It would really be nice if the Templeton board of selectmen and advisory committee would just follow a town bylaw that was discussed and voted in place by town meeting. See section 9-6 of town bylaws on advisory committee: whenever there are end of year financial transfers, midyear spending adjustments for revolving funds or a request from a town dept. to use reserve fund money, there is a joint meeting of selectmen and advisory committee. Just follow the bylaw rather than trying to figure ways to not follow it. Having all parties involved in the budget process in the same room at the same time while there are proposed changes to said budget cannot be and is not wasting anyone's time.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Friday, December 29, 2023
Perhaps as a service to residents, town hall should be open with extended hours during the last week of the calendar year, rather than only 2 days. Extended hours so residents/taxpayers have maximum opportunity to pay taxes before end of year. Also, would allow anyone with any type of license that requires up to date tax payments prior to issue or re-new. Stuff sometimes happens and residents should have maximum time to address any issues or things that might come up end of year. This would be a very good service from government, who after all is supposed to work for the people.
Thursday, December 28, 2023
Determination is in: MA attorney general's office of open government finds Templeton board of selectmen violated Open Meeting Law.
For the reasons stated above, we find that the Board violated the Open Meeting Law as alleged. We order the Board’s immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law and
caution that future similar violations may be considered evidence of an intent to violate the law.
Because the Board has already amended the meeting minutes at issue, we do not order additional remedial action.
Open Meeting Law determinations may be found at the Attorney General’s website,
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Today I received a copy of the November monthly finance report from accountant via a records request to the town records access officer.
Looking at page 7 of report, balance of infrastructure stabilization fund shows $158,908.47. Comparing this balance to October monthly finance report, on page 7, shown as $113,908.47.
Next, looked over report of November special town meeting; article 13 "On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to transfer the sum of Sixty Five Thousand Dollars ($65,000) from the Infrastructure Stabilization Fund, " then looking at article 20 of same special town meeting, n a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the sum of One Hundred Forty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($147,500.00) to make deposits into its Operations (OPEX), Capital (CAPEX) and Infrastructure stabilization accounts and the OPEB reserve account as follows: OPEX $35,000 CAPEX $45,000 Infrastructure $45,000 OPEB $22,500.
recap: infrastructure stabilization fund balance as of October 31, 2023 - $113,908.47 - $65,000.00 (article 13 STM) =$48,908.47 + $45,000.00 (article 20 STM) = $93,908.47. November monthly expenditure report a special article for Royalston road title work at $65,000.00. My question is why does the infrastructure balance show $158,908.47 if the $65,000.00 has been set aside, as in transferred to a separate account?
So, is my calculator broke? Is this Templeton math? Is this a new way to report town finance? A keying error?
Monday, December 18, 2023
https://www.mass.gov/doc/fy2024-parcel-and-address-update-status/download
from mytowngovernment.org: Board of Selectmen Meeting Agenda
Executive Session
Monday, December 18, 2023 1:00PM
Meeting Room
20 The Common
Phillipston, MA 01331
This agenda lists all matters anticipated for discussion; some items may be passed over, and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Any member of the public planning to record the meeting must first notify the Chair.
1:00 Call to Order
1.Vote to participate in mediation between the Massachusetts State 911 Department and the Town of Templeton regarding dispatch services. Shows meeting cancelled.
from Templeton TA weekly report: 12/14/2023 Meeting has been set to attend next week in Phillipston with state 911 department.
from 12/17/2023 Athol Daily News:
from Athol Daily News: (12/17/2023)
PHILLIPSTON — Officials from Phillipston and Templeton are planning to meet with representatives of the State 911 Department to see if an accord can be reached to renew the Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) agreement between the two towns.
In an exchange of emails with the Athol Daily News, Melanie Jackson, the board’s administrative assistant, said, “Templeton has always provided excellent dispatch service over the years, and we are grateful to them for that. The main issues at hand are financial transparency and collaboration.”
At last Wednesday’s Phillipston Selectboard meeting, members reviewed a letter from Joseph Crean, director of special projects for the State 911 Department, stating it was his agency’s belief that “it is in Phillipston’s best interest to remain in the Templeton RECC.”
In his letter, Crean noted “projects involving Athol will not be considered by this department at this time. It is critical to understand that the department will not support or consider any regional 911 project involving Athol due to their ineligibility to receive any department grant funding until fiscal year 2028.”
The letter did not provide the details behind Athol’s ineligibility for State 911 grants.
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said that Athol’s funding through the State 911 Department was suspended for a period of 10 years after Athol withdrew from a regionalization effort with Gardner. Suhoski explained that this was done at the urging of residents.
“The Special Town Meeting that night was well-attended, and folks were riled up and they voted to show their displeasure with the (agreement),” he said. “The Selectboard then withdrew from the regionalization effort with Gardner. So, we put that in the rear-view mirror and focused on centralizing police and fire dispatch at our dispatch center in Athol. So, anyway, as a result of that we were kind of placed on the ‘naughty list’ for 10 years.”
Suhoski added that he was a “bit irritated” with the tone of Crean’s letter. Had Athol and Phillipston reached agreement on a new RECC, Suhoski said, “Were not expecting that 911 would be funding us immediately. We felt there would be a sufficient budget from our own resources – economies of scale – and whatever Phillipston pays to Templeton anyway.”
from The Recorder 2017:
ATHOL — After the town voted in February to withdraw from an 2-year-old intermunicipal agreement to regionalize the town’s dispatch services, the state is presenting a new option.
Frank Pozniak, executive director of the state 911 Department, tasked with coordinating and implementing enhanced 911 service in Massachusetts, sent Athol Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski a letter detailing new option, one where Gardner and Athol could execute a new agreement — one different from the selectmen reversing their February vote or canning the agreement and forcing the department to repay $739,564.54 in state money for the project. Athol officials continue to have misgiving about the state’s response.
Selectboard Chairman Lee Chauvette said Thursday that all board members feel it is unacceptable for the department to transfer Athol’s 911 calls simply because Athol opted out of the intermunicipal agreement, which he said did not contain any language regarding when an opt-out could occur.
Chavuette said Selectmen Steve Raymond and Holly Young will work with Suhoski, Fire Chief John Duguay and Police Chief Russell Kleber to draft a response and offer additional information “as to what the town is doing to combine its police and fire dispatching within the community under one dispatch center at the Athol Police station.”
The Selectboard voted to withdraw from the agreement following a nonbinding special town meeting vote following a petition drive started by Young, who at the time was not on the board.
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