MA Division local Service reports fiscal year 24 meals tax paid to town of Templeton.

first quarter - $23,990.00

second quarter - $23,189.00

records show fiscal 23 payments to town from meals tax:

1st qtr - $19,909.00

2nd qtr - $20,687.00

3rd qtr - $17,384.00

4th qtr - $19,366.00

 Perhaps as a service to residents, town hall should be open with extended hours during the last week of the calendar year, rather than only 2 days. Extended hours so residents/taxpayers have maximum opportunity to pay taxes before end of year. Also, would allow anyone with any type of license that requires up to date tax payments prior to issue or re-new. Stuff sometimes happens and residents should have maximum time to address any issues or things that might come up end of year. This would be a very good service from government, who after all is supposed to work for the people.

 Determination is in: MA attorney general's office of open government finds Templeton board of selectmen violated Open Meeting Law.

For the reasons stated above, we find that the Board violated the Open Meeting Law as alleged. We order the Board’s immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law and

caution that future similar violations may be considered evidence of an intent to violate the law.

Because the Board has already amended the meeting minutes at issue, we do not order additional remedial action.

Open Meeting Law determinations may be found at the Attorney General’s website,

www.mass.gov/ago/openmeeting.

 Templeton received less chapter 90 funding in FY2023 than in 2008.

Bad idea to use chapter 90 funds to buy equipment!

2008 Templeton chapter 90 $ = $396,906.07

2021 Templeton chapter 90 $ = $334,835.00

2022 Templeton chapter 90 $ = $362,341.00

2023 Templeton chapter 90 $ = $358,804.00

 Today I received a copy of the November monthly finance report from accountant via a records request to the town records access officer.

Looking at page 7 of report, balance of infrastructure stabilization fund shows $158,908.47. Comparing this balance to October monthly finance report, on page 7, shown as $113,908.47.

Next, looked over report of November special town meeting; article 13 "On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to transfer the sum of Sixty Five Thousand Dollars ($65,000) from the Infrastructure Stabilization Fund, " then looking at article 20 of same special town meeting, n a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($147,500.00) to make deposits into its Operations (OPEX), Capital (CAPEX) and Infrastructure stabilization accounts and the OPEB reserve account as follows: OPEX $35,000 CAPEX $45,000 Infrastructure $45,000 OPEB $22,500. 

 

recap: infrastructure stabilization fund balance as of October 31, 2023 - $113,908.47 - $65,000.00 (article 13 STM) =$48,908.47 + $45,000.00 (article 20 STM) = $93,908.47. November monthly expenditure report a special article for Royalston road title work at $65,000.00. My question is why does the infrastructure balance show $158,908.47 if the $65,000.00 has been set aside, as in transferred to a separate account?

 

So, is my calculator broke? Is this Templeton math? Is this a new way to report town finance? A keying error? 

 

https://www.mass.gov/doc/fy2024-parcel-and-address-update-status/download

from mytowngovernment.org: Board of Selectmen Meeting Agenda

Executive Session

Monday, December 18, 2023 1:00PM

Phillipston Memorial Building

Meeting Room

20 The Common

Phillipston, MA 01331

This agenda lists all matters anticipated for discussion; some items may be passed over, and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Any member of the public planning to record the meeting must first notify the Chair.

1:00 Call to Order

1.Vote to participate in mediation between the Massachusetts State 911 Department and the Town of Templeton regarding dispatch services. Shows meeting cancelled.

from Templeton TA weekly report:  12/14/2023 Meeting has been set to attend next week in Phillipston with state 911 department.

from 12/17/2023 Athol Daily News: 

from Athol Daily News: (12/17/2023)

PHILLIPSTON — Officials from Phillipston and Templeton are planning to meet with representatives of the State 911 Department to see if an accord can be reached to renew the Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) agreement between the two towns.

Phillipston’s Selectboard has weighed terminating the agreement with Templeton and had been in talks with Athol regarding the possibility of setting up a regional dispatch service with that town’s police department.

In an exchange of emails with the Athol Daily News, Melanie Jackson, the board’s administrative assistant, said, “Templeton has always provided excellent dispatch service over the years, and we are grateful to them for that. The main issues at hand are financial transparency and collaboration.”

