In a message dated 10/26/2015 9:57:39 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, townadministrator@templeton1.org writes:

Paul -

The Advisory Committee is questioning the authority of the Selectmen to present the annual operating budget to the town meeting. They feel that the Selectmen's budget should be given to them and that they should present a budget to the town meeting.

Last year, I read the new by-law as establishing an "executive budget" similar to the budget process in federal, state and city governments. The executive budget is initially developed by the T.A. and then reviewed, modified and adopted by the Board of Selectmen. The Selectmen's budget is then given to the Advisory Board for review, comment, and recommendations at town meeting, but it is the Selectmen's budget which is presented at town meeting.

The Advisory Board is a committee of the Town Meeting and part of the legislative branch of town government. Their job is to review the Selectmen's budget and make recommendations to the town meeting but not to develop a separate budget for town meeting.

The Advisory Board would like to have an opinion from Town Counsel on this procedure.

Bob


Robert T. Markel
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Templeton
160 Patriots Road
East Templeton, MA 01438
(978)894-2753

Proposed by-law change seems to back up what has been stated:
Selectmen are aloof and not engaged in what is going on in Town Hall


existing Templeton General Town by-law:

Article II Town Meetings:

Section 6. All articles in any warrant for a town meeting shall be referred to the Advisory Committee for its consideration. The Selectmen after drawing any such warrant shall transmit immediately a copy thereof to the chairman of said committee. A public hearing shall be held, upon all such articles, unless a public hearing by some other tribunal is required by law, and a notice of such hearing shall be given by inserting in the local newspaper. Said committee shall, after due consideration of the subject matter of such articles, report thereon to the town meeting, in writing, such recommendations as it deems best for the interests of the town and its citizens. Copies of the report of the Advisory Committee shall be made available to the voters at least two days before town meetings and at all town meetings.

from the Warrant for the 2018 Templeton Annual Town Meeting:

ARTICLE 4
Amend By-Laws Re: Advisory Committee
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen      
Majority Vote Required


Section 5.It shall be the duty of the Advisory Committee annually to consider the expenditures in previous years and the estimated requirements various warrant articles, for the ensuing year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town including
any citizen petitions thereon. as prepared by them in such form and detail as may be prescribed by said committee. The said Advisory Committee shall add to such statement of expenditures and estimates another column, giving the amounts which in its opinion should be appropriated for the ensuing year, and shall further add thereto such explanations and suggestions relating to the proposed appropriations as it may deem expedient, and report thereon to the community at least seven days before the date set for the Annual Town Meeting and at least four days before the date set
for a Special Town Meeting with such explanations and suggestions as it may
deem most useful to the community. as provided in section five of Article II

Proposed changes / additions are in bold type.
NOTE: Selectmen did not confer with Advisory Committee on these proposed changes.
Also;
section five of Article II appears to be irrelevant, and section 6 of Article II appears to be intended

Since the general by-laws of the Town already state all warrant articles for Town Meeting will be considered by Advisory Committee, I have to wonder if the selectmen actually read and understand what they vote on and sign?

Assistant Treasurer/Collector: Part-Time flexible schedule position (19+/- hrs/wk over four days) responsible for processing real-estate and excise taxes as well as other receivables, and performing all general duties within the office and acting as the Treasurer/Collector in the absence of the same. Requires an Associate’s degree in Accounting or Business and three years of administrative support and bookkeeping experience or an equivalent of education and experience. Preference is given to those with experience in a front-line customer service. Submit application letter, resume, and standard Town application form available at
www.templeton1.org (click on Paid, Volunteer and Contract Opportunities) or Town Hall to Carter Terenzini, Interim Town Administrator, 160 Patriots Rd, PO Box 620, East Templeton, MA 01438. The position will be open until filled, with first reviews beginning August 2, 2018. The Town of Templeton is an EOE.

FireFighter/EMT-P: Forty Eight hour regularly scheduled week responsible in municipal Fire/EMS Department of Career/Call personnel. Responsible for response to all calls, maintenance of inventory and equipment, and general related duties. Requires a High School or GED diploma, EMT-P certification w/two years of E-911 response experience (w/ACLS & PHILS), FireFighter I/II Pro-Board certification (or the ability to earn the same w/in 12 months) and ICS 100/200/700/800 certification(s) (or the ability to earn the same in three months) and valid driver’s license.

Submit application letter, resume, copies of certifications, and standard Town application form available at www.templeton1.org (click on Paid, Volunteer and Contract Opportunities) or Town Hall to Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator, 160 Patriots Rd, PO Box 620, East Templeton, MA 01438. The position will be open until filled, with first reviews beginning June 21, 2018. The Town of Templeton is an EOE

Which do we have, interim, full time or part time?

Proof read anyone? Consistency anyone?

FY 2019 selectmen spending plan;
page 57 - Assessors / Other - expense budget:
Vision software upgrade . . . . $20,000.00*

* = moved to capital.

page 273: Capital - Assessor Capital: $20,000.00 for Vision software upgrade.

page 274: excel spread sheet with capital items and funding source;

Vision software upgrade = $20,000.00 TMLWP*

* Pending TMLWP (Templeton Municipal Light / Water Plant,

page 292; capital planning committee - Assessors Vision software upgrade is non tax impact item, as it will be paid for out of the Assessors overlay fund.???

