Lets overthink something:

According to the Templeton highway department shop steward, there are 7 guys on the highway team.
The labor contract for the highway union contains items such as a $250.00 boot allowance for each employee and according to the union steward, that could add up to $1750.00 per year. The other items are one free insulated jacket or one free pair of insulated coveralls, five tee shirts for each employee per year and the town will also purchase and provide free water-proof boots, gloves, rain gear and safety equipment to each of those seven employees each year. In 2018, the free boot allowance will increase to $300.00 per employee which will be, well $2100.00.
I made a point of suggesting that this labor contract, along with the other contracts the selectmen have agreed to contribute to further debt of the town. I also made a point of questioning whether these promises made to the highway union could be a reason why inspection services was short of funds again this year. Seems this happens alot in Templeton, many items end up being short of funds to make it through a fiscal year. As in these contracts and promises that have to have money set aside to cover them can take funds away that could have been used to cover other items such as inspection services. Question is/was; do these items in the contract equate to a reason (s) why there is not enough money to go around for ALL departments and expenses? There was a need or request to transfer $2500.00 from the town reserve fund to inspection services. Since if you add up all of the potential costs for all of the above items and not just the boots, you probably come up with more than $2500.00. Since the union steward only used the boot item and the figure of $1750.00, it appears that either the steward cannot read, cannot do 4th grade math or just chose to use one item in an attempt to muddy the waters, so to speak on a particular subject. That subject being the fact that I chose the highway contract to make a point on town finance and the actions of the selectmen. Apparently it is okay for the union steward to complain and pick on the light & water commissioners but no one is allowed to point out items on Templeton highway. By only using the boot allowance and the figure of $1750.00 to try and make someone look like they do not know how to add or that they do not under stand things, shows, in my opinion, that it just may be the shop steward who does not understand things. The shop steward is of course little Davey.

posted by Jeff Bennett