Recently, a town resident, Kevin Bird, asked a question on face book, a very simple and direct question; what would I do about a partially burned out building on a road that is an entrance to the back bay area of Templeton? I responded that a single selectmen cannot really do much, however, a single selectmen can communicate these situations and suggest options, such as using the existing town by-laws to try and solve those issues.

I would like to speak to what a single selectmen can do; that is when a motion is made during a public meeting of the board of selectmen, it is not made in generic fashion, such as I make a motion to appoint members to various committees as presented. A single selectmen sitting at a meeting such as that can bring discussion that would make it clear who is being appointed to what, for how long and also bring forward things such as are there still openings on the entities before the board at that time, how long have any of the appointees already served, etc. In short, a sitting single selectmen can bring things like this forward to ensure more transparency to selectmen meetings. I believe that the purpose of having open public meetings are not to see how fast one can get through a meeting, rather that all things are discussed thoroughly and that everyone in attendance gets a chance to speak if they wish; in essence, participate in the process. I would also, if elected, correct some erroneous recent statements, such as "all towns that border Templeton have a $20.00 per thousand tax rate" which was not true then and is not true now.

The above is just one of the things a single sitting selectmen can do and that is one thing I will do if elected to the position of Templeton selectmen.

from the Town Administrator.
Weekly Report We got some good news from Monty Tech in that they certified their FY ’19 budget at a new figure below the appropriation by roughly $8k. We have received the grant from the state for $30k to purchase the software for Hubbardston accounting and are beginning the negotiation of the 3 year IMA for shared accounting services. 

The Fire/EMS RFP is in final draft and should be on track to be issued on 04/18.

 We finalized the budget and warrant and are setting up a hearing with Town Counsel present to discuss the many by-law proposals and 34 warrant articles.

Templeton Selectmen get grant to pay for accounting software for another town! While you were out, selectmen created another benefits covered employee in the Templeton Town Accountant office; so now the Templeton Town Accountant can go to Hubbardston and do their books too!

The assistant pay went from $18,903.00 (19.5 hrs.) to $49,780.00 (38 hrs.) plus benefits. Town accountant now gets a $7,500.00 increase listed as 2nd town & equity. The pay for assistant does not include health insurance costs and retirement. Retirement cost increase for the next 15 years will be high due to the actuarial requirement for Worcester regional Retirement system to be fully funded in 15 years . Town Administrator stated this is an expense neutral move  through an inter-municipal agreement, Hubbardston will pay Templeton an amount to cover the salary of the assistant. So, do you see this as a good move for Templeton? Your full time Town Accountant will now be available less because she will be busy with other Towns. Now, hand over some more money to pay for increased schools and your roads are still crap. This works well for Hubbardston but not Templeton, again. Thank You selectmen Brooks, selectmen Richards, selectmen Caplis and selectmen Morrison! Good job???

HOUSE W&M COMMITTEE OFFERS $42.7B FY 2020 BUDGET WITH KEY INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL AID

• INCLUDES THE FULL $29.7M INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID (UGGA)

• INCREASES CHAPTER 70 BY $218M TO FUND MINIMUM AID AT $30 PER STUDENT

• INCREASES CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS BY $23M

• ADDS $16.5M RESERVE FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS

• ADDS $5M TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER

• ADDS $5M MORE FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

• ADDS $1M TO McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS

• LEVEL-FUNDS MOST OTHER MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS

HOUSE W&M COMMITTEE OFFERS $42.7B FY 2020 BUDGET WITH KEY INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL AID • INCLUDES THE FULL $29.7M INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID (UGGA) • INCREASES CHAPTER 70 BY $218M TO FUND MINIMUM AID AT $30 PER STUDENT • INCREASES CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS BY $23M • ADDS $16.5M RESERVE FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS • ADDS $5M TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER • ADDS $5M MORE FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION • ADDS $1M TO McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS • LEVEL-FUNDS MOST OTHER MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS   April 10, 2019 Dear Jeffrey Bennett, Earlier today, the House Ways & Means Committee reported out a $42.7 billion fiscal 2020 state budget plan to increase overall state expenditures by 3 percent. The House Ways & Means budget’s bottom line closely matches the budget filed by the Governor in January, yet allocates significantly more for school aid programs. The Chapter 70 aid increase is $17.7 million higher than the amount recommended by the Governor, by increasing minimum aid from $20 per student to $30 per student, and adopting a slightly different method of implementing the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. The full House will debate the fiscal 2020 state budget during the week of April 22. House members must file all budget amendments by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12. (Usually, the House considers over 1000 amendments during budget debate week.) H. 3800, the House Ways & Means budget, provides progress on many important local aid priorities, including the full $29.7 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid that the Governor proposed and communities are counting on. The House W&M Committee would increase funding for other major aid programs, by adding $5 million to the Special Education Circuit Breaker, adding $5 million to Regional School Transportation, $1 million to McKinney-Vento reimbursements, and increasing Chapter 70 aid by $218 million more than fiscal 2019 levels.

Question of the day:
How does a selectmen serve on elementary school building committee, tours the school during construction and argues strongly for a clock to be placed in because there is a cutout for it to go and then make a statement of not knowing where the clock was going to go inside the building.

I think that goes to credibility on many other issues.
(my opinion)

On the Templeton Town website, there is a document concerning the Economic Development Industrial Corporation. While reading it over, I found it referenced two Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 121C and chapter 30A, section 11A. Upon looking up chapter 30A, section 11A, I found that section (11A) had been repealed in 2009. Upon showing this discrepancy to the Town Administrator last evening, he informed me that when the board of selectmen approved that document, they only looked at chapter 121C. Hopefully that document will be corrected quickly and will reference correct information. I also hope they contact the Massachusetts Attorney General to inform them of this mess regarding at least one state law on the books. I have to wonder who actually vetted that document and what else has been approved by this board of selectmen that might be less than correct.

Templeton Meals tax for third quarter; 
January, February and March reported as $12,180.00. 
To date, Templeton meals tax revenue, since it was voted in, stands at: $29,934.00.


Templeton, MA:
First receipt of meals tax September, 2018 -    $ 4,384.00
Next receipt of meals tax - Oct., Nov., Dec. -    $13,370.00
Next receipt of meals tax - Jan., Feb., March - $12,180.00

Signed Town Meeting warrant (signed by selectmen) 

shows Article 25: set salaries for elected Town officials.

Town Clerk . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . $58,143.00 yearly
Sewer Commissioners . . . . . . . . . . .  . $  2,000.00 yearly (from sewer user fees)
Selectmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .$     500.00 yearly.

5 selectmen @ $500.00 each = $2500.00.

FY2020 budget had $2500.00 under Town Clerk, for voter's post cards for elections, annual Town Meeting, Special Town Meeting; That money or dollar figure was moved under selectmen / personnel for stipends for selectmen. So, the selectmen think it is more important for them to receive pay than for voters to receive information about elections and Town Meeting! Isn't that nice? 

Selectmen put themselves before residents/taxpayers!

As a point of clarification, under proposed salary for selectmen, it does not state "each" however, moving $2500.00 to selectmen operating budget causes me to conclude it will be $500.00 per year for each selectmen. Unless, that is an example of more "padding" by the administrator?

Note: In the latest electronic copy of the FY2020 spending plan, under selectmen / code 120/ 5100 - personnel, there is now a line item for stipends @ $2500.00.