On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the amount of Forty-Seven
Million, Five Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand, One Hundred Eighty-Four Dollars ($47,563,184) for
the purpose of paying the costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new
Templeton Elementary School located at 17 South Road, Templeton MA, including the payment of
all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project"), which school facility shall have an anticipated
useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for
which the Town, through Narragansett Regional School District, may be eligible for a grant from the
Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), said amount to be expended under the
direction of the Templeton Elementary School Building Committee; and to meet this appropriation,
the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L.
Chapter 44, or pursuant to any other enabling authority; The Town acknowledges that MSBA's grant
program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA,
and any Project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the
MSBA, through the Narragansett Regional School District, shall be the sole responsibility of the
Town; provided further that any grant that the Town, through the Narragansett regional School
District, may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of: (1) Sixty-Two
and Eighty-Four Hundredths Percent (62.84%) of eligible, approved Project costs, as determined by
the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; provided that any
appropriation hereunder shall be subject to and contingent upon an affirmative vote of the Town
to exempt the amounts required for the payment of interest and principal on said borrowing from
the limitations on taxes imposed by M.G.L. 59, section 21C “Proposition 2 ½”; and that the
amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduce by any grant amount set
forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the Narragansett Regional
School District and the MSBA.
Passed by 2/3/November 9th @ 8:14
from the special Town Meeting of November 9, 2015. While watching the meeting of January 23, 2018 of the school building committee, there was a presentation of invoices, with one being from the school district's attorney (as stated by the OPM for the project) so my question is why is the district's attorney rather than the Town's counsel looking over contracts for this Town of Templeton project?
from Templeton's general by-laws:
Article III – Town Officers
Section 1. The Selectmen shall have the general direction and management of the
property and affairs of the town in all matters not otherwise provided for by
laws or these By-Laws.
Article VII – Legal Affairs
Section 1. The Selectmen shall be agents of the town to institute, prosecute and defend
any and all claims, actions and proceedings to which the town is a party or in
which the interests of the town are or may be involved.
Section 5. It shall be the duty of the Town Counsel to conduct the prosecution, defense
or compromise of claims, actions and proceedings to which the town is a
party, and the prosecution of actions or proceedings by or on behalf of any
town officer, board or committee as such; to conduct the defense of any action
or proceedings brought against any town officer, board or committee as such
when the Selectmen, having determined that any right or interests of the town
are or may be involved therein, shall so request, to conduct proceedings
brought by or against the Assessors before the Board of Tax Appeals; to assist
in the prosecution of complaints for violation of any by-law of the town, when
requested so to do by the board of officer enforcing the same, to examine and
report upon titles to all land to be acquired by the town; to prepare or approve
contracts, bonds, deeds, and other legal instruments in which the town is a
party or in which any right or interest of the town is involved; to appear at any
and all hearings on behalf of the town whenever his services may be required;
and generally to advise and act for the town officers, boards and committees
upon and in legal matters touching the duties of their respective officers.
I have to wonder if the current selectmen have ever looked at these by-laws? By passing off or allowing a separate legal entity, the school district, to control such a large Taxpayer funded project, I have to ask if this makes the selectmen derelict in their duty?
Monday, January 29, 2018
Information from Town Hall:
Snow & Ice spending from week ending October 10, 2017 through January 7, 2018;
Labor - $31,412.62 - allocated - $45,000.00
Services - $34,246.73 - allocated - $87,500.00
So now you can see what you have spent on getting your roads plowed or sanded, equipment bought or repaired. You may decide if that was money well spent or not.
Snow & Ice spending from week ending October 10, 2017 through January 7, 2018;
Labor - $31,412.62 - allocated - $45,000.00
Services - $34,246.73 - allocated - $87,500.00
So now you can see what you have spent on getting your roads plowed or sanded, equipment bought or repaired. You may decide if that was money well spent or not.
With regards to the licensing issues, if any, with the former MBW site, as well as the proposed or current goings on there; it may appear to be illegal at first glance, as has been the case before in Templeton, but they usually turn out to be shady, grey, right on the line but not technically illegal.
The one thing that may make people pay, if there are some questionable items, is the conflict of interest, which as I recall, cost one former Templeton selectmen a $1,000.00 on my complaint. So, if you feel strongly that there may be an issue, take the steps and file a conflict of interest complaint, it may work or it may not.
The only way to change this is to vote out of office the involved parties, so that is on the people of the Town. That may mean that you have to step up and run and become involved.
This particular item could make for an interesting public comment at a selectmen meeting, so perhaps Bob Adams will show and make that comment. Personally, I am sitting back watching the people who voted for the planning board members, voted for the police station upgrade, the people who say they want business in Town, the people who allowed chapter 90 money to be used for equipment rather than actual road repair and on and on, and now those same people want to question the process, the people involved and the taxes they pay. Well, once upon a time, the Town had a chance to make a few changes that could have have helped Templeton's financial direction but they chose the status quo; which is fine and was their choice, so now, deal with it as you got what you wanted. Remember, you voted for it!