At last Wednesday’s Phillipston Selectboard meeting, members reviewed a letter from Joseph Crean, director of special projects for the State 911 Department, stating it was his agency’s belief that “it is in Phillipston’s best interest to remain in the Templeton RECC.”

In his letter, Crean noted “projects involving Athol will not be considered by this department at this time. It is critical to understand that the department will not support or consider any regional 911 project involving Athol due to their ineligibility to receive any department grant funding until fiscal year 2028.”

The letter did not provide the details behind Athol’s ineligibility for State 911 grants.

Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said that Athol’s funding through the State 911 Department was suspended for a period of 10 years after Athol withdrew from a regionalization effort with Gardner. Suhoski explained that this was done at the urging of residents.

“The Special Town Meeting that night was well-attended, and folks were riled up and they voted to show their displeasure with the (agreement),” he said. “The Selectboard then withdrew from the regionalization effort with Gardner. So, we put that in the rear-view mirror and focused on centralizing police and fire dispatch at our dispatch center in Athol. So, anyway, as a result of that we were kind of placed on the ‘naughty list’ for 10 years.”

Suhoski added that he was a “bit irritated” with the tone of Crean’s letter. Had Athol and Phillipston reached agreement on a new RECC, Suhoski said, “Were not expecting that 911 would be funding us immediately. We felt there would be a sufficient budget from our own resources – economies of scale – and whatever Phillipston pays to Templeton anyway.”

from The Recorder 2017:

 ATHOL — After the town voted in February to withdraw from an 2-year-old intermunicipal agreement to regionalize the town’s dispatch services, the state is presenting a new option.

Frank Pozniak, executive director of the state 911 Department, tasked with coordinating and implementing enhanced 911 service in Massachusetts, sent Athol Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski a letter detailing new option, one where Gardner and Athol could execute a new agreement — one different from the selectmen reversing their February vote or canning the agreement and forcing the department to repay $739,564.54 in state money for the project. Athol officials continue to have misgiving about the state’s response.

Selectboard Chairman Lee Chauvette said Thursday that all board members feel it is unacceptable for the department to transfer Athol’s 911 calls simply because Athol opted out of the intermunicipal agreement, which he said did not contain any language regarding when an opt-out could occur.

Chavuette said Selectmen Steve Raymond and Holly Young will work with Suhoski, Fire Chief John Duguay and Police Chief Russell Kleber to draft a response and offer additional information “as to what the town is doing to combine its police and fire dispatching within the community under one dispatch center at the Athol Police station.”

The Selectboard voted to withdraw from the agreement following a nonbinding special town meeting vote following a petition drive started by Young, who at the time was not on the board.

 Having watched things for the past few months, I have to wonder if the concept of regionalization of our schools is lost on those making decisions.

Why would a legal separate entity from Templeton go before a town capital improvement committee for any upgrades or repairs/ Is it the plan of Town "leaders/managers/admin to have Templeton residents support the school district without monies from the other member town? Templeton already pays at least twice for some of the costs of NRSD - playing fields and associated costs such as maintenance, electric, insurance, capital costs, etc. and yes, I am speaking of Gilman Waite Park. This is almost up there with funding water enterprise dept. projects and then not having the enterprise fund budget go before town meeting, same as sewer and tctv enterprise fund budgets go before town meeting. (Templeton water dept. enterprise budget went to town meeting until 2015 ATM - did the law change??)

 December meeting for Advisory Committee cancelled due to lack of quorum?

Town Administrator can predict how much town will take in from new growth, but is unable to predict ho much will be transferred from Town's enterprise funds to cover costs on insurance and retirement and is also unable to predict how much money will be received from state aid. With 6 years of financial data, the administrator should be able to pencil in some good estimates. I mean where did the figures for future new growth and vehicle ese tax come from??

Financial data shows the enterprise funds have not transferred over less than 1.5 million dollars each of the last 6 years. Total state aid has not been less than 1.6 million for each of the last 6 years.

https://www.mytowngovernment.org/viewer?document=ahNzfnRvd25nb3Zlcm5tZW50LWhychoLEg1Eb2N1bWVudE1vZGVsGICAwOL9wNcJDA

Emails within this document show a disturbing trend in Templeton governance.

Templeton needs a bylaw limiting selectmen to serve only on the board of selectmen, per recommendations from department of revenue in 2 financial reviews of the town of Templeton. Templeton already has bylaw limiting elective offices held by selectmen - only the board of selectmen.

