Templeton Advisory Committee Pre-Town Meeting

Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 6:30 P.M.

160 Patriots Road, E. Templeton, MA

Conference Room

Warrant for up-coming special town meeting

Advisory Recommendations 

School Finance, if one is interested in education, funding and the rules ??

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.masbo.org/resource/resmgr/Subj_Regional/MASBO_RSDguideFINAL.pdf

 Revenue and Service in Templeton.

Economic Development in Templeton.

from Board of Selectmen, April 24, 2017:

Information gathered via a phone interview between and economic committee member and James Meehan, chairman, economic development and industrial corporation, Town of Athol
 Using EDIC to foster business development and create jobs in Athol.

Athol agreed to provide a development incentive financing agreement to Market Basket which funded the extension of the water system to the Templeton Road/Route 2, exit 18 site.

Property taxes generated:

Total assessed parcel value is $12,846,500.00 which generates about $254,746.10 annually in to the municipality.

The Market Basket site has grown considerably to date, a much larger buildable site than the once proposed Templeton Mall.

Suppose Templeton had that proposed mall and suppose it generated $254,000.00 per year;
consider the school with the budget proposed of $19,786,889.00 was passed. Templeton would be looking for new money in amount of $632,236.00 to pay for that budget.

Consider also, that from Fy 2019 to FY 2020, Templeton Town operting costs increased almost one million dollars (10%) See annual town meeting reports.

FY 2019 -ARTICLE 21: FY 2019 GENERAL FUND OPERATING (OPEX) BUDGET To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Eight Million Town Hundred Twenty Thousand Two Hundred Ninety Eight Dollars and no cents ($$8,220,298.00 ) for the operations of General Government for Fiscal Year 2019, and to meet said appropriation with a transfer of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($250,000.00) from the Ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation, anticipated receipts, and the balance from taxation. Or take any other action related thereto.
Submitted by the Board of Selectmen Majority Vote Required

On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of Eight Million, Two Hundred Twenty Thousand, Two Hundred Ninety Eight Dollars and no cents ($8,220,298.00) for the operations of General Government for Fiscal Year 2019, and to meet said appropriation with a transfer of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($250,000.00) from the Ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation, anticipated receipts, and the balance from taxation
Passed/May 19th @ 12:46 pm

ALSO:

ARTICLE 24: SUPPLEMENTAL FY 2019 OPERATING BUDGET RE: FIRE/EMS To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Two Hundred Forty Six Dollars and No Cents, ($470,246.00), subject to the successful passage of a Proposition 2 ½ Over-Ride, so-called, for supplemental appropriations to the FY 2019 Operating Budget for the following departments:
Fire/EMS $290,740
Police $23,000
Insurance & Benefits $133,890
Highway $15,000
Snow & Ice $7,616
Or take any other action related thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen 
Majority Vote Required

On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Two Hundred Forty Six Dollars and No Cents, ($470,246.00), for supplemental appropriations to the FY 2019 Operating Budget for the following departments:
Fire/EMS $290,740
Police $23,000
Insurance & Benefits $133,890
Highway $15,000
Snow & Ice $7,616
Passed/May 19th @ 12:54 pm

Total dollars for operations of general government for FY2019 /
$8,220,298.00 + $470,246.00 = $8,690,544.00


FY 2020 -ARTICLE 26: FY 2020 GENERAL FUND OPERATING (OPEX) BUDGET To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Nine Million Six Hundred Ninety Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Four Dollars and no cents ($9,690,274.00) for the operations of General Government for Fiscal Year 2020, and to meet said appropriation with a transfer of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($250,000.00) from the Ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation, anticipated receipts, and the balance from taxation. Or take any other action related thereto. Submitted by the Board of Selectmen  -Majority Vote Required

Advisory Committee recommends favorable action on this article. (5 yes, 1 no)

On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted to appropriate the sum of Nine Million Six Hundred Ninety Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Four Dollars and no cents ($9,690,274.00) for the operations of General Government for Fiscal Year 2020, and to meet said appropriation with a transfer of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($250,000.00) from the Ambulance receipts reserved for appropriation, anticipated receipts, and the balance from taxation.

