all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
Financial wizardry or cooking the books?
Board of Selectmen tell the voters, by way of Town Meeting, that we need $100,000.00 for fuel to serve town vehicles. Then use $47,000.00 of that money to pay other bills, charge fuel to snow & Ice deficit, thus creating a larger deficit that needs to be paid off somehow. The selectmen then use $12,500.00 from town vehicle fuel to help pay the snow & ice deficit debt (included in the $47,000.00 figure). So, get $100,000.00 for fuel, then use it to pay other bills, while they charge fuel and the genius part, take from the fuel account to help pay off the snow & Ice deficit, which includes fuel! Now that is some awesome financial management. No wonder the selectmen do not like questions and criticism.
It just may be time for the town of Templeton to go to a 50/50 split on health insurance. The Town covers half the cost of health insurance for Town employees and Town employees pay the other half out of pocket. (the paycheck) Whatever happens, the charade of moving money around (robbing from peter to pay paul as the saying goes) needs to stop.
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
Saturday, August 5, 2017
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 3, 2017
CC: All Departments
Public Works:
Highway Department: Completed street sweeping and began the road side mowing on Barre Road. Hauled several loads of gravel and sand from the pit to the DPW storage area. Crosswalks were painted on Baldwinville Road, Hubbardston Rd, Cross Rd, Partridgeville Rd, S. Main and Pail factory Rd. Excavation on the corner of Wellington road where it meets Dudley Rd in preparation for the change in traffic direction to “ONE WAY”. In the mechanics area, The MOW (MEALS on WHEELS) vehicle got new tires and the COA’s #3005 passenger van had repairs done to the A/C and was taken for an inspection sticker. The mechanic is continuing to install a new engine on the (H23) bucket truck.
Buildings & Grounds:
The director attended the Special Select Board meeting. A grave site was prepared for a funeral in Green Lawn Cemetery. Filled in ruts and holes with loam around the Gazebo and seeded. Addressed an issue of a clogged drain on the Library roof, further investigation is required to clear the pipe to fully resolve the problem. A resident requested that the Tether Ball area be cleaned up @ Gilman Waite and they are willing to donate a tether ball and rope. Brought a tractor to Padula’s for service and picked up supplies for the weed whackers and mowers. Loamed and seeded new walkways @ the TC fire station. Removed trash and cardboard from all common areas in town Put all flags to half-staff per the Governor‘s request. Moved mulch pile @ Gilman Waite. Mowing and trimming done in Pine Grove and Green Lawn cemeteries as well as Templeton center and Baldwinville common. Added new cribs (Raised lots) at Pine Grove.
Disclaimer
quote of the day - "I'm melting, I'm melting" from the wicked witch of the west
posted by Jeff Bennett
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: August 3, 2017
CC: All Departments
Public Works:
Highway Department: Completed street sweeping and began the road side mowing on Barre Road. Hauled several loads of gravel and sand from the pit to the DPW storage area. Crosswalks were painted on Baldwinville Road, Hubbardston Rd, Cross Rd, Partridgeville Rd, S. Main and Pail factory Rd. Excavation on the corner of Wellington road where it meets Dudley Rd in preparation for the change in traffic direction to “ONE WAY”. In the mechanics area, The MOW (MEALS on WHEELS) vehicle got new tires and the COA’s #3005 passenger van had repairs done to the A/C and was taken for an inspection sticker. The mechanic is continuing to install a new engine on the (H23) bucket truck.
Buildings & Grounds:
The director attended the Special Select Board meeting. A grave site was prepared for a funeral in Green Lawn Cemetery. Filled in ruts and holes with loam around the Gazebo and seeded. Addressed an issue of a clogged drain on the Library roof, further investigation is required to clear the pipe to fully resolve the problem. A resident requested that the Tether Ball area be cleaned up @ Gilman Waite and they are willing to donate a tether ball and rope. Brought a tractor to Padula’s for service and picked up supplies for the weed whackers and mowers. Loamed and seeded new walkways @ the TC fire station. Removed trash and cardboard from all common areas in town Put all flags to half-staff per the Governor‘s request. Moved mulch pile @ Gilman Waite. Mowing and trimming done in Pine Grove and Green Lawn cemeteries as well as Templeton center and Baldwinville common. Added new cribs (Raised lots) at Pine Grove.
Disclaimer
quote of the day - "I'm melting, I'm melting" from the wicked witch of the west
posted by Jeff Bennett
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
ARTICLE 5 FY 2016 APPROPRIATION TO THE OPEB ACCOUNT:
To see if the Town will vote amend Article 5 of the May 16, 2016 Annual Town Meeting , the Annual Operating Budget, by raising and appropriating a sum of money for deposit into the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) account; or take any other action relative thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to raise and appropriate Sixty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred Eight dollars ($64,608) to be deposited into the Selectmen’s Office Expenses Budget (01-122-5400-5421).
