Sitting at the district reorganization meeting on Monday, selectmen from both towns and a Town Administrator were finally at the meeting. This was the third meeting of this group. Strange thing was, the selectmen from Templeton was Master Fortes rather than the voted/appointed selectmen Richards. I found out at the selectmen meeting later that evening that at the beginning of the meeting, selectmen announced Master Fortes would be the BOS representative going forward.
Next meeting for the district reorganization group is Monday, March 12, 2018, at 5:00 PM at the central office.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
The Mass Cultural Council's Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences annually. Each year, LCCs award more than $3 million in grants to more than 6,000 cultural programs statewide. The program promotes the availability of rich cultural experiences for every Massachusetts residents.
Interested in applying?
The next deadline is October 16, 2017. Applications will be available September 1.
The next deadline is October 16, 2017. Applications will be available September 1.
Mass Cultural Council funds and manages a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils across the state, representing every city and town in the Commonwealth. Each council awards money based on individual community cultural needs, assessed and set by council members.
Applicants should apply directly to LCCs. Start by entering the name of the council into the yellow "Find Your Local Cultural Council" box in the top left corner of this screen.
- Read more about the LCC Program.
- Review state application guidelines and application process.
- Check out the Council's Priorities (type the council's name into the yellow "Find Your Local Cultural Council" box in the top left corner of this screen) and complete the online application.
Under the state website, it has Templeton cultural council having funding of $4,800.00.
On the local front, the FY 2019 has the local council receiving a total of $1,000.00 from the selectmen's spending plan.
It lists the Templeton cultural council getting $650.00 for concert - band performance.
It also shows another $100.00 for brochures with a required survey.
It has listed materials & craft supplies at $25.00
postage, envelopes & small banners at $75.00
advertising for TCC events at . . . . . . . .$150.00
It appears the cultural council is a conduit for state grant money and is probably something residents should pay more attention to. You can find more local information on the Town website.
Property Tax overrides - prop 2 1/2 override.
Contingent Appropriations Towns only can approve a contingent appropriation (Ch. 59 Sec. 21C(m)) which is usually a single additional expenditure, or multiple appropriations made subject to subsequent voter approval of a funding source. Most often, that funding source is additional tax revenue raised through an override, debt exclusion or capital expenditure exclusion. While town meeting must approve the contingent appropriation, only the selectmen can actually place the referendum on the ballot for voter approval. When a contingent appropriation is approved at an annual town meeting, the related referendum must be placed before the voters prior to September 15. When a special town meeting approves contingent spending, the override or exclusion vote must occur within 90 days. In any case, a failed referendum may be returned to the voters on subsequent ballots, but if not approved by the applicable deadline, the appropriation is null and void.
When presented to the voters, an override, underride and capital exclusion question must specify a dollar amount and a statement of purpose. Statutory language must be used.
For more information, see DOR on-line publications and Informational Guideline Releases (IGR): Proposition 2½ Ballot Questions: Requirements and Procedures, IGR 2002-101 Proposition 2 1/2 Debt Exclusions and IGR 2004-201 Creation of Multiple Stabilization Funds and Proposition 2 ½ Overrides.
VOTER INFORMATION Local officials may not publish and provide voter information materials at public expense in the absence of specific legislative authority. See Chapter 274 of the Acts of 1987, Chapter 630 of the Acts of 1989 and Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1996, which authorize the preparation and distribution of voter information on municipal referenda questions by the Newton Election Commission, Cambridge Election Commission and Sudbury Board of Selectmen respectively. In addition, a community may not include any explanatory information on the ballot, such as a summary of the impact a "yes" and "no" vote will have on local services.
The form of each type of Proposition 2½ referendum question is prescribed by G.L. Ch. 59 §21C. To properly present a question to the voters, the following statutory language must be used:
Levy Limit Override (G.L. Ch. 59 §21C(g)): Shall the (city/town) of _________________ be allowed to assess an additional $____________ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of (state the purposes(s) for which the monies from this assessment will be used) for the fiscal year beginning July first nineteen hundred and ______? Yes ____ No ____
Contingent Appropriations Towns only can approve a contingent appropriation (Ch. 59 Sec. 21C(m)) which is usually a single additional expenditure, or multiple appropriations made subject to subsequent voter approval of a funding source. Most often, that funding source is additional tax revenue raised through an override, debt exclusion or capital expenditure exclusion. While town meeting must approve the contingent appropriation, only the selectmen can actually place the referendum on the ballot for voter approval. When a contingent appropriation is approved at an annual town meeting, the related referendum must be placed before the voters prior to September 15. When a special town meeting approves contingent spending, the override or exclusion vote must occur within 90 days. In any case, a failed referendum may be returned to the voters on subsequent ballots, but if not approved by the applicable deadline, the appropriation is null and void.
When presented to the voters, an override, underride and capital exclusion question must specify a dollar amount and a statement of purpose. Statutory language must be used.
For more information, see DOR on-line publications and Informational Guideline Releases (IGR): Proposition 2½ Ballot Questions: Requirements and Procedures, IGR 2002-101 Proposition 2 1/2 Debt Exclusions and IGR 2004-201 Creation of Multiple Stabilization Funds and Proposition 2 ½ Overrides.
