Perhaps there is a loop tape playing out of Templeton Town hall? Looking at two weekly reports from the Town administrator, I find this:October 27, 2016; report from highway - "The winter sand operation is complete and the focus of the highway department will now be addressing potholes and tree issues and other resident concerns." In the December 1, 2016 weekly report from the Town administrator, I find this: report from highway - "Tree work on Baldwinville Road and Gardner Road. Continued to haul winter sand from the pit to the barn . . ." So back in October, the sand operation was complete but in December, highway is still doing sand operations. So which is it, complete or not? What does this indicate, at least from the highway department? What does it say about the Town administrator and this seemly repeat of things in weekly updates? I for one, do not want to be told something is complete if it is not, I do not want to be told there is $15,000.00 available when it is not. Please try to put forth some factual correct information and please stop the public relations spin. It is not working and makes it look worse than it already is, which is pretty bad already.



posted by Jeff Bennett

Funny thing happened at last night's meeting of the Advisory Committee. The superintendent of schools was asked how the reduction of $15,000.00 in Templeton's school assessment came about. He said he was not aware of that, but Phillipston did get a $15,000.00 reduction. School committee member Rae Ann Triffilo also suggested that was not correct and indicated there may have been some confusion. That seems plausible here in Templeton, seeing how it was widely reported in the news paper. Is this the continuation of the apparent fraud being put forth by this group of selectmen? It is, in my opinion. The real problem is that $15,000.00 figure is being put forth as one item to help close the $200,000.00 gap in the 2017 expense plan. Looks like there is a $15,000.00 problem as well as some selectmen unable to do simple math. So, do you really wish to trust these people with a 47 million dollar debt?
On the positive side, it is said Templeton tax rate will be about $16.12. The thing is, even with the new valuation: $1.00 on the tax rate will now raise about $597,000.00. If you do the math, along with the prop 2 1/2 increase, the Town will be raising pretty close to the same amount as last year. All other things keep going up so what happens when your pay check stays the same but your costs go up? That is where Templeton and many other towns are. Mean while, selectmen seem content to keep kicking the can down the road. Tax rate goes down, costs go up and the shortages keep happening. Any guesses as to the cause?



posted by Jeff Bennett

Should Templeton be in the ambulance business while it struggles financially. When the fire department had to scramble to buy new air tanks and pump repairs concerning fire safety. The new rate increases, some 100% and with talk and demands of the state agency overseeing ALS service, of the need for more full time employees to man the ambulance, should Templeton look to a private agency or business to provide this service for a fee, that is they pay Templeton an amount of money for the privilege of serving Templeton. Templeton could maintain ambulance service, just be prepared for a tax rate approaching or at $25.00 per thousand. The Town is currently at $16.47, then the police station debt will be on for 2 years, the new school will be on for 28 years, the "old" high school debt from 1996 will stay on for another 28 years, per information from the special town meeting of November 9, 2015. The increases that will come for health insurance and retirement along with salaries and future labor contracts. It all adds up to increase in tax rate, increases in property valuations which do not always end up in a reduction in property tax bills. As an old commercial said, "it is not what you make, it's what you keep". I am looking at history, financial trends and the costing of services and it all shows you keeping less and less and getting less in return. Watch the cut in hours and services. These are my opinions, other than factual information which I have paper work to back up. Go to Templeton website, town of, look under board of selectmen, contracts and agreements and look at the police chief contract, contract with local 39, etc. and you can see what these cost you beyond salary.



posted by Jeff Bennett

By Kim King
Telegram and Gazette

UXBRIDGE - Voters will go to the polls Tuesday for a special election to fill the Board of Selectmen seat vacated in May when Lance Anderson resigned

The unexpired term runs until the next town election in the spring.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McCloskey Middle School, 62 Capron St.

Three names appear on the ballot, but one of the candidates, Kristen LeBlanc of 242 North Main St., announced last week that she is no longer running because of personal reasons. Ms. LeBlanc urged her supporters to vote for Justin Piccirillo of 47 North Main St.

Mr. Piccirillo, an engineer and alternate member of the Planning Board, faces Gary Lavallee of 118 Hartford Avenue East, a construction manager and U.S. Navy veteran who serves on the Pout Pond Recreation Committee and volunteers with the Italian-American Club and other organizations.

