From: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>

Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2023 9:17 AM

To: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Toth, Timothy <ttoth@templetonma.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Rivard, Matthew <mrivard@TempletonMA.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>

Subject: fire chief employment contract

Good day, I am requesting a copy of the current employment agreement between the town of Templeton and it's fire chief under the Ma public records law.

regards,

Jeff Bennett

From: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>

Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2023 9:57 AM

To: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Toth, Timothy <ttoth@templetonma.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Rivard, Matthew <mrivard@TempletonMA.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>

Subject: RE: fire chief employment contract

There is no current contract.

Adam D. Lamontagne, MPA, MCPPO

When are the selectmen going to sell this thing? Get it off town books!

from town admin report - Several crew members had to work at the former Baldwinville Elementary boarding windows,

etc. due to vandals.

Buildings and Grounds: Aerating was done at Greenlawn Cemetery, Gilman Waite, and Baldwinville Center. Finished the shrubs at Pine Grove Cemetery. Overseeded Greenlawn Cemetery. Emptied the trash at Gilman Waite.

Worked with Highway securing the former Baldwinville Elementary and pumped out basement.

The former Baldwinville Elementary School was broken into the end of last week.

Significant damage was done, this is currently under investigation with the Templeton Department of Public Services and Templeton Police Department.

Back in May of 2023, town meeting appropriated money for various things, one of them being animal control. The animal control agreement expired June 30, 2023 and the town administrator is still talking about renewing it in the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year 24. Yeah, he should get a bonus - NOT.

Weekly: Final adjustments to the draft warrant that will be going in front of the Select Board for approval at the October 11th meeting. Met with the Winchendon Interim Town Manager, Animal

Control Officers, representatives from the Templeton & Winchendon Police Department to tour the former Ahimsa Haven location to discuss future use. The Town is working to finalize the

Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) with Winchendon for animal control services and I will be attending a meeting next week with the Winchendon Interim Town Manager. Conducted

evaluations for non-union personnel. Holly attended a procurement training through the MA Inspector General’s office. Prepared the Select Board packet for the October 11th meeting.

 Tired of water main breaks, tired of bad roads, tired of no sidewalks, tired of water coming onto your property? Look to Templeton town administrator who wants more discretionary money while putting less money into stabilization funds designed to help pay for drainage, sidewalks, upkeep of town builds (that you own) replacement of town vehicles and water main replacement. The town administrator first choice is to have more money to fund his projects and less money to serve the people, as in the residents. Selectman Richard wants citizen input at selectmen meetings to move to the end of the meetings rather than the first part of meetings. Thes things demonstrate where the priorities of your representatives are, them first and you last. The only real way we residents have to counter this action is to go to town meeting and deny these financial requests. Town meeting does not have to vote in favor of one item on warrant of a town meeting. Town meeting can vote to pass over any item, including a town budget and tell selectmen to bring back a better one. It is the only way to hold them accountable for all of their actions or lack thereof. You must attend town meeting to have a say!

 Right now I am in contact with NRSD super Chris Casavant concerning the yearly Veterans Day ( I am assuming it will be done again this year as it has been a yearly thing for quite a while) project done by Ms. Lisa Damon and her 5th grade class. Details still in process but if this happens, it would be neat to have more Veterans there this year than last year (11) if anyone who is a Veteran and would like to thank the kids (it is an awesome thing in my opinion) you can message me and/or watch this face book page as well as my blog.

 Templeton voters have to be nutz to approve 5 grand for a late bill, when a bill for any amount for street lighting was never sent and no amount was included in the FY budget and I have emails to prove this.

Light dept. did not include street lighting cost to town so why should town (taxpayers/residents?) pay a bill they never received. Better yet, how does a town administrator call it a late bill? There was no appropriation by town meeting for street lighting because light dept. did not include that in their expense request for lighting of town buildings, etc.

From: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>

Sent: Monday, January 30, 2023 4:17 PM

To: John Driscoll <jdriscoll@templetonlight.com>

Cc: Jennifer Belliveau <jbelliveau@templetonlight.com>; Szocik, Bob <bszocik@templetonma.gov>

Subject: RE: FY2023 Town Street & Municipal Lighting Invoice

Hi John,

Had a chance to speak with Bob S. We put the electricity costs for the buildings at 100% but didn’t put in the street lights for FY ‘23. Bob recommended to me that we add $15,699 for municipal street lights in his budget for FY ’24. Apologize for my late response.