FY 2020 general government expense = $9,690,274.00
FY 2019 general government expense = $8,690,544.00

Total increase  FY 2019 to FY2020 =     $    999,730.00

Not exactly one million (10%) but what is $270.00 between friends?

As you can see, if Templeton had the Templeton mall and if Templeton received $250,000.00 in additional real estate taxes from it, it still would not be the big be all, end all that many people might think; it would help, but a big business in Templeton is not going to solve financial issues.

There are many pieces to the puzzle. Another piece would be for management to stop making bad deals for Templeton, such as Inter-municipal agreement with Hubbardston for accounting service, voted in place by selectmen on May 8, 2019.

That is correct, Templeton has agreed to do the accounting work for Hubbardston for $37,000.00 in FY2020, $42,000.00 in FY 2021 and $43,000.00 in FY 2022.

The Breakdown:

FY 2020, Hubbardston pays $37,000.00 to Templeton, for Templeton Town Accountant to spend 10 hous on Hubbardston work (plan so far) and then spread the money out as follows:

Town Accountant pay goes from $70,190.00 to $77,690.00

Ass't accountant pay  goes from $20,346.00 to  $49,780.00

Total salary expense for Templeton accountant office goes from $90,000.00 total to
$127,470.00.

Math time - $90,000.00 + $37,000.00 (from Hubbardton via IMA) = $127,000.00.

Not so bad Mr. Bennett; except the ass't accountant went from 19.5 hours (no benefits) to 38 hours (with benefits) at an additional cost of approximate $25,000.00, which shows an added cost to Templeton residents so Hubbardston can get their accounting work done for $37,000.00.

Why can't Templeton get our accounting service done for $37,000.00? For $42,000.00??

Anyone, anyone?? (This was by a vote of the board of selectmen, not the accountant)

Maybe this was part of that fabulous 5 year plan "that we did in 3 years"

You may check out the accuracy of the IMA figues by first looking at town meeting calendar on Templeton website, look at 2019, May 8, 2019, board of selectmen and it is included in packet.

Then got to find it fast tab and click on T for town meeting information, go to budget book, look for accountant section and check salaries. Then you can do the math. You could also attend selectmen meeting and ask about this under public comments.

This was voted into affect one week before Town Meeting and 2 weeks before Town election. Sweet!

This is an effort to inform Town residents of actions of your selectmen and to show how your money is being managed. We really need to attend meetings. pay attention and speak up, ask questions.

from an article in Gardner News, April, 2008

Economic Development in Templeton??

