Battle brewing in Templeton???
Actually, a legal opinion on a Town meeting change or addition to Town by-laws was requested by the Advisory Board and it is scheduled to be discussed this Wednesday at our next public meeting. This should be a good meeting as it is budget season as well. The only thing that really seems to have happened was an addition of a duplicate section to Town by-laws which may or may not have been the intention. What is clear is the role of the Advisory Board was not changed by that Town Meeting vote, as Article IV - Advisory Committee, section 4 was NOT changed with that Town meeting vote. Another section may have been added to article III - Town officers which appears to be a duplication of section 4 of article IV - advisory committee.
Another confusing item within the most recent budget versus actual summary provided by the Town Accountant is the item listed as firefighter / ems salaries under expenditures. Listed under allocated is $84,902.50 and expended $94,428.15 with a deficit of -$9,525.65. Also of interest to me is the allocated versus spent amounts under dispatch wages with allocated at $229,417.00 and expended -$131,791.38 and here I recall former chief of police stating at a public selectmen meeting and even handing out written copies that dispatch only costs Templeton less than $40 thousand dollars a year. Clearly he was wrong or something has really changed in a bad way for taxpayers. In my opinion, I was lied to at that meeting, I felt so then and I still do.
Another item has Worcester county retirement as allocated and expended $612,557.00 so just keep adding employees and bring on more EMS personnel and watch that number continue to grow. I still believe that shows it is cheaper in the long haul to contract much out and not grow the size of government. I believe people will see this when the OPEB figure begins to show up at town meeting. Contract people may cost as much or more up front but on the back side, there is no more additions to retirement or insurance, with group insurance showing up on the budget versus actual sheet as $1,056,012.00 which will also continue to grow. Contract ambulance and regional dispatch may begin to look better and better in a few years, if Templeton does not miss the boat.
Jeff Bennett
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Saturday, January 2, 2016
What is involved in selling a light company?
The last municipal light dept. or company was formed back in the 1920's. Since then, it has been tried to change the law to allow more cities and towns to form their own municipal light department. The investor owned companies have fought it and not many cities and towns have the capital to buy needed facilities anyways. Lets say a town offers to but some of national grid infrastructure to form a municipal light co. A town offers $50 million but National Grid says it is worth $150 million, an audit and appraisal says it is worth $75 million but NG won't sell, what then? Now reverse this and put a municipal light department up for sale. First you audit the financials to see assets versus debt and what materials are worth. A Town puts it up for sale for a figure that no one bites on, then what? What if there is more debt than assets? What if other financial obligations out weigh assets, such as bonds outstanding or refinanced bonds, deferred bonds and on and on, along with certain contracts that no one wishes to assume 100% of. Does a town take a loss to dump it? Easy to say sell, but a little harder to do, especially with Town meting approval required.
What is involved in improving roads?
First, a solid plan and approach, followed by funding. a source of road funds and seed money for grants and planning is chapter 90 money. In my opinion, the first thing to do is stop the practice of using these funds to buy equipment, especially equipment that is not needed, such as excavators and ten wheel trucks for a highway department that should only be involved in road maintenance and not road building. I believe residents already feel like their vote does not count and by using road money to buy equipment while roads go un-repaired adds to the problem of getting an override or debt exclusion passed. It will be even harder now that the town has more debt for the police station and school. I believe the town will have to find another way to repair the roads in town.
Jeff Bennett
The last municipal light dept. or company was formed back in the 1920's. Since then, it has been tried to change the law to allow more cities and towns to form their own municipal light department. The investor owned companies have fought it and not many cities and towns have the capital to buy needed facilities anyways. Lets say a town offers to but some of national grid infrastructure to form a municipal light co. A town offers $50 million but National Grid says it is worth $150 million, an audit and appraisal says it is worth $75 million but NG won't sell, what then? Now reverse this and put a municipal light department up for sale. First you audit the financials to see assets versus debt and what materials are worth. A Town puts it up for sale for a figure that no one bites on, then what? What if there is more debt than assets? What if other financial obligations out weigh assets, such as bonds outstanding or refinanced bonds, deferred bonds and on and on, along with certain contracts that no one wishes to assume 100% of. Does a town take a loss to dump it? Easy to say sell, but a little harder to do, especially with Town meting approval required.
What is involved in improving roads?
