In case you are interested:
from city data.com - Templeton, MA

Single family new construction building permits;
1997 - 16 with an average cost of $106,400.00
2014 - 3 with an average cost of   $189,500.00

Police data for 2015:
Murder - zero
Rape -          4
Robberies -  2
Assaults -   14
Burglaries - 12
Theft -         36
Auto theft -   4
Arson -         3

Why would some one sell sanders/spreaders two years old?

The reasons are many and some times do not make sense. Mass.DOT gets rid of sanders - stainless steel ones that appear to be brand new There were auction photos of a Mass.DOT sander at auction full of salt! Mass.DOT bought towed plows, as in, resembling a tractor trailer, and now they sit in a garage somewhere never to be used. Sometimes people get out of the business. Sometimes they change or upgrade, changing from chain type spreaders to auger type spreaders. Sometimes it is simple down sizing. I am unaware of where the Town got the 2 year old sanders, I am just glad they got them and it appears there is a change in thinking at Templeton highway. Maybe the Town trades in the excavator and gets a new truck, something the Town actually needs. Other than the police station upgrade, I believe Templeton highway department has had more money spent on equipment than any other department in Town since 2014. A loader, excavator, two dump trucks, plow (s) and now "new" sanders. So, how many roads were paved this past summer? Remember, the Town needed the excavator "to prep the roads."

Using past experience with regards to Alan Mayo, I am confident that changes at Templeton highway will result in better things happening, as Alan historically has ran a "good ship."

On the other side, building and grounds, how come a business for day care, needs certified wood chips under swings, but the swings at Town hall do not require them? More importantly, if the chips are for safety, why not have them under town owned play areas?

According to an article in the Gardner news, Templeton purchased two used stainless steel sanders. "Both sanders were already used for two years so the town was able to purchase them cheaper."

Highway director Alan Mayo stated in the article "switching from sand/salt to salt will save the town money, will translate into a more efficient crew by how it spends its time providing services to the town."

Hopefully that means no more busy work such as two plus months sweeping up sand. Mayo also stated the change would allow more time for paving and repairing roads. Also it seems a planned change from big ten wheel trucks to smaller, more versatile six wheel trucks is in the future.

Unfortunately, these types of things have been brought up before but were ignored or worked against because of the attitude of a highway superintendent and even some employees. It is good to see someone in charge actually has the Town's interest in mind, rather than the same old same old.

Heavy trucks use more fuel, too much of the employees time spent screening and hauling sand then having to clean it up in the spring, to include cleaning out drain basins. Again, Mayo repeated that a change would allow time to be better devoted  to road maintenance.

On that note, I think it is time for a cup of coffee, enjoyed with a smile, knowing someone who brought this up before was correct.

Winchendon selectmen listen to the people; they have pulled the plug, so to speak, on the sharing of a Town manager/Town Administrator. Now, Templeton selectmen will have to act and do something. Can you say more Carter Terenzini?

For selectmen meeting on Monday, September 25, 2017, executive session for negotiation of non-union personnel - Town Administrator.

In Town hall on Thursday, September 21, 2017, auditor Tony Roselli, MJ Handy from the DOR. 

From the Templeton Personnel Policy on the Town website:


C. Announcements - The Town Administrator or Designee will make known all approved vacancies for positions by posting announcements of such vacancies via the official Town website or local newspaper or other publications, to the extent necessary to ensure sufficient numbers of qualified candidates.

Need qualified candidates - hire the family!

. . .Completion of the probationary period does not guarantee employment for any period of time since each employee is still an at-will employee of the Town and may be dismissed at any time.

b. Merit increase schedule Merit increases are not guaranteed and are based on Town budget constraints. If the employee’s performance is satisfactory, a merit increase, if awarded, would be approved for the next fiscal year. Merit increases are designed to reward individual performance and must be allocated within The Town’s budgetary constraints .



SECTION 4: CONDUCT AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Employees of The Town of Templeton must adhere to the highest levels of ethical conduct and service so that the public will have confidence that persons in positions of public responsibility are acting for the benefit of the public. Employees must avoid any action which might result in or create the impression of using public office for private gain, giving preferential treatment to any person, or losing impartiality in conducting Town business. Town employees are required to adhere at all times to the requirements of M.G.L. c. 268A, the Massachusetts State Ethics law.


Watch the abuse of senior citizens, verbal or otherwise if you are a Town employee or a complaint could be filed!

