The Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center has launched a new website, making it easier for veterans to access services, according to a community announcement.

The Barre Savings Charitable Foundation provided funding for the website, which was developed by Gardner-based InConcert Web Solutions. The site is now fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and accessible via computer, tablet and phone. It also features an active veterans event calendar, downloadable housing applications and easily navigable service pages.

The MVOC has served homeless and high-risk veterans throughout North Central Massachusetts for over 40 years. Its previous website had remained unchanged for over a decade due to funding restrictions and capacity restraints.

 The State Ethics Commission has issued a formal advisory opinion that explains how the state’s conflict-of-interest law (Ch. 268A) applies to municipal employees who solicit donations or engage in fundraising on behalf of the municipality where the persons and entities approached for a donation may have business dealings with the municipality or its agencies or employees.

In general, sections 3 and 23(b)(2) of Chapter 268A prohibit public employees from soliciting anything of substantial value from anyone with whom the public employee has official business dealings.

As discussed in the advisory opinion (EC-COI-12), however, a municipal employee may solicit donations to a municipal entity from persons and entities with whom he, or other municipal employees, has or expects to have official dealings, consistent with Chapter 268A, provided that all of the following are true:

1. The solicitation is carried out in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 53A, which authorizes acceptance of gifts by municipal employees on behalf of the municipality, and, by implication, authorizes the solicitation of gifts.

2. The solicitation is not made in circumstances that are inherently coercive because the person or entity solicited may be directly and significantly affected by a pending or anticipated decision of the same municipality.

3. No overt pressure is exerted in connection with any such solicitation.

4. The municipality and its employees apply objective standards in all dealings with persons and entities who are solicited and do not favor those who give or disfavor those who do not.

5. The municipal employee principally responsible for making such solicitations discloses publicly and in writing the names of those solicited, pursuant to Chapter 268A, Section 23(b)(3).

 Article 27.   To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of M.G.L. C.59, §5K, Senior Tax Work-Off Program, for taxpayers over 60 years of age.  The program shall be implemented in fiscal year 2013, with abatements applied to the fiscal year 2014 actual tax bills provided, however, that such program shall provide a maximum abatement of $500.00 for each of up to twenty participants with an hourly rate of $8.00; said abatement(s) of up to a total of $10,000.00 to be paid from the Excess Overlay Reserve account; or to take any other action relative thereto.                                                 

Submitted by Susan Byrne, MAA, Deputy Assessor and Eileen Clarkson, HS-BCP, MS, Notary Public, director of Council on Aging/Senior Center/Food Pantry/Meals on Wheels/Transportation 

On an amended motion duly made and seconded the town voted to accept the provisions of M.G.L. C.59, §5K, Senior Tax Work-Off Program, for taxpayers over 60 years of age. The program shall be implemented in fiscal year 2013, with abatements applied to the fiscal year 2014 actual tax bills, provided however, that such program shall provide a maximum abatement of Five-Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each participant earned at an hourly rate of Eight Dollars ($8.00); said abatement(s) to be paid from the Assessor’s Overlay account. Passed Unanimously/May 16th @ 8:50 

MGL c59 section 5K: A city or town, by vote of its legislative body, subject to its charter, may adjust the exemption in this clause by: (1) allowing an approved representative, for persons physically unable, to provide such services to the city or town; or (2) allowing the maximum reduction of the real property tax bill to be based on 125 volunteer service hours in a given tax year, rather than $2,000.

