Is it an act of fraud when one asks for money for a particular item and it is spelled out that the money is for a specific item: then that someone (s) who asked for the money, go and use it for something else? If someone did that, who worked for you, would you consider that a fire-able offense and secondly, would you fire them?

a notation on the red line draft of codification of by-laws: interesting.

Comment [KS4]: 59-5 [Sick Leave for FullTime Employees] deleted in its entirety because it conflicts with the personnel bylaw. The substance of the bylaw will be captured in Town policies. 59-6 [Compensation to Incapacitated Firefighters and Rescue Squad Personnel] deleted in its entirety because its terms are set by state statute and the bylaw redundant.


Current personnel by-law states:

The Board of Selectmen is responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures. Passed 5-10-05, Amended 5-9-06, Amended 5-20-13, Approved by A/G 8-22-13

So, does the current personnel policy, including changes to sick time, constitute a violation of by-laws on the part of selectmen? Is that a reason for recall of selectmen?

Another Templeton by-law:
Veterans Advisory Board
Section 3. Purpose

The Board shall meet no less than quarterly to consider matters brought to its attention by the Town’s Veterans Services Officer, other Town Officers or employees, the general populace and of its own initiative pertaining to the health and well-being of the Town’s veterans.

Section 4. Report
The Committee shall annually file a report on its work, to include such recommendations as it deems worthy of consideration, with the Board of Selectmen in December of each year.
Passed 5/19/18, Approve by A/G 8/3/18

There is no record of a posted meeting on the Town website for this fiscal year. The board of selectmen appoint members to this entity, but the town website shows only one person appointed to the veterans advisory board.

More by-laws not being followed? Again, perhaps the selectmen are too focused on trying to manage the Advisory Committee and neglecting their real duties.

Good day to all and to all, Merry Christmas!

I finished watching the selectmen meeting of December 19, 2018 and I heard selectmen  saying Templeton has a low tax rate. So, I took seven minutes to look at the most recent data I could find. The division of local services, tax recap sheet, which anyone can do. I wanted the most current data, not old information.

This is what I found regarding to your approve community comparisons:

Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate (selectmen choice) - $17.24 per thousand

Ashburnham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate                                       $22.55 per thousand

Athol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate                                      $17.45 per thousand

Ayer   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Multi tax rate  (residential)               $13.63 per thousand

                                                                                      (commercial)            $28.80 per thousand

Dudley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . .Single tax rate                                       $13.50 per thousand

Monson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single tax rate                                        $18.34 per thousand

Montague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Multi tax rate (residential)                   $17.13 per thousand

                                                                                    (commercial)                 $26.19 per thousand

Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single tax rate                                        $22.52 per thousand

Shirley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..  . .. . .Single tax rate                                        $16.08 per thousand

Townsend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single tax rate                                        $19.33 per thousand

Winchendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single tax rate                                       $16.71 per thousand

So, the information shows that of the comparison communities (10 ),  five are higher than Templeton and five are lower than Templeton for residential taxes. How does this equate to Templeton having a low tax rate with regards to other communities on the list? Please check this information (as you should) Percentages can be manipulated to fit anything, but the per thousand tells residents where they stand regarding charges, in dollars and cents, to pay bills charged to them. 

Question: How many residents do the selectmen propose go to the Assessors office and question what percentage of their median family income goes to their tax bill? Now, how many residents do the selectmen propose go into the Assessors to question their tax bill or inquire about the tax rate? I suggest you inquire in the Assessors office or speak with elected members of the Board of Assessors.

note: Selectmen referenced a column on the comparison community chart showing average tax bills as a percentage of median income. 

On the average single family tax bill,  4 communities had a lower total average tax bill than Templeton. Six communities had a larger total average tax bill than Templeton. Templeton is near the middle of those averages. How does any of this information justify telling people that Templeton has a low tax rate? 

Templeton selectmen seek to eliminate a Town By-law because it conflicts with a policy they voted on to put in place. That would be the personnel policy, specifically, regarding sick time.

You can see this on the red-line draft of the proposed by-law changes that selectmen wish to enact.

This item is on page 17 of 202 pages. So, my question is, when the selectmen, particularly Diane Brooks, who has spoken about this on multiple selectmen meetings, when they created, wrote, crafted, etc., this policy, why did they not write it around the existing by-law, you know the thing that was presented to town meeting and approved by town registered voters, ie; the legislative body of Templeton. Why does town meeting vote have to go, rather than the selectmen adjust their policy to town meeting vote?

Is that not how most of these messes happen, the committee of the whole not looking at everything involved and ensuring that any proposed changes will not conflict with the already existing rules, laws, guidelines? Appears the selectmen have their priorities wrong, they are suppose to serve the people, the people are not suppose to serve them. It is after all, the residents who vote selectmen into office and it is the residents who can vote to remove them.

Latest job openings in Templeton:

Job Openings

Foreman-Buildings & Grounds

Part-Time Laborers

Full-Time Firefighter/EMT-P

On Call Snow Plow Driver (DPW)

Thought we increased salaries and had a tax override to pay for these things and to attract and keep qualified employees?

Management the problem???

Templeton selectmen need to keep up!!!

an email to the Templeton Advisory Committee from the office of the Board of Selectmen:

On other related matters, I would like your Board to be aware that payroll is done in the Accounting Office not the Treasurer/Collector’s office.   This change was made some 18 months ago in the FY ’18 budget.

(received on December 6, 2018 at 9:41 A.M.

from the personnel policy posted on Templeton Town Website:

B. Employee Time Records - Each Department Head will submit to the Town Treasurer, with the weekly pay warrant, a time sheet for each employee. This time sheet will specify the number of hours worked and any leave taken.

If the payroll is done in the office of the Town Accountant, why would department heads send it to the Treasurer's office?

Stop trying to manage the Advisory Committee and pay attention to things in your lane! If the selectmen have made any changes to personnel policy or any other item, the postings on the town web site should be up to date, real time. I thought that is one reason people in town hall make the big bucks. They are suppose to be the pros!