Interesting email from the selectmen:

Under the selectboard work plan for 2017 through 2020 is one item that is a head scratcher;

board of selectmen policy/handbook. This is interesting because they already have a policy & procedures document and there is already a selectmen handbook put together by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Apparently this board of selectmen does not have enough to deal with already, they wish to reinvent the wheel again!

Also, an item which states "to bring audits current" - $140,000.00. There is not enough funds currently budgeted to pay for this. $5,000.00 for a uniform budget document for all departments.
Again, reinventing the wheel, the selectmen have the Massachusetts division of local services - technical assistance bureau that you all already pay for through state taxes, that could be used for this service. Again, it appears there is an effort to strain the finances of Templeton more than they already are.

$5,000.00 to refresh town website and greater use.

$10,000.00 for a compensation study, again, spending money you do not have for something that should be put on hold until you have your financial house in order. This was done in the past and it resulted in a plan with no funds to make it happen, Wasted money because you cannot follow through on.

In my opinion, it looks as thought this select board is doing alot of talk and little else, bringing up many items so it appears there is progress when there is none. Someone on that board will say "we are solving issues, they are not" and that will again turn out to be a lie, it will again be untrue. That is my opinion.


posted by Jeff Bennett