Templeton Board of Selectmen Town Hall,
160 Patriots Road, East Templeton
Monday, April 25, 2016, 6:30 p.m.
Agenda 6:30 P.M. Call to Order Pledge
Town Administrator Report
Minutes~ 4.11.16
Discuss Insurance Advisory Committee
Appointments
Peaceful Pines License
Dr. Hemman~Update on Templeton Center School Closing & Moving
Vote on Selectmen’s Office Job Descriptions
Vote on Personnel Policy
Bud Chase~Update on Road Projects
Action on Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Action on Possible Show Cause Hearing~Liquor License Policy

Who are they appointing and to what committee or position?

In past meetings, job descriptions have included assistant town administrator with a pay increase. The important thing to do is not look for and hire a full time administrator but grow government size and create a larger administration then maybe hire a full time administrator. Makes sense to me, get an assistant then get their boss rather than the other way around.

Jeff Bennett

The Town Administrator has stated at a few open meetings that the Town Health insurance costs are unsustainable. A different plan was looked at that would cost the Town less but employees did not want it so the current board of selectmen stayed with the more expensive plan. The Town Administrator has not yet shared that with the public to the best of my knowledge. So the cost versus savings remain out of view for now. If I am elected, that will change, as I think residents should have that information, as they pay the bills.

Jeff Bennett

The auditors were in the building this past Wednesday, that is what the Advisory Board was told Wednesday night at their meeting. We were also told that there is a strong possibility of a deficit in the FY2013 books. The board was also told that in FY17, there is/was $509,759.00 of "new money" and of that amount, some $400,000.00 plus has been used up by four items; Health insurance, retirement costs, Monty Tech school district and Narragansett school district. Increase in state aid went to chapter 70 (education).

Jeff Bennett

On April 19, 2016 at 11:00 AM, there was a meeting on the insurance advisory committee and it was scheduled on the meeting calendar on the Town's web site and now it is gone. Yet if you look all the way back to January 1, 2016, all of the meeting schedules are there. Even the cancelled meeting of the insurance committee meeting that was posted after the legal posting time is still on the meeting schedule. Is someone trying to erase history? Just another odd item coming from that office these days. Perhaps someone hit the wrong button by mistake. 

 Jeff Bennett

BOARD ETHICS:
 1. A member of the Board of Selectmen, in relation to his or her community should:

      A. Realize that his or her basic function is to make policy, with administration delegated to the                Town Administrator.

      B. Realize that he or she is one of a team and should abide by all board decisions once they are                made.

      C. Be well informed concerning the duties of a board member on both local and state levels.

       D. Remember that he or she represents the entire community at all times.

       E. Accept the office of Selectmen as a means of unselfish service, not benefit personally
            or politically from his or her board or outside activities.

       F. In all appointments, avoid political patronage by judging all candidates on merit,
          experience and qualifications only.

       G. Abide by the ethics established by the state and not use the position to obtain inside
            information on matters which may benefit someone personally.

 2. A member of the Board of Selectmen, in their relations with administrative officers of the Town
     should:
      A. Endeavor to establish sound, clearly defined policies that will direct and support the
           administration for the benefit of the people of the community.
         
      B. Recognize and support the administrative chain of command and refuse to act on complaints as
           an individual outside the administration.
         
      C. Give the Town Administrator full responsibility for discharging his or her disposition and
           solution.
       
 3. A member of the Board of Selectmen, in his or her relations with fellow board members, should:

          A. Recognize that action at official legal meetings is binding and that he or she alone cannot
               bind the board outside of such meetings

.      B. Uphold the intent of executive session and respect the privileged communications that exists
            in executive session.
       C. Make decisions only after all facts on an issue have been presented and discussed.
       D. Treat with respect the rights of all members of the board despite differences of opinion.
            from the selectmen policies and procedures
Jeff Bennett

this is from the Policies and Procedures document that is on the town web site in the selectmen section:

TOWN MEETINGS:
 1. Annual Town Meeting: There shall be an Annual Town Meeting in May each year for the consideration of all Town business which is to be posted properly prior to the meeting. The Annual Town Meeting Warrant is the Selectmen’s by statute. The Selectmen may insert articles in the warrant; within the time frame the warrant is open, on their own initiative or by written petition signed by the proper number of registered voters for the Annual Town Meeting.

 2. Special Town Meeting: The Selectmen will call a Special Town Meeting when deferment of the particular matter (s) proposed for inclusion on the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting will not serve the interest of the Town. The Selectmen must call a Special Town Meeting if they receive a written request, signed by at least 200 hundred registered voters of Templeton. It is the practice of the Town of Templeton to address major issues at the Annual Town Meeting versus a Special Town Meeting.

 3. Notwithstanding the above, in the interest of economy of operations and imposition on the taxpayers and voters, the Selectmen shall strive to limit the calling of Special Town Meetings to the minimum necessary as is otherwise in the Town’s best interest. In determining whether to call a Special Town Meeting, the Selectmen may consult with other Town Committees, Boards, Commissions, staff and other Officials as is appropriate. It is advisable to contact the Town Moderator and Town Council for consultation prior to each Town Meeting.

Jeff Bennett

At tonight's meeting of the Advisory Board, Wednesday, April 20, 2016, the Town Administrator was asked about the large jump in dispatch costs. Part of his answer was that for many years the E 911 grant was used to supplement salaries while the salary appropriation was used for other purposes and that was not correct. The Town Administrator stated that was against the rules and it had to be stopped. He stated that the current chief of police said the Town needed to ween itself off of this money. So perhaps a certain selectmen was not so wrong after all and it was not a bad idea to be looking at the dispatch budget, costs and the E 911 grant. Apparently it does costs more than $37,000.00 to run dispatch.

Jeff Bennett