TEMPLETON -- Industrial, recreational or municipal uses may be feasible development options at the abandoned Temple Stuart site in Baldwinville, planning consultants said Thursday, although additional research -- and a community commitment to explore revitalizing the approximately 22-acre property -- will be needed if progress is to be made. “This is the beginning, another beginning, of a long process,” said Glenn Eaton, executive director of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, after presenting a reuse feasibility study to residents and officials gathered at Narragansett Regional High School. “You can come together on an issue. And you have a history of doing that in town.” The feasibility study -- which the planning commission prepared along with consultant William Scanlan through a state technical assistance grant -- outlines many of the issues surrounding the site, presents several potential reuse options and suggests a course of action if the town hopes bring about new development at the property. Heading the list of recommendations is the establishment of a committee, consisting of town officials, residents of the Temple Stuart neighborhood and others “to advocate for redevelopment and facilitate dialogue among all stakeholders.” Mr. Scanlan said the committee could take the form of an economic development commission or a more informal group appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The town, the report suggests, must also set long-term goals for the location, decide whether acquiring the property would be the best course and enlist legal assistance to determine the ownership status and liability issues involved. Options such as the state’s “43D” program -- which allows communities to target specific sites for economic development and makes grant funding available to assist in those efforts -- could be utilized, the report states. “We don’t have a goal with this report other than to say, ‘get moving,’” said Mr. Scanlan, who along with Mr. Eaton stressed that the study was meant only to outline potential courses of action. “All options are on the table, and that’s a big part of the intent,” said Mr. Eaton. The study lists a number of potential uses for the site. If the town chose to acquire the location, for example, it could be used as a park or for municipal buildings. On the economic side, the location could become home to a business park, industrial facility, distribution facility or business incubator. The central location, size, commercial zoning and railroad access of the site are among its strengths, said Mr. Scanlan, while its uncertain ownership status, contamination issues and distance from major highways are its most significant weaknesses. The Temple Stuart site was for decades home to a furniture manufacturing, and is believed to remain under the ownership of American Tissue Mills of Massachusetts. The industrial history of the location resulted in widespread contamination, and it remains a “brownfield” site even after several years of Environmental Protection Agency cleanup work at the site and in the surrounding neighborhood. Those in attendance agreed that determining the ownership status and potential liability issues involved in acquiring the site should be the town’s foremost priority, although some expressed disappointment those issues were not covered more in depth as part of the feasibility study. “You should have had a little bit better handle on that,” said Selectman John Henshaw, although Mr. Eaton and Mr. Scanlan noted they worked within a limited scope with limited funding and were not equipped to address more complex legal issues. Mr. Eaton did say he would be willing to do additional research for the town in that regard. Neighborhood resident Linda McClure said determining ownership must be the first step taken, given that any possibility of future development hinges largely on whether the owner of the site is willing to cooperate. “Let’s not put the cart before the horse,” she said, suggesting that the location could once again house an industrial operation similar to the former furniture factory. Planning Board member Peter Haley said developers he has spoken with through his work in the real estate industry have noted that the site’s accessibility to railroads is a major attraction, although the potential liability surrounding the remaining contamination at the location is a serious concern. Mr. Scanlan and Mr. Eaton agreed, but said brownfield sites in other communities in the state and throughout the country have become soccer fields and even schools. Residential would not be recommended at Temple Stuart, the report states, given the remaining contamination issues. Some in attendance questioned whether progress will be made on the issue. Planning board member Dennis Rich said it “seems like there’s a number of major hurdles” in the path of any redevelopment at the site, and said he fears the issues may be put on the back burner given the number of other ongoing projects in town. Resident Sharon Manty described the project as “a kind of scary undertaking,” and Selectman Julie Farrell said many residents are frustrated with the past complications at the location and fear redevelopment could result in those troubles being repeated. Mr. Eaton in response noted that the town has in the past rallied around causes and taken positive action. He used the example of the Open Space Committee, which did not exist five years ago but that has since taken effective steps to preserve the town’s natural landscape and heritage.

from the Massachusetts Selectmen Handbook:

Finance Committee (or Advisory or Warrant Committee)
The finance committee—or, in some towns, the advisory or warrant committee—is a town’s official fiscal watchdog. Its primary, statutory responsibility is to advise and make recommendations to town meeting on the budget and other areas of finance. One of the finance committee’s most important functions involves making transfers from the town’s reserve fund (a contingency fund normally created as part of annual budget appropriations) to other line items in the budget for extraordinary or unforeseen occurrences.

While the finance committee plays a vital role, it is within the executive authority of the selectmen,and/or their appointees, to prepare the town’s budget. The selectmen have ultimate responsibility to the residents for this service. The finance committee’s responsibility is to review the budget submitted to them and to make recommendations regarding the budget to the town’s legislative body: the town meeting.

The proposed word changes to town by-law on the warrant for the upcoming special town meeting does not affect this: it cannot because the advisory committee's responsibility to examine and make recommendations on all warrant articles is mandated by state law and town by-law: make recommendations and a written report to town meeting.

The aim for the proposed by-law change is to clearly state who does what so we spend less time on arguing on that and spend more time on the very important subject of how is taxpayer money being spent. 

The proposed by-law change equates to clearly stating the Town Administrator with approval of the selectmen will create the town budget (which already happens as stated in current by-law) and if approved, would then clearly state the town administrator and selectmen would present and defend same to town meeting. (which already happens, it just does not state that in the by-law that was voted on at the 2014 annul town meeting.

2014 Templeton annual town meeting:

ARTICLE 20 CHANGE TO THE TOWN BUDGET PROCESS 

To see if the Town will vote to change Article IV “Advisory Committee,” Section 4 of the Town By-Laws to read: “It shall be duty of the Town Administrator in conjunction with the BOS to consider expenditures and develop a budget for the ensuing fiscal year of the several boards, officers and committees of the town, as prepared by them in such form and detail as prescribed by the Town Administrator.”; or take any other action relative thereto. 