MGL c59, section 5K: In any city or town which accepts the provisions of this section, the board of selectmen of a town or in a municipality having a town council form of government, the town council or the mayor with the approval of the city council in a city may establish a program to allow persons over the age of 60 to volunteer to provide services to such city or town. In exchange for such volunteer services, the city or town shall reduce the real property tax obligations of such person over the age of 60 on his tax bills and any reduction so provided shall be in addition to any exemption or abatement to which any such person is otherwise entitled and no such person shall receive a rate of, or be credited with, more than the current minimum wage of the commonwealth per hour for services provided pursuant to such reduction nor shall the reduction of the real property tax bill exceed $2,000 in a given tax year. It shall be the responsibility of the city or town to maintain a record for each taxpayer including, but not limited to, the number of hours of service and the total amount by which the real property tax has been reduced and to provide a copy of such record to the assessor in order that the actual tax bill reflect the reduced rate. A copy of such record shall also be provided to the taxpayer prior to the issuance of the actual tax bill. Such cities and towns shall have the power to create local rules and procedures for implementing this section in any way consistent with the intent of this section.

 The Joint Committee on Transportation yesterday released a bond bill that would authorize $300 million for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program for fiscal 2026, a 50% increase over previous years.

The bill (H. 4257) would distribute $200 million based on the traditional Chapter 90 formula and $100 million based on road miles only.

The committee’s proposal is a one-year authorization, whereas the governor had previously proposed $300 million per year for five years.

The committee’s nearly $1.2 billion borrowing bill would also authorize $200 million for a culvert and small bridge program overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, along with $500 million for a MassDOT bridge and pavement asset management program and $185 million for congestion and safety initiatives.

 There is still one opening on Templeton advisory committee. If appointed, term would be until adjournment of Templeton annual town meeting May 2026.

 Good Morning

Over the weekend we had some more damage to the roof at Houghton Park.

The Police have 3 suspects who admitted to doing the damage.

We will be getting an estimate to repair damage to the roof and those 3 suspects will be responsible for paying for the damage.

They will more than likely be serving some community service hours as well.

Good Afternoon

The construction for the School St. project is completed.

School St. is officially open to 2-way traffic.

 Templeton, MA June meals tax revenue reports as $19,670.00.

Meals Tax revenue for fiscal year 25 is down $523.00 from previous year, using data from MA division local service.

FY24 total meals tax $83,879.00

FY25 total meals tax $83,356.00

Fiscal Year 25 meals tax for 1st., 3rd and 4th quarters were down from previous FY. 2nd qtr. was up from previous FY.

Templeton Meals Tax history.

Fiscal Year

2019 total $41,709.00

2020 total $50,573.00

2021 total $55,457.00

2022 total $67.168.00

2023 total $77,346.00

2024 total $83,879.00

2025 total $83,356.00

 Fiscally responsible spending plan is more than $1 billion below H1; Will make Massachusetts more affordable, improve transportation, invest in the state's world-class education system, and grow economy. House 1 is the state budget generally put forward in January that most cities and towns use as basis for state aid in local budgets. Except now the state has reduced it by 1 billion dollars. This is exactly why town should not use stabilization funds to pay reoccurring expenses such as school assessment. It was a dumb move a couple years ago, was a dumb move this year and will always be a dumb move, fiscally speaking.

 The Legislature plans to approve a final fiscal year 2026 state budget on Monday, the day before the new spending cycle starts, after House and Senate Democrats announced they reached an accord.

Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues, the budget chiefs for each chamber, said in a statement just after 1 p.m. Friday that they completed a deal on the annual spending plan. They did not release any details about its contents or even a bottom line spending figure.

 How does a debt exclusion differ from an override? Both are Proposition 2½ questions and, in municipal finance language, both are technically overrides. However, there are some basic differences. While both will increase your property taxes, a debt exclusion is a temporary increase while an operating override is a permanent increase in the town’s tax levy limit. A debt exclusion finances a particular project(s) and your taxes increase for a period of time, usually 10-20 years, to cover the cost of the project. When the financing bond is paid off, your tax increase for that project goes away.

Why are there two votes – one at the polls and one at Town Meeting? A debt exclusion is required to pass two thresholds: a simple majority at the ballot and a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting.

https://www.templetonma.gov/home/news/the-annual-town-election-will-be-held-on-monday-may-19th-from-1100am-700pm 

 Back in January, MA governor presented her budget for FY26. Commonly called house 1.