 What’s the difference between annual and special meetings?

Each town must hold an annual Town Meeting. Additional Town Meetings are called special meetings. They may be called as many times during the year as necessary.

Templeton had a town meeting on November 15, 2023- it was a special town meeting, which means the moderator cannot appoint anyone to the advisory committee. According to town bylaws, the moderator can appoint a person to the advisory committee up to 30 days after annual town meeting dissolves. Selectmen and town administrator can call it a fall town meeting, but it is a special town meeting and people (voters) need to know and remember that.

 Once again, Templeton selectmen show they do not know town bylaws, do not understand them and this is a serious and sad state of affairs. First, Templeton has a bylaw on advisory committee, it states how members are appointed and who appoints them as well as when a vacancy happens during the year at any time.

One section of said bylaw states:

Upon the effective date of this revised article of the Town Bylaws, the terms of all existing members of the Advisory Committee shall terminate at the next Town Meeting; the Moderator shall then appoint five members to serve until the conclusion of the next Annual Town Meeting. The Moderator of the Annual Town Meeting shall, within 30 days after said meeting, appoint one member of said Committee for a term of one year, two members for terms of two years, and two members for terms of three years. After the term of these initial appointments, the Moderator shall within 30 days after the adjournment of every Annual Town Meeting, appoint for a term of three years the number of persons as may be necessary, to provide a committee of five members. The terms of office of said members shall commence immediately upon being sworn in by the Town Clerk and shall expire at the close of final adjournment of the Annual Town Meeting at which their successors are appointed. The Advisory Committee shall choose its own officers and its members shall serve without pay, and it shall cause to be kept a true record of its proceedings.

Another section states:

Vacancy - If a member resigns or is absent from five consecutive meetings of the Advisory Committee, except in case of illness, the position shall be deemed to be vacant and shall be filled as herein provided. The Advisory Committee shall notify the Town Administrator, who will first check to determine if there are any interest forms of Town registered voters on file to fill the vacancy. If none, the Town Administrator will ensure the vacancy is posted to the Town web site. The Select Board shall thereupon fill such vacancy of the Committee, and this appointment shall expire at the final adjournment of the next succeeding Annual Town Meeting. The Select Board shall instruct the Town Administrator to notify the Town Clerk and the Advisory Committee of any such appointment. The Moderator, at the next annual Town Meeting, shall appoint a successor to complete the unexpired term.

I submitted an interest form to serve on advisory, I attended BOS meeting to get appointed and when the item came up, the chairman of the select board asked me how I wanted to be appointed because we are less than 30 days from town meeting. Templeton just had a town meeting on November 15, 2023, which is after the town had our required by state law annual town meeting, which makes the November town meeting a special town meeting and the moderator cannot, according to the bylaw appoint anyone to advisory after more than 30 days have passed since the adjournment/dissolve our annual town meeting. Our selectmen need to read and understand town bylaws, those are "marching orders" from town voters, you know, the boss of the selectmen.

 Senior Tax Work-Off Abatement Program (the program) recognizes that many senior citizens can provide a wealth of knowledge and skills from which the Town could benefit in its various departmental needs. The program is designed to match municipal volunteer opportunities with eligible taxpayers in order to assist them with property tax bills, increase involvement in municipal government, and enhance municipal services by utilizing the skills and abilities of qualified volunteer residents. Under this property tax-relief program, eligible homeowners aged 60 or older volunteer their service to the Town and are compensated at a rate per hour of service that is credited to their real property tax bills. These credits may be in addition to any property tax exemptions that they may be eligible for under other statutes, such as personal exemptions under M.G.L. c. 59 § 5 or residential exemptions under M.G.L c. 59 § 5C. If eligible they may also defer the balance of their taxes under M.G.L. c. 58 § 5(41A).

Templeton selectmen and Council on Aging should put this matter before annual town meeting in order to lower age of senior work off and pursue and ensure residents are aware of additional programs to aid seniors in property tax relief. They deserve that effort.

 When reviewing the previous 15 EQVs, it becomes apparent that changes in values have had their ups and downs. Despite these fluctuations, there has been a 433% increase over 28 years. All four classes of property have seen major increases from the 1994 EQV to the 2022 EQV, with Residential showing the greatest increase and Industrial showing the smallest.

