So a town employee says I am uninformed because they claim the information is wrong. Well, that is the information taken from the "budget book" handed out at a selectmen meeting and used during the budget process. Since the selectmen are the ones who eventually approve the health insurance costs that taxpayers pay for, that wold seem to indicate the selectmen are uninformed and that the information they put forward is wrong.
I believe the important numbers are the 75/25 split for health insurance costs and the fact that yearly increases are reaching double digit numbers. If health insurance increases by 13% and Town revenue from property taxes can only increase by 2 1/2% without a town approved override, I do not think you have to be a math genius to figure out that scenario cannot continue for long without something changing. Perhaps the split should change with the increase in costs. A 13% increase in insurance costs is met with a 13% change in the split, until you get to the 50/50 split. I believe the law is that the town has to pay at least 50% of the costs.
How qualified does one have to be to be hired for Templeton highway? Have a license/CDL class B, not on drugs, able to show up on time.
What happened to all the bluster about big changes coming to Advisory Committee/ Resignations, your outta here, etc, etc. Appears that is all it was, bluster and bull shit! Maybe that is why the selectmen are having a retreat at a fire station!
The yearly costs for health insurance are not on the Town budget versus actual document. Why not? There is no accounting of OPEB funds on the budget versus actual documents. Why not? Those questions have been asked and no answers provided to date, a week so far without answers, so why would any other questions be asked concerning other things when those have not been answered.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
So, there was an open meeting law complaint dropped off at Town hall yesterday. The Town Clerk and the selectmen office. It is in response to perceived improper posting of executive session meeting of the selectmen.
A question asked of the "Town" concerning the lack of information on two Templeton Town meeting votes involving money for OPEB funding. This item is missing from the monthly or quarterly budget versus actual documents that come from the Town Accountant. Why wolld the accounting of public money for health insurance payments and other benefits not be included in that report?
Apparently the pay scale and generous benefits package offered by the Town of Templeton does not keep people away. Two new employees at the Templeton highway department. Seems like the individual who made a comment about that situation did not or does not nderstand or know how things work, in my opinion.
For example, in the fiscal year 2018 budget book put forth by the selectmen, it shows health insurance costs; it has highway employee dave smart having the plan HMO blue vale plus - family at a monthly cost of $2094.07. According to the book, that is the monthly town cost for that option per employee.That is a 13.30% increase over the last year.
If those kind of increase trends in health insurance alone continue, something has to change. I mean where does the money come from? How long can the shuffle keep going? Time for the cost split to change and the 50/50 number should not be far off.
A question asked of the "Town" concerning the lack of information on two Templeton Town meeting votes involving money for OPEB funding. This item is missing from the monthly or quarterly budget versus actual documents that come from the Town Accountant. Why wolld the accounting of public money for health insurance payments and other benefits not be included in that report?
Apparently the pay scale and generous benefits package offered by the Town of Templeton does not keep people away. Two new employees at the Templeton highway department. Seems like the individual who made a comment about that situation did not or does not nderstand or know how things work, in my opinion.
For example, in the fiscal year 2018 budget book put forth by the selectmen, it shows health insurance costs; it has highway employee dave smart having the plan HMO blue vale plus - family at a monthly cost of $2094.07. According to the book, that is the monthly town cost for that option per employee.That is a 13.30% increase over the last year.
If those kind of increase trends in health insurance alone continue, something has to change. I mean where does the money come from? How long can the shuffle keep going? Time for the cost split to change and the 50/50 number should not be far off.
Friday, August 25, 2017
Selectmen meeting scheduled for Monday, August 28, 2017 has agenda item listed as 4c, open meeting law response from Advisory Committee.
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 24, 2017
CC: All Departments
BoS: Please submit your Annual Retreat Survey to Holly ASAP so we are ready for 09/06.
