To Bob M.

The question of who is responsible for following Policies & Procedures, I would say that with regards to the selectmen, they are the first ones who are responsible for ensuring their policies are followed:
 page 1, Selectmen policies & procedures: Role of the selectmen - The board is responsible for policy development and review for compliance.

page 4, Selectmen policies & Procedures;
Agenda items normally include -
Reading of Agenda
public comment
town administrator report
topics not reasonably anticipated by the chair 48 hours in advance
Selectmen report/future agenda items
Adjournment

So Bob, when was the last time you saw public comment on an agenda for selectmen?

Seems  hard to expect others to follow written policies if the selectmen do not do it. The second ones who should be responsible for ensuring policies are followed are us, the people, which takes time and effort because you have to take the time to read them and attend the meetings. For instance, under selectmen policies & procedures.

As for your thought on how other committees might "use items such as toner, paper etc. from other departments or entities, well that is a good point which is why I brought another item to the board of selectmen when I served, that was central purchasing, which I thought would make for better tracking and accountability. All office supplies bought under one fund and used by all, with say a book that is filled out with who, what, when and how much, then say each month you look at what was used, how much and by who and if there is say quite a bit of paper used by one department, a discussion ensues and see if there is a way to cut back. I thought it was a no brainer and it would allow for better tracking of Town resources, but again, it was a hard sell. To micro managing, department heads shoulld be able to manage their departments, etc. Problem is, no one seems willing to tell department heads that these are not their departments, all departments and equipment, supplies and money belong to the Town, as in the people. Same with the school, I suggested that it is a Town project and should be managed by the Town rather than the school district and this project began I think in 2009, same time as the Town of Ashburnham began their school project, which is finished and open with students in it. A 32 million dollar school and a $400 thousand dollar feasibility cost while Templeton began with $550 thousand and a 32 million dollar project. Those numbers are off the top of my head by I believe pretty accurate. back to who should be overseeing the school, now in 2016 - 2017, we have perhaps one selectmen being vocal about these contracts belonging to the Town/selectmen.

The second item of policies are the more important ones, Town by-laws, which the selectmen for the second year have not followed, getting the warrant to the Advisory Committee by April 10. I was told in a face to face meeting with the Town Administrator that this would not happen this year for a few reasons. So much for all the policies. The one thing that may help would be if all of the people who attend selectmen meetings stand up and ask why, not just the same people or one or two, but all people in attendance.

posted by Jeff Bennett