There has been a continuing increase in EQVs for all four property classes over the last four EQVs. Residential continues to represent the most significant change, increasing from $787B in 2014 to $1.3T in 2022.

Reviewing Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property EQV

Property is broken into four separate and distinct classifications. They are residential, commercial, industrial, and personal property. More information on property classification and taxation can be found here. When reviewing EQV broken down by classification, it’s important to acknowledge changes beyond those in the residential class. Commercial EQV has increased 60% from $116B to $186B. Industrial has increased 66% from $31B to $52B. Personal property has increased 63% from $28B to $46B.

The above information came from the MA division local services.

 Pete, Pete and repeattttt.

Just read weekly town administrator report. Under fire dept., it is the same message for 5 weeks in a row (must be good execution)

Apparatus/equipment: 4 gas meters from ladder 1 still out of service for repairs, Engine 2 out of service for normal oil change and service work. While returning from service work Engine 2 developed fuel and oil leaks. It remains out of service for repairs. Engine 3 light tower is out of service for repairs. The truck itself is in service.

 § 22-15

Motion to pass over articles.

A motion to "pass over" an article in the warrant shall not be entertained until a motion incorporating the substance of said article is before the meeting and at least one voter has spoken in favor thereof, unless, after a reasonable opportunity so to do, no voter makes such motion or speaks in favor thereof. A motion to "pass over" shall be debatable as to its merits but not as to the merits of the article.

At about 2:03;58 into town meeting, a motion to pass over article 11 was made by I believe Mathew Rivard second by selectman Griffis to pass over article 11. Clearly in the town bylaws, a motion on the article needs to be made first before any motion to pass over the article can be made. Since no main motion was made, kind of hard for anyone to speak in favor of the motion. Once again, this current board of selectmen failed to follow town bylaws and fail to even know them or perhaps ignore them.

The selectmen insist on making all the motions, so, they need to know the procedure (s) to do so.

 After reading the Templeton weekly report from town administrator, I have to think about is this coming to Templeton?

Officials in a suburban Chicago community have issued municipal citations to a local news reporter for what they say were persistent contacts with city officials seeking comment on treacherous fall flooding.

The tickets from Calumet City, a city of 35,000 located 24 miles (39 kilometers) south of Chicago, allege “interference/hampering of city employees" by Hank Sanders, a reporter for the Daily Southtown, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

It's the latest of several recent First Amendment dust-ups involving city officials and news outlets around the country, following this week's arrest of a small-town Alabama newspaper publisher and reporter after reporting on a grand jury investigation of a school district, and the August police raid of a newspaper and its publisher's home in Kansas tied to an apparent dispute a restaurant owner had with the paper.

 Town resident questions his town government. Town employee does not like being questioned, interferes with his free time.

So, the town employee, Templeton town administrator uses tax dollars to complain that a few town residents are causing him grief because tey are asking questions and then said town employee states he is going to talk with chairman of select board, who is a government employee (outside of being a paid selectman) to make a list of names of people asking questions and for information (a job of government employees) and make it sound like the residents are costing tax payers money by asking questions.

So, if you follow along, a town employee, adam LaMontagne, is using tax dollars, is time, town paper, computers, etc., to complain that a few residents are asking too many questions, which as the town employee tasked with day to day stuff of town governance and one of the town's records access officers, he is using tax dollars to complain about having to do his job? Wonderful, even Bear is shaking his head at that one! If this was not so serious, it would be damn funny, a town employee using town money to complain about having to do his job, fantastic.

 

latest from Templeton town administrator weekly report.

Our office has been receiving daily public records requests this week which has triggered a queue.

Each will be handled on a first come, first serve basis within the allowable time. We have a couple habitual records requestors in Town. I will be looking into the possibility of adding a part-time public records access officer/archivist position for the Town to respond to each accordingly. I will be examining with the Chair to see if we should post a log within the Weekly of the requestor’s name and whether they were assessed a fee or not.

Well, well well, it has come to try and intimidate people for asking for public information.

