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.