What government controlled health care really looks like - if you have a choice, keep your private health insurance.


By Doneen Durling
Reporter

Posted at 6:00 AM

GARDNER — Veterans in the area are being contacted and informed that they must choose another physician because the doctor currently treating them is no longer on the list of approved Veterans Administration (VA) providers. Some are being told Heywood Hospital is no longer accepting those under VA care, which has been proven untrue.

Heywood Hospital is in fact accepting veterans under VA care.

Maija Sumner wrote that her husband was under the care of Dr. Kalyan Kalava, a specialist contracted with Heywood Hospital. She was contacted and told she must find another physician because Heywood was no longer accepting VA patients.

“My spouse is a disabled veteran with a traumatic brain injury,” she wrote in a letter to The Gardner News. “The providers, which are contracted with the VA, can offer no relief or intervention for my spouse. It leaves veterans and their loved ones to do the legwork and research to find adequate care. In my spouse’s case, I do this for him as he is not able to advocate for himself. We have beat our heads against the wall to find a provider that will put forth the effort needed to come up with a plan that will help my spouse be able to maintain some sort of quality in his life.”

After doing research, the Sumners finally found a provider at Heywood but were contacted by the doctor’s office recently to inform them the care was no longer available.

“After constant pressure and fight, I was able to get the VA to agree to cover his procedures and care at Heywood. Today I received a call from Heywood notifying me that the hospital has decided to no longer accept the VA insurance within their institution. This is an absolute disgrace to those who have served their country and need care,” said Sumner. “How can we let our service members fall between the cracks further and further?”

Dawn M. Casavant, vice president of development and chief philanthropy officer at Heywood Healthcare, was surprised to hear that a patient had been given the information that Heywood Hospital is not accepting VA patients.

“We do take all the VA insurances,” she said.

Casavant clarified that Dr. Kalava is an independent physician who contracts his services to the hospital and is not employed with the hospital. She further explained that sometimes, when patient care is complicated, the VA will limit what is covered in other places, controlling the cost.

Casavant said that in 2017, Heywood Healthcare was excited to be providing for VA health care because so many veterans were forced to travel far to receive care. Heywood announced its partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014 provider agreement. The hospital called it a long-term solution to provide increased access to veterans in need of health care services while controlling costs.

Casavant advised that anyone associated with the VA receiving a call telling them they must seek a new provider should contact https://www.heywood.org/patients-and-visitors/patient-financial-services/patient-financial-services and receive help and advocacy in their search.

Casavant said that veterans in need of medical care should not have to go through seeking alternate care in the middle of treatment. She explained that the rules are different for the multiple insurances that are accepted at Heywood, and there are constant changes creating more paperwork and a need to constantly stay informed.

She said, “I think the devil is in the details, and we must figure out how the system could be tightened up so we don’t have veterans falling through the cracks. Know that the hospital is certainly sympathetic and would like to work to figure out how to strengthen the system. We don’t want any veterans falling through the cracks. We are here to serve our community.”

Calls to a representative of the VA who could speak to the press and to Dr. Kalava have not yet been returned to provide further insight into the changes happening at the VA and the reasons some doctors may not have been placed on the VA-approved list.

Templeton Capital Planning / Committee by-law:

I would think by the dollar amounts and time stated, this would include all road, building, sidewalk, drainage projects, they are infrastructure and one of the most important part of the operation of the town.

§ 9-8Duties and authority.

A. 

To facilitate the reasonable acquisition and replacement of capital items (defined as assets and projects with a useful life of five or more years and a cost of more than $10,000, but including items with an individual cost of less than $10,000 when purchased in bulk at a cost of more than $10,000), the Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(1) 

Annually collect all proposed capital improvements for the coming six years from all departments, on forms designed for that purpose.

(2) 

Consider all requests and the relative need and impact of these requests on the Town's financial position.

(3) 

Establish and annually update a five-year Capital Improvement Plan, based on this information.

(4) 

Annually prepare a report prioritizing capital needs for the coming fiscal year, and recommend a Capital Improvement Budget for that fiscal year.

(5) 

Submit this annual report, and its recommendations for purchases or improvements, to the Board for its consideration and approval as part of the annual budget planning process by January 1 of each year. A copy of said report shall also be filed with the Town Clerk and Advisory Committee.

B. 

