https://www.templetonma.gov/home/news/financial-management-review-update-march-2021
The above link will take you to the last financial review of Templeton, performed by the MA Department of Revenue at the request of the select board. The first financial review of Templeton was done back in 2009 at the request of the board of selectmen.
Why ask for a review and then ignore it or many parts of it?
Why ask for a second or undated review if you do not intend to follow it ?
Why have a financial management policy and yet ignore some of it?
Seems like we have most of our policies so we can point at them and say, see, we have Financial Management Policies, see we have Personnel Policy.
ReplyDeleteThe Problem is we have no Accountability! Anyone who doesn't follow the policy is well aware that no consequences are coming because nobody enforces the policies............why, The Board of Selectman are incompetent!
These folks have not held one person Accountable for any violations in my memory.
They had a meeting with Scott Dill about the same stuff going on right now with Parks and rec. It has been maybe 1 year since that "discussion, release of service" but we are at it again and is anything being done by the Administration or Selectboard since nobody is pointing it out..............nope!
But yet this thief is chair of the advisory committee???? The financial watchdog for Templeton!!! Please
ReplyDeleteBOSTON, MA — The State Ethics Commission has issued a Final Order approving a Disposition Agreement in which former Templeton Director of Veterans Services John Caplis admits he violated the conflict of interest law by submitting a false claim for veterans benefits to the town to improperly reimburse his friend for a building permit fee. The Commission accepted Caplis’ payment of a $2,500 civil penalty and dismissed the adjudicatory proceeding against him.
In January 2017, Caplis unsuccessfully sought to have the Templeton Building Department waive a $484 building permit fee for his friend. In February 2017, in order to have his friend reimbursed for the $484 fee, Caplis, as Director of Veterans Services, submitted a false invoice to the town under the state Chapter 115 benefits program for veterans and their eligible dependents for $484 payable to an eligible recipient of veterans benefits, care of his friend. Caplis’ friend was not eligible for Chapter 115 benefits and the building permit fee was not lawfully reimbursable under Chapter 115. On the invoice, Caplis falsely identified the basis of the reimbursement as “medical and prescriptions.” The Templeton Board of Selectmen approved the payment and a $484 check was issued.
The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from using their official positions to obtain valuable unwarranted benefits for themselves or others and from acting in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to believe they would unduly favor anyone in the performance of their official duties. The law also prohibits public employees from presenting false or fraudulent claims to their employer for valuable payments or benefits. Caplis violated each of these prohibitions when he, in his official capacity as Director of Veterans Services, submitted the false invoice to the town to get his friend a $484 reimbursement to which he was not entitled.
The State Ethics Commission is charged with enforcing the state conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A. When at least three of the Commission’s five members vote to find reasonable cause to believe a public employee has violated the law, the Commission may authorize an adjudicatory proceeding against the employee. The Commission’s Enforcement Division initiated an adjudicatory proceeding against Caplis on September 10, 2021. When an adjudicatory proceeding is initiated, the public employee is afforded the opportunity to enter into a public disposition agreement rather than exercise their right to a hearing.
The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission’s Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions regarding how the conflict of interest law may apply to them.
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In the complete determination, "his friend" is named as Matt LeClerc, of Valley View Farm, which is why I will never do business there. Town should see about getting that 484 bucks back, since it was obtained under fraud conditions. That is my opinion and I am sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect example of NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
ReplyDeleteVSO violates the law, no consequences in town. Doesn't even pay back misappropriated monies and then has the audacity to apply for and be appointed to the Advisory Committee. Our Selectboard Appointed this man to our Financial Team.
Maybe it had something to with the fact He was a President of "Friends of Templeton Veterans" whose Director was none other than Mike Currie the Chair of the Selectboard while this issue was being adjudicated.
Anyone see Leclercs Sign locked to the rt 2a sign on the Common? Is that legal of just another abuse by certain individuals allowed more courtesy than the average citizen.
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ReplyDeletehttps://www.mass.gov/doc/order-to-show-cause-in-the-matter-of-john-caplis/download
ReplyDelete