Passed/November 9th @ 9:20pm
Where is OPEB account? Where is the money? End of the year Budget versus Actual does not show this account/fund. (OPEB)
ARTICLE 2 OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FUND
To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 32B of the
General Laws; and pursuant to said section to direct the Treasurer of the town
(1) to establish a separate account to be known as the "Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund" (OPEB) in the Treasury of the Town; and
(2) to develop a funding schedule for the funding of the Town's liabilities for other post employment benefits; and
(3) to seek and obtain the approval of such funding schedule by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission or as otherwise provided by state law; and
(4) to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or transfer from available funds a sum of money for deposit into the OPEB Liability Trust Fund; or to take any other action related thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen
On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to accept provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 32B of the Massachusetts General Laws and to direct the Town Treasurer to establish an Other Post- Employment Benefits Trust Fund in the Treasury of the Town; and further, to charge the Town Administration with developing an OPEB funding schedule and obtaining approval of said schedule by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission of the Commonwealth; and further, to transfer Sixty Four Thousand Six Hundred and Eight Dollars ($64,608) from the FY’16 Selectmen’s Expense Account (1000-122-100-54-5420-0000) to the OPEB Liability Trust Fund.
A motion was duly made and seconded to move the question.
Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 10:13am
On main motion. Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 10:13am
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
TOWN OF TEMPLETON
WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
November 9, 2015
ARTICLE 5 FY 2016 APPROPRIATION TO THE OPEB ACCOUNT:
To see if the Town will vote amend Article 5 of the May 16, 2016 Annual Town Meeting , the Annual Operating Budget, by raising and appropriating a sum of money for deposit into the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) account; or take any other action relative thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to raise and appropriate Sixty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred Eight dollars ($64,608) to be deposited into the Selectmen’s Office Expenses Budget (01-122-5400-5421).
Passed/November 9th @ 9:20pm
Where is OPEB account? Where is the money? End of the year Budget versus Actual does not show this account/fund. (OPEB)
Annual Town Meeting of May 14, 2016
(1) to establish a separate account to be known as the "Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund" (OPEB) in the Treasury of the Town; and
(2) to develop a funding schedule for the funding of the Town's liabilities for other post employment benefits; and
(3) to seek and obtain the approval of such funding schedule by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission or as otherwise provided by state law; and
(4) to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or transfer from available funds a sum of money for deposit into the OPEB Liability Trust Fund; or to take any other action related thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen
On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to accept provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 32B of the Massachusetts General Laws and to direct the Town Treasurer to establish an Other Post- Employment Benefits Trust Fund in the Treasury of the Town; and further, to charge the Town Administration with developing an OPEB funding schedule and obtaining approval of said schedule by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission of the Commonwealth; and further, to transfer Sixty Four Thousand Six Hundred and Eight Dollars ($64,608) from the FY’16 Selectmen’s Expense Account (1000-122-100-54-5420-0000) to the OPEB Liability Trust Fund.
A motion was duly made and seconded to move the question.
Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 10:13am
On main motion. Passed Unanimously/May 14th @ 10:13am
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
Tic Toc Tic Toc, still here and the blog is still here! Get The Hint/GTH
From the Annual Town Meeting on May 16, 2015.
ARTICLE 2 FISCAL 2015 FINANCIAL TRANSFERS:
To see if the Town will vote to approve financial transfers within the Fiscal 2015 operating budget; or take any other action relative thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen
Transfer from Diesel Fuel -$23,500.00 / transfer to Group Insurance -$23,500.00.
Another example of the current board of selectmen using some accounts as a slush fund to cover other items such as town employee health insurance (group insurance)
Keep in mind that the voters were originally asked to appropriate a certain amount of their money to pay for group insurance and for diesel fuel (or town vehicle fuel) If the town needs less money for fuel and more for health insurance, the board of selectmen should ask for it.
According to the spread sheet (May 14, 2016) showing appropriations for town operation expense (budget/spending plan) which does not seem to be on the Town web site any longer , it has a history of what Town Meeting was asked for and appropriated. According to this document presented to the voters by the selectmen, it shows town vehicle fuel - $56,116.00. It also shows town vehicles/diesel fuel expense - $17,816.00. Interestingly, the words town vehicle fuel has a line drawn thru it along with town vehicles/diesel fuel expense.
For fiscal year 2016, the document shows ATM budget of $131,300.00, then revised FY2016 budget with $100,000.00 for town vehicle fuel.
There are other end of year financial transfers that you will not find within the annual town meeting documents nor the annual town report. Those transfers will eventually be reported here so all can see.