First, a solid plan and approach, followed by funding. a source of road funds and seed money for grants and planning is chapter 90 money. In my opinion, the first thing to do is stop the practice of using these funds to buy equipment, especially equipment that is not needed, such as excavators and ten wheel trucks for a highway department that should only be involved in road maintenance and not road building. I believe residents already feel like their vote does not count and by using road money to buy equipment while roads go un-repaired adds to the problem of getting an override or debt exclusion passed. It will be even harder now that the town has more debt for the police station and school. I believe the town will have to find another way to repair the roads in town.
Jeff Bennett
Friday, January 1, 2016
Happy New Year.........now for those tax bills!
Your tax bill may have arrived with a surprise, that should not have been a surprise at all, if you follow this blog or the news in some other way. This was a reval year in Templeton and home values rose a bit in Templeton, which is a good thing. Now how can your tax bill go up when the tax rate goes down you may ask? Well if the value of your home goes up enough, your tax bill will rise regardless of the tax rate and it is legal and not in conflict with prop 2 1/2. While a certain blogger may think it is a violation of the law, it is not and he is wrong and I urge you to contact the Board of Assessors and get your questions or concerns answered.
If you took the time to attend any of the many meetings on the new school, you would have heard exactly what has happened. That is if you build a new school, they will come and your home values will rise and your tax bill will follow. If you read the warrant for the special town meeting held in November of 2015, you would have seen the shifting responsibility of the Templeton selectmen to the school committee, a legal separate entity, which is made up of Templeton and Phillipston residents. So don't fret so much on the location or size of the school, but take a good look at the warrant for town meeting and see exactly what you voted for!
Jeff Bennett
Your tax bill may have arrived with a surprise, that should not have been a surprise at all, if you follow this blog or the news in some other way. This was a reval year in Templeton and home values rose a bit in Templeton, which is a good thing. Now how can your tax bill go up when the tax rate goes down you may ask? Well if the value of your home goes up enough, your tax bill will rise regardless of the tax rate and it is legal and not in conflict with prop 2 1/2. While a certain blogger may think it is a violation of the law, it is not and he is wrong and I urge you to contact the Board of Assessors and get your questions or concerns answered.
If you took the time to attend any of the many meetings on the new school, you would have heard exactly what has happened. That is if you build a new school, they will come and your home values will rise and your tax bill will follow. If you read the warrant for the special town meeting held in November of 2015, you would have seen the shifting responsibility of the Templeton selectmen to the school committee, a legal separate entity, which is made up of Templeton and Phillipston residents. So don't fret so much on the location or size of the school, but take a good look at the warrant for town meeting and see exactly what you voted for!
Jeff Bennett
Monday, December 21, 2015
Budget versus actual;
On the financial front, according to information out of the town accountant's office; the highway improvement fund or the chapter 90 monies, there was $338,351.00 allocated for FY 2016 which began July 1, 2015, there has been expended to date ( received this on December 8, 2015) $282,471.00 and that leaves $55,879.07. It does not note what the money was spent on.
Jeff Bennett
On the financial front, according to information out of the town accountant's office; the highway improvement fund or the chapter 90 monies, there was $338,351.00 allocated for FY 2016 which began July 1, 2015, there has been expended to date ( received this on December 8, 2015) $282,471.00 and that leaves $55,879.07. It does not note what the money was spent on.
Jeff Bennett
At tonight's selectmen meeting;
It seems a secretary may be running the office and making decisions as the chairman of the board said at one point, "what is your pleasure Holly?". The subject was business licenses and what to do about some who have not turned in certain paper work or paid fees required. The secretary seems to have a problem with one business owner who went to a meeting and spoke up on his behalf and his lively hood. This is the same secretary that some members of the selectboard wish to make an assistant town administrator. Why the board will not do what the voters said to do and that is get a full time Town administrator!
There was also discussion about the original debt exclusion of $550,000.00 which apparently never went out to bond, it was simply handled by a BAN or bond anticipation note, government speak for short term borrowing, usually year to year. It was paid off by using available funds which equals to cutting into free cash, as in the big number often referred to by the town administrator. There also seems to be some question as to the payoff date for debt in regard with 252 Baldwinville Road. It has to be determined if the payoff date is in 2017 or 2019.
The police department wants to get a K-9 dog and no action on the tree growing out of the top of a building. The board does not seem to have the will or the moxy to put some pressure on the housing authority. So when you are in the area of the Tucker building, be sure to look up to watch for falling something or other. Once again, the same member was absent so we only have a 4 member board at the meeting.
