All insurance claims are handled through the Selectman’s office. So all expenses for those claims are handed by that office and refunds received. The account was fully reimbursed.

Bob

Robert T. Markel
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Templeton
160 Patriots Road
East Templeton, MA 01438
(978)894-2753

So here is my question; does the office of the selectmen have a special exemption, because in all other cases where there is no revolving account, all reimbursements to the Town go into the general fund and usually end up in certified free cash. Looking at the warrant for the next Templeton annual town meeting, There is an article to create a veeterans benefits revolving fund which would receive state reimbursement funds for veteran benefits paid out by the Town. I can find no revolving fund for the selectmen office so how does an insurance reimbursement end up back in the expense account to be used this year, the same fiscal year when all other things of this nature either have to have a revolving account or the funds end up in the general fund? Yep, they are slick down there.

posted by Jeff Bennett

 OPEB Transfer Documentation


Open this link and see the explanation of the selectmen/financial team and make note of the dates

posted by Jeff Bennett

This is the explanation for the selectmen office expense account, apparently a fund to pay for things other than office expense.

Email response from Town Administrator to Advisory Board. So now there is $64,608.00 in the office expense account so we (town meeting) can empty it with 6 weeks left in the fiscal year. Sounds like the selectmen are on top of the budget issues.

The documents showing funds available for the OPEB account are attached.  $8,654 was spent on the repair of the Police Chief's car.  This was fully reimbursed by the insurance company to restore the fund to $64,608. 

Bob
Robert T. Markel
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Templeton
160 Patriots Road
East Templeton, MA 01438
(978)894-2753

posted by Jeff Bennett

Open this link and you can see some of what has been spent on audits and the strange way one payment may come about. Notice check is signed by Town Treasurer but this information is from Town accountant.

 20160504080535390

the most recent and final budget according to the Town Administrator.

 2017 OPERATING BUDGET 1

View in OneDrive

The following is from Templeton's general by-laws, they are listed on the Templeton Town website and the current board of selectmen failed to follow them:


Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Selectmen to publish the Annual Report, to be made available in the Office of the Town Clerk on the Monday preceding the first Monday in May.
 Amended 8-31-78, Amended 5-16-13

 Section 4. The Annual Town Report shall contain, in addition to the reports of officers, boards, and committees as herein before provided, a detailed report of all moneys received into and paid out of the town treasury in the financial year next preceding, showing separately payments made from the proceeds of loans as capital outlays for permanent improvements; the report of the collector of taxes, of receipts, payments and abatements; statements of all funds belonging to the town or held for the benefit of its inhabitants; a statement of the liabilities of the town on bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, or otherwise, and of indebtedness authorized but not incurred, and the purpose thereof: a statement of transfers made to or from any appropriation: abstracts of the records of the meetings of the town held since publication of the last annual report; a complete list of town officers and appointees for the municipal year: and such other matters as the said report is required by law to contain, or as may be inserted by the Selectmen under the discretion granted them by law.


If you look up the duties of the Town Treasurer, you will find it covers bonds, debt of the Town and the Treasurer is one who is responsible for the payment of the Town's bills. Look in the 2015 Templeton Annual Town report for the report of the Treasurer.

posted by Jeff Bennett

This is a link for the annual town meeting with summaries and motions. Jeff Bennett  ATM Warrant w Motions - May 14, 2016