Route 202 needs some checking, 2 police officers, fire truck, ambulance along with about a mile or more of speedy dry on the road. Serious fuel leak? Highway/DPW truck. This requires some detailed checking, as a fuel spill of this nature requires reporting and usually leads to fines and / or cleanup costs, near to closed Templeton dump, environmental issues? Conservation commission, better check this out? Developmental services? Board of Selectmen, ah, somebody may need to wake them up, as this was around 11:00 A.M today.

Templeton Treasurer/Collector Contract:

Looking on the Templeton Town website under contracts and policies, there is a copy of a contract between the Town of Templeton and it's Treasurer/Collector. Under duties, it states the treasurer/collector shall assume administrative control of and be responsible for all operational functions of the department, including, but not limited to, the supervision of daily operations of billing and collections of betterments, real, personal property and excise taxes and miscellaneous revenues, managing and disbursing cash, managing the placement and servicing of debt, supervision of all personnel; preparation and submission of the annual budget (s) to the Administrator; submission of required reports; responsibility for all expenditures and grants within approved budgets, presentations before any Board of the Town at which the Treasurer/Collector 's presence is required and before any Town Meeting when necessary; communication with the public, including the media, on matters related to operations and policy, and any other related and relevant duties as assigned by the Administrator.

Seems pretty straight forward, and considering the new elementary school involves debt of the Town, such as BANs, as in borrowing, which involves the Town having a responsibility to pay things back, seems like there should be some mention of this in the weekly Town Administrator's report, under Treasurer/Collector. So, how or why is it allowed, that continuously, from the Treasurer/Collector has nothing to report? Perhaps the puppet strings are a little tight. I mean, there are bills coming in regarding the school project and presumably, they are being paid along with processing receipt of MSBA reimbursements? Surely there is something to report out of the treasurer / collector office?

Perhaps this is the real issue with so many vacancies, management rather than salary?

So, to recap for today;

After the recent Supreme Court ruling concerning unions and specifically, public sector unions, employees are no longer required as a condition of employment to join, pay a fee or support a union. No more force or extortion for the right to go to work.

Evening news reports that the largest member union in the state, teachers union, already have people putting together a memo of sorts informing members that they no longer have to support or belong to the union to have a job, reportedly instructing people how to opt out. The report also stated that the unions stand to lose millions of dollars.

I do not see how this ruling can be taken as anything but a move to allow people who want to work as having the freedom to decide whether to join or support a union or not. If people wish to join or support organized labor, I saw nothing in the ruling that stops them from making that choice.

On the salary comparison along with market rate statement made by Templeton select board chairman, well, that seems to be less than accurate. It is very similar to the comment made at a selectmen meeting that all towns touching Templeton, or bordering the Town, have tax rates of $20.00 per thousand, which again, is not true, and that is easily checked.

So people now have a choice when it comes to the right to work and the information put forth by at least one selectmen concerning tax rates and salaries is less than honest or true.

Looking at today's weekly Town Administrator report, the Town Accountant, treasurer/collector, police, sewer, fire / EMS have nothing to report this week, interesting. I wonder what Mr. happy pants has to report? Another 1 1/2 hour meeting complete. (someone will get that reference)

Three bids received this week in the amount of 9 million dollars of Bond Anticipation Notes (short term borrowing) for the school and police station. No mention of the fellowship man, Eric Pollitt leaving Town employment.

Oh Templeton, first it was all the Towns that Touch (border) Templeton have tax rates at $20.00 per thousand, which if anyone checks, that is simply untrue. Now, Templeton employees are under paid and the offered wage is under market value.

For instance, Templeton highway is $5.00 to $10.00 under market. Well, time to check surrounding towns and see how true that rings.

A quick look at the FY 2019 spending plan shows Templeton highway laborer/operator at an average of $40,000.00 per year.

Executive assistant to Town Administrator;

Hubbardston executive assistant to the Town Administrator - $32,825.00

Templeton executive assistant to Town Administrator -           $40,000.00

Winchendon Town Manager executive assistant  -                    $62,000.00

Barre executive assistant to Town Administrator -                     $33,000.00
(+ / -) employment add on MMA website shows $15.79 per hour.

Templeton appears to be in the middle (average) on this pay scale. I think the benefit side of things should also be looked at - how generous are Templeton health insurance offerings compared to other communities / are the benefits pre-tax or post tax? Makes a difference.

It does look as though the message from the selectmen can be taken as less than transparent. If the statement is (such as regarding tax rate) that all the towns bordering Templeton pay more for a position, please show us the list so we may compare.

If you wish to work for the Templeton Highway department, you get to keep a few more of your dollars, since you should no longer have to pay an agency fee simply to work.

The Supreme Court finally gave those who wish to work for a municipality a choice, to pay or not to pay to go to work. Of course, here in the commonwealth, the news is reporting that the speaker of the Massachusetts House is going to work to soften the blow to organized labor. The bribe machines most likely have already been fired up.

Seems strange for a person having to pay extra for the right to get a job and go to work. Also, those same people no longer have to pay to help support a politicians campaign expenses, especially if they, as an individual, do not support that person. I would expect the state house here to try and protect their trough containing all that cash that comes from the public sector unions.

 Happenings in Templeton.



The computer gods  tell me that Templeton's asst. accountant was fired. Lynn (Phillipston's treasurer) sent out some smoke signals informing me that Kelli (Templeton town accountant) is going to hire her in Templeton to do the payroll and and be her asst. she will still be working in the Templeton Collector /treasurer office and in Phillipston. The drum beat from the other side of the river, sends this message, "Who really runs Templeton"?

It almost looks like a game of musical chairs is going on in Town Hall these days. There is a very visible group of five (somewhere there is a picture showing five) and while most of the time, there are only four seen at the table on tv or you tube, but there is suppose to be five and they are charged with among other things, the policy and budget responsibilities of Templeton. The group of five can delegate most of their duty/authority as they wish, they cannot delegate their responsibility. The group of five now have a very large and expensive monument to their accomplishments, one very expensive and big building known as an elementary school (that they will soon lose control of, if they ever controlled it to begin with) When the music stops, will there be anyone left to sit in the chairs?

The future of Templeton probably just went to the cellar with the departure of Eric Pollitt and that is the responsibility of the group of five. The question now is what will they do about it? When the company is not doing well, the CEO usually is sent on their way, sometimes followed by the CFO.

On the bright side, pretty soon, the Templeton highway department will have a couple of brand new trucks, however, will there be anyone to drive them?

If you are keeping track, Templeton is now looking for a DPW director, a fire fighter/Paramedic, an assistant town accountant, assistant town treasurer/collector. It looks like Templeton should have it's own window or signup desk at the local employment office.

Also, after watching last night's selectmen meeting, these selectmen do not seem  interested in helping out the people they are suppose to serve and work for.

If you wish to open or run a business in Templeton, bring your citizenship papers with you and be able to prove you have experience in something that you wish to try, you know, invest your time and money into, because at least one selectmen, Haley Brooks, thinks you have to have experience before you can run a business, involving your own time, money etc. Maybe that should be a requirement to be a selectmen?

Fellowship individual, Eric Pollitt is moving on, so add to the list of employees leaving Templeton.
I wonder what the common denominator is that is causing so many to leave employment in Templeton.