Why do residents aways have to pay for town employee screwups? How about the selectmen holding someone accountable. A dept. manager screwed up and did not submit an invoice or expense request for street lighting and nothing was put in budget, so how does anyone call it a late bill/ Let the light dept. eat the costs and perhaps that would be a reminder to do the job and check everything before submitting budget requests. Selectmen, hold someone accountable for a change.

 FM: Jeff Bennett

To:

• Adam D. Lamontagne;
• AdvisoryCommittee Templeton;
• Currie, Michael;
• Rivard, Matthew;
• Toth, Timothy;
• Griffis, Terry;
• Richard, Julie

Thu 9/21/2023 8:12 AM

Looking at work sheet for free cash from DLS/DOR, one can see Templeton undesignated fund balance began at $1,502,631.00 and after all deficits, receivables and overdrawn accounts were subtracted (paid out of free cash/undesignated fund balance) the town ends up with net free cash of $674,546.00. If the town administrator thinks that is good budgeting, I would hate to see what he considers bad budgeting. Poor money management cost residents a bit over 800 thousand dollars. Nice job everyone.

Jeff Bennett

 May 10, 2023, Templeton annual town meeting, article 16 - CPC funding reclaiming and fence tennis courts at Gilman Waite field, appropriation voted by town meeting, $139,500.00. Bid for the work was opened August 30, 2023, $178,500.00, so the Advisory Committee has agenda item for meeting this Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. - reserve fund request from parks & rec. July 2023 (FY24) monthly report from accountant shows reserve fund balance at $47,500.00. We (the town) are still in the first quarter and already going after monies from reserve fund, and it would have to be $39,000.00 to make up the short fall to pay for the project. If the transfer were to be approved and contract awarded, would the work be complete before winter, would the company be able to do the project this late in the year (I would assume they have other work already) so if the project is put off until next year, would that bid figure hold? In my humble opinion, it would be irresponsible to use the reserve fund for tis project, as it would be overriding town meeting vote, which if one looks at the ATFC handbook, it states the reserve fund is not for that (overriding town meeting vote) This needs to go back to town meeting and ask them to amend their vote and put a new dollar figure in front of them. If this is the town administrator approach to town budgeting, we need a new TA.

from the handbook that is put together by the ATFC (association town finance committees) which is what the Advisory Committee is in Templeton: to provide for urgent or unforeseen expenditures

that could not have been anticipated before town

meeting; and/or;

• to allow immediate expenditures of funds in the event of an emergency (threat to public safety or health)

when the delay of having to call a special town

meeting could be potentially harmful.

In either case, the finance committee must approve

all proposed transfers from a reserve fund. It is also

understood that a reserve fund should not be to reverse a vote of town meeting or as a “backdoor” means of increasing the budget. Finance committees should adopt their own reserve fund guidelines to supplement the state statute, and should help other town officials gain a better understanding of appropriate uses of a

reserve fund.

$40,000.00 is a substantial amount of tax dollars, this belongs in front of town meeting. The difference between appropriation and the bid received is $39,000.00 and if 39K is taken from town reserve fund at this time, it would leave $8,500.00 for use in any emergency for the rest of the FY, until June 30, 2024.

 Perhaps the Templeton Town Administrator does not really know what he is doing.

There should come a time when some employees are held accountable by their boss. the select board.

Another town bylaw violated by the selectmen.

In addition to any other remedy provided by law, this § 133-6 of the bylaws may be enforced by the Animal Control Officer, or any police officer of the Town, or the Board, through any means available in law or equity, including but not limited to criminal indictment in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21, noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D and Subsection E of this section and, in instances of a violation of a nuisance dog or dangerous dog order issued pursuant to MGL c. 140, § 157, in accordance with MGL c. 140, § 157A, as may be amended from time to time.

The selectmen meeting agendas stated MGL chapter 140, section 146, rather than MGl chapter 140, section 157. Intent met, I don't think so.

Might be time for some employees to go and time to hire a new lawyer.