all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

ROLE OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:

The Board is responsible for policy development, review for compliance. The Board works with the Town Administrator on policy formulation.

The Board is responsible for supervising all departments of the general government other than school organizations of the town and the region. This responsibility is delegated to the Town Administrator and the Board will refrain from involvement in day to day operations. Concerns and questions about operation of departments, and suggestions for improvements should be addressed to the Town Administrator. The responsibility for addressing these issues is thus carried out through the Town Administrator. Selectmen may be called upon to resolve disputes that are unable to be resolved on the staff level. The Selectmen may follow up on concerns or issues addressing these approved policies.

REMOTE PARTICIPATION; As previously voted by the BOS, remote participation will follow the guidance presented within the Open Meeting Law Guide from the Attorney General. Reasons for remote participation are personal illness, personal disability, emergencies, military service or geographical distance such as private sector employment situations.

ROLE OF THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR:

The Board appoints a Town Administrator who functions as the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer. The primary duties of the Town Administrator shall be the day-to-day administration of the general government as outlined in the position’s job description. The Town Administrator shall also assist and work under the direction of the Selectmen in the formulation of policy. The Town Administrator must maintain a close working relationship with all members of the Board. He/she shall regularly brief the Board on all important issues.


As a selectmen, one of the things I did was to put together/gather the information that eventually became the local written policy or guidance for the Board of Selectmen. This policy was brought to the selectmen by a selectmen, it was discussed by the selectmen and was voted on and accepted by selectmen. It did not go to town meeting, it did not go to the Advisory Committee, it did not go to the planning board. The policies and procedures for selectmen was handled completely by selectmen. Now if the current selectmen would read those pages and follow them or change them, perhaps there would be no more criticism of the selectmen for failing to follow their own procedures. GTH (get the hint), follow the policy that was adopted by the Board of Selectmen, have some respect for the office and set the example, especially if you as a sitting selectmen are going to write, vote and enact other policies that you, a selectmen, will expect others to follow.

There is a policy and procedure document in place, created and voted on by selectmen, for selectmen for guidance, that did not end simply with another election cycle. One of the items in that policy has to do with the agenda is a Town Administrator report. The agenda is the responsibility of the chairman. With that item regularly missing from the agenda and with it still being within the policy and procedure document for the selectmen, it is possible for the criticism of the selectmen for failing to follow their own policies even as they move on with writing more policies that they presumably expect others to follow.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee 

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: July 27, 2017
CC: All Departments

Important Notice To All Departments 

If you have procurement questions, you are urged to consult with this Office ASAP. 

(That would be the office that split contracts in order to avoid bids and such)

(That is included in the management letter from the auditors)

It is imperative that all Town Departments understand that any contract which is entered into that is not in compliance with the statute “… shall not be valid, and the governmental body shall make no payment under such contract.” (MGL Ch. 30B §17). I think we can all agree that we certainly do not ever want to see the Town in such a position. 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: Working w/Kelli, we finalized a formal monthly reconciliation report we will use moving forward. We met w/Kent to work on some changes to their accounting codes which will make this monthly reconciliation workable across the full range of our funds. Review commenced of the applications for the several recently posted jobs. I reviewed specifications for our Sr. Center bid and have advised of changes needed to comply w/statute. Hopefully this can be out to bid w/in two weeks. I have learned of an “emergency” procurement and am working to ensure a measure of compliance with the statute. Kelli ran a year end summary of the total payments made to all of our vendors. This can form the basis for the discussion on formalizing a more localized Procurement Policy. This is critical to getting better compliance with Ch. 30B.


Highway Department: The crew observed a piece of specialty equipment by Johnston on Thursday. The item was a Sweeper combination catch basin cleaner. The new technology was great to see and the combo of uses was especially intriguing. Then on Friday we visited the Gardner DPW to see their sign making facility and discuss stencil materials that are longer lasting. The people @ Gardner DPW were very informative and supportive. We will use many new ideas going forward into FY2019 as for FY2018, the materials have been purchased and work already begun using the other method. Completed sweeping for the year and will begin road side trimming. Crosswalk and stop line painting is in-process and will continue as weather permits. The mechanic had to address some emergency issues with larger equipment as well as work on one of the COA vehicles.

(Perhaps Templeton will follow Gardner's lead on pot holes as well)

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.

Reading a newspaper s few days ago, I noticed there may not be a clear easy path to a shared Town Administrator. The two articles seemed to be telling two different stories, I mean it is the Gardner News, so anything is possible, but the subject seemed to be a tad murky. If the selectmen cannot seal the deal and the present part-time Town Administrator departs, perhaps there is a Templeton department head in place who could handle the job; that would be Templeton Municipal Light department manager John Driscoll. Since they do things right over there and it is a well managed department, seems like a logical question/consideration. Of course, that is a decision up to the selectmen.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.




