Squeaky Wheel gets the grease as the saying goes.

Before reading the following, consider this:
Special town meeting, October 20, 2016 - article 2: FY2017 operating budget supplement

"On a motion duly made & seconded the town voted to amend the 2017 annual town budget as voted in article 4 at the annual town meeting to add the sum of eighty seven thousand five hundred one dollars and no cents to the long term debt service line of that budget (account # 100-710-700-59-5910-0000) and further to transfer said sum from the stabilization fund to pay for the foregoing.

defeated at 7:56 by hand count requested by seven or more voters Yes 237 / No 226??

That is what the report states on the Templeton Town web site via town clerk.

A case against that transfer was made by the Advisory Committee, I spoke specifically against it, there being such a small amount of funds in those three funds (approximately $142,000.00, as presented by the town accountant) I am glad the transfer was defeated especially now after the audits which seems to show a totally different and lower amount in the funds???

Anyone else wish the selectmen had stuck with the slower more detailed audit in process before the switch to the faster audits? But then when your agenda is get a school project online regardless of the costs or consequences, what else would you expect. Perhaps that is why the accountant did not wish to release the information on the stabilization funds, just my thought.

I know, ask the selectmen, as they now provide answers when asked, according to their spokesperson.

Good Day:

Per your request; the balances we now show, as a result of the audit(s) for the several stabilization funds are:

General Stabilization        $95,334.28

Pajari Stabilization              $9,263.90

Capital Stabilization            $1,958.95

Total                                  $106,557.13

Many Thanks

Carter Terenzini

Interim Town Administrator

Town of Templeton

160 Patriots Road

East Templeton, MA 01438

(978) 894-2753

posted by Jeff Bennett

Is a code of conduct a priority for the Templeton Board of Selectmen at this time?

Consider what is already on paper, in front of them, within the Policies and Procedures for the Board of Selectmen, which were discussed in part at last night's "workshop" meeting.

A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values and the standards to which the professional is held.

A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the social norms and rules and responsibilities of, or proper practices for, an individual, party or organization. Related concepts include ethical, honor, moral codes and religious laws.


The following can be found on the Town website under Boards and Committees, Board of Selectmen -Town of Templeton policies.

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.

I leave to you if the above covers both ethical behavior and conduct in a responsible manner.

posted by Jeff Bennett

MMA Headlines:


City and town officials across the Commonwealth rely on the MMA’s annual Massachusetts Municipal Directory as a comprehensive resource for connecting with colleagues.
 
The MMA is currently soliciting updates from municipalities for the 2017-2018 edition.
 
As of May 19, 103 communities had updated their directory information using the convenient online tool.
 
Emails are being sent to chief municipal officials in each community, including a link to the tool and a username and password. The email has been sent to all cities. Towns receive the email shortly after their annual election


Storm Water Management:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “MS4” permit, which will regulate stormwater in more than 250 municipalities in Massachusetts, will take effect on July 1, but the first action item for municipalities to comply is due in September.
 
Communities must prepare and file their Notice of Intent for permit coverage within 90 days, or by Sept. 29. A Notice of Intent template and instructions are available on the EPA’s website.
 
The final general permit for stormwater discharges from small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems in Massachusetts was published in the Federal Register in April of 2016.
 
Under the MS4 permit, municipalities must develop, implement and enforce a stormwater management program that controls pollutants to the maximum extent practicable, protects water quality, and satisfies appropriate requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. The MS4 permit requires implementation of six minimum control measures.
 
Updated permit requirements include the need to address identified water quality problems, including stormwater discharges to water bodies with approved total maximum daily loads for bacteria, phosphorus and nitrogen.
 
In addition to filing a Notice of Intent, communities must begin meeting a number of permit requirements within the first year – or prior to June 30, 2018. These requirements include catch basin cleaning, street sweeping, development of procedures for winter road maintenance, submission of a stormwater management plan, illicit discharge detection and elimination procedures, and creation of a procedure for construction site inspection.


Federal Health Care: A tax that might affect you!

The House bill would also retain the ACA’s Cadillac tax, which was designed to be the primary funding mechanism for the ACA to pay for some of the more costly policy changes.
 
The Cadillac tax is a 40 percent annual excise on individual health insurance plans valued above $10,800 and family plans valued above $29,500. The tax was originally due to go into effect in 2018, but the start date was pushed back to 2020. With the arrival of the Trump administration, however, there was uncertainty about the fate of the tax.
 
The House bill would delay implementation of the Cadillac tax until 2025 – the latest date the tax could be implemented and still count as a revenue source for the proposed bill. The Senate has yet to take up its own health care bill, but it appears increasingly likely the Cadillac tax is here to stay.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Selectmen workshop and financial news.

About 30 minutes spent discussing a policy to deal with the approximate 30 "bad" checks per year written to the town to pay various bills. Much of the time was spent on do we collect phone numbers, drivers license numbers etc.  Social security numbers already off the table. Apparently if you mail in your payment, you would not be subject to this as no one could ask for the information before you mail in your payment. Another item was what if a person does not have a drivers license?

On the policy and procedures item, at least one member of the select board, the chairman, wanted to change a few words on the selectmen policies & procedures so we do not get banged every time we act! Fail to follow the procedures and it gets pointed out so lets change the words so it is harder to "bang them". I would think it easier to just follow the procedures as I thought that was the whole idea behind all of the policy writing to begin with. One of the "hangups" was "the board should only go into executive session with the whole board present" The question or position was what if someone is out sick and we have a pressing issue, the government cannot stop because of one person. I think if you look at the words, should only, as not being a directive, such as you must or you shall but rather you should only, more of a good suggestion and not a requirement. As in, in most circumstances, the select board should only go into executive session when the full board is present. But whatever, if the policy is hard to follow, just change it "so we do not get banged every time we meet."