House 1 state aid to Templeton - $2,075,790.00

House ways & means $2,041,391.00

Senate ways & means $2,099,863.00

Used in revenue totals for the budget you just voted on Wednesday, total state aid for FY26 $2,048,909.00

Anyone have a crystal ball to tell me exactly how much total state aid Templeton will get? Can anyone tell me if Templeton will collect 100% of personal property and real estate taxes for FY26?

Town budget is a crap shoot based on estimates; there is financial history to aid in arriving at those estimates, but, nothing in stone.

Same with chapter 70 state aid to school districts.

Just in case you did not realize that.

 2025 Templeton Annual Town Meeting, article 7, surplus sewer easement.

Know this, the developer has a permit from the state, MA DEP -Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. If you do not want a sewer pipe running thru town owned wetlands, vote no on that article.

I went to the office of development services, where one can find information concerning planning board, conservation commission and building permits, I asked about any plans for that project, I was told there are none that have been submitted or presented. I feel that someone is looking for a blank check and article 7 should be voted down until the town residents know what is actually planned to be built. You know, go to planning board and lay down a plan for X number of homes or apartments/condos, etc. I was told they have the road frontage required to get a permit, but that is all I was able to get.

An answer to one of my questions regarding conservation on this subject: "On the Article, if the Town Votes NO - the Engineer for the applicant has said they would proceed forward with subdivision plans that involve septic systems."

Answer to another question on proposed project: Yes. Each proposed septic system would be subject to a perc test. The proposed subdivision would also have to pass through Conservation and the Planning Board's site plan review for subdivisions.

 Tax rate history of Templeton:

DOR Code	Municipality	Fiscal Year	Residential	Open Space	Commercial	Industrial	Personal Property

294	Templeton	2003	13.68	0.00	13.68	13.68	13.68
294	Templeton	2004	11.65	0.00	11.65	11.65	11.65
294	Templeton	2005	9.91	0.00	9.91	9.91	9.91
294	Templeton	2006	9.44	0.00	9.44	9.44	9.44
294	Templeton	2007	8.54	0.00	8.54	8.54	8.54
294	Templeton	2008	9.20	0.00	9.20	9.20	9.20
294	Templeton	2009	10.20	0.00	10.20	10.20	10.20
294	Templeton	2010	11.75	0.00	11.75	11.75	11.75
294	Templeton	2011	12.55	0.00	12.55	12.55	12.55
294	Templeton	2012	14.60	0.00	14.60	14.60	14.60
294	Templeton	2013	14.12	0.00	14.12	14.12	14.12
294	Templeton	2014	16.24	0.00	16.24	16.24	16.24
294	Templeton	2015	16.64	0.00	16.64	16.64	16.64
294	Templeton	2016	16.47	0.00	16.47	16.47	16.47
294	Templeton	2017	16.12	0.00	16.12	16.12	16.12
294	Templeton	2018	16.72	0.00	16.72	16.72	16.72
294	Templeton	2019	17.24	0.00	17.24	17.24	17.24
294	Templeton	2020	16.83	0.00	16.83	16.83	16.83
294	Templeton	2021	16.11	0.00	16.11	16.11	16.11
294	Templeton	2022	15.24	0.00	15.24	15.24	15.24
294	Templeton	2023	12.92	0.00	12.92	12.92	12.92
294	Templeton	2024	12.60	0.00	12.60	12.60	12.60
294	Templeton	2025	12.12	0.00	12.12	12.12	12.12

Massachusetts House approves state budget for FY26.

https://mma.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d974c04ac20a7b83c0bdb194e&id=102af2dfa8&e=97b45a867e 

 House to Start FY26 State Budget Debate on Monday, April 28

 

Lawmakers Will Decide All Municipal and School Amendments

 

Please Call Your Representatives TODAY

and Ask Them to Support Increases to

Unrestricted General Government Aid,

School Transportation Accounts,

Local Road and Bridge Funding

and Other Key Priorities

 Questions on Town Finance:

From Melanie: “Thank you for forwarding me the email from Liz Toth. I was going to respond to her directly, but thought I should go through you, and you can disseminate this information how you see fit.