Habitual records requesters, well, I, Jeff Bennett have been asking for many public records of late and I have no intention of stopping. I know of another person who is requesting alot of information because the TA and others in town government are less than transparent. State law is almost everything that comes into town hall is public information. The TA is one of the towns record access officers per MGL. Apparently he does not like doing that job. Again, better transparency, less lying, less bullshit and answer the questions and maybe you get fewer requests for records. Obey the law, follow town bylaws and follow your own policy and maybe get fewer requests. You are not going to embarrass me mr. TA, just going to make me dig more and request more, make you earn your 100K per year.

 No matter how anyone tries to frame it, the Templeton advisory committee did not follow town bylaw, as in violated the bylaws of Templeton on September 20, 2023 during which the committee discussed and voted against a transfer from the town reserve fund. 

Templeton town bylaws clearly state:

§ 9-6

Meetings.

The Advisory Committee shall meet jointly with the Select Board whenever there is a request to consider adjusting spending limits on any revolving fund, any end of year financial transfer or any request of transfer from the Town reserve fund.

Failure to follow bylaws, policy, state law, etc., leads to a lack of trust in any entity. I hope this committee that is supposed to look at financial issues especially and at all articles for any town meeting, annual or special objectively and independently from the TA or selectmen, gets back on track and follows the bylaws of the town, which were voted on by the people of Templeton, which if one looks at history, finance committees were started and later mandated by state law, with the aim of helping people at town meeting have an understanding of what is being asked of them and what are the pro and cons of each article. Hard to trust any recommendations from an entity that fails to follow a simple bylaw.

Something to remember as one contemplates article 22 of the upcoming STM on November 15, 2023.

 https://www.templetonma.gov/home/select-board/pages/stone-bridge

 Do you know there is actually a written requirement for a PARCs grant.

I. REGULATIONS, STATUTES, OR AUTHORIZATION GOVERNING THIS GRANT PROGRAM: This BID is issued according to 301 CMR 5.00, 815 CMR 2.00 (Grants and Subsidies), and Chapter 102, Section 2A of the Acts of 2021 (An Act Relative to Immediate Covid-19 Recovery Needs). Note that application of funds from Chapter 102, Acts of 2021 to grant programs is at the discretion of the Secretary. All properties for which grant assistance is provided must be open to the general public (not local residents only) for appropriate active recreational use. All properties acquired or developed will become protected parkland under Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, dedicated to recreation use in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 45.

Too bad the Parks commission in Templeton was created by special legislation rather than by acceptance of MGL chapter 45, section 2.

Not sure if this is a problem for Templeton getting the grant, but I am inquiring and letting the state know the details.

MGL chapter 45 - Section 2. A town may elect a board of park commissioners, consisting of three or five persons and prescribe their terms of office, or the members of a town planning board or department of public works, or road commissioners may if so authorized by vote of the town act as park commissioners therein. In a town which has not elected a board of park commissioners or has not authorized the town planning board so to act, the selectmen shall act as such board of park commissioners and have authority to approve or disapprove the acquisition of lands by eminent domain as set forth in section seventy-nine of chapter ninety-two and shall have all other powers and duties of a park commission. The mayor of a city may, with the approval of the city council, appoint a board of park commissioners for said city, consisting of five persons, who shall hold office for terms of one, two, three, four and five years respectively from the first Monday in May next following such appointment, or until their successors are qualified; and thereafter the mayor shall annually, before the first Monday in May, with like approval appoint one such commissioner for a term of five years from said first Monday in May. No member of the city council, clerk or treasurer of such city or town shall be such commissioner. In cities a vacancy in such board shall be filled in like manner for the residue of the unexpired term. A commissioner may be removed by a vote of two thirds of the voters of a town, or by a vote of two thirds of all the members of a city council. Such commissioners shall serve without compensation.

Powers and duties of boards of park commissioners

Section 5. Such boards may lay out and improve public parks, make rules for their use and government, appoint all necessary engineers, surveyors, clerks and other officers, including a police force to act in such parks, define their powers and duties and fix their compensation and do all acts needful for the proper execution of their powers and duties. They shall have the authority given to the mayor, aldermen, selectmen, road commissioners and tree warden respectively by section seven of chapter eighty-four and by chapter eighty-seven, in places under their jurisdiction. Subject to appropriation, such boards shall also have the power to conduct park programs and recreation activities at places other than such public parks.