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:
4. c. The response takes refuge in a defense on the basis of free speech rights and does not acknowledge the issue of a majority of the board viewing or commenting upon matters over which they have domain. That said, it seems the best approach would be a continuation of that expressed by the Board at its last meeting.
4. d. Should any final draft presented to you gain your approval, or – failing that – should you decide to continue negotiations, we will also need to discuss the schedule for Town Hall and any changes to your meeting schedule. This will also impact potential revisions to the Countdown to the FY’19 Budget & Legislative Package. You asked me to consider accelerating the presentation of the FY ’19 revenues (which I can move to your workshop of 10/02 if I am not trying to also present the five-year financial forecasts envisioned in the Draft financial policies). You have also asked me to consider accelerating the review process. I am not at all convinced we can do this by having all departments present and defend on the first workshop of 03/02. First this would be a substantial amount of material for you to have to review in the week between the 02/26 presentation and this workshop. Secondly, I do not believe you could get through all of the departments in the one evening. Therefore, I am going to suggest that we look at adding some meetings in March such that we can target 03/26 as Adoption.
If the selectmen follow the last approach, there will be more name calling and more of the "we are the adults here, etc, etc." Kind of hard to state a quorum of a seven member committee violated open meeting law when only 3 names appear on the complaint. The selectmen appear to be assuming things - again and as the saying sometimes goes; when you assume, you make an ass out of You and me. In my opinion this is more posturing by the selectmen and is aimed at mitigating effectiveness of something covered within Templeton Town by-laws. It also distracts from the fact that in 3 years, the board of selectmen have failed to deliver a Town Administrator, which was a Town Meeting vote. So the almighty "we are elected" ones, the superior board, the "when I was on Advisory, our report was only one page" (when it was actually two /three pages) they cannot get the job done so they need distractions. Remember this past year, the selectmen, the superior board could not get the budget documents out to the Advisory Committee by the date required in the Town's by-laws.
Selectmen failed to follow their own policies and could not take the criticism, the selectmen failed to follow Town by-laws and the selectmen have failed to hire a town administrator. So if the selectmen follow the same routine as their last response to an OML response, they will show just how childish they really are, in my opinion.
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 24, 2017
CC: All Departments
BoS: Please submit your Annual Retreat Survey to Holly ASAP so we are ready for 09/06.
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:
4. c. The response takes refuge in a defense on the basis of free speech rights and does not acknowledge the issue of a majority of the board viewing or commenting upon matters over which they have domain. That said, it seems the best approach would be a continuation of that expressed by the Board at its last meeting.
4. d. Should any final draft presented to you gain your approval, or – failing that – should you decide to continue negotiations, we will also need to discuss the schedule for Town Hall and any changes to your meeting schedule. This will also impact potential revisions to the Countdown to the FY’19 Budget & Legislative Package. You asked me to consider accelerating the presentation of the FY ’19 revenues (which I can move to your workshop of 10/02 if I am not trying to also present the five-year financial forecasts envisioned in the Draft financial policies). You have also asked me to consider accelerating the review process. I am not at all convinced we can do this by having all departments present and defend on the first workshop of 03/02. First this would be a substantial amount of material for you to have to review in the week between the 02/26 presentation and this workshop. Secondly, I do not believe you could get through all of the departments in the one evening. Therefore, I am going to suggest that we look at adding some meetings in March such that we can target 03/26 as Adoption.
If the selectmen follow the last approach, there will be more name calling and more of the "we are the adults here, etc, etc." Kind of hard to state a quorum of a seven member committee violated open meeting law when only 3 names appear on the complaint. The selectmen appear to be assuming things - again and as the saying sometimes goes; when you assume, you make an ass out of You and me. In my opinion this is more posturing by the selectmen and is aimed at mitigating effectiveness of something covered within Templeton Town by-laws. It also distracts from the fact that in 3 years, the board of selectmen have failed to deliver a Town Administrator, which was a Town Meeting vote. So the almighty "we are elected" ones, the superior board, the "when I was on Advisory, our report was only one page" (when it was actually two /three pages) they cannot get the job done so they need distractions. Remember this past year, the selectmen, the superior board could not get the budget documents out to the Advisory Committee by the date required in the Town's by-laws.