VOTER INFORMATION Local officials may not publish and provide voter information materials at public expense in the absence of specific legislative authority. See Chapter 274 of the Acts of 1987, Chapter 630 of the Acts of 1989 and Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1996, which authorize the preparation and distribution of voter information on municipal referenda questions by the Newton Election Commission, Cambridge Election Commission and Sudbury Board of Selectmen respectively. In addition, a community may not include any explanatory information on the ballot, such as a summary of the impact a "yes" and "no" vote will have on local services.
The form of each type of Proposition 2½ referendum question is prescribed by G.L. Ch. 59 §21C. To properly present a question to the voters, the following statutory language must be used:
Levy Limit Override (G.L. Ch. 59 §21C(g)): Shall the (city/town) of _________________ be allowed to assess an additional $____________ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of (state the purposes(s) for which the monies from this assessment will be used) for the fiscal year beginning July first nineteen hundred and ______? Yes ____ No ____
Other spending notations:
$40,000.00 to fund merit and equity adjustments (pay increases - raises)
for non-union personnel and police collective bargaining agreement (union/labor contract)
As previously posted, all labor contracts are expenses of taxpayers/town residents and should always be considered when moving to say a full time EMS - fire fighter arrangement, as in include in the total cost of that service.
Another interesting proposal (one I agree with) is put catch basin cleaning out to private contract, which is listed at $13,000.00 per year. It was mentioned a new truck to do this job would cost the Town in the $200,000.00 range, so anyone is free to do the math. A point made when talking of this is the move would free up to 960 man hours, which is time that could be spent on say repairing pot holes and maintenance on equipment. Since the size of the highway crew is often mentioned as being to small for the size of the Town, cutting down on the number of tasks seems to make sense.
Making the door (s) to Town Hall ADA compliant and probably finally getting back to what was originally talked about when the building was made into a Town Hall. A new and different door would be able to be opened by hitting a button or device so the door (s) would open automatically for handicap accessibility, which is an important item.
$40,000.00 to fund merit and equity adjustments (pay increases - raises)
for non-union personnel and police collective bargaining agreement (union/labor contract)
As previously posted, all labor contracts are expenses of taxpayers/town residents and should always be considered when moving to say a full time EMS - fire fighter arrangement, as in include in the total cost of that service.
Another interesting proposal (one I agree with) is put catch basin cleaning out to private contract, which is listed at $13,000.00 per year. It was mentioned a new truck to do this job would cost the Town in the $200,000.00 range, so anyone is free to do the math. A point made when talking of this is the move would free up to 960 man hours, which is time that could be spent on say repairing pot holes and maintenance on equipment. Since the size of the highway crew is often mentioned as being to small for the size of the Town, cutting down on the number of tasks seems to make sense.
Making the door (s) to Town Hall ADA compliant and probably finally getting back to what was originally talked about when the building was made into a Town Hall. A new and different door would be able to be opened by hitting a button or device so the door (s) would open automatically for handicap accessibility, which is an important item.
Some takeaways from last nights selectmen meeting;
It was stated there may need to be a plan B for the police station because of the 1.5 milion increase in bids.
There could be a Town Meeting warrant article to "clarify the advisory committee roe in commenting on the warrant" My thought on this is the selectmen wish to control the report of the Advisory Committee to Town Meeting. The way in which Advisory Committee is suppose to report to Town Meeting is already in Town by-laws, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The selectmen wish to be able to stay on al the committees they are on because it seems like there is going to be a warrant article to alow selectmen to continue to serve on all ad-hoc committees.
There was also mention of a tax override to support ALS ambulance service. If you want a full time fire department and EMS service, you have to pay for it with more taxes.
In part, the ALS service has cost far more to put forth than what was presented to you. Even with the rate increases, there are simply not enough calls to raise the money needed to pay for it.
Seems there are an increase in calls paid for by medicaid and medicare.
The Templeton Municipal Light department is apparently going back to charging Templeton Municipal buildings for lights, as in , electricity. As I stated in a previous post, Templeton needs new light commissioners.
It also looks like selectmen will again try to combine library, veterans service, recreation/culture, cable and council on aging with one person to oversee all of those now separate departments.
The one police cruiser paid for by meals TAX, is now apparently moved to being used to pay for multiple vehicle leases; police cruiser, one-ton truck for DPW,
On the flip side, one time revenue from logging will not be used to support the spending plan, which was stated as a loss of $10,000.00 available to support an approximate 15 million dollar spending plan.
So, back to Advisory Committee, how do the selectmen think they can prevent residents from commenting or questioning Advisory Committee reports, recommendations etc.? Remember, there are seven residents on Advisory and last I checked, selectmen cannot tell residents what to ask, nor can the moderator. So, as a resident, my question (s) could be along these lines; Mr. Moderator, why are you limiting the comments on Advisory Committee? Is it because of the fact you are a Town employee, dependent on the selectmen for the department budget/spending plan that you work for? Has the moderator been told to toe the line? Could there be political collusion at work here? Nah, not in Templeton!
