Templeton town administrator might have a problem with being questioned on his actions. After pointing something out, I received this in email.
from Templeton Town website - financial management policy.
Policy: The Town shall have an independent outside audit performed by a certified audit firm each year. The Town shall endeavor to have the audit completed prior to January 1 of each year. The Board shall provide for such an audit by an accountant or a firm of accountants, who have no personal interests, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the Town government or of any of its officers or employees. The Board shall require a public presentation of the audit and management letter once it is finalized.
It is February 2, 2024, where is the audit????
Endeavor - try hard to do or achieve something, evidently, TA and selectmen do not try too hard.PHILLIPSTON – The Selectboard voted Wednesday to approve a new intermunicipal public safety agreement with Templeton.
This three-year agreement entails Templeton providing police and fire dispatch services for both communities. Templeton’s five-member Selectboard also gave the agreement its unanimous backing Wednesday night.
The previous agreement called for Templeton to bill Phillipston annually based on the number of calls received from Phillipston. The most recent bill amounted to just over $77,000. Instead of being charged on a per-call basis, Phillipston will now pay $50,000 every fiscal year over the length of the agreement.
The contract also includes a provision for Phillipston to “establish an equipment budget…in the amount of $5,000 annually for the purpose of purchasing communication-related equipment.
Once again, Templeton residents pay so another town can benefit. One town gets same service as Templeton for less than the cost of one employee.
Municipal cherry sheet estimates:
https://mass.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0e9e2209abd5f7062568d9a19&id=74e017324d&e=16dce7b05a
Regional School district cherry sheet estimates:
https://mass.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0e9e2209abd5f7062568d9a19&id=24cf616f21&e=16dce7b05a
from the newest edition of Selectmen Handbook, easily found by anyone on Massachusetts Municipal Association website.
The long-held view that town managers have more authority than town administrators has no basis in state law. Some town manager positions have fairly modest authority, and some town administrators have significant authority.
The “strong town manager” reference is also a matter of perspective or individual town experience with the position. Some ways in which the position could be considered “strong” are the extent of appointment authority, authority for the direction of the budget and capital plan process, and assumption of certain duties previously assigned to the Select Board (e.g., approval of payments).
Each community has approached this question differently, and the expectations for these positions by town leaders have evolved over time, so there are myriad job descriptions for such positions. Examples from which to draw ideas are readily available on town websites that include bylaws and charters.
email:
Vacant | Chairperson |
Mary Ehnstrom | Vice Chairperson |
Irene Murray | Member |
James Doody | Member |
Thomas Ehnstrom | Member |
Victor Toscano | Member |