It is the intent of this bylaw that all capital improvements, without regard to the source of funding, requested by a Town department or board shall be considered in the Committee's report before presentation to the Town for appropriation. If a requesting department shall not, for an unforeseen reason, have submitted its request for funding of a capital expenditure of the Committee during its annual review cycle, and such a request cannot, in its opinion, await the next annual review cycle, the department shall promptly submit the request to the Committee for consideration. In such an event, the Committee shall meet expeditiously to consider the matter and file a supplemental report as set forth above before any vote for appropriation takes place on the omitted request

Assessor: Received notification from DOR DLS for the setting of the tax rate. The rate for FY20 is $16.83, 41 cents lower than last year’s rate of $17.24. However, Real Estate values are up this year 8% to 20%. Much of the week was spent transferring files into the billing program, assessing light, sewer & trash liens, Title V and Sewer Betterments and yearly exemptions. The commitments and invoicing were done, and the files were sent to the Tax Collector to export out to the billing company. An additional motor vehicle billing was sent out from the RMV for the final one of 2019. With the new updated system at RMV this was sent as a test run for billing before the major billing the end of January. The commitment was done, bills were printed and given to the Tax Collector to mail out Tuesday. A reminder to residents, if you have not filed for your real estate exemptions, you still may, however, once approved the credit will go towards your 4th quarter tax bill. Form ABC’s (for non-profits), Income & Expense Reports and Forms of Lists are ready to be mailed out for the January 1 date. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and happy, healthy New Year!

Facebook © 2019

Town of Hubbardston
July 26, 2018 ·
Town of Warren to join Rutland dispatch center

HUBBARDSTON — Town officials have ap­­proved the Rutland Reg­ional Emergency Com­munication Center’s plan to add the town of Warren to the center, which will save Hubbard­ston thousands of dollars.

Currently, the Com­munication Center serves Barre, Oakham, Rutland and Hubbardston.

However, it will expand to include Warren starting in January, which will save Hubbardston roughly $18,000 a year. Currently, the town spends $134,241 on dispatch, but after the savings begin the town will spend $116,502.

“There are no known drawbacks to adding Warren,” Director of Communications Michael Moriarty said. “There won’t be any change in service to any of the towns, and Hubbardston will have the same service.”

In order to address the additional calls, the Communication Center is hiring additional dispatchers in order to assure no change in service with the addition of Warren.

“We are happy to be realizing long-term savings due to the addition of Warren into RECC,” Board of Selectmen Chairman Dan Galante said. “We feel as though we vetted it thoroughly and asked all of the necessary questions to make sure the citizens of Hubbardston are unaffected by this merger.”

Hubbardston was the last town to approve Warren into the center.

With Warren added, the current capacity of the facility will be maxed out, but the center is still looking at options to allow future expansions that could save the towns even more money.

“We are looking at new locations to continue to grow,” Moriarty said. “The building next door to us actually, if we move into that
we will be able to hold even more towns.”

With each town that is added to the center, there will be more overall savings for the towns already participating.

The Communications Center has also found additional savings in switching to Swift 911, swapping out Code Red, for recorded mass emergency calls. Swift 911 offers the same townwide calling services that CodeRed does, for about $7,000 less to the cost of each town using the center.

With Swift 911, the town is able to make wide-ranging calls for a number of scenarios, notably emergencies like floods or serious crime, but Swift 911 will also allow people to sign up for specific call lists, so they can be notified about non-emergencies like town meetings as well.

I would think that an F.B.I. academy graduate would know or could figure out it is more important to have police officers available, as in the realistic total number required for true safety of all (police and residents) rather than try to maintain the old guard of two departments when in fact one could be moved or reworked for the betterment of the the Town as a whole. Again, it all comes down to funding and looking at one of the objectives of prop 2 1/2: better, more efficient government. When is that going to happen?

Templeton special town election, June 11, 2007, voters approve an override of $735,700.00 to fund the operating budget of Narragansett school district.

Templeton special town election, October 15, 2013, voters approve an override of $620,000.00, of which $550,459.00, went to funding the Narragansett school district budget.

What will happen in 2020; override, another 1/12 budget, possible more town cuts? Another roller coaster financial year and some of that can be traced back to May, 2019, when the select board voted to spend over 60 thousand dollars of your tax money so Hubbardston could get their accounting service done for 37 thousand dollars (the amount Hubbardston is paying Templeton this year) One reason given for this is to hopefully entice Hubbardston to move their dispatch service to Templeton from Rutland. Would that be a bribe like move??