 

1. Advisory Supplies: Jeff Bennett notified me this week that the previous accountant entered the voted beginning balances incorrectly. This will be rectified on the next BVA.
2. There was no “losing account” for the 155-5200 account as the funds were never actually sent anywhere. This was an error in the payroll report uploading, which was caught by Nancy, and was reversed. It was done as a beginning balance as there was no other clean way to enter the correction. Unfortunately, only so many of the comments entered are seen on the report. If they all showed up, you would also see the note, “To Reverse Entry”. Good eye on this one, though.
3. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. This looks like another beginning balance entry error made by the previous accountant. This will be fixed for the next BVA release.
4. As was voted at the FTM 10/23/2024, Article 9: “On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to transfer from certified free cash the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars and No Cents, ($40,000.00) to the account of Development Services for additional compensation for the Building Commissioner, plumbing/gas and electrical inspectors, to account for the additional inspection work load created by the construction and renovation at 12-16 School Street (the former Baldwinville Elementary School). Passed Unanimously/Oct. 23rd @ 7:57pm”.
5. I cannot answer your question regarding a contract for Sealer of Weights and Measures.
6. Cell Phones: I would suggest asking both department heads who their contract are with, how long the contracts have been in place and what incentives they receive.
7. I would suggest changing 430 in the budget book to the 630, as it would cleaner. I wasn’t here when the accounts were set up so am not sure why they were entered into Vadar that way.
8. I wasn’t here when the Economic Development Grant was applied for, but after asking around, I understand that the finalization of the grant was in the control of the Select Board. To my knowledge the grant has not been received. If you have any other information on it, I am happy to look into it for you (with Holly’s permission) as I hear the EDIC is no longer in place.
9. Debt: I cannot speak to how the budget was constructed.
10. Demo Revolving Account: I am not sure who is in charge of that account, but no revenue has been turned over so there is nothing to be updated. I would suggest reaching out to who is in charge of the revolving account to determine when revenue may be expected.
11. Brine Revolving: While I cannot speak for Director Szocik, I am aware that he is in the process of billing the other towns now that the winter weather is hopefully over.
12. Negative Balances:
1. E911 Grant: Reimbursable Grant. Not to speak for him, but Chief Dickie is in the process of submitting his expenditures for reimbursement.

Correction: 12.a. is incorrect. I had originally thought this would have been a great for emergency management but see      now that it is for the 911 Dispatch. Please let Liz know that their revenue will be posted to the account before the next BVA is sent.

2. CDBG: Reimbursable Grant. Thank you for pointing this one out as I’ve learned that it is periodically reimbursed throughout the year. I will update with the received revenues as beginning balances for the next BVA release. Please be mindful that this leger may, from time to time, have a negative balance as reimbursements are requested.
3. FF Safety Grants: Reimbursable Grant. Not to speak for him, but Chief Dickie is in the process of submitting his expenditures for reimbursement.
4. Hazard Mitigation Grant: Reimbursable Grant. Not to speak for him, but Chief Dickie is in the process of submitting his expenditures for reimbursement.
5. Chapter 90: Reimbursable Grant. Again, I cannot speak for Director Szocik, but am aware that he is in the process of the expenditure reimbursement with the state, which is the typical process.
6. Sewer Roof/Crotty Ave: Thank you for noticing this. I need to add the beginning balance from the debt issuance.
7. Water Enterprise Fund: We are not supplied with a budget for the water department so this will always be negative.
8. Transfer out to General Fund: With the way this account is linked in Vadar (and has historically been used), it will show negative and then hit their cash when it is closed out at the end of the year. The cash is not transferred to the “transfer out” account and then again to the general fund. I hope I explained that via email okay.
9. Light Plant: We are not supplied with a budget for the light plant so this will always be negative.
12. Trust Funds: The Treasurer Collector holds the information on those.