The one thing that may make people pay, if there are some questionable items, is the conflict of interest, which as I recall, cost one former Templeton selectmen a $1,000.00 on my complaint. So, if you feel strongly that there may be an issue, take the steps and file a conflict of interest complaint, it may work or it may not.
The only way to change this is to vote out of office the involved parties, so that is on the people of the Town. That may mean that you have to step up and run and become involved.
This particular item could make for an interesting public comment at a selectmen meeting, so perhaps Bob Adams will show and make that comment. Personally, I am sitting back watching the people who voted for the planning board members, voted for the police station upgrade, the people who say they want business in Town, the people who allowed chapter 90 money to be used for equipment rather than actual road repair and on and on, and now those same people want to question the process, the people involved and the taxes they pay. Well, once upon a time, the Town had a chance to make a few changes that could have have helped Templeton's financial direction but they chose the status quo; which is fine and was their choice, so now, deal with it as you got what you wanted. Remember, you voted for it!
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Class 11 - used car dealers license and Class 111 - motor vehicle junk license granted to
Franklin Park Enterprises, LLC at 411 Baldwinville Road,
both licenses scheduled to expire December 31, 2017. Nice to see our board of selectmen on the ball and ensuring there are no funny things involved. I wonder if Master Fortes asked about citizenship papers being in order? Seems like Templeton board of selectmen bordering on corruption within Town government. (in my opinion anyways) There seems to be a pattern of planning board and selectmen in collusion on where tax dollars go. (that is my opinion) Too bad there is no independent selectmen on the board, as in no go along to get along.
Franklin Park Enterprises, LLC at 411 Baldwinville Road,
both licenses scheduled to expire December 31, 2017. Nice to see our board of selectmen on the ball and ensuring there are no funny things involved. I wonder if Master Fortes asked about citizenship papers being in order? Seems like Templeton board of selectmen bordering on corruption within Town government. (in my opinion anyways) There seems to be a pattern of planning board and selectmen in collusion on where tax dollars go. (that is my opinion) Too bad there is no independent selectmen on the board, as in no go along to get along.
from the general Town by-laws - page 20 on Town web site.
Article XXX – Class III Licenses
The Selectmen are hereby authorized to limit the number of Class III Licenses in effect in the Town at any one time; said number not to exceed 4.
Passed 5-11-85
The one transfer request I recall went before the board of selectmen, it was Paul Cosentino senior putting it in his son's name. That was a few years ago.
GASB 43 and 45 require government employers
to recognize benefits during an employee’s
period of employment. The difference between
the accrual cost of the retiree benefits within the
given year and amount paid out during the year
(in the form of benefit payments, insurance
premiums, or payments to a trust) is known as
the net OPEB obligation, or balance sheet
liability.
• Reaction of credit-rating agencies
• Credit-rating agencies are most concerned with an employer’s ability to manage OPEB costs and liabilities. On the one hand, the creation of an OPEB trust could be a positive sign to the rating agencies that you are actively seeking ways to manage costs associated with your OPEB obligation. On the other hand, an unfunded trust might signal to the rating agency an inability to follow through on funding and do little to demonstrate effective cost-management of retiree benefits.
• Reaction of credit-rating agencies
• Credit-rating agencies are most concerned with an employer’s ability to manage OPEB costs and liabilities. On the one hand, the creation of an OPEB trust could be a positive sign to the rating agencies that you are actively seeking ways to manage costs associated with your OPEB obligation. On the other hand, an unfunded trust might signal to the rating agency an inability to follow through on funding and do little to demonstrate effective cost-management of retiree benefits.
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: January 25, 2018
CC: All Departments
Public Works Highway Department:
The director attended the Templeton Center Elementary school meeting on Tuesday Evening and the Scout Hall meeting on Thursday. A crew was dispatched to Cottage Lane to fill a location where a resident had cut into the road. Flowing water was undermining the road surface there. The trackless snowplow was out clearing sidewalks after the last snow storm. Cold patching of potholes was done on Barre Rd. Henshaw and Stonebridge, as well as Central and Bridge Streets. Two stop signs were replaced. Due to the pounding rain and freezing temperatures sand and salting was a constant battle to keep the roads safe. A process change was made to the way that Barre and Dudley Roads are sanded. We now are sanding the lanes, not in the center of the road as was done in the past. Repairs to sanders and plows were maintained and cleaned.
Perhaps all roads should be sanded in lanes rather than down the middle?
On the addendum to this report:
MMMA association meeting: Item of note is challenge of board of selectmen doing evaluations now that it has been determined the individual input sheets - if used at a public meeting - are a public record and not part of a personnel file.
from the current Massachusetts Open Meeting Law:
The ten purposes for which a public body may vote to hold an executive session are:
1. To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual. The individual to be discussed in such executive session shall be notified in writing by the public body at least 48 hours prior to the proposed executive session; provided, however, that notification may be waived upon written agreement of the parties.
another item from the addendum report;
Taming the OPEB (other post employment benefits) beast:
Prime point was to establish a funding approach, no matter how small and to stick to it annually, looking for long term solutions to this long term problem. In conversation afterward, presenter thought our approach of a modest free cash contribution annually and pushing enterprise funds to get fully funded at a faster pace was reasonable for now.
