From the labor 39 contract – Highway;

L.O.T. = Laborer/Operator/Truck driver.

July 1, 2016	Class	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
Foreman	H8			$20.24	$21.86
Mechanic	H6		$20.45	$21.48	$22.49
Asst., Mechanic	H4	$14.54	$16.28	$18.03	$20.35
L.O.T	H2	$14.09	$15.74	$17.39	$19.70

July 1, 2017	Class	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
Foreman	H8			$20.64	$22.30
Mechanic	H6		$20.85	$21.91	$22.94
Asst., Mechanic	H4	$14.84	$16.61	$18.39	$20.76
L.O.T	H2	$14.37	$16.06	$17.73	$20.09

July 1, 2018	Class	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3
Foreman	H8		$21.06	$23.21
Mechanic	H6	$21.27	$22.35	$23.87
Asst., Mechanic	H4	$16.95	$18.76	$21.61
L.O.T	H2	$16.39	$18.09	$20.91

Beginning July 1, 2018, step 4 will be eliminated and a new step 3 established. Step 3 will require 130 pay periods and all licenses for steps 1 & 2 plus a 4G (specialty roadside mower) endorsement.

The above is from the labor contract between the Town of Templeton and highway labor. Why this would be important to know; it affects the fiscal year 2019 budget/expense plan that will ultimately be brought forward. This contract along with others that will be highlighted later, have an effect on expenses as it represents monies already spoken for and not available for other things. Pretty much the same effect as long term debt, as contracts do represent debt of the Town in the form of a promissory note, so to speak. (This is my opinion on that subject) The contract can be found on Templeton town website, under boards and committees - selectmen - contracts/agreements. You have to look for them.

posted by Jeff Bennett

From Templeton Selectmen Policies and Procedures;

The Chairman of the Board shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the Board. In doing so, he/she shall maintain order in the meeting room, recognize speakers, call for votes and preside over the discussion of agenda items.
2. Sign official documents that require the signature of the Chairman. A vote may be taken for the Chairman to sign when needed.
3. Call special meetings in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
4. Prepare agenda with the Town Administrator.
5. Arrange orientation for new members.
6. Represent the Board at meetings, conferences and other gatherings unless otherwise determined by the Board or delegated by the Chairman.

The Chairman shall have the same rights as other members to discuss questions and to vote thereon. In the Absence of other offerings he/she may introduce motions, seconds to motions and resolutions.

AGENDA PROCEDURES: The responsibility for coordinating and planning the meeting agenda is that of the Town Administrator. Each of the Board members and the Town Administrator may place items on the agenda. The Town Administrator, in consultation with the Chairman, will schedule a realistic time period for each appointment, interview, conference or other schedule of business. All items for the agenda will be submitted to the Town Administrator by Wednesday preceding the next scheduled meeting to allow time to arrange, produce and post the agenda while giving all Board members time to prepare for the meeting. Items of emergency or strictly routine that develop after closing the agenda may be considered under “topics not anticipated by the Chairman 48 hours in advance” Agenda items normally include:
1. Reading of the Agenda
2. Public Comment
3. Town Administrator Report
4. Scheduled Business
5. Topics not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chairman 48 Hours in Advance
6. Selectman Reports/Future Agenda Items
7. Adjournment

Members of the Board, staff, Town Administrator or others who prepare background material for the meeting should make an effort to have such material available for the Tuesday afternoon preceding the meeting. If background information is not provided or is insufficient or complicated or if complex memos or motions are presented at the meeting which were not in the Board’s meeting packet, any member should feel free to request the tabling of the item to allow careful study of the material presented or the motion proposed. The agenda will be available to the public and the press at the Selectmen’s Office 48 hours in advance of the meeting date, as per the Open Meeting Law, and will be posted on the Town website before the meeting.

At one selectmen meeting, a question was asked about the agenda and a meeting topic, Administrative assistant Holly Young stated "I just changed it" and this was during the meeting and after the item in question had already been part of the discussion.



posted by Jeff Bennett

Templeton Board of Selectmen
Town Hall, 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton
Monday, May 22, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

Agenda
1. Call the Meeting to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. a. Meeting Minutes~ 5.8.17
b. Executive Session Minutes~ 5.8.17, 11.14.16

4. New Business: 
a. HEARING RE: Liquor License Transfer ~ Thirsty Turtle
b. Presentation RE: Q3 Report of Public Works
c. Presentation RE: Open Space & Recreation Plan
d. Action RE: CPC Grant Proposal
e. Action RE: Legal Services IFP
f. Action RE: S.125 FSA Limit Increase
g. Action RE: Proposed Personnel Policy Amendment
h. Action RE: Amendment #4 w/OPM RE: Temp Center Elem School
i. Action RE: Amendment #7 w/SMMA RE: Temp Center Elem School
j. Action RE: Bad Check Policy (Refer to Workshop)
k. Action RE: CDBG Lien Subordination Request
l. Action RE: Town Service Pin (TSP) (J. Caplis)
m. Action RE: Policy RE: Wear & Appearance of TSP (J. Caplis)

5. Old Business:

a. Action RE: 

6. Board & Staff Member Comments & Reports

7. Potential Request for Executive Session 

8. Adjournment

posted by Jeff Bennett

What happens at a public meeting stays public - as in do not say anything you do not wish repeated.

