One more time - Begin process of accepting private roads that do not currently meet accepted standards ; create schedule and process to bring them to standard as a service to taxpayers/residents. This has been to town meeting once and I would propose to bring it one more time. The purpose is simple, one of the things in the chapter 90 program used to determine how much chapter 90 money Templeton receives in the grant program is road miles. No, we have not kept or gotten existing town accepted roads in good condition yet, but it does not mean we should not offer same service to all taxpayers/residents. It also does not mean any "head of line" status, it means we begin planning for all roads in Town. If town meeting votes no again, well, those on private roads will remain second class residents and why should they pay taxes if they do not receive same service or expect same opportunity as rest of town residents.

The Massachusetts Chapter 90 program often serves as the main or sole source of funding for road construction/repair for most cities and towns. The program authorizes funding to every municipality in the state based on a formula consisting of road miles, population, and employment. The current formula places an emphasis on three areas with the following percentages:

Road Mileage — 58.33 percent

Population — 20.83 percent

Employment — 20.83 percent

In Pignatelli's bill, the proposed new funding formula aims to take 5.5 percent of funds from the population and employment categories and applies an additional 11 percent to the road mileage category, allowing smaller communities to gain 17-18 percent in funding:

Road Mileage — 69.334 percent

Population — 15.333 percent

Employment — 15.333 percent.

The Chapter 90 program funding formula was created almost 50 years ago in 1972 and has not been upgraded since. The formula itself has no legislative history, and is overseen entirely by the Department of Transportation. Pignatelli was inspired to file a bill updating the new formula as a direct result of the critical infrastructure challenges facing small communities.

This is important and I feel it deserves one more try, for the residents.