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
Friday, August 4, 2017
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
Tic Toc Tic Toc, hey davey, aka dumb shit, I am still here, the blog is still here!
Now, a few posts back, dumb shit poked fun at bringing up a Budget versus Actual (BvA) from September 2016, well, seems like that had importance after all. Since this was already brought up at an Advisory Committee meeting, this post and information is aimed at informing the general public. The Town Accountant, selectmen have been emailed and the error fixed.
After getting the end of the fiscal year (2017) BvA, I checked the Town Vehicle Fuel account and by looking at the original appropriation from town meeting, then looking at the end of year BvA, I compared that information the the BvA documents received during the year, along with transfers from town meetings. I found the numbers did not match, as in the dollars did not add up. I did the math, sent emails to all selectmen and the town accountant and by the end of the day, the error was found. Received documentation shows a wrong number was hit while entering information (the wrong account number was used to record transfers)
This points out the need for Advisory doing what it does and has said for a long time, the Committee needs access to ALL financial information, just like the Templeton Town By-law states. This also points out the need for "checks and balances", in my opinion. This is not personal, rather it is a committee and it's members trying to ensure the Town's money is properly spent and properly recorded and is available for the public to see, as in reports of the business and doings of the Advisory Committee. If you cannot look at a record of financial transfers, how will you know what is what? How will you be able to look back and see what was done and how?
I believe this demonstrates that Templeton does have a pretty good Advisory Committee that ask alot of questions with regards to finance. (in my opinion) So Advisory Committee looked at the BvA (s), asked questions, asked for documentation (sometimes the committee was stonewalled by some, as in no electronic copies available) but in the end, Advisory Committee found an issue, "a member advised", and an error was found.
I believe this shows the need to have the Town budget completed as soon as possible. I believe the town (selectmen) should follow the municipal calendar per the DOR and per DOR recommendation, use it rather than invent their own schedule. They already have one that is provided by a state agency already paid for by way of state taxes. Selectmen should spend less time reading and worrying about criticism from a blog and pay more attention to town finance and oh yeah, Hire a full time Town Administrator like the Town's people told you to. Like the DOR told you to, like the Auditors told you to do, Get The Hint!
I understand little davey was fishing, trying to use some "super bait" but nothing was biting.
Again, an error was found because members of the Advisory Committee did what they are suppose to do, which is why, per Templeton By-Laws, when Advisory asks for financial information, they should get it and in a timely manner, as in all things financial, even department budget requests and get it electronically!
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
Tic Toc Tic Toc, hey davey, aka dumb shit, I am still here, the blog is still here!
Now, a few posts back, dumb shit poked fun at bringing up a Budget versus Actual (BvA) from September 2016, well, seems like that had importance after all. Since this was already brought up at an Advisory Committee meeting, this post and information is aimed at informing the general public. The Town Accountant, selectmen have been emailed and the error fixed.
After getting the end of the fiscal year (2017) BvA, I checked the Town Vehicle Fuel account and by looking at the original appropriation from town meeting, then looking at the end of year BvA, I compared that information the the BvA documents received during the year, along with transfers from town meetings. I found the numbers did not match, as in the dollars did not add up. I did the math, sent emails to all selectmen and the town accountant and by the end of the day, the error was found. Received documentation shows a wrong number was hit while entering information (the wrong account number was used to record transfers)
This points out the need for Advisory doing what it does and has said for a long time, the Committee needs access to ALL financial information, just like the Templeton Town By-law states. This also points out the need for "checks and balances", in my opinion. This is not personal, rather it is a committee and it's members trying to ensure the Town's money is properly spent and properly recorded and is available for the public to see, as in reports of the business and doings of the Advisory Committee. If you cannot look at a record of financial transfers, how will you know what is what? How will you be able to look back and see what was done and how?
I believe this demonstrates that Templeton does have a pretty good Advisory Committee that ask alot of questions with regards to finance. (in my opinion) So Advisory Committee looked at the BvA (s), asked questions, asked for documentation (sometimes the committee was stonewalled by some, as in no electronic copies available) but in the end, Advisory Committee found an issue, "a member advised", and an error was found.
I believe this shows the need to have the Town budget completed as soon as possible. I believe the town (selectmen) should follow the municipal calendar per the DOR and per DOR recommendation, use it rather than invent their own schedule. They already have one that is provided by a state agency already paid for by way of state taxes. Selectmen should spend less time reading and worrying about criticism from a blog and pay more attention to town finance and oh yeah, Hire a full time Town Administrator like the Town's people told you to. Like the DOR told you to, like the Auditors told you to do, Get The Hint!
I understand little davey was fishing, trying to use some "super bait" but nothing was biting.
