Mistakes and actions of the past are coming home to roost. With some 47 transfer articles for various Annual and Special town meetings in 12 months, more questions of money management have to be at least thought of again. Transfer $27,000.00 to pay for another audit and the Town Administrator did give to the Advisory Board a request concerning a sum of money from the reserve fund under watch by the Advisory Board. Too many transfers to feel money is being managed correctly.Required reports missing and who made that decision, questionable practices at select board meetings, incorrect information being put out at selectmen meetings. Different people and same results, not enough funds to operate the Town and/or funds not being applied correctly. New Coordinator/Administrator, new selectmen, accountant, treasurer, deputy assessor and here we are with same results. Could it be the approach, attitude or a lack of funds applied properly or smartly? Telling all that everything is well and we all get along because we have amazing employees is not the answer, is not going to fix anything and is in my opinion, a disservice to the Town residents.
Jeff Bennett
All posts on this page are by me, most are facts with documents included and a few are questions or opinions that I arrive at or ask based on documents or by attending meetings. Regardless of what happens at election, I am back, I am here and I am not going anywhere. In fact I intend to be an even bigger pain in the ass to elected officials than before. I have a few surprises in store for them as well. I am also now on face book under Jeff Bennett. I do not post photos of my boy and best friend, my 13 yr old Beagle Devil Dog or things like I am overwhelmed or another late night in the office or other trivial stuff. I post the same kind of material there as I do here, I am trying to use this "new" tech stuff to try and improve things, inform people of things and perhaps make a difference. I am only at 3,958 views here but not bad for a blog only around for a dew months that I never really advertised but have pretty much let people find it and there is at least one selectmen who have found it. Same with face book page.
Bennett
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Selectmen low balling the Fire Chief?
Looking at the salary figure presented by the Town Administrator and selectmen, you might think so.
The revised 2016 budget shows a salary of $64,492.00. This is a contract year for the chief, which means his salary is also open to negotiation. Both the Town Administrator and selectmen have offered a salary for the coming year at $64,246.00, less than last year? How are they going to negotiate with such a low number? The Fire Chief asked for a starting figure at $85,000.00 per year. Looks to me that the selectmen do not wish to bring back Chief LaPorte. Why is that? Who do they intend to replace him with? No conspiracy here, just facts n figures and a question? It is kind of hard to negotiate up with such a low number.
The revised 2016 budget shows a salary of $64,492.00. This is a contract year for the chief, which means his salary is also open to negotiation. Both the Town Administrator and selectmen have offered a salary for the coming year at $64,246.00, less than last year? How are they going to negotiate with such a low number? The Fire Chief asked for a starting figure at $85,000.00 per year. Looks to me that the selectmen do not wish to bring back Chief LaPorte. Why is that? Who do they intend to replace him with? No conspiracy here, just facts n figures and a question? It is kind of hard to negotiate up with such a low number.
Jeff Bennett
P.S. Selectmen Brooks reads my blog, she told me so and has asked me several questions on some of my posts.
How is this a surprise now when they were told of it back in 2015, yep all is fine in Templeton Board of Selectmen Office. posted by Jeff Bennett
All -
I received a call from Matt Hunt of CliftonLarsonAllen, our auditing firm, regarding a Single Audit for Fiscal 2013. In the spring of 2014, they gave me a quote for conducting audits for Fiscal 2014 and 2015. Later, we added Fiscal 2013 to the list following a recommendation from bond counsel and the DOR. Neither they nor I knew that the Town had expended CDBG monies exceeding $500,000 in FY'13.
We are required to do a Single Audit for FY'13, and this has added to the cost. I recommend that we pay the additional cost from the $27,000 in surplus funds that is scheduled for transfer into the BoS expenses budget in the FY'16 Financial Transfer article.
Bob
Robert T. Markel
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Templeton
160 Patriots Road
East Templeton, MA 01438
Robert T. Markel
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Templeton
160 Patriots Road
East Templeton, MA 01438
The spending of public money.
Teachers are paid and Town employees are paid and they are paid with public funds. So does that make it public information? I wonder if all selectmen feel it is correct for residents to know what they are paying their employees? Should parents know what the teachers earn? I happen to think people have a right to know where the millions of dollars they provide go. Simple as that, and if you are against that, then you are against transparency. You are against open government. A good question to be asked at the very next meeting of the selectmen. Are you all in favor of open government? Is it the business of the people to know what they are paying their employees? John Columbus will probably tell me the campaign is over then say I am out of order then send me packing by teling me I am out of order and I have to go.
Jeff Bennett
Teachers are paid and Town employees are paid and they are paid with public funds. So does that make it public information? I wonder if all selectmen feel it is correct for residents to know what they are paying their employees? Should parents know what the teachers earn? I happen to think people have a right to know where the millions of dollars they provide go. Simple as that, and if you are against that, then you are against transparency. You are against open government. A good question to be asked at the very next meeting of the selectmen. Are you all in favor of open government? Is it the business of the people to know what they are paying their employees? John Columbus will probably tell me the campaign is over then say I am out of order then send me packing by teling me I am out of order and I have to go.
Jeff Bennett
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Open meeting law complaint response from selectmen to Jeff Bennett and Attorney General.