Listed members are Doug Morrison - selectmen
                                 Robert May - Advisory Committee
                                 Cheryl Richardson - Treasurer/Collector
                                 Carter Terenzini - Town Administrator

page 6; capital - total budget $1,068,675.00

TMLWP - $43,500.00
Overlay -   $13,450.00 (how does one cover a $20,000.00 expense with only $13,450.00)?

TMLWP commissioners vote to not fund Vision, but the message never gets past the T/A, or that is what appears to have happened.

No more salad recipes. (There is always one who wrecks it)

Details details?

Town of Templeton
Employment Opportunity

Assistant Town Accountant: Part-Time flexible schedule position (19+/- hrs/wk over four days) responsible for processing payroll and accounts payable, management of insurance and benefits and general assistance to the Town Accountant. Requires an Associate’s degree in Accounting or Business and three years of administrative support and bookkeeping experience or an equivalent of education and experience.
Assistant Treasurer/Collector: Part-Time flexible schedule position (19+/- hrs/wk over four days) responsible for processing real-estate and excise taxes as well as other receivables, and performing all general duties within the office and acting as the Treasurer/Collector in the absence of the same. Requires an Associate’s degree in Accounting or Business and three years of administrative support and bookkeeping experience or an equivalent of education and experience. Preference is given to those with experience in a front-line customer service




Submit application letter, resume, and standard Town application form available at
www.templeton1.org (click on Paid, Volunteer and Contract Opportunities) or Town Hall to Carter Terenzini, Interim Town Administrator, 160 Patriots Rd, PO Box 620, East Templeton, MA 01438. The position will be open until filled, with first reviews beginning August 2, 2018. The Town of Templeton is an EOE.

I thought the selectmen said we do not have an interim Administrator any longer because they appointed Carter to a one year deal with a contract that states "Town Administrator" (even if the required hours are only 16 per week)

So, is the administrator interim, as in temporary, is he part time, long term or do the selectmen not know? Do the selectmen know the difference?


The more one looks at Templeton government, the more it appears there is a certain lack of engagement on the part of selectmen. I have watched selectmen meetings since the last town election and I will say congratulations to the voters; you re-elected a no show selectmen for three more years - yay! Selectmen Richards is always there for the tough discussion - NOT!

To those who visit this blog, you should watch the youtube movie that is the Templeton board of selectmen meeting of July 11, 2018. Especially the last 20 or so minutes. A selectmen speaks to many issues raised here on this blog. A selectmen speaks to problems, concerns and questions raised, pointed out or asked by the Templeton Advisory Committee.

Some may request an order of humble pie with a side of crow. I enjoyed it so much, I watched it twice and will probably watch it again.

Note to selectmen Caplis; you should not leave your selectmen binder on the table in the conference room - with paperwork in it marked confidential!

Attorney General issues advisory; 

Public sector workers’ rights and employer obligations in wake of Janus ruling

July 9, 2018

In response to the June 27 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME, the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey issued an advisory regarding public sector workers’ rights and employer obligations.
 
Under the Janus decision, public sector unions may no longer charge agency fees to employees who are not union members, and public sector employers may no longer deduct agency fees from a nonmember’s wages without the clear and affirmative consent of the nonmember employee.
 
Municipalities are advised to consult with legal counsel to immediately stop payroll deductions for the non-union members of all bargaining units, and to notify the representatives of all bargaining units of the intention to comply with the Janus decision.
 
The attorney general’s advisory affirms the collective bargaining rights of public sector employees under Chapter 150E, explains the impact of the Janus decision on union dues and agency fees, and reminds readers of the procedures for access to union members and personal information in the public sector.

On June 27, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided the case of Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, (Janus decision). The following is a Question and Answer (Q&A) created by the Department of Labor Relations (DLR) in order to assist those affected by the decision. This Q&A reflects the state of the law as of the issuance of the Janus decision. The statements and opinions expressed below represent the best judgment of the DLR at the current time. Not all of the issues, however, are fully resolved yet. The materials below do not carry the force of law and are not meant to be a substitute for your own legal counsel’s advice. If you are unsure of your rights and obligations under the law or collective bargaining agreement, and or need further clarification regarding any of these answers, legal advice should be sought.

1. What does the Janus decision mean for public sector employees in Massachusetts?

The Janus decision makes it unlawful for public sector employers or unions to require that an employee who is not a voluntary dues paying union member to pay an agency fee to a union as a condition of obtaining employment or continued employment. This means that neither an agency fee nor any other payment to the union may be deducted from a nonmember’s wages, nor may any other attempt be made to collect such a payment, unless the employee affirmatively consents to such a payment. Under the Janus decision, agency shop arrangements contained in collective bargaining agreements are invalidated.

2. What is an agency fee?

An agency fee is a sum of money that an employee who chooses not to be a dues-paying member of a union pays to a union for activities related to the union’s obligations as collective bargaining representative, such as negotiating contracts and representing employees in grievances and arbitrations. Previously, under M.G.L. c. 150E, § 12, it was lawful to require payment of an agency fee as a condition of employment pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. Janus holds that agency fees may only be deducted from employees who affirmatively consent to pay them.