Time to stop all the bullshit, face reality and selectmen need to do what is best for Templeton and yes, that means from a financial stand point. After all, it is all about the dollars. Why people go to New Hampshire to shop, avoid sales tax. Why do people fudge (cheat) on taxes, why do people shop online, why do people push for college? It is all about the money, save or spend less, make more, etc. Nobody wants to invest in a company that spends more to make less, you would not put your retirement dollars in a company like that, so why do you want your money spent like that?? The town administrator put it in front of the selectmen, he made a pitch for it, but they ultimately voted for it, signed off on it and made that dumb move. They even sat their and touted how good things were/are and how great a job they had done / were doing. Since you do not show for meetings, they assume you do not care, that is the message I have heard either being at or watching selectmen meetings in the past (pre May 2019)

Look at Scout Hall and you tell me how great they were.

You might not hear this from a selectmen meeting because the board of selectmen representative to capital planning, selectmen Richards, has been absent from many capital planning meetings.
One proposal on the table is for highway to trade in excavator towards purchase of new backhoe. Trade in allowance for excavator listed at $85,000.00 (it cost new in 2014 at around 200 thousand) quite the loss (it was bought new by way of trade in of old excavator and chapter 90 money or commonly known as road funds) My thought on excavator was it was dumb move on part of selectmen to approve purchase of excavator in first place.

So, now , you the taxpayer and hopefully town meeting attendee, will be asked to decide if this is a good move or not.

Recoup legal costs??? Templeton?

THOL DAILY NEWS

Published: 12/13/2019 6:44:44 AM

Modified: 12/13/2019 6:44:29 AM

ATHOL – The Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee gave its stamp of approval on a plan, developed by Town Manager Shaun Suhoski in consultation with other town officials, to distribute funds paid to the town under the community host agreements approved by the Selectboard and signed by the owners of the various marijuana businesses set to open.

Those funds, which will be paid annually over a five-year period, are in addition to the 3 percent sales tax to be paid to the town on an ongoing basis.

The plan calls for 30 percent of non-tax revenues to go to “other post-employment benefits,” 30 percent to the Capital Stabilization Fund, 30 percent to downtown infrastructure costs and 10 percent to drug prevention, education, training, and prevention programs. Payments are to equal 3 percent of gross revenue of the respective businesses.

Suhoski told the committee at Tuesday’s meeting, “I’ve looked at everybody that has a special permit and a host community agreement, and... we have six entities, and one that’s proposed. That one will be before the Board of Selectmen on Dec. 17. They’ve received their special permit from the Planning Board and will be coming before the board for their host community agreement.”

“We made a point of coming up with a template (for the host community agreement) which we think will substantially withstand any challenges,” said Suhoski. “I’m sure our agreements are square with the law. There was an inclusion by the Board of Selectmen of a mandatory charitable donation. Fortunately, the town does not decide. It’s up to the companies to decide.”

Suhoski also explained that, early in the process, the town had hired a zoning consultant, at taxpayer expense, and noted there had been town counsel expenses “above and beyond the norm.” To cover those expenses, cannabis businesses have been required to make a one-time payment ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. He said those payments have gradually decreased because the volume of related work has also diminished.

The town manager also updated the committee on the status of the various marijuana related business, noting that MassGrow, located in the former UTD building, has received its state license and has begun cultivating cannabis, while the others are at different points along the approval process.

Committee member Mike Butler asked if the distribution plan complies with state guidelines for the use of the funds in question.

“I think they do,” Suhoski responded. “The 3 percent has to be related to the presumptively negative impact of the industry upon the communities that allow this new industry into the community.”

Following brief additional discussion, the Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee voted unanimously to endorse the cannabis revenue distribution plan presented by Suhoski.

Same shit, different town:

For Athol Daily News

Published: 12/14/2019 6:55:34 AM

ROYALSTON – Following a lengthy discussion, Royalston Selectboard and Sewer Commission voted to set sewer rates for the 55 residences tied into the municipal sewer system.

The move comes several months later than normal. Much of the discussion revolved around exactly who should be sending the bills.

Bills for the first half of the fiscal year were sent in September by the town’s Tax Collector, Beck Kraue-Hardie, who is responsible for collecting personal and property taxes, as well as some other municipal fees.

Selectboard member Roland Hamel said, “She can’t do it all. Under the Selectboard, we have the Department of Public Works, which the treatment plant falls under, and the director has an administrative assistant who, if we could offer her more hours, could be responsible for the sewer billing.”

“The reason the collector does the sewer bills,” said Commissioner Gary Winitzer, “is because of the town bylaws, which defines the duties of the tax collector, who is responsible for ‘collecting all fines, fees, and other receipts of the town.’ So, you can say she shouldn’t have to do it but that’s what the job is by bylaw.”