Submitted by the Board of Selectmen 

Advisory Board Recommendation: No Vote: 5-0 AB 

Comments: The Advisory Board fully supports a change to the town budget process, however, the wording and placement of this suggested by-law change ( replacing an article that deals with the Advisory Board with text that relates strictly to the BOS and Town Administrator) does not seem to make sense and therefore the Advisory Board cannot support the article. 

So, will the advisory committee support further clarification of the process?

By Michael P. Norton, State House News Service

BOSTON The Massachusetts Legislature was the last in the nation to enact an annual budget this year and now their drawn-out deliberations over last year’s state budget are about to cost the taxpayers real money.

Comptroller Andrew Maylor faces a Thursday deadline to file the state’s annual Statutory Basis Financial Report closing the books on spending and revenues for the fiscal year that ended June 30, almost four months ago. But here’s the problem: the Legislature still isn’t done spending last year’s revenues.

Beacon Hill talks on a final fiscal 2019 supplemental budget only started to heat up this month, and House and Senate Democrats are currently looking at two different bills that spend most of last year’s budget surplus, while proposing rainy day savings account deposits of between $350 million and $400 million.

In a letter delivered to top lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Baker Tuesday, Maylor said that when the budget bill is eventually signed by Gov. Charlie Baker, it will take about 14 days to compile the final financial report and have it reviewed by the state’s independent audit firm, currently KPMG. That timeline puts Maylor’s office well beyond its statutory filing deadline.

“Please note that this is a target to help you understand when the SBFR might be issued but is not a guarantee,” Maylor wrote.

As part of his work, Maylor is required to certify and report the state’s consolidated net surplus at the same time as he issues the financial report, and the surplus certification determines if the budget is balanced and if there’s any amount to be transferred to the rainy day account.

Basing his calculations on the financial report being issued on Nov. 15, Maylor projected forgone interest on expected stabilization fund revenues of more than $500,000, an amount he estimated will increase by more than $30,000 each day beyond Nov. 15.

Calling it a “measurable downstream impact” of not filing the financial report on time, Maylor wrote, “I realize that this amount may not seem important, but as a taxpayer and someone who spent more than 25 years in local government, that sum is meaningful.”

The spending bills are on the minds of legislators, and the many stakeholders throughout Massachusetts who stand to benefit from newly authorized spending. The House closeout budget totaled about $723 millin in spending; the Senate bill authorized $780 million in spending.

“On Beacon Hill, a supplemental budget should be coming out, we think this week,” Education Commissioner Jeff Riley told the Board of Education Tuesday.

Riley added, “We think legally they have to figure this out by Oct. 31, but that may be pushed. Legally is perhaps too strong a word. Maybe they’re shooting for Oct. 31, traditionally.”

Last year, Treasurer Deb Goldberg and former Comptroller Thomas Shack knocked the practice of passing final supplemental budgets so long after fiscal years had ended, with Goldberg comparing the practice to “kids getting away with stuff for too long.”

To follow industry best practices, Shack said, a final supplemental budget should be approved by Aug. 31 each year.

“This is the fourth fiscal year that I’ve operated as the commonwealth’s comptroller and this is the fourth year under my comptrollership that we will not meet the statutory deadline,” Shack said last October.”I would reiterate that such late activity is really perilous. It’s a well-known risk within the audit world that if you do not meet your own statutory obligations you may well subject yourself to really, really significant scrutiny.”

Senate President Pro Tempore William Browsberger said lawmakers are aware of Thursday’s deadline and said there’s a possibility that the budget bills could be reconciled without the need for a six-member conference committee.

Katie Lannan contributed reporting

Please pass this message on to the Board:

Recently I contacted Mr. Szocik on the deteriorating road condition on the lower end of Brooks Village Road. First of all I want to say that Mr. Szocik was a pleasure to speak with and not only did I find him very professional but also very friendly and kind.

Secondly, Mr. Szocik addressed the situation and initially did some repairs...and returned once again to do some more repairs on the berm.

I just want to say that I appreciate Mr. Szocik's efforts and kindness in getting the job done well.

Sincerely,

Joseph Kondrchek
Ridgewood Lane