On the Massachusetts division of local services, it shows Templeton receiving meals tax distribution of $4,384 in September, the next distribution at the end of the 2nd quarter in December. We better catch up quick!
from the voters guide for annual town meeting in May of 2018:
Summary:
The local option meals tax was created by the state in the fall of 2009.
Since then a little over 60% of the state’s municipalities have adopted it. The local
option tax adds 38 cents on a $50 meal. The DOR estimated Templeton would have
receive almost $50,000 in revenues if it had adopted the local option meals tax for
2016. (We await the 2017 report). The state’s revenue estimates for this tax have proven to be very reliable over the years since they are based upon actual state
receipts. The vendor pays the local sales tax imposed under this section to the
Commissioner at the same time and in the same manner as the sales tax due to the
Commonwealth. Shortly after the end of every quarter in the Fiscal Year, the state
then sends Town its share of the collections. If adopted, the Board of Selectmen
intend to use this as a funding source to meet the Town’s many needs with respect to
replacing its rolling stock (i.e. cars, trucks, and the like).
ARTICLE 28
Authorize Lease of Capital Items – Police & DPW
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen
2/3 Vote Require
I move, contingent upon the adoption of the Local Option Meals
Tax, so called, will vote to (a) raise and appropriate the sum of Forty Two Thousand Dollars and
No Cents ($42,000.00) to pay for the first year of a three year lease for a fully equipped police
cruiser and a one-ton pick-up with dump body, wing and plow with said lease not to exceed One
Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($126,000.00) in total, and have a so
called escape clause for lack of appropriation in addition to provisions for an early pay-off,
without penalty, and a One Dollar ($1.00) buy-out upon the conclusion of all regularly schedule
lease payments and (b) appropriate the sum of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
($12,500.00) to write down the purchase price of said items such that they may be leased within
the foregoing limits set in this article and to meet said appropriation by a transfer of said sum
from certified free cash.
Or take any other action related thereto.
Summary: This article seeks the necessary appropriations and authority to
purchase a new police cruiser (replacing a 2011 which is expected to have 150,000
miles on it by the time of replacement and currently has numerous transmission,
drive train, and electrical problems) and a fully outfitted one-ton pick-up for the
DPW (replacing a 2001 vehicle we have had to recently take out of service due to the
numerous repairs needed that would that far exceed its value). It solidifies the
intent of the Selectmen to use the Local Option Meals Tax for exactly the purposes
articulated above. If carried forward this will support one cruiser every three
years. It will also support our intended complement of four one-ton pick-ups, each
of which we hope to get twelve years of service from.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Still think the selectmen are working for you:
Read the agenda for the next sewer commissioners meeting
Sewer Commissioners are elected by you to over see the operation including funding of the Templeton sewer department.
Operation expenses, including pay raises voted on by you, the voter/taxpayer and still it seems the selectmen are ignoring your vote! Time to let the selectmen know how you feel about this.
Read the agenda for the next sewer commissioners meeting
Sewer Commissioners are elected by you to over see the operation including funding of the Templeton sewer department.
Operation expenses, including pay raises voted on by you, the voter/taxpayer and still it seems the selectmen are ignoring your vote! Time to let the selectmen know how you feel about this.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BOARD OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS 33 RESERVOIR STREET BALDWINVILLE, MA 01436 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018 4:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE REVIEW AND SIGN MEETING MINUTES REVIEW AND SIGN VENDOR WARRANTS NEW BUSINESS: 1. Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator withholding all Sewer Department Non-Union Employee raises. These raises were budgeted, approved by the Board of Sewer Commission and Voter approved at Annual Town Meeting. 2. Admin. Asst. Correct Pay Rate still being withheld by Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen. 3. Joe F./Town of Royalston Sludge 4. Capital Planning Update OLD BUSINESS: 1. Sundstrom Abatement SECRETARY REPORT: 1. Budget to Actuals 2. Marie M. Abatement SUPERINTENDENT REPORT: 1. Pleasant Street Update – USDA Closing 2. Flusher Truck repair bid solicitation advertised 3. Draft Sewer Lien list 4. Plant Road Roof 5. Engineer Contract Amendment SUBJECT TO CHANGE POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION |
Yesterday, while attending the meeting of association of town finance committees at Devens, I sat in on finance committees and social media.
Most of the subject was how one town uses electronic communication to get the word out, with regards to town business. Eventually, the subject of open meeting law and social media came up. I was listening intently; the subject I wanted came up, members of a committee posted and commented on something, eventually, a majority or quorum was involved in comment. Someone filed open meeting law complaint. The results were interesting, the Massachusetts office of open government found basis for the complaint, seems the post and following comment was not aimed at just members of the committee, rather it was out there for all to see, read and comment on. Pretty much for the whole connected world to see, read and comment on. In the case of Templeton Advisory Committee members, a Templeton selectmen commented on things, more than once. He even went so far as to file a complaint at a selectmen meeting. There were eventually multiple complaints filed, which were answered by the committee. In the end, other than negative newspaper coverage, nothing happened and nothing else resulted. The answer is, as in the example given at yesterday's workshop, was the post and following comments were out for everyone to see, read and comment on. If it had been a group face book post for instance, available to only committee members, it would have been a different story.
Again, past and present members of the Templeton Advisory Committee are vindicated, they did nothing wrong and DID NOT VIOLATE the Open Meeting Law!
As for the committee, five of the seven current members attended the conference, on a Saturday, which began at 8:15 in the morning and ended around 2:30 in the afternoon.
Most of the subject was how one town uses electronic communication to get the word out, with regards to town business. Eventually, the subject of open meeting law and social media came up. I was listening intently; the subject I wanted came up, members of a committee posted and commented on something, eventually, a majority or quorum was involved in comment. Someone filed open meeting law complaint. The results were interesting, the Massachusetts office of open government found basis for the complaint, seems the post and following comment was not aimed at just members of the committee, rather it was out there for all to see, read and comment on. Pretty much for the whole connected world to see, read and comment on. In the case of Templeton Advisory Committee members, a Templeton selectmen commented on things, more than once. He even went so far as to file a complaint at a selectmen meeting. There were eventually multiple complaints filed, which were answered by the committee. In the end, other than negative newspaper coverage, nothing happened and nothing else resulted. The answer is, as in the example given at yesterday's workshop, was the post and following comments were out for everyone to see, read and comment on. If it had been a group face book post for instance, available to only committee members, it would have been a different story.
Again, past and present members of the Templeton Advisory Committee are vindicated, they did nothing wrong and DID NOT VIOLATE the Open Meeting Law!
As for the committee, five of the seven current members attended the conference, on a Saturday, which began at 8:15 in the morning and ended around 2:30 in the afternoon.
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