Everyone should pay attention to this spending plan presentation.
It was stated there may need to be a plan B for the police station because of the 1.5 milion increase in bids.
There could be a Town Meeting warrant article to "clarify the advisory committee roe in commenting on the warrant" My thought on this is the selectmen wish to control the report of the Advisory Committee to Town Meeting. The way in which Advisory Committee is suppose to report to Town Meeting is already in Town by-laws, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The selectmen wish to be able to stay on al the committees they are on because it seems like there is going to be a warrant article to alow selectmen to continue to serve on all ad-hoc committees.
There was also mention of a tax override to support ALS ambulance service. If you want a full time fire department and EMS service, you have to pay for it with more taxes.
In part, the ALS service has cost far more to put forth than what was presented to you. Even with the rate increases, there are simply not enough calls to raise the money needed to pay for it.
Seems there are an increase in calls paid for by medicaid and medicare.
The Templeton Municipal Light department is apparently going back to charging Templeton Municipal buildings for lights, as in , electricity. As I stated in a previous post, Templeton needs new light commissioners.
It also looks like selectmen will again try to combine library, veterans service, recreation/culture, cable and council on aging with one person to oversee all of those now separate departments.
The one police cruiser paid for by meals TAX, is now apparently moved to being used to pay for multiple vehicle leases; police cruiser, one-ton truck for DPW,
On the flip side, one time revenue from logging will not be used to support the spending plan, which was stated as a loss of $10,000.00 available to support an approximate 15 million dollar spending plan.
So, back to Advisory Committee, how do the selectmen think they can prevent residents from commenting or questioning Advisory Committee reports, recommendations etc.? Remember, there are seven residents on Advisory and last I checked, selectmen cannot tell residents what to ask, nor can the moderator. So, as a resident, my question (s) could be along these lines; Mr. Moderator, why are you limiting the comments on Advisory Committee? Is it because of the fact you are a Town employee, dependent on the selectmen for the department budget/spending plan that you work for? Has the moderator been told to toe the line? Could there be political collusion at work here? Nah, not in Templeton!
Everyone should pay attention to this spending plan presentation.
Monday, February 26, 2018
The intangibles that some bring to the table:
We are very pleased to let you know that Paul DeRensis was reappointed by Governor Charlie Baker on February 13, 2018 to a tenth term as a member of the Massachusetts Local Government Advisory Commission. Former Governor Deval Patrick had initially appointed Mr. DeRensis to this Commission. Mr. Baker first reappointed Mr. DeRensis in February, 2015, this is the fourth reappointment by Governor Baker. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito administered the oath of office on February 13, 2018.
Mr. DeRensis is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and is admitted to practice in New York and Massachusetts and in various federal courts including the United States Supreme Court.
State law provides that responsibilities of Commissioners include the following
“1. to review and analyze proposed legislation and regulatory changes from the point of view of municipal government and present such point of view to the governor, his executive secretaries and to the general court;
2. to act as an independent advocate for the interests of local governments in their relations with state and federal governments;
3. to advise officials of the commonwealth and the federal government on the needs of local governments, assist in mobilizing state and federal resources to deal with problems of local governments, provide coordinating support to agencies responsible for administering federal, state and local programs, and promote legislative and administrative proposals reflecting the interests of local governments;
4. to establish, from time to time, study committees or task forces to consider issues pertaining to local government in detail and to
present the results of those considerations to the governor, the secretaries of his executive offices and to the general court;
5. to meet monthly with the governor and at such other times…;
6. to meet quarterly with the legislative leadership, and at such other times as may be necessary…”
And it goes round and round - an ironic post?
Current Town Counsel/lead attorney - Paul DeRensis
8 term selectmen from Sherborn, MA - Paul DeRensis
A law firm - Miyares and Harrington list the Town of Sherborn, MA multiple times, one attorney lists being a member of Sherborn conservation commission from 1990 - 1996.
Also listed are municipal clients, with one being Sherborn, MA (2005 - 2010) with a present town administrator of Blackstone and formerly of Sherborn as a contact person, presumably as a reference.
8 terms could mean service back in the 1990's which means Mr. DeRensis would have been a selectmen when both of the above mentioned parties were employed by Sherborn, MA and selectmen are the appointing authority.
Sometimes, RFPs make for interesting reading.
Current Town Counsel/lead attorney - Paul DeRensis
8 term selectmen from Sherborn, MA - Paul DeRensis
A law firm - Miyares and Harrington list the Town of Sherborn, MA multiple times, one attorney lists being a member of Sherborn conservation commission from 1990 - 1996.
Also listed are municipal clients, with one being Sherborn, MA (2005 - 2010) with a present town administrator of Blackstone and formerly of Sherborn as a contact person, presumably as a reference.
8 terms could mean service back in the 1990's which means Mr. DeRensis would have been a selectmen when both of the above mentioned parties were employed by Sherborn, MA and selectmen are the appointing authority.
Sometimes, RFPs make for interesting reading.
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