Anonymous2:40 PM

So what happens if we cut the 100k from ems? Do we lose our els service? I believe once it's lost its gone forever right? What happens if we cover it with the money that's supposed to cover it?

It sounds like the school. If we back out we need to cover 1.4 million and repair the schools or lose our school funding. The issues are apparent Jeff. the choices are just as clear but somehow we find issues and stop working towards a solution. That's the way of the Selectmen from 2011. Wasn't that you jeff?

Speaking of schools, there was an article concerning Hank Mason and his tenure on the school committee, in that article was something about a change to the regionalization agreement back in the 90's with regards to elementary schools. Which I beleive and I will have to double check this as well, that the change means the school district could walk away from the Phillipston memorial school and move those kids into the new elementary school and if that is the case, Phillipston gets access to a new school without spending a dime. Riding Templeton like a rented mule again! Something to look at.

Anon, you sound alot like dave smart, (in my opinion) but no matter, if you check, I believe the last tax override, as in permanent, forever, was passed in the fall of 2013, when I served on the board of selectmen. Personally, I thought it should be one million as I stated in a letter in the Gardner News. My thought was overridden by the rest of the selectmen. We did manage to get an override passed with some or most of it going towards the school assessment and the rest going to restore of non union town employees. The issue then was as it is now, shortage of revenue and or to high of expenses. Yes, I also believe if you check, if the Town does not meet the license requirements for ALS, the town looses it all, I would have to double check that to be sure. If you watched, I did keep trying to find ways to cut down on town expense by suggesting things like close one fire station. (Phillipston, Gardner, Westminster, Winchendon all have only one station) moving dispatch out of Templeton and regionalize with other communities to cut down on Templeton expense. Phillipston gets the same dispatch service as Templeton, yet Templeton pays at least 340 thousand a year for that service, last I knew, Phillipston was paying Templeton about $57,000.00 per year for the same service. No labor contracts, no retirement, no health insurance costs, no building costs, no payroll, vacation, sick time or overtime costs. No debt exclusion, as in extra taxes for the building either. If it works for Philipston and is so good for them, why would it not be good for Templeton? Never got a good answer to that question, other than the supposed "it only costs Templeton $37,000.00 a year for dispatch service." That came from the then chief of police and selectmen Haley Brooks used that topic for election, as in signs with "save dispatch". So, you can continue, but there really is not much of a case to blame me anymore, have not been on the select board since March of 2014 and what has improved financially for Templeton? Same old same old with the same old line, all is fine and we are moving forward. More like in circles in my opinion. 

Ask the selectmen why they have ignored the advice of Town counsel concerning budget preparation and presentation. Why have the selectmen failed to act on that so there is no conflict in MA general law, town by-laws etc. There is an opinion, a thought of how to fix that and is has been sitting with the selectmen for at least a year with little to no mention. Perhaps a petition by the citizenry to address it is the answer, which would probably lead to alot of time and a messy fight on town floor, which is what Town counsel opined could be avoided, but to no avail so far. Again, another question that you could take to the selectmen. I will look for my copy and try to give you the dates and the exact wording, I did a blog concerning it a while back. So, again, go ask the selectmen! Oh, the deflection is noted but not working!

posted by Jeff Bennett

These are my thoughts and opinions, still allowed by the constitution I believe.