From: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>

Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2023 6:19 AM
To: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Toth, Timothy <ttoth@templetonma.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>; Rivard, Matthew <mrivard@TempletonMA.gov>
Subject: free cash plan

 

Good day, since the town financial management policy has a requirement for the town administrator to come up with a plan for use of free cash upon certification, I am requesting a copy of the plan prior to the change to FMP voted by selectmen and a copy of the plan per "new" FMP. I am also requesting a copy of the FY25 capital budget for the town (as in how much money is available for spending on any capital items) I am requesting this information under the MA pubic records law and as the town administrator is one of the records access officer for the town, I would like these records in electronic form. 

 

regards,

Jeff Bennett

Answer from town administrator:

From: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2023 8:47 AM
To: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Toth, Timothy <ttoth@templetonma.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>; Rivard, Matthew <mrivard@TempletonMA.gov>
Subject: RE: free cash plan

 

Sure.  I will provide you with a complete free cash plan under the new policy the Select Board adopted.  Only have to provide you with records that exist. You have the right to appeal this determination to the Supervisor of Records pursuant to 950 CMR 32.08(1).

 

Adam D. Lamontagne, MPA, MCPPO

Town Administrator

 More money for MPZ/old school in Baldwinville, but no money for roads/bridges/sidewalks???

Article 18 $5,000.00 for caretaking of BES.

Article 15 $750,000.00more for MPZ/BES

No Money for roads/sidewalks/water mains/flooded areas but bonuses for town employees.

Minimum deposits into town savings - capital and infrastructure stabilization funds but 100 thousand dollars for town employee bonuses. Selectmen not looking out for residents.

Attend and vote at Templeton special town meeting on November 15, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. Narragansett middle school.

 From: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>

Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2023 9:17 AM

To: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Toth, Timothy <ttoth@templetonma.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Rivard, Matthew <mrivard@TempletonMA.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>

Subject: fire chief employment contract

Good day, I am requesting a copy of the current employment agreement between the town of Templeton and it's fire chief under the Ma public records law.

regards,

Jeff Bennett

From: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>

Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2023 9:57 AM

To: jeff bennett <j_bennett506@hotmail.com>; Currie, Michael <mcurrie@TempletonMA.gov>; Toth, Timothy <ttoth@templetonma.gov>; Griffis, Terry <tgriffis@TempletonMA.gov>; Rivard, Matthew <mrivard@TempletonMA.gov>; Richard, Julie <jrichard@TempletonMA.gov>

Subject: RE: fire chief employment contract

There is no current contract.

Adam D. Lamontagne, MPA, MCPPO

When are the selectmen going to sell this thing? Get it off town books!

from town admin report - Several crew members had to work at the former Baldwinville Elementary boarding windows,

etc. due to vandals.

Buildings and Grounds: Aerating was done at Greenlawn Cemetery, Gilman Waite, and Baldwinville Center. Finished the shrubs at Pine Grove Cemetery. Overseeded Greenlawn Cemetery. Emptied the trash at Gilman Waite.

Worked with Highway securing the former Baldwinville Elementary and pumped out basement.

The former Baldwinville Elementary School was broken into the end of last week.

Significant damage was done, this is currently under investigation with the Templeton Department of Public Services and Templeton Police Department.

Back in May of 2023, town meeting appropriated money for various things, one of them being animal control. The animal control agreement expired June 30, 2023 and the town administrator is still talking about renewing it in the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year 24. Yeah, he should get a bonus - NOT.

Weekly: Final adjustments to the draft warrant that will be going in front of the Select Board for approval at the October 11th meeting. Met with the Winchendon Interim Town Manager, Animal

Control Officers, representatives from the Templeton & Winchendon Police Department to tour the former Ahimsa Haven location to discuss future use. The Town is working to finalize the

Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) with Winchendon for animal control services and I will be attending a meeting next week with the Winchendon Interim Town Manager. Conducted

evaluations for non-union personnel. Holly attended a procurement training through the MA Inspector General’s office. Prepared the Select Board packet for the October 11th meeting.

 Tired of water main breaks, tired of bad roads, tired of no sidewalks, tired of water coming onto your property? Look to Templeton town administrator who wants more discretionary money while putting less money into stabilization funds designed to help pay for drainage, sidewalks, upkeep of town builds (that you own) replacement of town vehicles and water main replacement. The town administrator first choice is to have more money to fund his projects and less money to serve the people, as in the residents. Selectman Richard wants citizen input at selectmen meetings to move to the end of the meetings rather than the first part of meetings. Thes things demonstrate where the priorities of your representatives are, them first and you last. The only real way we residents have to counter this action is to go to town meeting and deny these financial requests. Town meeting does not have to vote in favor of one item on warrant of a town meeting. Town meeting can vote to pass over any item, including a town budget and tell selectmen to bring back a better one. It is the only way to hold them accountable for all of their actions or lack thereof. You must attend town meeting to have a say!

 Right now I am in contact with NRSD super Chris Casavant concerning the yearly Veterans Day ( I am assuming it will be done again this year as it has been a yearly thing for quite a while) project done by Ms. Lisa Damon and her 5th grade class. Details still in process but if this happens, it would be neat to have more Veterans there this year than last year (11) if anyone who is a Veteran and would like to thank the kids (it is an awesome thing in my opinion) you can message me and/or watch this face book page as well as my blog.

 Templeton voters have to be nutz to approve 5 grand for a late bill, when a bill for any amount for street lighting was never sent and no amount was included in the FY budget and I have emails to prove this.

Light dept. did not include street lighting cost to town so why should town (taxpayers/residents?) pay a bill they never received. Better yet, how does a town administrator call it a late bill? There was no appropriation by town meeting for street lighting because light dept. did not include that in their expense request for lighting of town buildings, etc.

From: Adam D. Lamontagne <alamontagne@TempletonMA.gov>

Sent: Monday, January 30, 2023 4:17 PM

To: John Driscoll <jdriscoll@templetonlight.com>

Cc: Jennifer Belliveau <jbelliveau@templetonlight.com>; Szocik, Bob <bszocik@templetonma.gov>

Subject: RE: FY2023 Town Street & Municipal Lighting Invoice

Hi John,

Had a chance to speak with Bob S. We put the electricity costs for the buildings at 100% but didn’t put in the street lights for FY ‘23. Bob recommended to me that we add $15,699 for municipal street lights in his budget for FY ’24. Apologize for my late response.

Why do residents aways have to pay for town employee screwups? How about the selectmen holding someone accountable. A dept. manager screwed up and did not submit an invoice or expense request for street lighting and nothing was put in budget, so how does anyone call it a late bill/ Let the light dept. eat the costs and perhaps that would be a reminder to do the job and check everything before submitting budget requests. Selectmen, hold someone accountable for a change.

 FM: Jeff Bennett

To:

• Adam D. Lamontagne;
• AdvisoryCommittee Templeton;
• Currie, Michael;
• Rivard, Matthew;
• Toth, Timothy;
• Griffis, Terry;
• Richard, Julie

Thu 9/21/2023 8:12 AM

Looking at work sheet for free cash from DLS/DOR, one can see Templeton undesignated fund balance began at $1,502,631.00 and after all deficits, receivables and overdrawn accounts were subtracted (paid out of free cash/undesignated fund balance) the town ends up with net free cash of $674,546.00. If the town administrator thinks that is good budgeting, I would hate to see what he considers bad budgeting. Poor money management cost residents a bit over 800 thousand dollars. Nice job everyone.

Jeff Bennett