All of Templeton selectmen and the town administrator need to read MGL chapter 45 section 5, probably multiple times, and realize to have a properly functioning Parks commission, the selectmen and TA need to get the hell out of the way, as Park commissioners have authority over parks, but since Templeton selectmen and adam lamontagne do not wish to get out of the way and want to argue or wish to not give up assumed authority, how can Templeton be eligible for a PARCs grant? The state agency/individuals who have oversight of the grant have been made aware of the Templeton situation concerning park commission and the refusal of the TA and selectmen to allow them to operate and function per MGL chapter 45, which I believe should disqualify the town for the grant and until that is settled, article 16 of the November 15, 2023 special town meeting should be passed over.

 By The Republican Editorials

The law is complicated, but for it to serve a civil society, it must be inherently fair. The plight of a Springfield woman now before the Supreme Judicial Court smacks of unfairness.

It is legal in Massachusetts for people in arrears on property taxes to face foreclosure on their homes. In the course of that, they have lost more than the security of shelter and dollar value of what’s owed to a municipality.

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling, Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, that is likely to end this greedy feasting on misfortune. The high court found that this process violates the “Takings Clause” of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling stands in conflict with Chapter 60 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Springfield homeowner Ashley Mills and two legal groups want the SJC to broker an end to this practice. Attorney Frank Bailey, of the Pioneer Public Interest Law Center, says the Massachusetts statute contains language akin to what the high court found unconstitutional in Minnesota. New York and Nebraska have adjusted laws in light of the decision.

Massachusetts appears poised to join that movement away from a deeply unjust practice. After the May ruling, the Massachusetts Land Court said municipalities engaged in tax foreclosure cases must “provide just compensation to property owners.”

 

You forwarded this message on Thu 10/26/2023 12:53 AM

JB

jeff bennett

To:​Currie, Michael;​Toth, Timothy;​Rivard, Matthew;​Griffis, Terry;​Richard, Julie​

Thu 10/26/2023 12:53 AM

Good day, that time of the year so long days go late into evening, how ever, I still find time to do some reading. Since I am sure there is no funding in the GF budget for crack sealing and as a result of a public records request and a few questions, one response was a link to commbuys, I did some reading, saw the name of Clark and sent email asking a few things. Below is my email and response from Clark. So my question remains, if no money in GF budget for crack sealing, how was crack sealing on Partridgeville Road paid for? Route 101 from Gardner into East Templeton is a state road so TRD02 would most likely pay for that work, but Partridgeville Road still leaves a question. The town administrators lack of forthcoming responses to public records requests and questions are only going to hold for so long. On another note, just watched finance portion of your meeting, odd the accountant did not mention money lost on stabilization funds- investment income loss, which is evident when comparing August BvA with September BvA. Even more glaring is ack of question on it from any member of the board. Perhaps time to re-read your code of conduct, which is hilarious, considering who brought it forward. I mean the performance by Julie Richard on August 9, 2023 so called dog hearing makes it even more laughable. 

Jeff Bennett

---

From: Thompson Clark, Kelly (OSD) <Kelly.ThompsonClark@mass.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 10:33 AM
To: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: crack sealing roads

 

Jeff, to what contract are you referring?  If you are referring to TRD02 which includes asphalt/paving services it is an active contract.  It renewed in SEPT2021 through AUG2024 and then has one more three-year renewal through 2027.  As for funding, that is a matter for the Town of Templeton as they are the ones paying for It not the State unless, it is a State road then the DOT likely procured the work and if the contract is active then there is no error.

 

From: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 9:25 AM
To: Thompson Clark, Kelly (OSD) <Kelly.ThompsonClark@mass.gov>
Subject: crack sealing roads

 

CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system.  Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

 

Good day, Templeton town administrator forwarded me a document with your name attached to it, email dated May 27, 2021, regarding a contract for crack sealing roads in Templeton for a period of time ending June 30, 2023. A public bidding document can be found of Templeton town website. I observed the company doing crack sealing last week, October 2023, which is after the past contract has expired, which brings me to my question (as a concerned resident who tries to keep up with government stuff) If a contract expires for a service apparently paid for with state funds, how does that work? Is a bid for service for a stated period of time actually just an open ended contract with no time limit or limit on funds available either town or state funds?

Your help in guiding me to understand this is greatly appreciated.

 

regards,

Jeff Bennett

concerned resident and laymen.