If Templeton had a proper capital improvement plan, as required by town bylaws, the kitchen for the Senior Center would be at or very near top of the list. Royalston Road would probably be number 1. Templeton does not follow the bylaw though. At the upcoming special town meeting, this kitchen project needs to be approved. About 25% of Templeton population is 60 years or older, Senior Services are a very important item that this town needs to be providing. I happen to be a veteran as well as a 68 year old "senior". so not all seniors are veterans, all veterans will eventually become a senior, if not already there. We all will achieve senior status at some point, so it is a critical need for the community. This project needs and deserves the support of all.
Just a couple concerns,
ReplyDeleteThis is said to be a community Emergency Shelter, so how many people can be in building at once. Remember it's old wooden structure from Fort Devens!
The average weekly attendance at the center is around 100-120 attendees, which is more like 1.4% of community not even 10% of the US census statement that 16% of Templeton is 65 or older.
The reason the Option to spend $150,000 from ARPA + $175,000 CAPEX( CAPITAL EXPENSE ACCOUNT) is solely due to bad estimating , poor project developement by admin/procurement staff. They estimated $150,000 for a kitchen plan requiring $325,000.
Could the kitchen be scaled down?
We have 3 schools in Templeton with kitchens, cafeteria, gyms. Aĺl made of steel and concrete.
I personally feel that draining CAPEX down to $63,000 when we are talking about an override or digging into OPEX to fund 2026 budget is not proper or more important.
We have set plans to diminished free cash ( our capital income source historically) by removing meals tax money to special account ($77,000)
Our CPC funding dropped from fy24 $465,000 to just over $163,000 in fy25. That cash cow has been milked dry.
We have a pending fine of $66,000+ to the IRS
We have an unbudgeted $8,000 for upcoming Special Town Meeting
Both previous will apparently come from our Reserve account effectively lowering next years free cash by another $40,000+
I don't believe the need for a senior center kitchen used by 1.4% of town is a a priority right now.
RTM
Another point, 2 % or 165+/- elderly people in town live at poverty level according to census.
ReplyDeleteWhy bring " Veterans" into this conversation as it has nothing to do with the issue, it's the Templeton Senior Community Center based on age, not previous employment with Federal Government.
This entire rush to fund is based on ARPA funds and its poor management in my opinion.
Other departments are scrambling to whatever under contract to spend the ARPA funds in last available month.
We just did the 5 yr evaluation and the last BvA I saw had over $80,000 still sitting unsent in the Revaluation account. Obviously it wasnt/isn't needed, so why not put that towards kitchen? Why not wait till we actually get the $60,000 from Friends of Templeton Elders?
The reason, we need to be under contract by December 31 based solely on ARPA.
Again, the need to spend $175,000 from Our balance of $213,000 in CAPEX is all the Board of Selectman and Adam's fault for poor planning.....
Please vote no! These people are breaking the bank and the taxpayers will be hit by it....