Reading an article in today's Gardner News causes me to ponder a question; If a member of the Gardner City Council were to write a letter to the editor on a subject that is or has been before them, would that constitute an open meeting law violation? I mean it is possible and plausible that other city council members could read the article which may contain the writers opinion. According to that article, "the expression of an opinion on matters within the body's jurisdiction to a quorum of a public body is a deliberation, even if no other public body member responds." That could be read to mean, if a councilor writes a letter to the editor, no other councilor may read the newspaper. Even if they have a yearly subscription. I suppose the same could be said for face book as well. Blogs, or any online medium. What if a councilor does a radio show and expresses an opinion on a matter before the council or has been before the council? Would the above mean that anyone who serves by appointment, election or volunteer may not read face book, read a blog, read a newspaper or listen to a local radio station for fear they might violate the law. I have to wonder if this was the intent of the Open Meeting Law to begin with? I thought I read somewhere the "new" law was to promote open governance and stop back room deals. It was suppose to be about transparency, but I wonder if the article may really center around those who were elected and now do not wish to be questioned or challenged or heaven forbid, be called names.  I would offer up an opinion, but someone may find that offensive and report me to the thought police. I mean, I know they read this. To bad Templeton does not have a full time Town Administrator, of course the selectmen would actually have to spend time on that one, you know at their meetings.

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.



Shame on them selectmen:

• 48 hours ahead. Meetings cannot be “continued” in order to avoid additional posting. OML 2011-34

I wonder if that includes recess the meeting?

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett

all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.





I think the selectmen are cooking spaghetti, they keep throwing it against the wall until it sticks and then they will believe it is done! A message for the chair, as in the big cheese, center city; this ain't the army, I am not going anywhere and neither is this blog.

I am wondering when the selectmen will listen to the people, they voted for a town administrator. The DOR/DLS has said the town needs a full time professional, the auditors said the same thing. Something about transient management and how it creates problems. Hopefully the people in Winchendon will give their selectmen the message, keep our town manager in town full time. Then perhaps the selectmen will put their time to something constructive and do what the people told them to do,what the auditors said needed to happen, what the DOR/DLS has said the town needs to do, hire a full time professional to manage the town.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed are those of Jeff Bennett and do not represent any other member of the Advisory Committee.

Blast from the past:

On Apr 13, 2016, at 6:43 AM, Jeff <jpb01468@comcast.net> wrote:

I am a pain in the ass and an equal opportunity call it as I see it and not politically correct. I try everything I can think of to get people involved. Facts, figures, laughs or piss em off. It does not always work but I keep trying. As I posted, I am going to try to get some people's attention on important things.
  Thanks for responding, as you are the only one (selectmen) to do so. and now I have some more information.

Bennett
Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 13, 2016, at 3:14 AM, Diane Haley Brooks <1tuesdaygirl@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,

Good for you starting a blog to make citizens aware of what's happening.  I was researching a project and just happened to see this and I don't know why it came up so I was reading and came across this:

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

Posted by Jeff Benn

I would rather you have a conversation with me.  I don't read the newspaper or the blog and if I do it's because I want to be sure I am seeing all sides of a story.  I could care less if my name is in the paper and what I am quoted as saying as Tara is not one to quote or even get a story right.

I am not asleep at the wheel and I do my best to pay attention.  I try to have my head wrapped around all I can to make informed decisions. Again, I am one of the only board members that tries to go to all I can.  I will always be in favor of the school as it's going to build our community back up over time and that is a fact as I can see it happening in Athol and part of that is due to the mall. 

I am also one of the only board members that is truly connected to our community, has an amazing relationship with employees and department heads, and help in every area I can.  I wish I had more time to devote, but I don't.  

I lived on South Road and it was a speed trap.  Have you ever looked at things many times and all of a sudden something dawns on your once you see it again and BAM you go...oh my what about this.  Well, I take time to process things and that is how I am.

I really do appreciate all sides of a story and all sides of an argument.  I like to hear from the residents and I would rather be mentored than cut down.  

I don't normally respond to negativity but I wish we would work toward working together and not be portrayed in that light.  I would never do that to anyone.

I will do my best to continue to learn all I can, be involved and speak up when I feel it is needed even if my questions seem to late, to little or to lax.

I take the needs of this town seriously.

Thank you Jeff.

Diane Haley Brooks, Realtor Jackie Leger Real Estate
Phone: 978-630-3600  Mobile: 978-430-2751  Website: www.jackielegerrealestate.com  Address: 362 Elm Street, Gardner MA 01440	posted by Jeff Bennett