Jeff Bennett
It seems a secretary may be running the office and making decisions as the chairman of the board said at one point, "what is your pleasure Holly?". The subject was business licenses and what to do about some who have not turned in certain paper work or paid fees required. The secretary seems to have a problem with one business owner who went to a meeting and spoke up on his behalf and his lively hood. This is the same secretary that some members of the selectboard wish to make an assistant town administrator. Why the board will not do what the voters said to do and that is get a full time Town administrator!
There was also discussion about the original debt exclusion of $550,000.00 which apparently never went out to bond, it was simply handled by a BAN or bond anticipation note, government speak for short term borrowing, usually year to year. It was paid off by using available funds which equals to cutting into free cash, as in the big number often referred to by the town administrator. There also seems to be some question as to the payoff date for debt in regard with 252 Baldwinville Road. It has to be determined if the payoff date is in 2017 or 2019.
The police department wants to get a K-9 dog and no action on the tree growing out of the top of a building. The board does not seem to have the will or the moxy to put some pressure on the housing authority. So when you are in the area of the Tucker building, be sure to look up to watch for falling something or other. Once again, the same member was absent so we only have a 4 member board at the meeting.
Jeff Bennett
Sunday, December 20, 2015
While I am looking back.........to think of the future. . . .
Looking at another old Gardner news article, I have a question for you; how does 62% of 47 million dollars add up to 22.9 million? Reading a story in TGN by Andres Caamano addressing the new Athol school at a cost of $43,931,361.00 with 62.94 % coming from MSBA or $27,651,620.00 with the Town of Athol on the hook for $16,279,743.00. So board of selectmen, how come Templeton only gets 22.9 million? Any one, anyone at all?
Jeff Bennett
Looking at another old Gardner news article, I have a question for you; how does 62% of 47 million dollars add up to 22.9 million? Reading a story in TGN by Andres Caamano addressing the new Athol school at a cost of $43,931,361.00 with 62.94 % coming from MSBA or $27,651,620.00 with the Town of Athol on the hook for $16,279,743.00. So board of selectmen, how come Templeton only gets 22.9 million? Any one, anyone at all?
Jeff Bennett
A check of history. . . . . . .
In looking through some old stuff, I came across an interesting item, a story from the Gardner news. At the end of it, there was a couple of lines that read; Light commissioner Dana Blais also stated that the department (Templeton Light dept.) would cover the electricity bills for municipal buildings and street lighting expenses for the next fiscal year. The story is dated July 15, 2014 and that would be fiscal year 2015 so the next fiscal year should be FY 2016, which we are in now. This means that when the annual Town report comes out, we should be able to check on the electric expenses for Templeton Municipal buildings and street lighting expense for the Town.
Of course the thing about this is the electricity for these things comes from some where and has to be paid for. If there is no budget item within the Town budget, where will this money come from? In my opinion, it is safe to say that everyone in Templeton will see an increase in their bill. You may also wish to check your water bill for any increases in the water service charge. Templeton water website says it is $237.16 per year! Rather than those costs coming from revenue from property taxes, you will be paying for it in other ways, which is just another tax! seems like more of the same stuff that has been going on for a long time in Templeton and it is policy that is the decision of the selectmen.
I wonder what the cost of wood chips are for the furnace at NRHS?
Jeff Bennett
In looking through some old stuff, I came across an interesting item, a story from the Gardner news. At the end of it, there was a couple of lines that read; Light commissioner Dana Blais also stated that the department (Templeton Light dept.) would cover the electricity bills for municipal buildings and street lighting expenses for the next fiscal year. The story is dated July 15, 2014 and that would be fiscal year 2015 so the next fiscal year should be FY 2016, which we are in now. This means that when the annual Town report comes out, we should be able to check on the electric expenses for Templeton Municipal buildings and street lighting expense for the Town.
Of course the thing about this is the electricity for these things comes from some where and has to be paid for. If there is no budget item within the Town budget, where will this money come from? In my opinion, it is safe to say that everyone in Templeton will see an increase in their bill. You may also wish to check your water bill for any increases in the water service charge. Templeton water website says it is $237.16 per year! Rather than those costs coming from revenue from property taxes, you will be paying for it in other ways, which is just another tax! seems like more of the same stuff that has been going on for a long time in Templeton and it is policy that is the decision of the selectmen.
I wonder what the cost of wood chips are for the furnace at NRHS?
Jeff Bennett
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