Reading a recent article in the Gardner News, it appears some members of the building committee may have slept during past meetings. Selectmen Haley Brooks could be one of them; Haley Brooks voiced concern about people flying up the road, going 50 mph. Well, when the traffic pattern was being discussed at a few meetings about the school, it was disclosed that Templeton police chief, fire chief and highway superintendent all were in favor of the traffic going up Wellington Road and coming down South Road, as they felt this the safest. Where was the concern for speed when this project was being sold? Perhaps too much cheer leading at that time rather than discussion of these concerns? Haley Brooks again concerned about lack of street lights, again, where was all this concern back last summer when the planning meetings were happening? Where was this concern at the November special town meeting vote for the school? Haley Brooks again concerned about the new playground at the current site, again, this was covered in past meetings, but if you have such great concerns, where were the questions at the town meeting? My first thought is either someone likes to see their name in the newspaper or after the project gets passed, with someone's very loud voice in support, suddenly wishes to be seen as a big champion of the local folks. My question is , where were these concerns during the planning phase of the project? Another item is not too long ago, there was a quote in the Gardner News from Haley Brooks, saying how the new Massachusetts DOT complete streets grant program was money that could fix up the streets around the new school so what is all the sudden worry now? The residents that are now raising all the fuss need to be asked the same questions; where were you during the planning phase? Where were you at special town meeting? Where were you at the ballot box? I notice not much concern voiced by Haley Brooks over the money being spent on many changes brought on by school personnel, so lets admit that the project passed, at least a million dollars has been spent on it so far and the project is going to be built and down the road, it will be a nice addition to the area. Does Haley Brooks think traffic will slow down if the new school is not built there? There does not seem to have been much concern for the lack of street lighting to date so why now? Either park to police officers there all day or the folks that drive those roads need to slow down because signs, lights and a couple of traffic bumps are not going to do the job. I would much rather have had my selectmen have a contract for 50 million dollars looked at by the Town's attorney rather than argue about street lights after the fact. Those are easily fixed, just have the Templeton Light department install street lighting after the school is built. As in people can see the night light generated by the building, then decide how bright they want their neighborhood to be at night in the future.
Jeff Bennett
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Narragansett Regional Budget presentation to Advisory Board
FY2017 foundation budget per pupil cost listed at $10,309.00
Templeton minimum contribution listed at $4,114,704.00
Templeton's transportation share at $678,659.00
Templeton's share of debt listed at $443,879.00
Total of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$1,122,538.00
$4,114,704.00
$1,122,538.00
____________
$5,237,242.00
Templeton budget draft from Town Administrator (selectmen) shows
Templeton assessment for NRHS at $5,625,000.00
Assessment for Monty Tech, a completely different school district at $708,882.00.
Just as a curiosity, if one looks at the fiscal 2017 Templeton budget document put forth by the selectmen and town Administrator, line 442 shows NRHS debt as $433,627.00, which in my opinion, results in a $10,252.00 shortfall and I believe we have experience with debt numbers not being correct, as in a budget not balanced, nor correct.
Jeff Bennett
FY2017 foundation budget per pupil cost listed at $10,309.00
Templeton minimum contribution listed at $4,114,704.00
Templeton's transportation share at $678,659.00
Templeton's share of debt listed at $443,879.00
Total of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$1,122,538.00
$4,114,704.00
$1,122,538.00
____________
$5,237,242.00
Templeton budget draft from Town Administrator (selectmen) shows
Templeton assessment for NRHS at $5,625,000.00
Assessment for Monty Tech, a completely different school district at $708,882.00.
Just as a curiosity, if one looks at the fiscal 2017 Templeton budget document put forth by the selectmen and town Administrator, line 442 shows NRHS debt as $433,627.00, which in my opinion, results in a $10,252.00 shortfall and I believe we have experience with debt numbers not being correct, as in a budget not balanced, nor correct.
Jeff Bennett
Saturday, April 2, 2016
The upcoming fiscal year (FY2017) Templeton portion of chapter 90 (road) monies is $335,950.00. This information came to me via an email from state senator Gobi.
According to the latest budget versus actual from Templeton Town accountant, last years portion was $338,351.00 with $394,300.93 having been spent. The BVA shows a deficit of $55,949.93. I suggest you attend a selectmen meeting and ask the members of the board about that.
On another note, it was nice to see the Templeton highway dept. spending time and resources on sweeping sand up when they will most likely be putting more sand down this weekend and next week as winter and snow refuse to leave us. A wise spending of taxpayer money, again.
Jeff Bennett
According to the latest budget versus actual from Templeton Town accountant, last years portion was $338,351.00 with $394,300.93 having been spent. The BVA shows a deficit of $55,949.93. I suggest you attend a selectmen meeting and ask the members of the board about that.
On another note, it was nice to see the Templeton highway dept. spending time and resources on sweeping sand up when they will most likely be putting more sand down this weekend and next week as winter and snow refuse to leave us. A wise spending of taxpayer money, again.
Jeff Bennett
Some local information for Templeton taxpayers;
If you look at the table, you see a curious thing, more money spent on a project than what was appropriated. This is just one more example why I always fought to have one entity overseeing this project, the board of selectmen. Taxpayers do not need nor should they be asked to keep up with multiple entities for a Town building project.
If you look at the table, you see a curious thing, more money spent on a project than what was appropriated. This is just one more example why I always fought to have one entity overseeing this project, the board of selectmen. Taxpayers do not need nor should they be asked to keep up with multiple entities for a Town building project.