Response of the board: The Board of Selectmen did have a discussion on the use of the rule of necessity at two of their meetings, including April 11, 2016 meeting. The Board did discuss the budget and specific items in the budget. Two members of the board left the table during most of the discussion as they have immediate family members that work for the Town. This is a five member board, however, one of the members has not been attending meetings since August of 2015. The Board of Selectmen did not vote on any budget items that were discussed at the meetings during which time Mr. Bennett claims the Rule of Necessity was invoked. Due to the fact that the Board did not vote, the Board maintains that the rule of necessity was not involved.
The members of the Board of selectmen were not quite clear as to the circumstances under which the rule of necessity could be invoked, however, they are planning to obtain information or training regarding the proper use of the rule of necessity. As the Board feels that the rule of necessity was not invoked, they feel there is not a need for an apology to residents or to publicly admit any error that Mr. Bennett perceives was made.
The Board of Selectmen respectfully requests that you dismiss the complaint of Mr. Bennett and further find that the Board of Selectmen acted in accordance with the Open meeting Law regulations per M.G.L. c.30A, section 20 (a).
Respectfully submitted,
Holly Young, for the Board of Selectmen
April 25, 2016.
posted by Jeff Bennett
Response of the board: The Board of Selectmen did have a discussion on the use of the rule of necessity at two of their meetings, including April 11, 2016 meeting. The Board did discuss the budget and specific items in the budget. Two members of the board left the table during most of the discussion as they have immediate family members that work for the Town. This is a five member board, however, one of the members has not been attending meetings since August of 2015. The Board of Selectmen did not vote on any budget items that were discussed at the meetings during which time Mr. Bennett claims the Rule of Necessity was invoked. Due to the fact that the Board did not vote, the Board maintains that the rule of necessity was not involved.
The members of the Board of selectmen were not quite clear as to the circumstances under which the rule of necessity could be invoked, however, they are planning to obtain information or training regarding the proper use of the rule of necessity. As the Board feels that the rule of necessity was not invoked, they feel there is not a need for an apology to residents or to publicly admit any error that Mr. Bennett perceives was made.
The Board of Selectmen respectfully requests that you dismiss the complaint of Mr. Bennett and further find that the Board of Selectmen acted in accordance with the Open meeting Law regulations per M.G.L. c.30A, section 20 (a).
Respectfully submitted,
Holly Young, for the Board of Selectmen
April 25, 2016.
posted by Jeff Bennett
Question: Did the Templeton Town Treasurer submit a Treasurer's report to the selectmen for inclusion in the Annual Town Report? If answer is yes, why was it not included? Who made that call? was it a vote of the select board? If elected, those are my first questions to be asked of the chairman John Columbus.
Jeff Bennett
Jeff Bennett
Friday, April 29, 2016
Many missteps owned by the current board of selectmen.
I believe all select boards have probably made a few errors, down right bad choices or acted in a disrespectful way, or at least one or two members have. that being said, I am referencing the Templeton Board of selectmen serving Now:
2015, the BOS voted to have a special town meeting to do end of the year transfers, the date chosen was July 27, 2015. Problem; Selectmen then check with DOR and are told if you do this on July 27, you be in violation of state law.
November 9, 2015: special town meeting transfer from fire/EMS expense to pay for snow & Ice deficit. Said there was a double appropriation and there was enough money in there to cover it.
March 2016, special town meeting, transfer money back into the fire/ems expense account because it is now short. The financial team has it in control, but do the selectmen?
Chairman John Columbus said it was the law that the building & Grounds director for NRHS be appointed to the school building committee. 963 Code of Mass regulations 2.0 says different. It says it is recommended and suggested but not required. Only one member of the school committee is required by law to be on the committee, MGLc71 section 68.
Chairman John Columbus stated just before a vote concerning the purchase of the excavator, "if you vote against the excavator, you are voting against road projects" Really, that sounds like two different issues, an equipment purchase and use of chapter 90 money.
This board, all members, need to read their own policies and procedures, the open meeting law and take conflict of interest training, they have demonstrated on video that their understanding of it is limited.
Jeff Bennett
I believe all select boards have probably made a few errors, down right bad choices or acted in a disrespectful way, or at least one or two members have. that being said, I am referencing the Templeton Board of selectmen serving Now:
2015, the BOS voted to have a special town meeting to do end of the year transfers, the date chosen was July 27, 2015. Problem; Selectmen then check with DOR and are told if you do this on July 27, you be in violation of state law.
November 9, 2015: special town meeting transfer from fire/EMS expense to pay for snow & Ice deficit. Said there was a double appropriation and there was enough money in there to cover it.
March 2016, special town meeting, transfer money back into the fire/ems expense account because it is now short. The financial team has it in control, but do the selectmen?
Chairman John Columbus said it was the law that the building & Grounds director for NRHS be appointed to the school building committee. 963 Code of Mass regulations 2.0 says different. It says it is recommended and suggested but not required. Only one member of the school committee is required by law to be on the committee, MGLc71 section 68.
Chairman John Columbus stated just before a vote concerning the purchase of the excavator, "if you vote against the excavator, you are voting against road projects" Really, that sounds like two different issues, an equipment purchase and use of chapter 90 money.
This board, all members, need to read their own policies and procedures, the open meeting law and take conflict of interest training, they have demonstrated on video that their understanding of it is limited.
Jeff Bennett
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