If Templeton had a proper capital improvement plan, as required by town bylaws, the kitchen for the Senior Center would be at or very near top of the list. Royalston Road would probably be number 1. Templeton does not follow the bylaw though. At the upcoming special town meeting, this kitchen project needs to be approved. About 25% of Templeton population is 60 years or older, Senior Services are a very important item that this town needs to be providing. I happen to be a veteran as well as a 68 year old "senior". so not all seniors are veterans, all veterans will eventually become a senior, if not already there. We all will achieve senior status at some point, so it is a critical need for the community. This project needs and deserves the support of all.
Just a couple concerns,
ReplyDeleteThis is said to be a community Emergency Shelter, so how many people can be in building at once. Remember it's old wooden structure from Fort Devens!
The average weekly attendance at the center is around 100-120 attendees, which is more like 1.4% of community not even 10% of the US census statement that 16% of Templeton is 65 or older.
The reason the Option to spend $150,000 from ARPA + $175,000 CAPEX( CAPITAL EXPENSE ACCOUNT) is solely due to bad estimating , poor project developement by admin/procurement staff. They estimated $150,000 for a kitchen plan requiring $325,000.
Could the kitchen be scaled down?
We have 3 schools in Templeton with kitchens, cafeteria, gyms. Aĺl made of steel and concrete.
I personally feel that draining CAPEX down to $63,000 when we are talking about an override or digging into OPEX to fund 2026 budget is not proper or more important.
We have set plans to diminished free cash ( our capital income source historically) by removing meals tax money to special account ($77,000)
Our CPC funding dropped from fy24 $465,000 to just over $163,000 in fy25. That cash cow has been milked dry.
We have a pending fine of $66,000+ to the IRS
We have an unbudgeted $8,000 for upcoming Special Town Meeting
Both previous will apparently come from our Reserve account effectively lowering next years free cash by another $40,000+
I don't believe the need for a senior center kitchen used by 1.4% of town is a a priority right now.
RTM
Could you explain about the IRS fine? Thanks. Mark Barrieau
DeleteAnother point, 2 % or 165+/- elderly people in town live at poverty level according to census.
ReplyDeleteWhy bring " Veterans" into this conversation as it has nothing to do with the issue, it's the Templeton Senior Community Center based on age, not previous employment with Federal Government.
This entire rush to fund is based on ARPA funds and its poor management in my opinion.
Other departments are scrambling to whatever under contract to spend the ARPA funds in last available month.
We just did the 5 yr evaluation and the last BvA I saw had over $80,000 still sitting unsent in the Revaluation account. Obviously it wasnt/isn't needed, so why not put that towards kitchen? Why not wait till we actually get the $60,000 from Friends of Templeton Elders?
The reason, we need to be under contract by December 31 based solely on ARPA.
Again, the need to spend $175,000 from Our balance of $213,000 in CAPEX is all the Board of Selectman and Adam's fault for poor planning.....
Please vote no! These people are breaking the bank and the taxpayers will be hit by it....
As a 69 year old veteran,don't spend a nickel on that senior center on my account. I prefer to spend less tax money and be able to stay in my home.
ReplyDeleteI mention veterans because there is always a conversation of taking care of veterans, I believe we need to try to take care of the seniors, as we all become seniors, unless the big guy calls us "home" early. Templeton has had meals on wheels before, I think it is time to have that back. It is also possible that the operation of the kitchen could be run by people outside of town employees, same as the food pantry. It can work.
ReplyDeleteIt appears, from looking at website that Templeton homebound seniors over 60 can follow these instruction listed on Templeton, MA Official town website to recieve Meals on Wheels...We do not need a $325,000 kitchen to reheat meals to deliver to seniors especially when. Taking $175,000
ReplyDeletehttps://www.templetonma.gov/senior-services/pages/meals-on-wheels
From Capital Stabilization Policy:
ii. The Town shall have a goal to maintain a Capital Stabilization Fund equal to two percent
(2%) of the prior year’s omnibus operating budget.
If we used the $175,000 we will be left with $63,000 in Capital Stabilization. This year we only put $70,000 into stabilization from free cash. If we do the same or less( which is more likely) we will be short of the goal for over 2 years without spending another dime.
It's A bad choice given to us by our Board of selectman and Town Administrator who waited till the last few weeks to put out bids.They pulled a number out of thier butt's ($150,000) and now want us to spend stabilization because of bad management, not to support meals on wheels.
Remember we've used 1 time money to fund the budget last year and we will be using more one time money this coming year or we'll get an override, period.
I support a kitchen being put into the Senior Community Center, but not using stabilization due to poor planning.This could have all been done with ARPA Monies, but the Town Adminstrator and Board screwed up.
My opinion
RTM
Town Library and senior center are two buildings that directly benefit town residents. While no one can make anyone use them, without them, residents would not have the option or choice.
ReplyDeleteSenior Center is a town capital item and capital stabilization is a fund designed to pay for just such a thing. I do not wish to penalize seniors for bad management decisions.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the $325,000 project brought before Capital Improvement Committee?
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a supplemental report for last year. When was that approved?
You are penalizing seniors by increasing expenses beyond your budget, thereby increasing future years expenses.
ReplyDeleteWho is going to operate the kitchen, who is going to pay for its use and upkeep.The very s3niors your trying to help will pay increased taxes do to another bad management scenario by the Towns staff.
I'm 60, disabled and have never been in either the library or Senior center and have no interest in either, but I'm being required to pay for it through taxes.
Bad management hurts Seniors, but we are still doing same thing.....
I do not have any kids in school system but I am still forced to pay for it as well.
DeletePaying for senior center kitchen isn't required by law, schools are!
DeleteMy suggestion actually comes from my friend. Every day a new person should call the office of the Attorney General and tell them to get off their rears and move on the Friends of the Templeton Elders to get the money they walked away with ! It is worth a shot ! Its not their money and never was. I'm not sure how much money it is but anything will help. I understand Bob May's concerns about the budget. Things are not looking good. In the end we all pay for bad money management.
ReplyDeleteFY 25 capital presentation: Community Services, as presented by Director Jackie Prime, submitted the following capital requests to the Committee:
ReplyDeleteCapital Request Department Priority Estimated Total Cost
Wheelchair Accessible Van - 2 - $ 82,960
Outdoor Vehicle Shelter - 3 - $ TBD
Senior Center Kitchen Completion - 4 - $ TBD
Does the 4 represent its priority for community services? Why no price? How is capital improvement supposed to do thier job without that info?
ReplyDeleteEvery town service has a finite value. The value of any kitchen at the senior center is far less than $325,000 to me. Try moving the decimal point three places to the left.
ReplyDelete