“In the town bylaw,” commission Chair Marie Mello interjected, “it says she collects the money. Well, she would still be collecting the sewer money, it’s just that someone else should be sending out the bills.”

Once the rancor had subsided, the Selectboard and Sewer Commission voted to officially establish the rates for the year. Residents tied into the sewer system are charged based on how many toilets, or units, are in their household. The rate was set at $738 per unit. Senior citizens on the system receive a 15 percent discount.

Because first-half bills were already sent out, those for the remainder of the year will be adjusted to reflect the rate established.

It was ultimately determined that it would be too late to change the bylaw or assign the duty of sending out the bills for the second half of the fiscal year to someone else.

There was also some heat generated over the commission’s failure to send out a so-called commitment letter confirming the sewer department budget, which had been set at just over $70,000 by Town Meeting voters.

The letter would normally have been sent in September. However, Wednesday night’s meeting was the commission’s first since June.

Addressing her comments to Winitzer, Selectboard member Chris Long said, “If this letter should have gone out in September then you, as outgoing chair, should have helped the incoming chair to understand that. The incoming chair doesn’t automatically get information conferred upon her about what’s supposed to happen. You had an obligation to inform the rest of the committee about what was supposed to happen.”

Winitzer defended himself by noting a final budget wasn’t approved by Town Meeting until October.

“How are we supposed to commit when you’re going to have a special Town Meeting in October?” he asked. “In order to do the commitment it has to be approved by Town Meeting.”

Mello provided documents indicating that $44,895 of the annual $70,203 budget has been expended since the start of the fiscal year July 1.

The life of the Sewer Commission, meantime, is running out. Earlier this year, residents voted to abolish the commission. The move requires approval of the State Legislature. Thus far, the measure has been approved by the Massachusetts House and now awaits action in the Senate. Once the legislation has been enacted and signed by the governor, the Selectboard will serve as the town’s sewer commission.

What is the school district? What is PMES to the town of Templeton? What is the regional district agreement? What is the lease between Templeton and the school district? All of those are a cost to the town; as in finance, budget, taxes that have effect on Templeton, town of and who is charged with fiscal oversight, who is fiscal watchdog of Templeton? Who is charged with advising Templeton, Town of, as well as Town Meeting on whether any agreements, leases, spending or budgets are good for the Town? 

I believe the answer to the latter is the Templeton Advisory Committee. So my question, as a resident of Templeton, is why can't Advisory Committee begin looking in to all of those things, in depth and bring a report to Town Meeting? Yes it will or might require more effort, more work and time and more than a couple meetings per month, but to me, that is their responsibility to the town. If members are unwilling or unable to do so, perhaps there is need for change.

The good ole days.

Templeton, Massachusetts

The Templeton landfill was ordered closed and capped under state orders in 1996 because it was an unlined landfill. The dump is located on a 12-acre site between Trout and Crow Hill brooks, adjacent to the Birch hill damn flood plain. It is also just behind the regional high school in a Zone II water protection area upstream from town wells. The Templeton Board of Health teamed up with Casella to propose a new, lined landfill to transfer the waste from the old landfill into the new one. The new landfill would take out of town trash with an original expansion to 26 acres. With the original 26 acres unable to hold the old landfill and twenty years of importing waste, residents assumed the town intended to use the clause in the contract that states that the “town will support the taking of land by eminent domain” and that if there is one cell open at the end of twenty years the contract will be renewed. At a special town meeting, the Templeton Board of Health created an enterprise and rewrote a bylaw that restricted outside trash from entering the town. The Board then signed the contract before they were granted the authority by the selectmen. Templeton Citizens Against the Dump (T-CAD) charged that the contract was illegal because it was signed without authority and the use of town land for this purpose was not brought to town meeting for approval. T-CAD started petitions and collected over 1,500 signatures to force a successful recall of all three of the elected board of health members.

