TO:       Town of Templeton Department Heads, Committee and Board Chairman

From:   Richard Curtis, EMD / Ethics Liaison

RE:       Distribution of Conflict of Interest and Open Meeting Law Materials

Date:    March 21, 2016

            It is mandated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that each year, the Town of Templeton:

·         Provide every public employee with a copy of the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Law, and every other year – also complete the on-line training program. This year we must do both to comply.

·         Provide every elected or appointed public employee with a copy of the Open Meeting Law Guide and training materials.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Step 1:             Copies of the summary are sent out to each Department Head electronically, (Attachment #2), who will then print and issue copies, or send them electronically, to each of their employees, (full-time, part-time, contract, volunteer, board or committee members, etc.). Each employee will then fill in, sign and date the acknowledgment form, (Attachment #5), verifying that they received a copy. The employee must forward the signed acknowledgment form to the Town Clerk’s Office. Please ensure that each employee receives a copy of the summary and acknowledgment form.

Step 2:             This year, each employee must also go to the following web address and complete the Municipal Employee On-Line Training Program. (www.muniprog.eth.state.ma.us) 

            Upon completion, each employee must print out their certificate and forward a copy of that certificate to the Clerk’s Office.

OPEN MEETING LAW

                        Copies of the required Open Meeting Law materials, (the Attorney General’s Regulations 940 CMR 29;  the Open Meeting Law Guide and a copy of the Open Meeting Law – M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25), are sent out electronically to each Department Head, (Attachments #3 and #4), who will then print and issue copies, or send electronically, to each of their employees who hold elected or appointed positions in the Town of Templeton. Each employee who receives this material will fill in, sign and date the certificate of receipt form— (Attachment #6). The employee must forward the signed certificate of receipt form to the Town Clerk’s Office to verify that they have received, read and understand the requirements of the Open Meeting Law. Please ensure that every elected or appointed employee receives their copy of the Open Meeting Law Guide and Regulations and the certificate of receipt form.

All acknowledgement forms and certificates should be received by the Clerk’s Office no later than May 10, 2016.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (978)580-6620.

cc:                           Town Clerk

                                Town Administrator     

posted by Jeff Bennett