Selectmen failed to follow their own policies and could not take the criticism, the selectmen failed to follow Town by-laws and the selectmen have failed to hire a town administrator. So if the selectmen follow the same routine as their last response to an OML response, they will show just how childish they really are, in my opinion.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Your government at work or not at work, for you!
The failure of the board of selectmen to hire a full time experienced Town Administrator
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 17, 2017
CC: All Departments
THE SELECTMEN’S OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY. OPENINGS THE REST OF THE WEEK WILL BE INTERMITTENT AS CARTER’S SCHEDULE PERMITS.
If you have procurement questions, you are urged to consult with this Office ASAP.
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: I worked with the Diane and Keith on the IMA in keeping with a request from the Winchendon representatives to try to move the IMA forward. In keeping with our backup/supplemental plan of 08/14, the Management Fellow position was posted with 15+/- colleges and universities, ICMA, the northern four New England municipal associations, the municipal mangers email blasters, our typical web site postings and the like. Please remember to get me comments on the financial policies ASAP so we can pull them all into the next Draft w/a target of your 09/06 policy setting workshop to finalize them going into budget season. Time was spent seeking additional information on the procurement issue for finalizing the memo for the state. The BAN paperwork is off to the bank and the monies will be in our account(s) shortly.
Administration & Finance:
Town Accountant: Nothing to report this week.
Treasurer/Collector: Nothing to report this week. (Out of the Office)
The failure of the board of selectmen to hire a full time experienced Town Administrator
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 17, 2017
CC: All Departments
THE SELECTMEN’S OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY. OPENINGS THE REST OF THE WEEK WILL BE INTERMITTENT AS CARTER’S SCHEDULE PERMITS.
If you have procurement questions, you are urged to consult with this Office ASAP.
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: I worked with the Diane and Keith on the IMA in keeping with a request from the Winchendon representatives to try to move the IMA forward. In keeping with our backup/supplemental plan of 08/14, the Management Fellow position was posted with 15+/- colleges and universities, ICMA, the northern four New England municipal associations, the municipal mangers email blasters, our typical web site postings and the like. Please remember to get me comments on the financial policies ASAP so we can pull them all into the next Draft w/a target of your 09/06 policy setting workshop to finalize them going into budget season. Time was spent seeking additional information on the procurement issue for finalizing the memo for the state. The BAN paperwork is off to the bank and the monies will be in our account(s) shortly.
Administration & Finance:
Town Accountant: Nothing to report this week.
Treasurer/Collector: Nothing to report this week. (Out of the Office)
From Massachusetts General Laws:
Chapter 268A: CONDUCT OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES;
Section 21A: Members of municipal commission or board; restrictions on appointments to certain positions
Section 21A. Except as hereinafter provided, no member of a municipal commission or board shall be eligible for appointment or election by the members of such commission or board to any office or position under the supervision of such commission or board. No former member of such commission or board shall be so eligible until the expiration of thirty days from the termination of his service as a member of such commission or board.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to a member of a town commission or board, if such appointment or election has first been approved at an annual town meeting of the town.
Does this section apply to the Templeton selectmen being on/serving on or being appointed or voted on by the board of selectmen? Putting themselves on so many committees seem to give undue influence to the selectmen; for instance, two selectmen serving on the elementary school building committee and then those same selectmen voting on that issue. Conflict of interest? A selectmen serving as veteran service officer and receiving pay which is voted on by the board of selectmen. Signing the warrant for town meeting which that selectmen has a financial interest in, conflict of interest law violation? In fact, is serving on any committee that is overseen by the selectmen, with one or more selectmen serving on the committee, is that a violation of the law? Questions that need asking and will be asked. First up, questions about conflict of interest.