LEGISLATURE ENACTS FINAL FISCAL 2019 CLOSEOUT BUDGET WITH FUNDING FOR MANY MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTS Lawmakers Strike Compromise to Meet Comptroller’s Deadline Final Version Includes Supp. Funding for Municipal & School Programs $20M in Additional Chapter 90 Funding $23.9M for Water Infrastructure, Including $14.85M for PFAS $5M More for Charter School Mitigation Payments Additional Funds for Reg. Sch. Trans, SPED Circuit Breaker After weeks of negotiations, House and Senate leaders reached agreement on a supplemental budget bill to close the books on the state’s fiscal 2019 budget. Acting in response to a deadline set by the state Comptroller, the bill emerged late in the evening on Wednesday, Dec. 11, and was enacted by lawmakers shortly after midnight this morning via a voice vote. Fiscal 2019 tax collections ran approximately $1.1 billion ahead of projections, and after accounting for increased spending in other mid-year budget bills, the year-end surplus was estimated at about $870 million. The final closeout bill, H. 4246, shifts $587 million to the state’s stabilization account (also referred to as the “rainy day” fund), a much larger savings number than any of the previous budget versions. The remaining supplemental appropriations are therefore significantly smaller across the board than the closeout budgets passed by the House and Senate in October. While the final appropriations are smaller for most programs, passage of the bill is good news, since none of this funding would have materialized otherwise, with the Comptroller sweeping all of the funds into the state’s rainy day fund instead. Key Municipal Capital Programs in the Legislature’s Final FY19 Closeout Bill $20 million for grants to cities and towns for the construction and improvement of municipal ways as a supplement to the Chapter 90 program. (While this additional Chapter 90 appropriation is certainly appreciated, this is lower than the $60 million originally passed in the separate House and Senate bills, or the $40 million filed by the Governor last fall.) $10.65 million transferred to the Clean Water Trust to assist in the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in local water systems. $9.05 million transferred to the Clean Water Trust to help finance improvements to local water systems via the State Revolving Fund. $4.2 million to help cities and towns test for local drinking water contamination related to PFAS. Key Municipal & School Aid Funding in the Final FY19 Closeout Bill $5 million for charter school reimbursements to school districts, bringing the final fiscal 2019 appropriation up to $95 million. $2.5 million for student transportation in regional school districts, which would bring state funding a bit closer to the full funding mark in fiscal 2019. The bill appropriates $5.188 million to the account, and sets aside $2.6 million of this for use in funding the fiscal 2020 appropriation. $2 million for the special education circuit breaker program, to bring fiscal 2019 to full funding for the state’s share of this important program. $2 million for student transportation reimbursements for homeless students under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. $1.17 million for the Municipal Regionalization Reserve to help cities and towns develop best practices in vital areas, such as cybersecurity. The final budget bill also requires early voting in the Presidential Primary, with $625K available to fund a portion of the costs and $1.5M to increase voter awareness, and also sets September 1 as the date of the State Primary Election. The MMA will be advocating for full reimbursement of the expense of new early voting requirements. As is customary, the budget bill includes a number of earmarks for local programs. Please click here for a link to H. 4246 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4246), to review the status of any local projects or appropriations you have been tracking.

Inter-Municipal Agreement – Dispatch

Provider = Town of Templeton, MA; a corporate body politic, acting through its board of selectmen (the provider)

End User = Phillipston

Whereas there shall be an advisory board, made up of police chiefs, fire/ems chief and emd director. It shall be chaired by the police chief of the provider and meet at least quarterly.

The board shall review and comment on:

Uniform operating procedures, policies, rules, and regulations that govern the development and operations of the TRECC. (Templeton regional emergency communications center)

Proposed annual and supplemental budgets of trecc.

Proposed application for and uses of potential grants.

If a dispute arises among the members of the advisory board with respect to the advice it is to render to the provider . . . . . . so, has this advisory board met as required? Has a report been created and if so, who has received it, as I have not seen or received one to date. If this board has not met, why not? Is this going to be another agreement that is not followed? We must do better.

Inter-Municipal Agreement – Accounting Services to Town of Hubbardston

Provider = Town of Templeton

End User = Town of Hubbardston

Fee Schedule as voted by Templeton Board of Selectmen

Hubbardston pays Templeton per fiscal year:

FY 2020 - $37,000.00

FY2021 - $41,000.00

FY2022 - $45,000.00

Cost to Templeton taxpayers for this agreement:

Salaries for Accounting Office increase from $90,000.00 to $127,470.00

(FY2020 budget book page 58 & 58A)

Accountant salary increases by $7,500.00 – from $70,190.00 to $77,690.00

Asst. Accountant salary increases from $20,346.00 to $49,780.00

Asst. accountant goes from 19.5 hours to 38 hours, now benefits.

Additional $25,000.00, for a total increase of $61,934.00, off set by the

$37,000.00 = net cost to Templeton of $24,934.00 so Hubbardston can have their accounting services done for $37,000.00. Why can’t Templeton get a “deal” like this? Why can’t Templeton get its accounting services for $37,000.00?

