Why are all of the Templeton Insurance Advisory Committee meetings held in the mornings rather than evenings when most people could attend the open meetings if they wished. Things such as health insurance cost to employees and to taxpayers are discussed at these meetings, so why hold them in the early morning when most people are at work? Maybe Dave Smart can answer that question.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Interesting things to check out, but on face value:

for FY18 selectmen want to raise $227,605. for the Overlay (abatements & Exemptions)

in FY17 $175,551.94 (Pg 2 of Recap) was raised. 

If you look at the OL1 (Overlay page) from the FY17 Recap the overlay balance from previous years is $119,929.92 

the overlay used for FY2014 - $112,859.66

                                 FY2015 - $104,595.61

                                 FY2016 -  $98,630.43

                           3yr Total          $316,085.70     avg = $105,361.90

The only pending ATB case appears to be Verizon for which per the ATB will be $10,409.00

So my point is; There shouldl be about $90,000. left over from previous years after Verizon is paid.

Possible, there will be at least $90,000.00 left over after FY17 and $110,000.00 after FY18 

Total $290,000.00 

Now as you know none of this money cannot be moved to the Overlay Surplus account without a Board of Assessors vote and then can be used for what ever is voted at town meeting.

Why would the selectmen be "stock piling" money this way? 

inquiring minds wish to know if there is a trail to follow here, as in, "follow the money."

posted by Jeff Bennett

 

Templeton Municipal Light Department PILOT (so called)

page 19 of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget book

Payment of Town's electric bills* . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . $24,453.00
Payment of Town's Muni & street light bills* . . . . . .  . .$17,808.00
Purchase Fire dept. SCBA units (15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000.00
Purchase DPW's lawnmowers (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,000.00
Purchase new dump truck body for DPW . . . . . . . . . .$10,000.00

Total payment from light dept. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  $81,261.00



* - previously agreed to pay for these items.

Voted on by the Templeton Municipal Light commissioners on March 8, 2017.

Note: The $10,000.00 for a new dump truck body is only part of the reported $27,500.00 listed as the total cost for this item. The rest of the money will come from taxation according the book.

Note: I did not even have to ask directions to the light department for this information.


posted by Jeff  Bennett

Section 16: Appropriation, advisory or finance committees; appointment; tenure; powers and duties

Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election.

In every town having a committee appointed under authority of this section, such committee, or the selectmen if authorized by a by-law of the town, and, in any town not having such a committee, the selectmen, shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting.

Town meeting, May 12, 1992 - article 17 "On a motion duly made and seconded, the town voted to fix the compensation for all elected and appointed officers of the town. . ."

Chairman Advisory Committee                        $169.00

Templeton General by-laws Article IV Advisory Committee

Section 6: It shall be the duty of the Advisory Committee to make an annual report of its doings, with recommendations relative to financial matters and the conduct of town business, to be contained in the annual town report.

Sections 1-4, 5, 6 passed 3-5-51. So, the Advisory Committee has been so named since 1951 in the records of the Town's annual town meeting and since by-laws are approved by the attorney general of the commonwealth, it seems that if in the annual town reports, it has Advisory Board, the annual town reports appear to be incorrect.  Is that an insignificant item? Does it matter if the committee is referenced incorrectly in the annual reports and correctly in the official record of the town's legislative body? (town meeting)  What does it say if said committee refers to itself in the wrong name while trying to advise town meeting on financial matters and giving them a report that the committee says is accurate and reflects factual information if they cannot even get their name correct, that seems to be the Advisory Committee within state law and the town's own by-laws dating back to 1951.

I wonder what the secretary of state and the attorney general's office would think or say if the board of selectmen began (or continued) to call themselves the superior board and put that in the town annual report.  "this by-law change submitted by the superior board and it was sent off to the attorney general for approval. Would that term fly? Would people let that term fly/ So why is it different for the Advisory Committee. Perhaps a letter to the attorney general's office and the secretary of state with that question; Does it matter what the advisory committee is called? Advisory Board or Advisory Committee.

