Dear Selectman,

 

Starting on November 1st, cities and towns will be required to recycle rather than dispose of mattresses through landfills, among other regulatory changes. The MMA will be hosting a webinar for local officials, public works directors, and sustainability directors to help municipalities prepare for these new solid waste bans.

 Holman Street property (old Temple Stuart factory) sold on August 26, 2022. As of now, none of the back taxes have been paid. I have heard of an attempt to do a TIF agreement, and some kind of a payment plan. This would be a bad and dumb move on the part of Templeton, there is about a half million dollars owed to Templeton on this property. I am pretty confident board of assessors do not favor any kind of agreement on letting tax dollars go. Best of my knowledge there is nothing set as of now, but ya'll best let selectmen know, who could let the TA know, NO DEALS, collect all money owed town on this property. This is why we have a collector and tax title is where this belongs if all of the taxes are not paid forthwith to the town.

 Templeton dog owners contribute $34,807.50 to town budget via dog license fees for fiscal year 2022. (from July 1, 2021, thru June 30, 2022)

Town fiscal year town clerk budget request for dog licenses and delinquent dog license postcards and postage shows total of $770.00. If a fee is supposed to cover cost of service, dog owners are being fleeced. This is in part due to the town meeting vote to increase cost of dog license to 20 bucks, which is way more than needed to cover cost of dog licenses. Time for a question to town meeting to change the cost of dog license, as these taxes are getting out of hand.

from current town bylaws:

The Town Clerk shall, pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 22F, from time to time fix reasonable annual fees to be charged for the issuance of licenses for dogs. At the adoption of these bylaws, the annual licensing fee shall be fixed at $15 for a spayed/neutered dog and $20 for an intact dog. These fees shall not be increased without a majority vote of the voters present at a Town Meeting.

MGL chapter 40, Section 22F. Any municipal board or officer empowered to issue a license, permit, certificate, or to render a service or perform work for a person or class of persons, may, from time to time, fix reasonable fees for all such licenses, permits, or certificates issued pursuant to statutes or regulations wherein the entire proceeds of the fee remain with such issuing city or town, and may fix reasonable charges to be paid for any services rendered or work performed by the city or town or any department thereof, for any person or class of persons; provided, however, that in the case of a board or officer appointed by an elected board, the fixing of such fee shall be subject to the review and approval of such elected board.

A fee or charge imposed pursuant to this section shall supersede fees or charges already in effect, or any limitations on amounts placed thereon for the same service, work, license, permit or certificate; provided, however, that this section shall not supersede the provisions of sections 31 to 77, inclusive, of chapter 6A, chapter 80, chapter 83, chapter 138, sections 121 to 131N, inclusive, of chapter 140 or section 10A of chapter 148. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any certificate, service or work required by chapters fifty to fifty-six, inclusive, or by chapter sixty-six. The fee or charge being collected immediately prior to acceptance of this section for any license, permit, certificate service or work will be utilized until a new fee or charge is fixed under this section.

The provisions of this section may be accepted in a city by a vote of the city council, with the approval of the mayor if so required by law, and in a town by vote of the town meeting, or by vote of the town council in towns with no town meeting.

 from the most recent Templeton Town Administrator report:

Agricultural Commission: Members met on 8/29/22, meetings will be scheduled for the first Monday of every other month beginning on October 3, 2022. The draft chicken/rooster bylaw will

be moved forward to Fall town meeting; Tim Rotti and Matt LeClerc have been recommended to the Select Board for appointment to the open seats on the commission.

So much for Templeton being a right to farm community.

I have 484 reasons to not appoint M. LeClerc to ag comm.

What does Templeton Town by-laws state?

This general bylaw encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the Town of Templeton by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimum conflict with abutters and Town agencies. This bylaw shall apply to all jurisdictional areas within the Town of Templeton.

The words "farming" or "agriculture" or their derivatives shall include, but not be limited to, the following: farming in all its branches and the cultivation and tillage of the soil; dairying; production, cultivation, growing, and harvesting of any agricultural, mycological, aquacultural, floricultural, viticultural, or horticultural commodities; growing and harvesting of forest products upon forest land, and any other forestry or lumbering operations; raising of livestock, including horses; keeping of horses as a commercial enterprise; and keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle, ratites (such as emus, ostriches, and rheas) and camelids (such as llamas and camels), and other domesticated animals for food and other agricultural purposes, including bees and fur-bearing animals.

Dispute resolution will be the responsibility of the Select Board (Board), or its designee(s), until such time as an Agricultural Commission is formed by the Town and empowered to resolve disputes arising from this bylaw.

Within Templeton bylaws, under boards, committees, commissions, agricultural commission is not listed or shown.

Annual Town Meeting - May 2006:

Article 47. To see if the Town will vote to establish an Agricultural Commission to represent the farming community of Templeton. Said Commission shall serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuit of agriculture in the Town of Templeton and to oversee the Town’s established “Right-to-Farm” bylaw. The commission shall also promote agricultural-based economic opportunity in the Town. The Commission shall consist of three (3) members from the resident farming community of Templeton and members shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen as follows: One (1) member for three (3) years; One member for two (2) years; One member for one (1) year; and thereafter, appointments shall be for three (3) years unless a vacancy occurs whereby said vacant position shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen for the unexpired term of the vacancy, or to take any other action relative thereto.

So, why would the commission put forth or endorse a bylaw to ban roosters, when they are charged with promoting agriculture which includes the raising of poultry?

 Rubin, Rayna (DCP) <rayna.rubin@state.ma.us>

To:

• Adam D. Lamontagne

Cc:

• Tsaparlis, Nicholas (DCP) <nicholas.tsaparlis@state.ma.us>;
• Bennett, Jeff;
• Griffis, Terry

Wed 8/31/2022 2:42 PM

Adam and Laurie,

Thank for talking with me yesterday about the TDC conveyance status and issues.  Since there are so many vacations this time of year, we may not be able to get everyone together until mid-late Sept.  In the meantime, I appreciate the guidance and info. 

Below is a brief sum of what we went over. 

1. Zoning, ANR and driveway permit info. as we are currently surveying the property to identify conveyance parcels, this will help assure we create legal and usable lots.
2. Transfer of the roads to the Town – The state (OFMM) will go over requirements and process with Bob Szroc.
3. Bob Szroc is the person we will go to with any design and compliance driveway/ access questions serving the conveyance parcels.  
4. I will coord. With Adam and the SelectBoard regarding Town meeting approval required for the road transfer.
5. I will coord. With Adam on RFP process, timing etc.
6. The state (OFMM and DDS) will be meeting with the Fire Chief to go over/inspect DDS buildings closed or planned for closing.
7. OFMM will be meeting with the Water and Electric authority to plan the details of cost and timing to transfer water service to private entities on the TDC.

 

Let me know if you have any questions or added comments.

Rayna

RAYNA Z. RUBIN

Project Manager