This is not a reflection on Templeton employees, rather it is an example of the need for Templeton to look at doing business in a different way. We enter agreements like this while we go without proper police protection, highway goes under staffed and fire/EMS is juggling for service, even after an override for that service. Then we say we cannot afford to fully fund schools.

A quick check of some "facts"; this budget season may prove to be interesting.

Scout Hall Re-Use Committee

Looked for meeting postings, last meeting posted was June 12, 2019

Agenda has general discussion and action on painting quotes.

Minutes on town website (which shows created on December 10, 2019)

Is just a copy of agenda, also, the agenda for a May 1, 2019 meeting lists general discussion and action: painter bids. Again, minutes on town website for this meeting is just a copy of agenda, (also created on December 10, 2019) the minutes do not meet the minimum requirements of the Open Meeting Law:

Public bodies are required to create and maintain accurate minutes of all meetings, including executive sessions. The minutes, which must be created and approved in a timely manner, must include:

• the date, time and place of the meeting;

• the members present or absent;

• the decisions made and actions taken, including a record of all votes;

• a summary of the discussions on each subject;

• a list of all documents and exhibits used at the meeting; and

• the name of any member who participated in the meeting remotely. While the minutes must include a summary of the discussions on each subject, a transcript is not required.

With $50,000.00 appropriated from CPC funds at the special Town Meeting in November, 2019, I have to wonder how and when that figure was arrived at – discussion and vote, who was present.

See CPC minutes for September 12, 2019:

Note: “existing balance of previous CPC funded project (see latest expenditure report, ATM 2016 balance listed at $11,140.74, so where / what is referenced concerning existing $5,000.00 balance? Where or when did that happen?

This is an example of how easy it is for things not to be done correctly, for the OML to be violated, unintentional or not and how important it is to keep track of taxpayer monies and funding. This shows why I thought the board of selectmen should have oversight of this project, as I believe TCTV was to be involved in the end result. An important thing as we move along with Town business.

I believe this deems attention and corrective action to stay in line with OML, DOR reporting, accounting of CPC funds and just conducting business in open and transparent fashion.

This "letter" was once posted to Town of Templeton face book page; makes good sense.

Message from Town Administrator Bob Markel

The Department of Revenue has always discouraged the use of free cash to balance the budget. Bond rating agencies do the same, and the low bond rating for the Town reflects, in part, the lavish use of free cash to fund the operating budget. However, this is not illegal; it is simply unsound financial policy.

The amount of free cash available changes yearly, and it is not predictable. Free cash is considered one-time revenue, and the Department of Revenues recommends that it used to augment the Stabilization Fund (reserves) or for one-time purchases like capital items.

Audit firms do not do a thorough job of auditing the books (unfortunately). They come and test various areas of the town’s finances to see if there are problems, but some problems are not caught and can persist for years. They tell you up front that they cannot do a thorough audit for the relatively modest amount they charge. The DOR representative at today’s meeting called the standard municipal audit a “hit and run” audit. Still, some firms are more reputable and more competent than others. I cannot name names in this message, but there are several firms that I would never hire.

Recommendation: The Selectboard should create an Audit Committee of knowledgeable citizens who will have two responsibilities: 1) Bid the audit contract every three years, and hire an independent auditor; and 2) Receive the annual audit and do a public review of the findings and the management letter. Municipal auditors are typically hired by the Town Administrator, Town Accountant or Finance Director. This is an inherent conflict of interest since town officials who do the hiring are the ones whose work is being audited. Hiring and receiving the audit should be an arm’s length transaction from the Town’s financial team.

The Department of Revenue oversees 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. They accept data provided by the Town Accountant, the Treasurer/Collector and the Assessors. They often question the data, but they are not always able to verify if data submitted on the Tax Recap or Schedule A are accurate. The DOR does not have access to the town’s accounting system. For example, the DOR was in Templeton today to question whether the Town has properly reported debt obligations on the DE-1 section of Schedule A. Some debt is paid from general revenue within the town budget and some debt is paid through debt exclusion. There is a correct way to report these two types of debt on Schedule A. The DOR representatives checked to see if the Town reported the data correctly, but they are limited in their ability to verify the accuracy of the data.

The long term solution to Templeton’s financial problems is to hire a professional Town Administrator who will put in place a competent financial management team – Accountant, Treasurer, Collector and Assessors. The Selectmen and Advisory Board have the responsibly to oversee the T.A. and the financial team on their management of the Town’s finances. To complement the BoS and Advisory Board, the Audit Committee should retain a reputable accounting firm to conduct an annual audit with the results made public.