List of Projects for the District are as follows:
| School name | MSBAID | Project Type | Project Phase | Total Project Budget | Reimbursement Rate | Estimated Building Completion Date | MSBA Amt Paid(to Date) | Estimated MSBA Payment Amt Remaining | Anticipated MSBA Investment Amt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narragansett Middle | 201107200305G | Green Repair | Final Audit Approved | $1,144,511 | 59.84 % | $663,544 | $663,544 | ||
| Phillipston Memorial | 201107200003G | Green Repair | Final Audit Approved | $161,232 | 59.84 % | $78,095 | $81,401 | ||
| Templeton Center School | 200807200020 | Core Program | Design Development | $550,000 | 59.84 % | $536,174 | $92,146 | $628,320 |
Thursday, March 31, 2016
One idea to fund a cop. . . .
This may not be a popular idea but I believe it is one way to fund an officer if there is a real safety issue involving police officers and citizens. It was stated at the most recent selectmen meeting that there is a sum of money, $47,000.00 unallocated at this time. On line 77 on the budget draft for FY17, there is a $49,000.00 figure for salary adjustment for the selectmen office, most of that figure to make Holly Young assistant town administrator. There is also a raise being sought by the chief of police in an amount of $9500.00. There is a figure of $50,000.00 for the Town emergency fund under control of the Advisory Board. There is a combination of money to make funds available to hire another police officer. Take 40 thousand from unallocated funds, take the 95 hundred dollars from police chief raise, take the 49 thousand from salary adjustment/upgrades and if needed, take some from the emergency fund and you quickly have a dollar figure available to hire a police officer.
I do not believe current members of the board of selectmen have the will to do these things needed to bring funds forward so as to be able to pay for another police officer. My opinion is if they do not have the will to do this, then they are against the safety of the officers and the public of the Town of Templeton. In the future, Phillipston must pay more than 57 thousand dollars for dispatch. When you consume or use half of the pie, you must pay for half the pie. The selectmen should do what is necessary for the benefit of the whole ship rather than popular or personal small compartments. What is best for the financial welfare of the entire Town and yes, you will make some unhappy, but that is democracy in work. as anyone can see from the examples above, the money is there, it just needs to be applied in a way so as to be able to fund what is truly needed, a police officer, rather than what is wanted, an assistant Town administrator.
Jeff Bennett
This may not be a popular idea but I believe it is one way to fund an officer if there is a real safety issue involving police officers and citizens. It was stated at the most recent selectmen meeting that there is a sum of money, $47,000.00 unallocated at this time. On line 77 on the budget draft for FY17, there is a $49,000.00 figure for salary adjustment for the selectmen office, most of that figure to make Holly Young assistant town administrator. There is also a raise being sought by the chief of police in an amount of $9500.00. There is a figure of $50,000.00 for the Town emergency fund under control of the Advisory Board. There is a combination of money to make funds available to hire another police officer. Take 40 thousand from unallocated funds, take the 95 hundred dollars from police chief raise, take the 49 thousand from salary adjustment/upgrades and if needed, take some from the emergency fund and you quickly have a dollar figure available to hire a police officer.
I do not believe current members of the board of selectmen have the will to do these things needed to bring funds forward so as to be able to pay for another police officer. My opinion is if they do not have the will to do this, then they are against the safety of the officers and the public of the Town of Templeton. In the future, Phillipston must pay more than 57 thousand dollars for dispatch. When you consume or use half of the pie, you must pay for half the pie. The selectmen should do what is necessary for the benefit of the whole ship rather than popular or personal small compartments. What is best for the financial welfare of the entire Town and yes, you will make some unhappy, but that is democracy in work. as anyone can see from the examples above, the money is there, it just needs to be applied in a way so as to be able to fund what is truly needed, a police officer, rather than what is wanted, an assistant Town administrator.
Jeff Bennett
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Funding the Operation of Templeton, Town of.
It is apparent that there is not enough money to operate the Town of Templeton, at least that is the impression I left the selectmen meeting with.
Examples; Police Chief stated there is not enough money to give me what I want/need so I will pass on what funds are available.
Fire Chief stated he had people working ambulance shifts for free so the shifts would be covered.
So my take from that is the Ambulance receipts account really does not fully fund the ambulance service. There is no money to buy replacement Scott air packs which are the "tanks" fire fighters wear when inside a building engulfed in smoke, they are an emergency fresh air source.
Remember too, that Templeton Police Chief wants to start a canine program so we will have expense of at least one dog with all the expense, and veterinarian service is as expensive as a people doctor.
Selectmen need to make some calls and give directives on Town spending, not popular or nice but it appears to be needed. If we are going to create a position of assistant Town Administrator then we should be able to fund a police officer, in my opinion.
Jeff Bennett
It is apparent that there is not enough money to operate the Town of Templeton, at least that is the impression I left the selectmen meeting with.
Examples; Police Chief stated there is not enough money to give me what I want/need so I will pass on what funds are available.
Fire Chief stated he had people working ambulance shifts for free so the shifts would be covered.
So my take from that is the Ambulance receipts account really does not fully fund the ambulance service. There is no money to buy replacement Scott air packs which are the "tanks" fire fighters wear when inside a building engulfed in smoke, they are an emergency fresh air source.
Remember too, that Templeton Police Chief wants to start a canine program so we will have expense of at least one dog with all the expense, and veterinarian service is as expensive as a people doctor.
Selectmen need to make some calls and give directives on Town spending, not popular or nice but it appears to be needed. If we are going to create a position of assistant Town Administrator then we should be able to fund a police officer, in my opinion.
Jeff Bennett
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