Personally, I think it goes to credibility, but I could be wrong.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Templeton highway department looks for $83,500.00 for three pieces of equipment.

Dump body for 1984 truck                   - $27,500.00
Dump body w/sander for 1994 truck    - $41,000.00
Dump body for 1975 catch basin truck - $15,000.00

Those items are to go to capital planning committee.

Three highway employees cost taxpayers $1,226.00 for boots, jackets and shirts. One employee cost taxpayers $730.00 for a cell phone.

So, the small items can quickly add up to thousands of dollars and should be discussed and available for all to see where their money goes.





posted by Jeff Bennett

By Craig S. Semon
Telegram & Gazette Staff 

BROOKFIELD - A town employee known for criticizing town officials on a large sign on Route 9 has been reprimanded for "inappropriate behavior."

Advisory Committee Chairman John David Holdcraft waived his right Tuesday night to an executive session, to discuss discipline or dismissal and allowed the session to be open to the public.

"With one condition," Mr. Holdcraft said, "that the truth gets told by the one who's bringing this to the board. That would be you, (Selectman) Clarence (R. Snyder III) ... Let the town people see the nonsense and where our money's being wasted."

The so called town employee is a member of the Advisory Committee and in Brookfield, according to their town website, members of the Advisory Committee are appointed by the Board of selectmen. So, in my opinion, the selectmen in Brookfield are the same as the selectmen in Templeton. They do not like, do not want and will not stand for any appointees speaking badly of or criticizing the selectmen. In Templeton, there is at least one selectmen, and probably three who wish to punish one Templeton resident and town employee who told the Templeton selectmen "you suck." That employee may face being told to present a public apology, no more speaking at selectmen meetings and may even be terminated in one way or another. One such way would be by a budget cut. Of course, all of these selectmen must be aware of measures this employee could take, such as legal action, filing a complaint with the very liberal and anti Town state entity called MCAD - Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. All of these current selectmen attended a training session presented by people from MCAD and I know this because I also attended that training session.

Unlike Brookfield, members of the Templeton Advisory Committee are appointed initially by the Town Meeting Moderator. These current group of selectmen also ignore the Templeton Town by-laws that state the Advisory Committee shall have access to all records and books concerning finance and there are emails that prove this and yes, I have them. In fact, there is at least one selectmen in Templeton who would like to change or add a by-law in Templeton that woulld allow selectmen to "punish" any member of the Advisory Committee who "acts badly" as the conversation went, "if I act or do something badly, I can get fired' I pointed out that with regards to any elected person, you could be recalled but that procedure does not guarantee you would be removed or the recall would actually take place. My theory is there are some current members of the board of selectmen who do not want anyone to question them, criticize them or write any opinions about them. It is also my opinion that I am probably on the top of that list of people whom the selectmen would like to quiet or at least take out of the information loop. 

Recent information put forth by this current group of selectmen concerning the new elementary school funding, the fiscal 2017 town budget and even simple appointments show that the selectmen not only need questioning, they need to answer those questions.That is the very basis for a real democracy and a democratic form of good, open and transparent government.

posted by Jeff Bennett 

The following information was taken from the website of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Why is this information under Narragansett Regional School District if this is a Town of Templeton project? Is this why information is hard to come by from the Templeton Town website and Town offices?

posted by Jeff Bennett

Notice on MSBA Project Information

The MSBA updates the project information on the MSBA website on a regular basis; however, due to timing issues or other circumstances, there may be instances where the most up-to-date information does not yet appear. If you have questions or concerns about any of the project information, please contact the MSBA.
The Estimated MSBA Payment Amount Remaining is the maximum amount of funding that the District may still receive from the MSBA for the Project. The actual amount paid by the MSBA may equal an amount less than this estimated amount, as determined by an audit conducted by the MSBA.

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	$47,563,184	63.11 %		$1,824,491	$21,104,406	$28,419,565