Bob Markel
Interim Town Administrator

TEMPLETON — The state’s Department of Agricultural Resources and Department of Developmental Services are evaluating bids for the lease of 275 acres of agricultural land at the Templeton Developmental Center, with a decision expected early next year.

“They are able to open the property up for bid because they will maintain it for agricultural use,” said DAR representative Krista Selmi. “In other words, it would be a continuation of the historical use — it is not a disposition nor is it a redevelopment.”

Seven proposals have been made for various uses of the areas that encompass the 275 acres at the more than 2,000-acre property.


The areas are Eliot Hill, which includes three barns; the Valley Barn and its milk processing plant; the greenhouse with two glass houses and function space; and an area with three barns, the farm office and another building.

Within the request for proposals, the two state agencies outline the intent for the properties to be continued to be used for agricultural purposes.

“Valley Barn has been an integral part of TDC throughout its history and it is the intent of MDAR and DDS to retain a limited number of employment opportunities for TDC clients and staff in conjunction with the operation of Valley Barn in support of DDS programmatic objectives,” the request states.

The bidders include Karl Heins, Simmons Dairy and LLC Dairy, who all intend to use property for dairy production. Charles Dance and Matt LeClerc are proposing vegetable farming and raising livestock and poultry, while Red Tolman is proposing the relocation of wild mustangs from Montana and Wyoming.

Frank Matheson Jr. of Springbrook Farm is proposing grain production, and Forward Strides Therapeutic Horsemanship submitted two proposals for equine operations. 

In 2009, Gov. Deval Patrick mandated the closure of Templeton Developmental Center along with four other similar facilities as part of a shift toward serving those with developmental issues within community settings.

The development center was slated for closure in 2013, but according to the Department of Developmental Services, 41 residents still reside at the site as they await placement in other facilities.

The facility’s full closure is anticipated by 2015.

According to Gov. Patrick’s mandate, any reuse, renovation or redevelopment of the site will be decided by a committee, which will include representation from the town.

Last month, representatives from the state Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance indicated that they are now ready to form that committee.

“I think we’re at the point now where the town is near ready to appoint a reuse committee, and we’ll move forward with working on that,” said  DCAM representative Rachel Neff.

However, according to Town Administrator Jeffrey Ritter, state officials have not yet contacted the town regarding the developmental center.

Posted Oct 14, 2009 at 12:01 AM

 

TEMPLETON -- As an Oct. 26 public meeting with state officials to discuss the closing of the Templeton Developmental Center looms, Board of Selectmen Chairman Gerald Skelton Tuesday addressed the confusion surrounding the reuse committee for the center, while reiterating his opposition to the closing of the facility. Mr. Skelton discussed Tuesday the need for the public meeting to address the issues that have arisen as a result of the state’s decision to close the center, particularly over the role the reuse committee would take during the expected closing of the center, slated for 2013. While Mr. Skelton is supposed to be on the committee -- serving as its chairman -- the select board chairman reiterated his stance in opposition to the closing of the center. “I have a problem with being on a committee when I don’t believe in reusing (the center). I think it should stay open,” he said. The state Senate announced in May the passage of an amendment that would create a reuse committee in Templeton for the purpose of allowing the town to become more involved as the decisions about the center and its lands are made. The committee would include three Templeton representatives -- one from the select board, one from the Planning Board, and one member to be chosen by the selectmen. In addition, the committee would feature one representative each from the Community Preservation Committee, the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and the legal guardians of the clients currently housed at the center. Since the announcement, Mr. Skelton said there were numerous town residents who expressed confusion over what the role of the reuse committee would be in the center’s closing. “There’s a lot of people in town that were confused over what ‘reuse’ meant, instead of not closing it,” he said. “So we’re having this meeting to get everyone together because it’s going to affect the whole area, including the employees of the center.” The chairman said that in speaking with Robert Hubbard, Gardner’s director of planning and development, and John Henshaw, chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, while the opposition in town to closing the center has been strong, they advised filling the committee seats in order to be in compliance with the amendment. “We have to go down two paths here,” he said. “We have to get on the path that we don’t want to close, but yet we have to fill that committee.” Mr. Skelton will be meeting with both Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Henshaw to create an agenda for the meeting. Currently, state Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, and State Rep. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer, are the only members of the committee. Mr. Skelton said he expected a large turnout for the meeting, particularly if all, or a majority, of the center’s 450 employees attend. The public meeting on the closing of the center is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Narragansett Middle School.

