Watching a selectmen meeting of November 28, 2016, yes, 2016, in which then chaiman of the Board, John Caplis stated the advisory committee put out some inaccurate and unauthorized information to town meeting (special Town Meeting of October 20, 2016). John Caplis further stated that all information for Town Meeting has to be approved by Town Moderator per Town by-laws. So I went and checked; no surprise, no such by-law nor section of any town by-law states that.

Article II - Town Meeting of Templeton by-laws states:
Section 17. The most current issue of TOWN MEETING TIME is to be considered the general guideline for all procedures of town meetings, except those procedures already provided for by the by-laws. Amended 10-15-82

No where in Town Meeting times could I find any such wording that gives Town Moderator control over what materials people may bring into town meeting, other than tobacco and concealed alcohol.

At a selectmen workshop, former BOS member John Columbus made a similar statement concerning Advisory Committee putting out unauthorized information. John Columbus should have woke up enough to read town by-laws and state law: Advisory Committee is directed to give a report to Town Meeting regarding any recommendations they may have on articles of the warrant for town meeting.

This means rather than putting out unauthorized information or not getting permission, the Advisory Committee was actually doing it's job, per state law and Town by-laws, which come from a vote of Town Meeting. Advisory Committee did what is was directed to do!

This was the beginning of the "assault" on the Advisory Committee by the Board of Selectmen, in my opinion. That assault has not ended yet, again, in my opinion. But you can watch the movie and decide.