The Town will not tolerate unlawful discrimination occurring in the workplace or in other settings in which employees may find themselves in connection with their employment. Further, any retaliation against an individual who has complained about discrimination, or who has cooperated with an investigation of a discrimination complaint, will not be tolerated. Please note that unlawful discrimination is not limited to conduct that occurs between or among Town employees. Unlawful discrimination may occur between or among Town employees, independent contractors, outside vendors, members or the public or any other individuals that Town employees interact with in connection with their employment. To achieve its goal of providing a workplace free from unlawful discrimination, the Town takes allegations and/or complaints of discrimination seriously and will respond promptly to such allegations and/or complaints. Where it is determined that inappropriate and/or unlawful conduct has occurred, the Town will act promptly to eliminate such conduct and impose corrective action as necessary. Such corrective action may include disciplining employees, up to and including discharge.


this may qualify:

david smart7:57 PM

Try the 6th word of the posted blog above!
So bust what balls Mr. Bennitt has now!
The Town or anyone else "dose" not require special sanders to put down straight road salt during the winter months.
Your issues are deeper than any help can solve for you 728
Al least you gave it a try,i won't hold it against you anymore.

Who is posting comments on this blog?

Who is TAB MAN Who is Ordinary Joe?

Who are the Anonymous commentators?

I really do not know, nor do I care. I do know they could be anyone, as in any resident/taxpayer of Templeton. I do not post or comment under anonymous and I own what I write. This blog was not started by someone else. This blog mostly deals with local issues as I believe that is what interests most people. As one Massachusetts U.S. Representative to congress is credited with saying "all politics is local"

When a Templeton Town employee comments the way dave smart has been doing lately, he is basically harassing Templeton Town residents with most of his comments. I know I have not signed nor am I aware of being covered under any contract which contains a conduct clause in it. dave smart states he is a union man, a union steward in Templeton and that would mean he is covered by a contract that contains a conduct clause. dave smart also stated Templeton hired unqualified employees. dave smart has also commented that Templeton highway has unreliable equipment. Now I am not sure what dave smart meant by unreliable but I know that could mean the machinery is unsafe. If the hydraulic system is unreliable, that would mean it is not safe to hoist anything, such as load a truck with sand. If the engine and braking system is unreliable, that would mean it is not safe to operate on the road ways and probably should not be operated at all. dave smart also stated Templeton highway hire unqualified employees. That could make for a good legal argument in any legal action involving any incidents or accidents involving Templeton highway equipment.

As a Town employee, dave smart has a responsibility to look out for the residents/taxpayers. I do not believe that is the case with regards to dave smart. A Templeton Town employee such as dave smart should not use his dislike and disdain for me to belittle Templeton residents, whom ever they may be. That is  an insult to those who provide dave smart with every thing he has, a paycheck, a job, free boots, tee shirts, jackets, health insurance, etc., etc.

dave smart, wrong for Templeton.

My opinion on that subject.

• Industry analysts report overall increases in construction costs in the past year of 3.4% (Engineering News Record-ENR-9/2016).

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey dis billions of dollars in damages. Can and will the industry keep up with demand in materials? Will this cause a ripple effect on construction costs here in New England?

On a different front;

This manual, prepared by the Salt Institute is dedicated to the thousands of men and women in public works agencies at all levels whose task is providing safe streets and highways during winter storms. The modern snowfighter must be accountable for meeting the community’s needs for safety and mobility, as well as the safeguarding of our environment. We commend all those agencies practicing the Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting approach to snow and ice control, which emphasizes getting the most from every application of deicing salt while maintaining the safest roads possible in the most economical way, and protecting the environment. Every winter, over 115,000 people are injured and over 1,000 are killed on snowy or icy American roads. Clear roads protect lives and commerce and salt is a necessary strategic resource. • Road salting and effective plowing can reduce injury crashes by up to 88%. • The economic impact of snow-related closures far exceeds the cost of timely snow removal. A one day major snowstorm that shuts down roads can cost a state between $300 and $700 million in indirect costs. • Deicing pays for itself within the first 25 minutes after salt is applied. Modern strategies to effectively deal with winter road hazards depend upon having the most up-to-date information of expected weather conditions, the timely deployment of anti-icing to prevent ice-pavement bonding, properly calibrated application of road salt, improved equipment, automatic spreader controls, sufficient covered storage, and stockpile logistics to make salting of roads the most effective and safest customer-driven method for snow and ice control. Environmental problems concerning use and storage of salt need not exist if there is a balanced approach to the use of salt for snow and ice control — one that demonstrates excellent practices in achieving safety, mobility and care for the environment. The Snow fighter’s Handbook was originally published in 1967. It has been widely accepted as a recommendation for proper salting procedures and techniques. The purpose of this manual is to provide the snow fighter with information and suggestions for combating winter storms. The Sustainable Snow fighting methods contained in this manual are the cornerstones of an effective winter maintenance program which will help snow fighters provide the public with the most effective snow and ice control program possible at the lowest overall cost and least impact on the environment. Two other practical publications, Highway Salt and Our Environment and The Salt Storage Handbook, are also available from the Salt Institute. Two websites, salt institute. org and safe winter roads.org, are further resources. ❅