Saturday, June 30, 2018

As a member of the Templeton Advisory Committee, I have heard some members question the lack of a certified Treasurer/Collector. "Treasurer/Collector is not certified and that is not what I voted for". 
As can be read from the Templeton Town website or annual Town report, there is no mention of being certified mentioned as a requirement of employment. While it would be a benefit to the Town and residents to have the selectmen hire an experienced / certified Treasurer/Collector, Town Meeting vote record does not indicate such requirement.



TOWN OF TEMPLETON
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
MARCH 29, 2014


ARTICLE 8 To see if the Town will vote to consolidate the offices of Treasure and Collector and establish a joint Treasure /Collector position and an Assistant Treasure/Collector position to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen or their designee; or take any other action relative thereto.
Submitted by the Selectboard at the request of the Advisory Board



On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted that the Treasurer, who is appointed by the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to act as Collector and to be assisted by an Assistant Treasurer appointed by the Board of Selectmen, subject to the Town voting by ballot question pursuant to M.G.L. c.41, Section 1 to authorize its Treasurer to act as collector.
Passed/March 29th @ 1:10


TOWN OF TEMPLETON
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
MAY 5, 2014
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


Question 3:
Shall the Treasurer, who is appointed by the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to
act as Collector?
YES_________ NO____________


Results: 865 Yes - 545 No and 66 blanks.

The intent may have been there, but that is not what was presented and therefor, could not have been voted on. Kind of hard to make a case that one voted for a certified treasurer/collector, when that was not part of the question.

So, while the observations and thoughts of some, might be that the office of the Templeton Treasurer/Collector is a disaster right now, that is probably a management issue and lack of engagement on the part of selectmen, rather than a lack of certification as a stand alone issue.