Templeton, MA, selectmen meeting of October 11, 2016. Meeting minutes reflect the following.

d) Action RE: Audit Status Report~ Mr. Terenzini explained that we need to find out if Clifton Larson will release us from the engagement letter for FY13. He has been in touch

with them and we should know within the next few days. Town Accountant, Kelli Pontbriand, explained the firms that she has spoken to and gotten quotes from and her preferences regarding the best option for Templeton to hire. Ms. Haley Brooks made a

motion for the Chairman of the Board to make the final decision so long as it is option 1, 2 or 3 from the Audit Options Update memo from Carter Terenzini dated 10/11/16. Mr. Morrison seconded the motion. The vote was 4 yes.

Note: Clifton Larson Allen

Interestingly, MA in 2023, Governor Maura Healey said Friday she is hoping Massachusetts can avoid having to reimburse the national government for $2.5 billion in federal money the state wrongly used to fund jobless benefits under her predecessor, a mistake she called “avoidable.” The situation has spurred a host of questions that, so far, remain unanswered, including how the mixup of state and federal funds occurred or why multiple audits failed to catch it until recently. The mishap was flagged by an outside firm, CliftonLarsonAllen, that the state comptroller hired to review the state’s annual financial report.

I firmly believe some things would have gone differently (in a better way financially for the town) if the Town had stayed with CLA audit firm.

 Watch the June 1, 2023 meeting of Templeton advisory committee and see them violate the open meeting law.

CERTIFICATE OF RECEIPT OF OPEN MEETING LAW MATERIALS

I, ____________________________________, who qualified as a member of the

(Name)

______________________________________, on ________________, certify pursuant

(Public Body) (Date)

to G.L. c. 30A, § 20(h) and 940 CMR 29.04, that I have received and reviewed copies of the following Open Meeting Law materials:

1) the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25;

2) the Attorney General’s Regulations, 940 CMR 29.00–29.11;

3) the Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Guide, explaining the Open Meeting Law and its application; and

4) if applicable, a copy of each Open Meeting Law determination issued by the Attorney General within the last five (5) years to the public body of which I am a member and in which the Attorney General found a violation of the Open Meeting Law.

I have read and understand the requirements of the Open Meeting Law and the consequences of violating it. I further understand that the materials I have received may be revised or updated from time to time, and that I have a continuing obligation to implement any

changes to the Open Meeting Law during my term of office.

All persons who are elected or appointed to public office are supposed to sign the above certificate and turn it into the town ethics liaison. In Templeton, that is the town administrator. Ethics liaison is the keeper of the paperwork and is supposed to ensure the schedule is followed, as when people are supposed to do ethics training, get a copy of summary of ethics laws in MA, etc. It is my understanding, the select board in Templeton already have 2 pending open meeting law complaints to deal with. They are simple easy to avoid / fix issues, that is if you do what the certificate of receipt states to do, which seems to be the issue, it is not being followed.