Selectmen serving on far to many committees and having way to much interest/influence over them cannot be good for the town. This could be one of the reasons for the change at the VSO position in Templeton. (lack of certification could be another reason) A selectmen stepping away from serving on the veterans oversight board could be the result of this chapter/section of MA law. Question (s) concerning this chapter/section brought to the interim - part time town administrator by member (s) of the Templeton of the community who really care about this Town.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
While watching the selectmen meeting of August 14, 2017, I heard several interesting items;
There is an amount of "cash" not yet accounted for, $9,400.00.
Carter Terenzini stated the town will have these issues for a few years, but I thought with the audits completed, the town now has good clean numbers. What happened? Did someone mispeak?
There is a deficit due to property tax of $64,000.00, apparently the town does not collect all of the property taxes available every year, imagine that, perhaps the town (selectmen) should take a more conservative approach to taxes and revenue. Where have I heard that before?
With regards to the E911 grant, which according to the town accountant, has not been properly accounted for. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, it was not done correctly. Apparently, the town has to spend all of it or the left over funds have to be sent back to the state.
Question: How much do Templeton taxpayers spend on dispatch service, including benefits such as health insurance and pensions and labor contracts? How much does Phillipston pay Templeton for the exact same dispatch service? I believe if Phillipston is not paying half the costs, Templeton taxpayers are getting screwed over by those who sign the agreement.
You can create all the policies you wish, consolidate and change things around as much as you want, but eventually, it will all come down to available funds. Perhaps it is time for the selectmen to lead and make some real change that could save Templeton taxpayers money in the long run, long term, and still provide a service. Might be that is the action to take to free up funds to be spent on important things, like more free stuff for davey. Just kidding, but as Carter stated at the August 14 selectmen meeting, counting pencils and paper clips will not get the job done. I kind of agree, but I bet a hard look and a detailed plan on those things could save some real money over the long term.
Speaking on detail, seems like the selectmen, town accountant and Carter have decided to jumble things up and make it harder, as in less transparent to find out financial information. This question has to be asked and explained in a public forum. Plain, simple, in the open accounting of taxpayer money has to be available to the public!
There is an amount of "cash" not yet accounted for, $9,400.00.
Carter Terenzini stated the town will have these issues for a few years, but I thought with the audits completed, the town now has good clean numbers. What happened? Did someone mispeak?
There is a deficit due to property tax of $64,000.00, apparently the town does not collect all of the property taxes available every year, imagine that, perhaps the town (selectmen) should take a more conservative approach to taxes and revenue. Where have I heard that before?
With regards to the E911 grant, which according to the town accountant, has not been properly accounted for. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, it was not done correctly. Apparently, the town has to spend all of it or the left over funds have to be sent back to the state.
Question: How much do Templeton taxpayers spend on dispatch service, including benefits such as health insurance and pensions and labor contracts? How much does Phillipston pay Templeton for the exact same dispatch service? I believe if Phillipston is not paying half the costs, Templeton taxpayers are getting screwed over by those who sign the agreement.
You can create all the policies you wish, consolidate and change things around as much as you want, but eventually, it will all come down to available funds. Perhaps it is time for the selectmen to lead and make some real change that could save Templeton taxpayers money in the long run, long term, and still provide a service. Might be that is the action to take to free up funds to be spent on important things, like more free stuff for davey. Just kidding, but as Carter stated at the August 14 selectmen meeting, counting pencils and paper clips will not get the job done. I kind of agree, but I bet a hard look and a detailed plan on those things could save some real money over the long term.
Speaking on detail, seems like the selectmen, town accountant and Carter have decided to jumble things up and make it harder, as in less transparent to find out financial information. This question has to be asked and explained in a public forum. Plain, simple, in the open accounting of taxpayer money has to be available to the public!
