Sorry, not only in Templeton.

From the Town of Franklin - Capital Planning

Community Profile:
● No Capital Committee
● Finance Committee, advisory only
● Capital Sub-Committee of the Town Council members (4 of 9 members)
● Capital Improvement Plan includes Town & School

Capital Program Policy:
● 100% of Free Cash, Overlay Surplus is used for capital purchases or small, one-time purchases.
● A five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) plan is required annually and shall be maintained and updated.
● Department Heads are required to budget operating costs associated with CIP projects.


Capital Program Policy:
● Delaying maintenance on existing assets results in higher costs in future years. Postponing improvements to buildings/ infrastructure results in higher costs.
● Bonds will be used for large capital projects (over $1,000,000)
● Stabilization accounts for Fields, Fire Trucks/ Ambulance, Facilities
● 10% of Free Cash toward OPEB Trust Fund

So, 100% used for capital purchases, but use 10% for OPEB; must be the new math!

It just may be this is one of the things that make some taxpayers go - WTF????

Massachusetts General Law chapter 43A

Section 7: Action on articles in warrant for town meeting

Section 7. The articles in the warrant for every town meeting, so far as they relate to the election of the moderator, town officers and town meeting members, and as herein provided, to referenda, and all matters to be acted upon and determined by ballot, shall be so acted upon and determined by the registered voters of the town in their respective precincts. All other articles in the warrant for any town meeting shall be acted upon and determined exclusively by town meeting members at a meeting to be held at such time and place as shall be set forth by the selectmen in the warrant for the meeting, subject to the referendum provided for by section ten.

Section 8: Moderator; tenure; duties; vacancies

Section 8. A moderator shall be elected by ballot at the annual town meeting when his term of office expires, for the term of one or three years, and shall serve as moderator of all town meetings, except as otherwise provided by law, until a successor is elected and qualified. Nominations for and election of a moderator shall be as in the case of other elective town officers, and any vacancy in the office may be filled by the town meeting members at a meeting held for that purpose. If a moderator is absent, a moderator pro tempore may be elected by the town meeting members.

Time for a change . . . . and a real step forward for Templeton.

I think if there is one thing to wish for in the coming new year, it is a change, more people at Town Meeting and more than a simple yes or no recommendation from the finance (Advisory) committee. Perhaps this is the year where that committee can/will really "bring it".

Bring things like a real report with real explanations for it's recommendations.
Explanations from the "minority report" as to why any members who vote or recommend against an article. Time to perhaps change it up and for some of this to happen, the moderator is going to have to allow these explanations to happen . . . the residents/voters/taxpayers deserve it. When the Advisory Committee states it wants or needs to explain a recommendation, the moderator needs to let this happen. What would be a reason to deprive the people at Town Meeting of this information or explanation? It should not be politics nor jockeying from say the selectmen or Town Administrator.

I hope the New Year brings a well attended and informed Town Meeting with real explanations with regards to any recommendations for / against/ or no action. My hope for the New Year is there will be no more selectmen (individually or collectively) attempts to stifle discussion on any article presented to Templeton's Town Meeting. Let discussion happen and let true democracy take place.

This might be a pretty large wish for the New Year but you either "go big or stay home." As the British SAS say, "who dares wins."

Happy New Year to all.

Hope everyone is paying attention; on Beacon Hill, the state politicians are looking to make some moves with regards to alcohol sales and taxes. Increase taxes and use that money for more alcohol enforcement people - as in grow the government, which will cost more than the taxes collected, so New Hampshire, here I come.

Happy New Year!

Some places where your tax dollars go



Please use this rate for your mileage reimbursements in your budget you
submit.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2018, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car
(also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

* 54.5 cents for every mile of business travel driven, up 1 cent from
the rate for 2017.

Kelli Pontbriand
Accountant
Town of Templeton
978-894-2765

Capital Planning Committee:
Tempeton has a Town by-law concerning capital planning, in fact several Town Meeting votes were redone because these items did not foow that by-law and did not go before the capital panning committee.

There has also been mention of accuracy on the town web site;

Right now, the web site shows capital planning committee as follows:

Doug Morrison
Charles Carroll II
Wil Spring
Lori Mattson


Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - Capital Planning Committee

Agenda shows the supposed membership of this committee;

Doug Morrison - Chairman
Robert May - vice-chairman
Cheryl Richardson - (Town Treasurer)
member at large - vacant
member at large - vacant
Carter Terezini, Town Administrator
Ex-officio member

While attending this meeting, I observed Doug Morrison and Cheryl Richardson present. Also present and apparently counted as a member was Eric Pollitt.

Question; was there an actual quorum present so the planning committee could conduct business?
Question; is it the policy of the board of selectmen to allow this kind of merry go 'round as to anyone can fill in on this committee?
Question; is there really enough members on this committee for it to function as designed?

To me, it looks similar to all of those selectmen policies, there on paper but not much substance. If anyone is going to make issue about how much time is spent on A and should Town entities B, C and D  perhaps "pay" for service provided by Town Employee M, perhaps the Capital Planning Committee should become functioning and maybe devise a true plan and follow it.

I might follow the lead of Capital Planning committee members; when I cannot make a meeting, I wi simply send someone in my place so they may conduct business.

The term “ex-officio” is a common Latin phrase which when literally translated means “from the office.

Ex-officio” means “by virtue of office”. An ex-officio committee member is a person who is automatically entitled to a position on a committee, for as long as he or she holds a certain office in the organization. An ex-officio position on a committee exists only if a governing document (legislation or bylaws) provides for it.

from the Tempeton Town genera by-laws:

Article XLII – Capital Planning By-Law Section 1:
Capital Improvements Committee:
There is hereby authorized a Capital Improvements Committee, to be composed of five members, as follows:
• One (1) from the Board of Selectmen;
• One (1) from the Advisory Committee;
• Two (2) from the community at large to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen; and
 • The Town Treasurer/Collector

The Town Administrator, or designee, shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member provided, however, that this person shall be designated by the Chairman as a voting member whenever the Committee lacks a quorum because of a recusal of a member or to provide a sufficient number of members to establish a quorum and conduct business.

This by-law was amended May 13, 2017 and approved by the attorney general on August 1, 2017 which is when the by-law may legally take affect. So, are there some minutes of a recorded meeting where a designee was voted on to fill in or take over for the town administrator or does this just happen on a whim and whenever it is convenient?

Once again, a very confusing by-law - a five member committee, apparently with "spare" in waiting.
Does that mean it is actually a 6 member committee? Was or is there an official change from the town administrator to a designee or is that also carried out on a whim when one does not feel like attending?  Again, perhaps before we go counting pennies and making things complicated, perhaps we should get the foundation solid first.

Working the holiday:

Someone wrote on here that "highway was out plowing the roads being paid time and half.

From the highway labor contract: Overtime / compensatory time.

"Overtime for work on Sundays and Holidays shall be paid at the double time rate."