Place your bets on new town counsel - LK/P anyone?

 Templeton Board of Selectmen

 Town Hall, 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton
Monday, February 26, 2018, 6:30 p.m.

Agenda
1. Call the Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Public Comment

4. a. Meeting Minutes~ none
b. Executive Session Minutes~ none

5. New Business: 
a. Action RE: Appointments & Introductions
b. Action RE: Law Firm Interviews~ Firm A & Firm B
c. Action RE: OPM RE: Police Station Project
d. Presentation RE: Capital Planning Report FY’19 and beyond
e. Presentation RE: FY’19 Budget
f. Referral to Workshop: none

6. Old Business:

7. Board & Staff Member Comments & Reports 

8. Request for Executive Session per M.G.L. Ch.30, Sec. 21.3-Union Negotiations & Litigation
9. Adjournment

The listing of Agenda items is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent it is permitted by law.
THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

So why would the agricultural commission meet at JK Crossroads? A restaurant rather than at Town Hall. On the Templeton Town website, Christof Chartier is listed as chairman. Mr. Chartier is also listed as a member of the Templeton Planning Board. One can either go to those respective places on the Templeton Town web site and email them or go to one of those meetings ( I think Planning Board may be the easiest one to attend and ask on camera) ask why the agricultural commission meets in a restaurant rather than Town Hall. Perhaps go to a selectmen meeting and ask them as well.

I also believe if you attend or watch a meeting (s) of the Templeton Advisory Committee, you will not see nor hear of any discussion on government conspiracy theories relating to 911, sandy hook or any other event. Advisory does discuss financial reporting, actions or lack there of by the board of selectmen and we have also pointed out from time to time that the agricultural commission meets at JK Crossroads. Perhaps more people should show for a selectmen meeting or the all committee meetings and ask why so many committees meet at places other than Town Hall.

Remember, selectmen have no real say so over other elected boards such as cemetery, sewer, planning, assessors, health etc.

Town:	Templeton, MA
Board:	Agricultural Commission
Time:	Monday January 29, 2018 6:30 PM EST
Location:	Agricultural Commission 119 Patriots Rd., JK Crossroads, East Templeton, MA
Agenda:	1. Review minutes 2. Old Business 3. Discuss Sign project 4. Upcoming meetings 5. Discuss recent Farm Bureau agenda 6. New Business 7. Miscellaneous 8. Schedule next meeting

Again, I try to keep this bog on local Templeton issues as well as state and federal things that may have a direct effect on Templeton. I am not naive enough to know there are many possibilities and situations to be created and to happen. There are many examples out there and it is not required for the "government" as a whole to be involved. Can any one say water gate? 

That being said, the main focus of this bog is to provide information that is relevant to Templeton. Watching the Templeton board of selectmen state they cannot put forth a budget as early as say February because all of the numbers are not available and that is one reason why we need to change our election date and the date of our town meeting, when there has been one town (as reported in the Worcester Telegram) that has managed to put together and present a Town budget in February. If other towns can do that, why is it not possible for Templeton to do the same thing?

Since Templeton has created (or is trying to put together) an economic development entity, perhaps our representatives could follow the wishes of town voters (check vote results of the state election ballot question concerning pot) and this economic development could pursue or at least inquire if there are outside interests in Templeton being a location for a growing facility.

So we do not put the cart before the horse, let us watch and see if the selectmen put forth any Town Meeting warrant article (s) before the voters on this subject. Or will Templeton once again cry that we need business to help the tax base, then turn away all comers when the business interest show up?

from the Genera by-laws of Templeton:

Article VIII – Records and Reports

Section 1. All officers, boards, and committees of the town, shall cause records of their doings and accounts to be kept in suitable books. Said books shall be kept in their respective places in the town offices, and shall not be removed therefrom. Said books shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be open to public inspection at any reasonable time, but shall remain during such inspection under supervision of the officer, board, or committee having custody thereof.

Section 2. All officers, boards, standing committees, and special committees of the town having charge of the expenditure of town money shall annually report thereon in writing in such manner as to give the citizens a fair and full understanding of the objects and methods of such expenditures, referring, however, to the report of the Town Accountant for statements in detail of receipts and payments, and may make therein such recommendations as they deem proper. Such reports shall be submitted to the Selectmen for inclusion in the Annual Town Report on or before the thirty-first (31) day of January of each year.

Templeton Committee openings;

Capital Planning Committee	1 Vacancy	1 year Appointment
Conservation Commission	2 Vacancies	3 year Appointment
Open Space Committee	5 Vacancies	1 year Appointment
Zoning Board of Appeals	2 Vacancies	5 year (Associate Member) Appointment
Veterans Oversight Board	1 Vacancy	1 year Appointment
Economic Development & Industrial Corporation	6 Vacancies	1 year Appointment
Baldwinville Elementary School Disposal Advisory Committee	7 Vacancies	1 year Appointment

With a tax rate on the higher side in the state, Ashburnham is on the move to possibly cut expenses of the Town:

The Town of Ashburnham invites bids for Accounting Services. Documents are available starting at 11AM on TUE, FEB 20, 2018. Bids will be received until 4:00 P.M., THU, MAR 8, 2018 by mail or delivered to the Town of Ashburnham, Town Administrator, 32 Main Street, Ashburnham, MA 01430, with the designation “BID #FY18-04 Accounting Services” on the envelope. The Town of Ashburnham reserves the right to reject any and all bids. For questions, information, or bid documents contact the Town Administrator/CPO, (978) 827-4100 x 0, hbudrewicz@ashburnham-ma.gov.

feb20-1t

From: OpenMeeting (AGO) <openmeeting@state.ma.us>

Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 12:24:40 PM

To: jeff bennett

Subject: RE: posting a meeting

Mr. Bennett,

A district school committee must post notice of its meetings either (1) in each city or town within the district in the manner in which each city/town posts notice; or (2) to the district website.  If it chooses the website as the official method, a description of the posting location, including the website, should be posted by each city/town clerk office.

Regards,

Hanne Rush

Assistant Attorney General

Division of Open Government

Office of Attorney General Maura Healey

One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108

Tel. (617) 963-2820

From: jeff bennett [mailto:j_bennett506@hotmail.com]

Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 8:01 AM

To: OpenMeeting (AGO) <OpenMeeting@MassMail.State.MA.US>

Subject: posting a meeting

Good day;

Here is my question/confusion; How is a school district suppose to post a meeting of the school committee or other entity involving the school district?

Is the school district suppose to post the meeting (s) with the Towns within the district. I wish to know and have clarification involving the school district concerning the Town I live in. District is made up of two towns, so when there is to be a meeting of the school committee, is that committee (school district) suppose to post that meeting with the two towns as well as on the district's website, for example. Templeton has voted by Town Meeting to post all public meetings on Town web site, so when there is to be a public meeting of the school committee or any other district entity, such as budget sub-committee or reorganization advisory committee, do those meetings need (required) to be posted on the Templeton Town website as well? Does a link on the Town website directing one to the district web site cover any such requirement. I am looking for clarification on the October 2017 open meeting law updates regarding to how open public meetings must be posted. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

respectfully;

Jeffrey Bennett

Templeton, MA