Templeton Board of Selectmen
Town Hall, 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton
Monday, May 22, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

Agenda
1. Call the Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. a. Meeting Minutes~ 5.8.17
b. Executive Session Minutes~ 5.8.17, 11.14.16

4. New Business: 
a. HEARING RE: Liquor License Transfer ~ Thirsty Turtle
b. Presentation RE: Q3 Report of Public Works
c. Presentation RE: Open Space & Recreation Plan
d. Action RE: CPC Grant Proposal
e. Action RE: Legal Services IFP
f. Action RE: S.125 FSA Limit Increase
g. Action RE: Proposed Personnel Policy Amendment
h. Action RE: Amendment #4 w/OPM RE: Temp Center Elem School
i. Action RE: Amendment #7 w/SMMA RE: Temp Center Elem School
j. Action RE: Bad Check Policy (Refer to Workshop)
k. Action RE: CDBG Lien Subordination Request
l. Action RE: Town Service Pin (TSP) (J. Caplis)
m. Action RE: Policy RE: Wear & Appearance of TSP (J. Caplis)

5. Old Business:

a. Action RE: 

6. Board & Staff Member Comments & Reports

7. Potential Request for Executive Session 

8. Adjournment

posted by Jeff Bennett

What happens at a public meeting stays public - as in do not say anything you do not wish repeated.

That is the opinion of this simple appointed volunteer. You see, I am not elected like our honorable selectmen - the superior ones, as they so declared and that declaration was backed up by people such as the town administrator (interim) and the town accountant.

So did a member of the superior board step in it? Perhaps, but what is said at an open public meeting, well, it stays public, no going back and erasing it. That is why they are called open and public and that is why a record of sorts is required.  Perhaps a lesson here is when a superior board tries to ignore, push aside, or manage another group, it may not always end well or go smoothly. Sheep can be marginalized, but when you invite someone to a get together and then basically tell them to sit in their like window dressing just so you can possibly say, hey, were working together, we are on the same page when in fact you are not even reading the same book, well, expect a little heat.

I looked up in the Templeton Annual Town report and on the Town website and other places, including a few past newspaper articles and what I found was this:

Templeton Town Treasurer/Collector listed as Kate Meyers and the Assistant Templeton Town Treasurer/Collector listed as Carol Lee Eaton, so if anyone says for instance, "the Templeton Town Treasurer/Collector or the treasurer/collector" just who do you suppose would they be talking about?

At the end of the day, a public meeting is public and open and what is said there is public and it will not be erased here, as was asked of me. I am just a simple guy in Templeton who heard something and I let people know. I am not one of the exalted elected ones from the superior board. Have I previously served as a selectmen? Yes I have, but that is in the past and I have heard the superior ones state many times, including at the most recent Templeton Town Meeting, that the past is in the past and we are looking/moving forward. So please do not try to tell me this or that or you know because you were a selectmen etc. That is in the past and ya'll do not deal in the past.

Speaking of Town Meeting, I have to get that dvd and see if there was actually a vote to dissolve the meeting because I believe I heard a motion but not an actual vote. Now that would be something.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Highlights for today;

According to the latest budget versus actual - expenditures, there are several funds/accounts over spent - that is they show up as in deficit. My thought is that those things should be caught by both a department head and the accountant and the accountant should not let things be paid that will result in a deficit. I believe it is in the law or the guidelines for a Town accountant.

Another highlight is the salary fund/account for Templeton dispatch - on the expenditure side, it shows a balance left of $6,933.19 left for the year. I hope that is enough to pay the employees through the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2017.

A post here under the name anonymous is signed  " and thank you for all you do". That is the line at the end of every email I have ever seen and or received from Anne Gobi - Thanks for all you do.

Lets just say I do not believe in coincidences but perhaps someone has taken her line?

At last nights Advisory Committee meeting, there was a surprise attendee, newest selectmen Cameron Fortes. Wish he would have stayed until the meeting ended as there were a couple questions that he may have been able to answer. One thing he did comment on was that apparently the treasure/collector Kate Meyers is on some sort of administrative leave - as in home and getting paid with an option on the table to resign or not. Probably be July before the Town knows for sure.



posted by Jeff Bennett

To selectmen Brooks; try reading your own policy as posted on the Templeton Town web site, it clearly states adopted in the first line:

This policy shall be known as the Town of Templeton Social Media Policy. It has been adopted by the Town of Templeton Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator. The Town Administrator reserves the right to amend any of the provisions of this social media policy for any reason and at any time, with or without notice. This social media policy will be administered by the Town Administrator or their authorized representative.