On the financial side, I was told the Town accountant refused to give some information on public funds "because every thing ends up on the blog" I take that to mean this blog, but no matter. The important thing is that a town department head, the town accountant is saying no to release of public funds information because, well, it will end up being public information! Perhaps it is time for a policyt on public information! Wait, there is already one, it is called the public records law. I see a very public discussion on this coming soon. Apparently, the accountant said if you want that information, talk to the town administrator. Might be time for some more training for town employees.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Slow news day

TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: June 1, 2017
CC: All Departments ______________________________________________________________________________ Important Notice To All Departments Please remember the last date to submit bills for FY ’17 will be 10 AM on Monday, July 10, 2017.

If you have capital or specialty projects in the FY ’18 budget please be prepared to talk soon about the timelines to get those out to bid. If you’re going to need vacation rollovers, provide them by June 6, 2017, to Carter with employee name, reason needed, and how many hours needed. We are seeking applicants for Veterans Services Officer, Assistant Town Accountant, Administrative Assistant I (ODS), Treasurer/Collector & Seasonal Laborer. Please encourage qualified applicants you may know to consider applying (See Web Site). The following is intended to provide information where a full memo may not have been warranted or supplement the provided information.
Business Meeting or Workshop: n/a
Weekly Report: Busy with BAN processing and miscellaneous office work. Administration & Finance
Town Accountant: Nothing to report this week. (Out of the Office)
Treasurer/Collector: Nothing to report this week.


Assessor: Short week. Tuesday worked on Motor Vehicle Abatements for people coming into the office. Worked on finding plans filed at Worcester Registry of Deeds. Took a webinar with Vadar for Databridge for upcoming preliminary billing. Adjusted property record cards for new Chapter 61 applicants for FY18.


Town Clerk: Entered board and committee information into data base. Started preparing the St. List book. Registered several people to vote via the registry of motor vehicles.


Public Works Highway Department: Worked with the Bay State roads group and established a connection for the Highway and Cemetery departments to be involved in a program called “listserve”. List serve allows us to reach out to other towns for help with questions concerning roadwork , Parks & Recreation and cemetery as well as post job opportunities. Continued sweeping, now on Dudley – Barre Road area. Pot hole patching on Royalston Rd. Grading work was done on 2 dirt roads, Cook Rd. and Haskel Rd, to smooth the surface and evaluate the roads. 2 Driveway permits were issued. Attended Chipper training in a class sponsored by Baystate Roads. The mechanic performed 3 Preventative maintenance and inspections on 1 Cruiser ,1 CD5 (Cemetery) and the Meals on Wheels vehicle. H6 (Street Sweeper) was repaired by an outside source for AC troubles.

Cemetery & Parks: Completed the preparation for Memorial Day. Assisted in one burial @ Greenlawn Cemetery. Removed trash from barrels @ Gilman-Waite, as well as all common areas and cemeteries. Adjusted Flags according to the direct given by the Governor. Addressed many fallen branches on Thursday & Friday after heavy winds. Mowed Gilman – Waite softball field, Baldwinville Common, Greenlawn Cemetery and the Senior Center. Attended Chipper training in a class sponsored by Baystate Roads. The JCB backhoe was repaired by a mobile AC company to restore the cooling.


posted by Jeff Bennett

A slow news day in Templeton

Templeton's newest selectmen has so far as I can see has failed to deliver! At a meeting of the Templeton Advisory Committee discussion came up concerning the school project and a budget versus actual (so called) and selectmen Cameron Fortes stated he had also looked into that and he had the information. He was asked if he could forward that information the the Advisory Committee and he stated he would. That was two weeks ago and no information yet. So much for the contention from the spokesperson of Templeton highway and the select board, Dave Smart (in my opinion) on how this board delivers on questions.

Also notice that at tonight's selectmen meeting, there is a topic on updating selectmen policies and procedures. Interesting to see what additions or deletions come about. Hopefully there will be a full board present tonight so they do not go against their own policies, again!

Potholes on Barre Road must be multiplying as I drove that road yesterday and saw more than a few (a few being three or more) on a road that was supposedly already had its pot holes patched. Perhaps they ran out of material or the 7 hour work day is not enough time to complete the tasks.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Some selectmen meetings now called "Workshop" meetings. This seems to imply, in my opinion, that these meetings will only involve discussion rather than action. Do not assume that, if interested in your business, please attend.

Templeton Board of Selectmen Workshop Meeting Town Hall, 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton Monday, June 5, 2017, 6:30 p.m. Agenda 1. Call the Meeting to Order 2. Scholarship Committee Guidelines 3. Cable TV License Renewal 4. Electronic & Check Policy 5. Financial Policies Manual – Table of Contents Review 6. Management Letter & Audit – Follow-Up Discussion 7. FY ’17 Budget Transfers (If Any) 8. Updating Policies & Procedures of Board of Selectmen 9. Town Service Lapel Pin & Policy 10. General Discussion 11. Potential Request for Executive Session ~ Per M.G.L. c.30A, Sec. 21.2, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel. 12. Adjournment The listing of Agenda items is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent it is permitted by law. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Scheduled By:	Holly Young
Posted At:	Jun 1, 2017 4:14 PM EDT
Last Modified:	Jun 1, 2017 4:14 PM EDT
Minutes:	Minutes are not on record with the Town Clerk's office

posted by Jeff Bennett