Templeton residents need to become involved, as in We the People!
A classic example of bad bylaw:
Town bylaw, chapter 47-4 (legal affairs, town counsel) select board is responsible for legal affairs and that includes appointing town counsel annually in June. The boards own minutes show they violated that bylaw by appointing town counsel in July (July 12, 2023) non criminal disposition bylaw, chapter 1, article II, subsections 1-7 / schedule of civil assessments, B - select board,
A violation of the provisions of the Rules and Regulations of the Select Board:
(a)
Fine allowed: $300.
(b)
Fine schedule: as established in rules and regulations.
(c)
Enforcing agent: Select Board or designee.
So if the select board is the offender and they are essentially, the judge and jury, how does that work?
Town meeting can punish them by removing their pay. Town meeting can reject their budget. Town meeting can override the amounts they might propose to use to fund various town funds, as in town meeting could put more money away and give them less discretionary money to play with. It is the best card residents have to play.
We could put together a list and present it at Town Meeting when the Selectboards Stipends are up for debate. 10 Bylaws violated and we subtract $3000 from the Stipend..............or they write a check if its more than $3750.................I really dont care. Accountability must happen!
ReplyDeleteThat is the main card town meeting holds at all times, the budget!
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