Two controversial soil importation projects, bringing in fill from construction projects largely in the Boston area, which have low levels of contaminants, have dominated the special election campaign as well as many other areas of town government.

Mr. Piccirillo is active in the grass-roots Uxbridge Citizens for Clean Water and said at a candidates forum held at the Senior Center Nov. 17 that if he could change one thing in town, "I'd take that dirty dirt and I'd stick it back in Boston."

He said he was running for the selectman's seat because he believed town government was getting bigger and inefficient, and he took issue with the board's handling of projects such as the reclamation soil importation at 175 South St. and 775 Millville Road.

Mr. Piccirillo said the board "either ignored our bylaws or misled the public or both on our laws around soil importation." He pointed to the table of use in the zoning bylaws, which does not list soil importation as an allowable use in any district. "I don't think you can grandfather an activity that was never permitted," he said.

He also advocated for more long-range planning and favored reducing the authority of the town manager, perhaps handing line-item budget veto authority to the Finance Committee.

posted by Jeff Bennett

by Kim King
Telegram and Gazette

In the first discussion about planning for the fiscal 2018 budget, selectmen were asked for their ideas about what budgetary priorities they'd like to set.

"It's just part of the budget process," Town Administrator Adam Gaudette said, adding that it's quite early to be working on specifics and that no numbers on which to base next year's budget are available.

Still, selectmen want to hear about capital purchases department heads feel they need to make and they want the School Department to weigh in on anticipated expenses too.

And like a Christmas list, selectmen will mull over their wants.

For Selectman Ralph E. Hicks, the list is easy.

He'd like to see the Town Hall open four days a week and he'd like some evening hours to accommodate those who work

In the first discussion about planning for the fiscal 2018 budget, selectmen were asked for their ideas about what budgetary priorities they'd like to set.

"It's just part of the budget process," Town Administrator Adam Gaudette said, adding that it's quite early to be working on specifics and that no numbers on which to base next year's budget are available.

Still, selectmen want to hear about capital purchases department heads feel they need to make and they want the School Department to weigh in on anticipated expenses too.

And like a Christmas list, selectmen will mull over their wants.

For Selectman Ralph E. Hicks, the list is easy.

He'd like to see the Town Hall open four days a week and he'd like some evening hours to accommodate those who work.

I think it's appalling that a community with 11(thousand) or 12,000 people doesn't have a Town Hall that's open one night a week," he said.

He'd also like to reopen Luther Hill Park and provide a summer recreation program and swimming lessons. He has some concerns about the library, too.

Many of the items were cut when the state Department of Education began overseeing the Spencer-East Brookfield School District and set a larger budget figure than the town had approved. Other cuts came after two failed overrides of Proposition 2½ in 2014, Mr. Gaudette said.

Mr. Hicks admitted that Proposition 2½, which limits taxes, makes it difficult to increase budgets for the wish list to be fulfilled.

"Proposition 2½ is a well-intentioned law," he said. "But it limits what we can do."

Mr. Gaudette said he simply wants to set some budget goals and then work with the numbers to see what's possible.

"You start off optimistic," he said. "And then you either maintain your optimism, or you lose it.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Time to send all the goofed up information of Templeton and actions and screw ups involving the selectmen and Bob Markel to certain entities; the Boston Globe, town of Stoneham, channels 4, 5, 7 and Fox news. Time to write letters to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, this mess has gone long enough and with trying to shut out the seniors during the winter months is just too much. How is any business going to want to move in to this town with all this going on?


posted by Jeff Bennett

What is possible in Templeton for Fiscal Year 2018, a $projected $400,000.00 shortfall or structural deficit. This scorch and burn is a result of john columbus and others to get a new school at all costs. He was the chairman of the board of selectmen when all of this went down. He said "we are solving issues" He now says he needs more proof and discussion to see the problem and the solution. Hopefully john, there is a surprise coming for you and the others. That is my opinion as I look at multiple things that have happened and others that seem to be in the planing stage. In my opinion, there was a deliberate effort to paint a very good picture of Templeton finance just to get a new school. Nice job johnny, in my opinion of course.

posted by Jeff Bennett