Since it has been shown the school district has a hard time with snow removal when there is 12 inches plus, the Town will, despite the regional agreement, provide a loader and trucks as necessary, to remover snow from parking areas and the "cross road" between Wellington and South Road. There will be a cost attributable to snow & Ice, which the budgeted amount barely covers the cost to plow town roads. This is an item that has been tentatively put in place by the Town Administrator in agreement with Superintendent. The arrival of winter has shown that some of the concerns and questions raised along the way of the school being built were justified. The site looked great on paper, on a summer day, but how things change when you add the white stuff (snow) If you think this is only happening at the school, check out cumbies and notice how much parking they have lost due, in part, to snow accumulation. A learning curve for the school district plowing their areas out

Recent audit presentation; appears Templeton audit firm is cutting back on expenses, contract for audit services listed as $28,000.00 per audit, yet neither the management letter nor the audit report itself is in any type of binder or cover. Management letter has a paper clip and audit report has a spring clip on it. Maybe it was a rough year.

The all committee/board meeting was pretty much a bust, from an attendance stand point to substance. Of course with one member from Council on Aging turning it into a 10 minute bitch session, pretty much about how their feelings were hurt at the first meeting attended, well, not many people want to sit through that. Another dog and pony show idea from military that just does not work; unlike the military, you cannot force people to show up. Perhaps an indicator on how attendance is poor at Town Meeting, when you have people who volunteer and say they are committed to this or that, yet fail to show for meetings, how do you then expect people to show for Town Meeting.

ASHBURNHAM — The town is recouping and is slowly digging its way out of its fiscal crises. During Town Meeting on Monday at 7 p.m., voters will be asked to dip into stabilization to help fund the actions taken to bring back fiscal stability.

There are only three articles on the Town Warrant. The first two articles concern the funding for the town administrator and the auditing firm that came to unravel the town finances for the last two years. A stronger hand will take over as the new accountant and town manager are about set to start in January.

The first article on the warrant seeks $90,000, with $75,000 going for the new town administrator, and the rest to be used to offset what was paid to the previous town administrator to satisfy the contract.

The second article deals with auditor costs which will be roughly $44,000. Acting Town Administrator Mary Calandrella said they had only allocated funds for the previous auditor and when they had to hire another auditing firm, it cost $12,000 more per year.

Both articles would be coming directly out of stabilization which currently holds approximately $281,000.

“We are getting down to what I would say was dangerously low,” said Advisory Chairman Ronald Putnam. “We have no other alternative or other source of funding.”

The advisory board discussed funds from free cash that would be returned first to stabilization before funding anything else unless it is critical.

Both the Advisory Board and Board of Selectmen voted to return cash first to replenish stabilization and Capital Funds before spending.

The third article is a vote to accept a land grant from the state for the purchase of Jewell Hill. The state grant would permanently protect the Jewell Hill Farm, an unprotected 300-acre property in Ashburnham, Ashby and Fitchburg. Select board Chairman Rosemarie Meissner explained that the trustees of reservations are working on providing the town with what would possibly be a short-term loan (60 days) between the closing of the property on May 1 until the release of the grant funds by the state.

“There will be no interest charges to us,” said Meissner. “It’s a zero net-cost deal for us.”

Putnam told the boards that the property only brought $300 in taxes per year to the town.

Meissner explained that because it was agricultural property, there were not a lot of taxes realized by the town.

The advisory board voted to recommend.

Calandrella said she has been in constant contact with the Department of Revenue. The town filed its tax recap December 4, and the tax rate will be hopefully certified soon after. Tax bills will be sent out directly after. Free cash looked to be $819,000. The town is waiting for the DOR certification.

The 2019 audit is almost complete. Calandrella said the draft audit should be sent by auditors in January.

“We are looking pretty good at this point,” said Calandrella.

Meissner noted that the $819,000 could not be released because of most (approximately $600,000) is under tax lien. She said they had to wait for everything to clear through court.

In other news

Calandrella had only been seated as acting town manager for three days when the first snowstorm hit.

“Since it’s only been day three, I was off to a very snowy start with 30″ of snow that hit the town of Ashburnham. We hit the jackpot! It was the top five storms in the 100 year history of record keeping for Ashburnham,” Calandrella declared.

She thanked the Department of Public Works for all their hard work.

The town was awarded $54,000 for a new van for the Council on Ageing. Calandrella thanked COA Coordinator Janet Robbins for applying for the grant.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time because the one we’ve got is pretty much limping on its last tire,” she laughed.