Before we go taking on animal shelter to convert to office space, how about we finish Stone Bridge, Main Street bridge (the one that was supposed to be 75% design complete back in 2020) Scout Hall (decide what we are going to use it for) the cupola on town hall (perhaps waiting for it to fall off roof) finish building at gilman waite. We also need to see what the result of one million dollars of tax dollars is, going into the rehab of the old Baldwinville school. I believe there is a proposal of another 80 thousand dollars of tax dollars going into Grange Hall for the upcoming annual town meeting. Yeah, CPA / CPC money comes from tax dollars, as in a 3% surcharge on your real estate, so that is tax dollars.

What is the need or want to put the building currently occupied by Ahisma over to DPW? Office space, space for employees? What is the plan, how much money? If say space for lunch with micro, fridge, table & chairs etc., perhaps a small office trailer or a converted 20 foot container would work and be less money and would allow Ahisma to stay. That building was constructed by volunteers with donated materials and expertise for a purpose and it was not office space for DPW.

 

from Templeton town website.

INTRODUCTION

In accordance with its role as the executive body, the Select Board (the “Board”) has the authority to adopt statements of policy to order its affairs and guide the administrative

functions of the corporate body politic of the Town of Templeton (the “Town”).

These polices are adopted to guide the Town in ensuring the growing and continued financial health of the Town, provide the public with confidence that Town officials seriously respect

their responsibility for fiscal stewardship, and to demonstrate to bond rating agencies that the Town has thoughtfully prepared for its future They are intended to be a living tool and

shall be reviewed by the Town Administrator and designated staff on an annual basis and updated as necessary. Suggested revisions shall be submitted to the Select Board for

consideration and adoption with the annual budget message submitted by the Town Administrator or as needed by changes in statute or regulation.

The Town will not use budgetary procedures that balance the budget at the expense of future years,

such as postponing or deferring payment of expenses already incurred, accruing future year

revenues, or rolling over short-term debt to avoid making principal payments.

The Town will not balance the budget by using one-time or other nonrecurring revenues to fund ongoing expenditures, except in the event of an emergency or extraordinary or unforeseen events.

If extraordinary or unforeseen events necessitate a budget in which current revenues are less than current expenditures, and which thus relies one-time revenues to balance, the Board and the Town

Administrator shall provide along with the budget a plan to return to a structurally balanced budget in no more than three years.

The Town budget shall also reasonably support a financially-sound operating position by maintaining reserves for emergencies and providing sufficient liquidity to pay bills on time and

avoid revenue anticipation borrowing. (See also C. Reserve Funds/Fund Balance Policies.)

While state law allows for incurring expense without enough appropriation in several instances, snow & ice being one of them, if you are going to put a policy in place, it should be followed. There is enough recent data, financially history to show 147 or even 150 thousand dollars is not enough to cover yearly costs of snow & ice for the town of Templeton. So, so far, no 3 year plan to get out of using free cash to cover expense of snow removal on town roads, town budget is being "balanced" at the expense of future years, using one time to cover recurring expense (so called free cash to cover snow & ice expense) 5 years of snow& ice deficit spending with no 3 year plan to stop it. Town meeting attendees need to be aware of this policy, the action on snow & ice and ask the questions of where is the 3 year plan and why do we keep underfunding snow & ice? If professional staff will not follow policies of the town, how can people be expected to follow town bylaws? Again, when you consistently have a million dollars left over from a previous year, please do not tell me you cannot properly fund snow & ice where it needs to be, at least 300 thousand dollars. My opinion based on financial records and town meeting articles.