In regards to the perpetual care fund balances and investments of the Town:

Massachusetts general law chapter 114;

Section 19: Deposits for care and improvement of burial places or lots; records; investment of deposits

Section 19. A city or town may receive, hold and apply any funds, money or securities deposited with the treasurer thereof for the preservation, care, improvement or embellishment of any public or private burial place situated therein, or of burial lots situated in such burial places. Such funds, money or securities shall be entered upon the books of the treasurer, and held in accordance with ordinances or by-laws relative thereto. A city or town may pass ordinances or by-laws consistent with law, necessary for the purposes of this section. Each treasurer shall invest such deposits under his control to insure a maximum income from such deposits. Upon the receipt of a deposit for the preservation, care, improvement or embellishment of individual lots in public burial places, said treasurer shall so inform the city or town clerk, who shall record the facts relating to such deposit in the margin of his records of said lots.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Things to check on for the new year: What are the balances of the funds that hold the perpetual care monies for the cemetery department. what is the balance of the fund that holds the building maintenance money. Are the selectmen, via the town administrator having the cemetery superintendent Alan Mayo take or attend management courses and if so, where is that money coming from. Are the selectmen, via the town administrator telling the highway superintendent to take over building maintenance for the town? Any answers to those questions will be posted here.


posted by Jeff Bennett

TOTAL CERTIFIED UNENCUMBERED EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY: $335,846.00. 

That is the amount listed for Narragansett regional school district for 2016. You can find this information on the MA dls website, under the gateway tab to the right of the website. Look for regional school district excess & deficiency and when you get to the list, scroll down to narragansett and then choose a year and see what was filed. In theory and very practical, it looks like the district has enough "free cash" left over through the years to be able to give back to the two towns that make up the district. The amount of $10,000.00 per town does seem to be out of reach. These funds could be used to help build both town's savings fund which in turn would result in better financial health for both towns. That usually results in better interest rates for the town's borrowing to benefit the schools. It is also possible that this action would put taxpayers in a better position or mood to support the schools better, from a financial stand point. That is my thought, anyway.


posted by Jeff Bennett

The secretary of state’s office this afternoon released the final set of rules to implement the new public records law, which was signed by the governor in June and is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1.
 
• Link to secretary of state’s office for regulations
 
The new law (Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016) imposes strict new requirements on cities, towns and state agencies governing timelines to respond to and comply with requests for records, including how much can be charged to cover costs and what penalties could be imposed on state and local government agencies.
 
The law required the supervisor of records in the secretary of state’s office to finalize regulations by Jan. 1.
 
The new rules will necessitate that cities and towns review and update local practices for responding to records requests, and that they be ready to implement them on the first of the year.
 
The MMA is in the process of reviewing the regulations in detail.
 
The MMA and the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association are sponsoring a workshop at the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Jan. 21 on the requirements of the law and regulations, as well as best practices that cities and towns can implement to facilitate compliance with the new rules.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Massachusetts General Law, chapter 39:

Section 16: Appropriation, advisory or finance committees; appointment; tenure; powers and duties

Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election.

In every town having a committee appointed under authority of this section, such committee, or the selectmen if authorized by a by-law of the town, and, in any town not having such a committee, the selectmen, shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting.

posted by Jeff Bennett

Massachusetts General Law, chapter 39:

Section 15: Moderators; powers and duties

Section 15. The moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes, and may administer in open meeting the oath of office to any town officer chosen thereat. If a vote so declared is immediately questioned by seven or more voters, he shall verify it by polling the voters or by dividing the meeting unless the town has by a previous order or by-law provided another method. If a two thirds, four fifths or nine tenths vote of a town meeting is required by statute, the count shall be taken, and the vote shall be recorded in the records by the clerk; provided, however, that a town may decide by by-law or vote not to take a count and record the vote if a two-thirds vote of a town meeting is required by statute; and provided, further, that if the vote is unanimous, a count need not be taken, and the clerk shall record the vote as unanimous.

A town may pass by-laws, subject to this section, for the regulation of the proceedings at town meetings. Such by-laws shall be approved and published in the manner prescribed by section thirty-two of chapter forty.

In any town having a representative town meeting form of government the town meeting members shall not use the secret ballot when voting in the exercise of the corporate powers of said town or on any motion unless two thirds of the town meeting members present and voting thereon vote that a secret ballot be used.

posted by Jeff Bennett

from Town meeting, May 20, 2013:


Article 59
To see if the Town will vote to rescind Town By-Law XLVII, the Personnel ByLaw, and replace it with the following:

The Board of Selectmen is responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures. Submitted by the Personnel Board On a motion duly made and seconded the town voted that Revised General By-Laws, Article XLVII- Personnel By-Law, be amended to read as follows: The Board of Selectmen is responsible for the administration of all personnel policies and procedures.

 Passed/May 20th @ 8:10

The above seems to say the selectmen and not town meeting approves personnel policies and procedures such as hours compensation etc. The people who pushed for this should not now speak of "it should go to town meeting" or "it has gone to town meeting in the past" That has/was changed with this town meeting vote along with other votes.


posted by Jeff Bennett