That is the opinion of this simple appointed volunteer. You see, I am not elected like our honorable selectmen - the superior ones, as they so declared and that declaration was backed up by people such as the town administrator (interim) and the town accountant.

So did a member of the superior board step in it? Perhaps, but what is said at an open public meeting, well, it stays public, no going back and erasing it. That is why they are called open and public and that is why a record of sorts is required.  Perhaps a lesson here is when a superior board tries to ignore, push aside, or manage another group, it may not always end well or go smoothly. Sheep can be marginalized, but when you invite someone to a get together and then basically tell them to sit in their like window dressing just so you can possibly say, hey, were working together, we are on the same page when in fact you are not even reading the same book, well, expect a little heat.

I looked up in the Templeton Annual Town report and on the Town website and other places, including a few past newspaper articles and what I found was this:

Templeton Town Treasurer/Collector listed as Kate Meyers and the Assistant Templeton Town Treasurer/Collector listed as Carol Lee Eaton, so if anyone says for instance, "the Templeton Town Treasurer/Collector or the treasurer/collector" just who do you suppose would they be talking about?

At the end of the day, a public meeting is public and open and what is said there is public and it will not be erased here, as was asked of me. I am just a simple guy in Templeton who heard something and I let people know. I am not one of the exalted elected ones from the superior board. Have I previously served as a selectmen? Yes I have, but that is in the past and I have heard the superior ones state many times, including at the most recent Templeton Town Meeting, that the past is in the past and we are looking/moving forward. So please do not try to tell me this or that or you know because you were a selectmen etc. That is in the past and ya'll do not deal in the past.

Speaking of Town Meeting, I have to get that dvd and see if there was actually a vote to dissolve the meeting because I believe I heard a motion but not an actual vote. Now that would be something.


posted by Jeff Bennett

Highlights for today;

According to the latest budget versus actual - expenditures, there are several funds/accounts over spent - that is they show up as in deficit. My thought is that those things should be caught by both a department head and the accountant and the accountant should not let things be paid that will result in a deficit. I believe it is in the law or the guidelines for a Town accountant.

Another highlight is the salary fund/account for Templeton dispatch - on the expenditure side, it shows a balance left of $6,933.19 left for the year. I hope that is enough to pay the employees through the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2017.

A post here under the name anonymous is signed  " and thank you for all you do". That is the line at the end of every email I have ever seen and or received from Anne Gobi - Thanks for all you do.

Lets just say I do not believe in coincidences but perhaps someone has taken her line?

At last nights Advisory Committee meeting, there was a surprise attendee, newest selectmen Cameron Fortes. Wish he would have stayed until the meeting ended as there were a couple questions that he may have been able to answer. One thing he did comment on was that apparently the treasure/collector Kate Meyers is on some sort of administrative leave - as in home and getting paid with an option on the table to resign or not. Probably be July before the Town knows for sure.



posted by Jeff Bennett

To selectmen Brooks; try reading your own policy as posted on the Templeton Town web site, it clearly states adopted in the first line:

This policy shall be known as the Town of Templeton Social Media Policy. It has been adopted by the Town of Templeton Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator. The Town Administrator reserves the right to amend any of the provisions of this social media policy for any reason and at any time, with or without notice. This social media policy will be administered by the Town Administrator or their authorized representative.

If it has not been adopted/accepted or voted on, it should not say "adopted". Perhaps you should run that question before Town Counsel, the one you wish to replace. (In my opinion) Maybe that nick name "liars club" actually fits!

Jeff Bennett

One policy on the Templeton Town web site - this is the first paragraph of this "policy"

This policy shall be known as the Town of Templeton Social Media Policy. It has been adopted by the Town of Templeton Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator. The Town Administrator reserves the right to amend any of the provisions of this social media policy for any reason and at any time, with or without notice. This social media policy will be administered by the Town Administrator or their authorized representative.

So, the above says it has been adopted but next to it is states Draft, which usually indicates it has not been formally accepted or adopted yet???????


http://www.templeton1.org/sites/templetonma/files/file/file/social_media_policy-draft.pdf


posted by Jeff Bennett