An example of what the real problem might be:
Note: There is an email from the Town Accountant that shows the work of Advisory Committee was correct, there was an error on the number shown on the expenditure part of a budget versus actual document provided as part of a transfer request. The response from davey smart could be an example of the real problem at finding highway department employees.
Note: There is an email from the Town Accountant that shows the work of Advisory Committee was correct, there was an error on the number shown on the expenditure part of a budget versus actual document provided as part of a transfer request. The response from davey smart could be an example of the real problem at finding highway department employees.
Monday, July 24, 2017
Town Vehicle Fuel update:
Upon looking back through the Budget versus Actual documents, provided by the Town Accountant, show numbers that do not match Town Meeting appropriations and transfers made both at Town Meeting and end of year financial transfers. This is why it is important for the end of the year financial transfer information to be included in a Committee's report for the annual town report.
The Budget versus Actual document dated September 12, 2016, shows Town Vehicle Fuel as having an appropriation of $100,000.00. The Budget versus Actual document provided by the Town Accountant dated November 7, 2016 shows an appropriation of $80,500.00, due to transfers done at the October 20, 2016 special town meeting.
The Budget versus Actual document provided by the Town Accountant shows Town Vehicle Fuel having an appropriation of $80,500.00 and the Annual Town Meeting of May 13, 2017, article 1, shows transfers from Town Vehicle Fuel in the amount of $3,500.00 to inspection services, a transfer from Town Vehicle Fuel in the amount of $5,000.00 to group insurance expense and a transfer from Town Vehicle Fuel in the amount of $2,500.00. So, $11,000.00 was transferred from Town Vehicle Fuel. With the Budget versus Actual dated May 11, 2017 showing an appropriation of $80,500.00 and with the transfers from Town Vehicle Fuel on May 13, 2017 totaling $11,000.00, and the Budget versus Actual document dated June 29, 2017, that was provided by the Town Accountant, shows an appropriation of $73,000.00?
This should not bother me because the audits are completed and now we have good numbers. Remembering that the audits were presented on April 25, 2017. Besides, asking questions concerning this item might be seen as being disruptive, causing trouble and getting in the way of moving forward. Oh, wait, I forgot, we have turned a corner!
posted by Jeff Bennett
Upon looking back through the Budget versus Actual documents, provided by the Town Accountant, show numbers that do not match Town Meeting appropriations and transfers made both at Town Meeting and end of year financial transfers. This is why it is important for the end of the year financial transfer information to be included in a Committee's report for the annual town report.
The Budget versus Actual document dated September 12, 2016, shows Town Vehicle Fuel as having an appropriation of $100,000.00. The Budget versus Actual document provided by the Town Accountant dated November 7, 2016 shows an appropriation of $80,500.00, due to transfers done at the October 20, 2016 special town meeting.
The Budget versus Actual document provided by the Town Accountant shows Town Vehicle Fuel having an appropriation of $80,500.00 and the Annual Town Meeting of May 13, 2017, article 1, shows transfers from Town Vehicle Fuel in the amount of $3,500.00 to inspection services, a transfer from Town Vehicle Fuel in the amount of $5,000.00 to group insurance expense and a transfer from Town Vehicle Fuel in the amount of $2,500.00. So, $11,000.00 was transferred from Town Vehicle Fuel. With the Budget versus Actual dated May 11, 2017 showing an appropriation of $80,500.00 and with the transfers from Town Vehicle Fuel on May 13, 2017 totaling $11,000.00, and the Budget versus Actual document dated June 29, 2017, that was provided by the Town Accountant, shows an appropriation of $73,000.00?
This should not bother me because the audits are completed and now we have good numbers. Remembering that the audits were presented on April 25, 2017. Besides, asking questions concerning this item might be seen as being disruptive, causing trouble and getting in the way of moving forward. Oh, wait, I forgot, we have turned a corner!
posted by Jeff Bennett
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Dated September 12, 2012 shows.
More info from an outdated blogger.
Well you could say Walmart shopper but that would insult more than i would care to like mini Beenit does.