My problem with this approach is the same for the stabilization funds, without a budget line item, there is no consistency with the amount, it is only a percentage of any free cash. Why not budget a dollar figure each year as a part of operating costs to put money aside for these items?
Of course, putting down a hard dollar figure item with in a budget is problematic with prop 2 1/2 limitations and the ever expanding government approach, as in the now started full time fire department, which adds more costs to OPEB. Perhaps it is time to outsource things that can be done in that way and cut the number of town employees, as it is not the taxpayers responsibility to provide jobs for people just so they can have one. These are serious problems and require hard decisions. My opinion is that anyone who is running for elective office and posts a sign saying "save dispatch" is just looking for votes and not really thinking of the bigger picture nor the stability of the Town.
Remember that last year, there were education costs of
Narragansett Regional school district of $6,006,424.00
Monty Tech - $ 638,131.00
Debt for High school $ 436,384.00
Total Town budget presented to Town Meeting by the selectmen was approximately 15.5 million dollars.
Templeton Town financial policy voted on by the selectmen states one time funds will not be used to fund the operating budget, but here we have a statement by the Town Administrator on how free cash or one time funds will be used to cover yearly costs to fund OPEB. Either we have a policy with no real plan or we do not collect enough in taxes to cover all of the planned expenses. With the push for new taxes - meals tax, me thinks it is the latter. I also do not think this problem is going to be solved or dealt with by way of an absent board of selectmen. Show or go!
FROM: Carter Terenzini, Town Administrator
RE: Administrator’s Weekly Report
DATE: January 25, 2018
CC: All Departments
Public Works Highway Department:
The director attended the Templeton Center Elementary school meeting on Tuesday Evening and the Scout Hall meeting on Thursday. A crew was dispatched to Cottage Lane to fill a location where a resident had cut into the road. Flowing water was undermining the road surface there. The trackless snowplow was out clearing sidewalks after the last snow storm. Cold patching of potholes was done on Barre Rd. Henshaw and Stonebridge, as well as Central and Bridge Streets. Two stop signs were replaced. Due to the pounding rain and freezing temperatures sand and salting was a constant battle to keep the roads safe. A process change was made to the way that Barre and Dudley Roads are sanded. We now are sanding the lanes, not in the center of the road as was done in the past. Repairs to sanders and plows were maintained and cleaned.
Perhaps all roads should be sanded in lanes rather than down the middle?
On the addendum to this report:
MMMA association meeting: Item of note is challenge of board of selectmen doing evaluations now that it has been determined the individual input sheets - if used at a public meeting - are a public record and not part of a personnel file.
from the current Massachusetts Open Meeting Law:
The ten purposes for which a public body may vote to hold an executive session are:
1. To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual. The individual to be discussed in such executive session shall be notified in writing by the public body at least 48 hours prior to the proposed executive session; provided, however, that notification may be waived upon written agreement of the parties.
another item from the addendum report;
Taming the OPEB (other post employment benefits) beast:
Prime point was to establish a funding approach, no matter how small and to stick to it annually, looking for long term solutions to this long term problem. In conversation afterward, presenter thought our approach of a modest free cash contribution annually and pushing enterprise funds to get fully funded at a faster pace was reasonable for now.
My problem with this approach is the same for the stabilization funds, without a budget line item, there is no consistency with the amount, it is only a percentage of any free cash. Why not budget a dollar figure each year as a part of operating costs to put money aside for these items?
Of course, putting down a hard dollar figure item with in a budget is problematic with prop 2 1/2 limitations and the ever expanding government approach, as in the now started full time fire department, which adds more costs to OPEB. Perhaps it is time to outsource things that can be done in that way and cut the number of town employees, as it is not the taxpayers responsibility to provide jobs for people just so they can have one. These are serious problems and require hard decisions. My opinion is that anyone who is running for elective office and posts a sign saying "save dispatch" is just looking for votes and not really thinking of the bigger picture nor the stability of the Town.
Remember that last year, there were education costs of
Narragansett Regional school district of $6,006,424.00
Monty Tech - $ 638,131.00
Debt for High school $ 436,384.00
Total Town budget presented to Town Meeting by the selectmen was approximately 15.5 million dollars.
Templeton Town financial policy voted on by the selectmen states one time funds will not be used to fund the operating budget, but here we have a statement by the Town Administrator on how free cash or one time funds will be used to cover yearly costs to fund OPEB. Either we have a policy with no real plan or we do not collect enough in taxes to cover all of the planned expenses. With the push for new taxes - meals tax, me thinks it is the latter. I also do not think this problem is going to be solved or dealt with by way of an absent board of selectmen. Show or go!
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