What happened to the $750,000.00 certified free cash that we were told was coming? The supposed funds John Columbus talked about using for some expense a little prior to the May 2016 elections. He, as chairman, threw a person out of a meeting of selectmen, after that individual commented that was not a good thing to consider.
I think the above caption/instagram photo may say it all, with regards to John Columbus, but I think if checks some facts, he would see that on the Templeton Town meeting warrant for May 15,16,21,23 2012, which includes the budget for fiscal 2013, he will find a familiar name, Columbus. Members of the select board at that time were Robert Columbus, Chris Stewart, Patrick Mullins, Virginia Wilder and Jeff Bennett. Those were the selectmen from the recall election in February to the election in May of 2012. I also can say that if John checked or if he had attended, I told people at a meeting in the KIVA, the fall of 2013 that if they wanted to point a finger, if they wanted someone to blame, that would be me, Jeff Bennett, as I was the current Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. I did not hear John Columbus say much at a meeting on July 21, 2016, at the KIVA, where discussion focused mostly on budget issues for fiscal 2017. If you check, you will find John Columbus was the chairman of the Board of Selectmen for the time of January 1, 2016 until the first meeting of the BOS after the May election of 2016. So to John Columbus, will you be stating your culpability in the current budget mess? Or will you continue to denigrate those who are trying to advise you on a course that perhaps will stop this from happening again as we move forward. I believe it is important enough that it deserves the effort to try to instill the changes needed to get a budget process in place that demonstrates Fact, Law, and Transparency. (Thank You Jeff) John may take some things as lecturing, but it is advice based on experience, outside information and looking at how other communities successfully get a town meeting warrant and budget spread sheet out to the voters at least three weeks prior to Town Meeting. I would like to see Templeton do the same. When we have a person changing something that the selectmen have already voted on, the day before town meeting, I think someone could use a lecture. Remember John, you were the Chairman of the select board while that budget was put together, so take responsibility for it. In a sense, listen to what you wrote on your face book page.
That is my opinion, and in no way reflects any thought or position of the Advisory Committee, of which I am a member.
posted by Jeff Bennett
Did I hear John Columbus right ??? " Bob Markel was the person most responsible for getting the Town back on track" !! Since when ?? I do not agree. We are in bigger trouble now than when he walked in the door. Maybe if good old boy John Columbus would stay awake, he would now there is no such thing as "found money". Just what account did that money come from. Do you think that was a transfer that did not get moved legally I do. We do not have money laying around with no place for it to go. No slush fund next to the washer. Any thing in the bottom of the washing machine is mine, in my house, but that does not work in a Town budget. Why spend more money for raises than you have in a salary account ?? That was a great move ! Now something gets cut, to pay it back. So whos account will that be ?? Playing with the numbers is nothing new. It is the same way things were done in the years prior. That is why we are still in a hole. We will not get out of this hole until we learn to spend what we have, and nothing else. John Columbus, this is your wake up call ! Wake up or go home and go to bed. !!
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