May 10, 2023, Templeton annual town meeting.

Article 1. Pay late bills - one bill is for senior services. As I understand it, this is to pay for or reimburse an expense for buying bottled water. So the first question that should be asked on this item; what is this late bill for and what are the circumstances of it being this late?

2nd part of article 1 is a late bill for I&B (insurance & benefits) as I understand this, it is because town does not have a dedicated HR person (human resources) employee paid some insurance charge they should not have had to pay out of pocket. Again, this requires explanation from administration and what if any steps have been taken to ensure this is not repeated.

Article 2. use free cash to increase the fiscal year 23 budget (the budget presented and voted on last May 2022, as balanced) $52,500.00 for insurance and benefits and $150,000.00 for snow & ice. Again, these items were presented and voted May 2022 as part of a budget that is stated balanced (revenue equal to or greater than expenses presented) Why do we keep underfunding snow & ice in the budget if all things are great in Templeton budget wise and beyond?

article 3. snow & ice deficit (budget short as in not enough money asked for in a so called balanced budget) This article asks town meeting to take money from a general stabilization fund to pay for snow & ice. (Yes this is a legal move but a dumb and recommended against move by the MA dept. of revenue) Also, another promise made to town residents by select board to not do this anymore, as in not to repeat things from the past that caused financial problems in the town. Why 2 separate articles for snow & ice deficit, not enough free cash to cover this expense? Wait, there are other articles using free cash, what is going on? Lack of a plan or lack of following policy? Again, these are questions town meeting needs to ask. It is why we have town meeting.