteYes , Bev.Bart. Your role is to advise not create understood. It’s also to give sound advise and nothing procludes this advisory committee ( correct me if I’m wrong ) to speak up and advise such as was done by the neighboring town on 2 occasions just this last month at 2 meetings ( school and town ) or as a matter of fact as a citizen of such town.
ReplyDeleteAs to the Gardner News I’m certainly not saying they need to have Woodward and Bernstein on their staff. I would suspect that if one who is knowledgeable of the accurate figures and correct town/district entity such a moneys amount was allocated to and was printed in error a member in official or unofficial capacity could write the paper or speak up perhaps at an open meeting when such news organization was present to have the comment placed on record. Just a few thoughts .
I would like to echo above comments. I watched and was alarmed and discusted but not surprised the budget proposal by the Town Administrator. MEALS ON WHEELS >CUTTING 1/2 the money thereby either 6 months of full funding for 17 +/- ELDERLY with food or 12 months for 8 ELDERLY with FOOD for the year > was told that the director of COA could find alternative money ie grants . NICE perhaps she can lobby the FEDERAL govt who is cutting MEALS ON WHEELS . I urge people to watch the presentation *** $6,000 is the proposed savings he said . PERHAPS maybe idk the town could do without a “ rugby or other activity for a September “ budget amount in a RECREATION budget that was proposed.
ReplyDeleteThis budget needs a spotlight on it.
Anon 4:31 - pay attention to what happens. These selectmen bought loader and excavator with chapter 90 money. After both were rejected by voters.
ReplyDeleteNot “ These “ selectmen - as collective right ? What’s your premise ? Because someone has done something in the past that all future action done by people is fait accompli? That’s a ridiculous argument on its face.
ReplyDeleteMorrison, Caplis, Brooks and Richards. They all voted for the excavator AFTER voters said "no".
ReplyDeletePlease provide the minutes - discussion - link to hopefully video - for context . Not that I’m not believing you but the fact that someone puts out a statement then walks away without providing the link to said assertions or vote is overwhelming to me anyway.
ReplyDeleteanon 9:46 5-16-2015 town warrant -
ReplyDeleteNote selectman on bottom
Thanks Woodward & Bernstein
Glad to see more discussion. I would like help on that vote as well.
ReplyDeleteSide Note: Maybe ask were that "unusable equipment" is now????
ReplyDeleteThis is why you should attend meetings or reach out to your town dept ?
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