 

 

The answers to your questions that Melanie did not have the information for are as follows:

 

For Sealer of Weights and Measures, #5 above, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Standards handles that service/inspections and Development Services invoices local businesses for their use and we pay that to the Division of Standards.

 

For the cell phones, #6 above, The Police Department, and Fire Department both have their own account through FirstNet/AT&T. The Sewer Department has their account under the Town account with FirstNet/AT&T, for the Highway dept, Buildings & Grounds, Emergency Management, Development Services, and Veterans, those phones are under the Town’s account with FirstNet and paid through the Technology account. The accounts with FirstNet give all users the best service especially in an emergency situation at a great price.

 

For the Demo Revolving Account, #10 above: That account is managed by the Town Administrator. The funds received from the sale of 10 Pleasant Street have been transferred into the account which is now in the amount of $86,984.94.

 What town meeting voted for, November 15, 2023 - ARTICLE 6: ADOPT M.G.L. c. 90, § 17C

To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 90, Section 17C of the General Laws, to authorize the Select Board to establish a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on town-owned roadways within thickly settled or business districts.

Or take any other action related thereto.

Submitted by the Select Board

Majority Vote Required

On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to accept the provisions of Chapter 90, Section 17C of the General Laws, to authorize the Select Board to establish a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on town-owned roadways within thickly settled or business districts.

Passed/November 15th @ 7:17 pm

The law states this: Section 17C. (a) Notwithstanding section 17 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the city council, the transportation commissioner of the city of Boston, the board of selectmen, park commissioners, a traffic commission or traffic director of a city or town that accepts this section in the manner provided in section 4 of chapter 4 may, in the interests of public safety and without further authority, establish a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on any roadway inside a thickly settled or business district in the city or town on any way that is not a state highway.

(b) Upon establishing a speed limit under this section, the city or town shall notify the department. The operation of a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of a speed limit established under this section shall be a violation of section 17.

I am not sure when they were put in place, but on April 9, 2025 around 10:30 A.M., 

A Templeton town highway dept. employee just removed the 2 25 MPH speed limit signs that were on Brooks Village/Carruth Road. My opinion, this was a case of good use of face book. The process was not followed so a town employee (s) wasted time and material, to place a couple signs and then took them up all because someone did not follow procedure.

 Templeton 3rd qtr. meals tax =

$17,630.00. Total so far = $63,686.00.

Looking back to fy2021, 3rd qtr (March) has always been lowest qtr., with June climbing back up, hope that trend continues for a fifth year.

 From The Gardner News - December 2024https://www.thegardnernews.com/story/news/education/2024/10/16/narragansett-regional-school-districts-top-earners-for-fiscal-2024-superintendent-principal-teacher/75622276007/

The top 20 highest-earning Templeton employees during fiscal 2024 all made six-figure salaries, many of whom were from the Police Department or Light Department.

The town spent $6,670,193 in FY24 on the payroll of 240 employees. In FY23, the town paid a total of $6,183,928 on the salaries of 215 employees, and only 13 employees earned a six-figure salary.

The highest earner is Police Sgt. Derek Hall, who earned a total of $170,339, which included $47,752 in overtime. After Hall is Detective Eric Smith, who earned a total of $154,557 with $35,251 in overtime. The third highest earner is Nicholas Malnati, a patrolman who earned a total of $150,354 with $46,203 in overtime in FY24.

The fourth highest earner is John Driscoll, the Municipal Light and Water Plant general manager, with a salary of $147,914. Following Driscoll is the department's Lead Lineman Nicholas Houston, who earned $11,997 in overtime and made a total income of $131,925. The sixth-highest earner is Joseph Parker, a lineman for the light department, who earned $11,971 in overtime and earned a total of $129,948.

