It was stated at last evenings Advisory Committee meeting "we should follow the law"

My question is; which one?

Templeton taxpayers are spending good money on the "codification" of their Town general by-laws. Perhaps before we go changing any more of our Town by-laws, we let that process play out and see where we stand. I do not feel it makes good sense to make more changes before we get the original mess straightened out first.

Seems like the Advisory Committee fully supported a change to the budget process; then it happened. Careful for what you wish for!


Annual Town Meeting of May 17, 2014 - Advisory Committee recommends:

ARTICLE 20 CHANGE TO THE TOWN BUDGET PROCESS
To see if the Town will vote to change Article IV “Advisory Committee,”
Section 4 of the Town By-Laws to read:
“It shall be duty of the Town Administrator in conjunction with the BOS to consider expenditures and develop a budget for the ensuing fiscal year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as prescribed by the Town Administrator.”; or take any other action relative thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen 

Advisory Board Recommendation: No Vote: 5-0 

AB Comments: 
The Advisory Board fully supports a change to the town budget process, however, the wording and placement of this suggested by-law change ( replacing an article that deals with the Advisory Board with text that relates strictly to the BOS and Town Administrator) does not seem to make sense and therefore the Advisory Board cannot support the article.


Templeton General Town by-laws:

Article IV - Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Advisory Committee annually to consider the expenditures in previous years and the estimated requirements for the ensuing year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as may be prescribed by said committee. The said committee shall add to such statement of expenditures and estimates another column, giving the amounts which in its opinion should be appropriated for the ensuing year, and shall further add thereto such explanations and suggestions relating to the proposed appropriations as it may deem expedient, and report thereon as provided in section five of Article II.



Article II - Section 5. Warrants for Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meetings shall be open for a minimum of 14 days before closing and posting the warrants. Passed 5-12-04

section five of article II might be a typo, as section six of article II seems to make better sense; it does not change what is in town bylaws now on the Town website.

Section 6. All articles in any warrant for a town meeting shall be referred to the Advisory Committee for its consideration. The Selectmen after drawing any such warrant shall transmit immediately a copy thereof to the chairman of said committee. A public hearing shall be held, upon all such articles, unless a public hearing by some other tribunal is required by law, and a notice of such hearing shall be given by inserting in the local newspaper. Said committee shall, after due consideration of the subject matter of such articles, report thereon to the town meeting, in writing, such recommendations as it deems best for the interests of the town and its citizens. Copies of the report of the Advisory Committee shall be made available to the voters at least two days before town meetings and at all town meetings.


Article III -Section 4. “It shall be duty of the Town Administrator in conjunction with the BOS to consider expenditures and develop a budget for the ensuing fiscal year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as prescribed by the Town Administrator.”
Passed 5-16-13, Approved by A/G 8-22-13. Amended 5-19-14, Approved by A/G 7-2-14