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?