Again, an error was found because members of the Advisory Committee did what they are suppose to do, which is why, per Templeton By-Laws, when Advisory asks for financial information, they should get it and in a timely manner, as in all things financial, even department budget requests and get it electronically!
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
Tic Toc Tic Toc, hey dumb shit, I am still here and so is this blog!
Well,the key stone cops or spanky and the gang are still at it and this one takes the cake.
The Templeton selectmen, led by John Caplis have filed another open meeting law complaint against 3 members of the Advisory Committee and are relying on facts not in evidence (they do not have a fourth, fifth, sixth or all seven members reading any blog, never mind the one the selectmen point to. They are assuming things of which they have no proof. Note; when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me, as the saying sometimes goes. They one member making a post and two others commenting and then they assume I also read it. I say I did not and there is no proof of it either.
Selectmen went into executive session at last night's meeting but they did not post the reason for an executive session other than "a potential request for executive session" I do not think they met the threshold for proper meeting post 48 hours in advance. Guess what is coming next? Spanky and the gang should maybe think less about continuous open meeting violation complaints against those who critque them and complain or point out the selectmen continuing to ignore or fail to follow their own procedures created by selectmen for selectmen. Guidance in writing as to how a selectmen's meeting should be posted and what should be included, yet the selectmen continue to fail to follow that. These are the same people who say they have to write more policies so every town employee knows how to do things. Well spanky, how about ya'll start first then maybe everyone else will step in line. Follow your own procedures or change them or continue to feel the heat and there is nothing you can do to stop it either!
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
Tic Toc Tic Toc, hey dumb shit, I am still here and so is this blog!
Well,the key stone cops or spanky and the gang are still at it and this one takes the cake.
The Templeton selectmen, led by John Caplis have filed another open meeting law complaint against 3 members of the Advisory Committee and are relying on facts not in evidence (they do not have a fourth, fifth, sixth or all seven members reading any blog, never mind the one the selectmen point to. They are assuming things of which they have no proof. Note; when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me, as the saying sometimes goes. They one member making a post and two others commenting and then they assume I also read it. I say I did not and there is no proof of it either.
Selectmen went into executive session at last night's meeting but they did not post the reason for an executive session other than "a potential request for executive session" I do not think they met the threshold for proper meeting post 48 hours in advance. Guess what is coming next? Spanky and the gang should maybe think less about continuous open meeting violation complaints against those who critque them and complain or point out the selectmen continuing to ignore or fail to follow their own procedures created by selectmen for selectmen. Guidance in writing as to how a selectmen's meeting should be posted and what should be included, yet the selectmen continue to fail to follow that. These are the same people who say they have to write more policies so every town employee knows how to do things. Well spanky, how about ya'll start first then maybe everyone else will step in line. Follow your own procedures or change them or continue to feel the heat and there is nothing you can do to stop it either!
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
all material on this blog is directed to members of the general public and is not intended to be read by my fellow Committee members, nor do I intend for any readers to convey such material directly or indirectly to my fellow Committee members.
So the Winchendon deal may be off the table with one selectmen, Fortes, aka Wyatt Earp, (that is the picture Fortes placed on his twitter space) walking out of executive session and the rest of the selectmen, at least three seem like they want Carter to stay around indefinitely. Seems like these selectmen who for over 2 years have touted "we are solving issues" cannot bring themselves to do what the towns people told them to do - hire a full time town administrator. Perhaps spend less time trying to make something stick and concentrate on the task at hand.
First the selectmen retaliate against individuals who critique the hell out of them for failing to follow their own procedures and now they cannot even hire someone to manage the town. Perhaps money is not the problem, perhaps it is the selectmen themselves who are the problem. I thought DS (dumb shit) said with a united town the truly elected ones could do the job. After you stop laughing, remember that the auditors, the DOR/DLS and even some past selectmen have said there needs to be a qualified experienced full time administrator overseeing things.
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
So the Winchendon deal may be off the table with one selectmen, Fortes, aka Wyatt Earp, (that is the picture Fortes placed on his twitter space) walking out of executive session and the rest of the selectmen, at least three seem like they want Carter to stay around indefinitely. Seems like these selectmen who for over 2 years have touted "we are solving issues" cannot bring themselves to do what the towns people told them to do - hire a full time town administrator. Perhaps spend less time trying to make something stick and concentrate on the task at hand.
First the selectmen retaliate against individuals who critique the hell out of them for failing to follow their own procedures and now they cannot even hire someone to manage the town. Perhaps money is not the problem, perhaps it is the selectmen themselves who are the problem. I thought DS (dumb shit) said with a united town the truly elected ones could do the job. After you stop laughing, remember that the auditors, the DOR/DLS and even some past selectmen have said there needs to be a qualified experienced full time administrator overseeing things.
Disclaimer
posted by Jeff Bennett
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