If it has not been adopted/accepted or voted on, it should not say "adopted". Perhaps you should run that question before Town Counsel, the one you wish to replace. (In my opinion) Maybe that nick name "liars club" actually fits!

Jeff Bennett

One policy on the Templeton Town web site - this is the first paragraph of this "policy"

This policy shall be known as the Town of Templeton Social Media Policy. It has been adopted by the Town of Templeton Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator. The Town Administrator reserves the right to amend any of the provisions of this social media policy for any reason and at any time, with or without notice. This social media policy will be administered by the Town Administrator or their authorized representative.

So, the above says it has been adopted but next to it is states Draft, which usually indicates it has not been formally accepted or adopted yet???????


http://www.templeton1.org/sites/templetonma/files/file/file/social_media_policy-draft.pdf


posted by Jeff Bennett

The current board of selectmen continue to do what they seem to do best, ignore Town by-laws, Massachusetts general laws and their own policies and procedures. So why do they continue to propose more policies and more guidelines when they do not follow the ones already in existence. Also at last nights workshop, they admitted that under the direction of the DOR (at least that is what was stated) the Town is going to basically write off many things (as in dollars) to "clean up" the books and start fresh. Sounds like they are not nor have they "fixed or solved" anything, they just swept in under the rug. In my opinion, anyway.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Good Day:

I do anticipate the need for year-end transfers.  Regularly scheduled BoS meetings at which I might request those are 05/22, 06/12, 06/26, and July 10.  Any transfer requests would follow those within a day or so.  I would suggest you include a slot for transfer requests through 07/15.

As you may now know, the statute has been amended to remove any caps on amounts to be transferred or prohibitions on what accounts transfers may be from:

“(b) A town may, by majority vote at any meeting duly held, transfer any amount previously appropriated to any other use authorized by law. Alternatively, the selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee or other entity established under section 16 of chapter 39, may transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year,any amount appropriated, other than for the use of a municipal light department or a school department, to any other appropriation.

            (c) No approval other than that expressly provided in this section shall be required for any transfer under this section.”

This means that transfers from the Advisory Committee Reserve need not meet the normal restriction of being triggered by an “Emergency or Unforeseen Circumstances” as this restriction does not apply to year end transfers when done under this provision of statute.

My hope is to keep any needed transfers to those required to offset the Snow & Ice deficit.  However, as you know we are very close on the Group Insurance Account and I expect we may have needs in the Town Counsel account where we have roughly $8k left as of today but billing(s) for May and June yet to be received. 

Many Thanks

Carter Terenzini

Interim Town Administrator

Town of Templeton

160 Patriots Road

East Templeton, MA 01438

(978) 894-2753

From: Templeton, MA Advisory Board [mailto:templetonadvisoryboard@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2017 7:03 PM
To: Town Administrator <townadministrator@templeton1.org>
Cc: Cameron Fortes <Selectmen.Fortes@templeton1.org>; Doug Morrison <SelDMorrison@templeton1.org>; Diane Haley Brooks <SelDHaleyBrooks@templeton1.org>; John Caplis <selectmen.caplis@templeton1.org>; Julie Richard <SelJRichard@templeton1.org>; Spring, Wilfred <185wilberdr@gmail.com>; Bartolomeo, Bev <bartsfarm@comcast.net>; Julie Farrell <j_farrell@hotmail.com>; Paul Grubb <grubbp@comcast.net>; Nodrog here <gordongmoore@yahoo.com>; j_bennett506@hotmail.com; Board, Advisory <templetonadvisoryboard@gmail.com>
Subject: Reserve/End of year transfers

Carter,

Will you or department heads planning to requesting reserve or end of year transfers next month?

Just as a reminder End of years transfers must be approved by the selectmen as per the policy adopted by our committee. It also requires the signature of the selectmen chair. Please let us know as soon as possible so it can be included in our agenda.

Thank you 

Wilfred Spring

Chairman

posted by Jeff Bennett