Michael Bennett, the town's police chief, earned a salary of $128,251, which makes him the seventh-highest earner. Electric Superintendent Thomas Berry earned $125,386, making him the eighth-highest earner. The ninth-highest earner is Shane Egan, a lineman for the Light and Water Department with a salary of $125,386. Egan earned $8,563 in overtime this past fiscal year. Steven Flis, a police sergeant, earned $31,329 in overtime, giving him a total salary of $120,723 in FY24, making him the 10th highest earner.

Last Name	First Name	Employee Position	Total Earnings	Overtime/Other
Hall	Derek	Police Sergeant	$170,339.01	$47,752.76
Smith	Eric	Detective	$154,577.62	$35,251.77
Malnati	Nicholas	Patrolman	$150,354.78	$46,203.06
Driscoll	John	Municipal Light and Water Plant General Manager	$147,914.84	0.00
Houston	Nicholas	Lead Lineman	$131,925.83	$11,997.76
Parker	Joseph	Lineman	$129,948.49	$11,971.18
Bennett	Michael	Police Chief	$128,251.45	$0.00
Berry	Thomas	Electric Superintendent	$125,386.54	$0.00
Egan	Shane	Lineman	$123,830.49	$8,563.16
Flis	Steven	Police Sergeant	$120,723.83	$31,329.68
Welch	Noah	Police Officer	$114,777.97	$14,335.72
Daniels	Kyle	Firefighter/ Paramedic	$114,315.05	$44,439.05
White	John	Lead Lineman	$109,661.10	$391.50
Lamontagne	Adam	Town Administrator	$107,850.00	$0.00
Donahue	Daniel	Police Officer	$107,785.08	$14,158.04
Deschenes III	Robert	Police Officer	$106,519.65	$21,418.71
Schwinger	Scott	Water Superintendent	$105,649.47	$14,962.68
Gearin	Tyler	Groundsman	$104,614.06	$5,945.18
Matson	Caleb	Police Officer	$103,881.07	$19,969.05
Chapman	William	Police Officer	$103,122.03	$10,579.20

Templeton Town employees who had the top 20 highest earned salaries in FY24. Overtime/other earnings are included in the total earnings.

Use this link to check how much Templeton Assessors have put aside for overlay reserve.

https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Dashboard.Cat_1_Reports.OL1PerLevy351 

Town overlay fund

https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.mass.gov%2Finfo-details%2Fhighly-recommended-understanding-the-overlay-and-overlay-surplus%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195b58b0bd9-ec349c48-1f7a-42a9-aea6-ab1056119aa4-000000/umWznGcotERmjsRc-WqfyoSS5HzkloTfqWgFxQFIJmg=397 

https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Analysis.TaxImpactCalc

https://www.templetonma.gov/home/news/budget-book-for-fy26 

 A face book post by a Templeton resident, who may not be alone in their thoughts.

"Long meeting. So apparently the chair and the co-chair think they are the selectboard as a whole. It was the right thing for Currie to resign as chair. Now I think the co-chair should also resign. Since the two of them have been making decisions, seeking legal counsel prior to even telling the rest of the board. Currie refused to answer Jeffs questions about the complaint was it verbal, was it an email. What was the complaint. It was silence, I mean besides for saying he did feel like he did no wrong. Also listen to the taxpayers and stop just offering people promotions. We need a qualified with experience town administrator. This let's just keep promoting administrative assistant to new roles without putting out the job posting is the nepotism people are talking about. Also, no talk about how to deal with a regional school district with no legal regional agreement. This school system is too expensive on the taxpayers. 7 percent every year is not affordable. I've been saying that since 2018. We need an adhoc to look at cost comparison for the taxpayers, in regard to the school system. So, 2019 the selectmen ignored a vote and letter, from the then advisory board, stating we should have cost comparison that we can't afford these increases. We just lost a town administrator over the same issue. This is ridiculous. By the way selectmen you were elected to micromanage the taxpayer's money. You were not elected to go to bat for a regional school system which is a separate entity that simply currently educates the students with our tax money."