In a message dated 10/26/2015 9:57:39 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, townadministrator@templeton1.org writes:

Paul -

The Advisory Committee is questioning the authority of the Selectmen to present the annual operating budget to the town meeting. They feel that the Selectmen's budget should be given to them and that they should present a budget to the town meeting.

Last year, I read the new by-law as establishing an "executive budget" similar to the budget process in federal, state and city governments. The executive budget is initially developed by the T.A. and then reviewed, modified and adopted by the Board of Selectmen. The Selectmen's budget is then given to the Advisory Board for review, comment, and recommendations at town meeting, but it is the Selectmen's budget which is presented at town meeting.

The Advisory Board is a committee of the Town Meeting and part of the legislative branch of town government. Their job is to review the Selectmen's budget and make recommendations to the town meeting but not to develop a separate budget for town meeting.

The Advisory Board would like to have an opinion from Town Counsel on this procedure.

Bob


Robert T. Markel
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Templeton
160 Patriots Road
East Templeton, MA 01438
(978)894-2753