Well I must have drank some of that florid kool aid, because there was so much cooperation at to nights' Light and Water meeting, I thought we could go for the gold, and get them to work with the rest of the town to formalize a PIOLET. Julie brought the subject up, and the response was deafening. Not a squeak, our fine commissioners ignored the fact she even brought it up. Oh I may as well tell you what I got out of this gathering. I missed the great award ceremony, but there was signs that the bd. was willing to look at giving low income residents and people on assistance a break, some time down the road. This is a huge improvement, along with the fact they may give us a break on the 4:00 charge they give us each month for printing the bills. If all of this ever happens, well time will tell. I asked about them working with the town to formalize a pilot, the response was as bad as ever. They do not think they have any obligation to the town. None, zero, nada!!! So much for brotherly love!! Hee Hee. Then the question comes to me, why do we have a Municipal Light Company in the first place? If we do not benefit from it, what the hell?? We own it so they all make very very good money!! But when we need more than they choose to give us, its tough shit guys. There is something very wrong with this picture!!! There were a couple of things I did not understand, in the town Annual Report for the year ending Dec 31, 2009, in the book dated 2011 under the light Company, transferd in lieu of taxes, 175,000. but, the recap sheet says they donated 125,000 and Article 8 says they transferd 100,000, so how do you figure that one?? I said the town is in trouble because of poor management for the last ten years, but Virginia sat in front of me and just shook her head no. Good grief, can't she see what the crew has done to our town??? Well as far as I can see, I am not about to support a Light Co that does nothing for us, and everything for them!! What do ypu guys think? My opinion, Bev. Oy yes it was good to see Bubba is alive and well, the kool aid is good for bad people, Hee Hee
Ronnie Davan suggested the town hire a professional to figure out how to manage the town's budget without raiding the enterprise accounts. Thanks for that brilliant idea Ronnie! You earned your 85k last night!
ReplyDeleteThe town did just that. His name is Jeff Ritter. His dear friends fired him. When he came back (thank goodness) the town accountant resigned. Can you read the writing on the wall Ron? It ain't the town with the accounting issues. Its the previous 10 years of leadership that got us here. How about supporting the right thing and creating a real PILOT program? Ah!!!!
DeleteSorry to tell you, but Ron. is making more than 85K, those figures are two years old. He is making a lot more than that. Bev
DeleteIt took some time to figure it out, but when they give us all of their old equipment they consider that as a part of the pilot. Remember when they gave us a truck that they could not get a sticker on. They gave us that truck, the highway mechanic had to spend our money to fix it, along with parts and labor, so they figured the value at $75,000. I would guess that this is what they have always done, and they have gotten away with it! This PILOT is not figured on anything. They have not followed the guidelines from the state, and we have never gotten any increase for inflation. They have had it very, very well for a long time. I think they need to be told we do not want any more of their left over junk, we need real money from this year forward. We have been the child with left over clothes and toys for too long. There have been times their trucks came in handy, but we really needed their money more. Believe it or not, there was a day that the Templeton Municipal Light really looked out for the town, but those days are long gone. Bev
ReplyDeleteI agree with all you have said, Bev. And you are right, it was never the Light Co looking out for the town in the last 10 years as they would like to have residents think but the opposite. I believe, they think in their minds that they own the co. & it is none of our business, as they have shown with the GM's behavior, time & time again. It is the town that has given the money to the light co. in the first place that they used to make them fat & sassy!! It is not their company nor is it the personal bank account of any one person there (oh, I forgot, yes, it has been). This arrogant, self-centered, greedy thinking is part of what has gotten the town into trouble. You are right Bev, they have not given the correct percentage of money back to the town, in lieu of taxes. Broken down equipment is not the same thing. Plus, what an easy way to dispose of faulty useless trucks & get themselves off the hook of having to dispose of them. Just give the junk to the Highway Dept. to try to fix or figure out what to do with the leftover stuff that is no longer useful to the light co. The thinking that has been flawed over at the light dept. is them saying we have given back to the town, not that the town has given them big bucks & opportunities that the most of the other depts have not had. In my opinion, Templeton Light, (the regular employees are not at fault, it is the management) had become the bargaining chip for a few self-promoting individuals who could care less about this town. They have used us up & have lived high off our blood, sweat & tears for many years. How is it that they got so high on those pedestals? Well, they went unchecked for far too long. It is hard to fix something so broken. I thank those people who are trying so hard to rein some of these rogue individuals back in. It is tough to bring "spoiled" people back into reality. This irresponsible gluttonous way of doing business is the makings of what causes empires & govts to fall. Because of the avaricious actions of a few we are close to State receivership. Just another example of how man never seems to be able to govern himself for too long without getting into trouble. It is too tempting for some insatiable individuals to see the money coming in & not lay claim to it, as their own, in the most reprehensible ways. Everyone has the right to make a good living but not at the expense of others to the degree that those in leadership positions drain the bank & put the town in jeopardy until that society declines & is made unsustainable to the point of collapse. I believe in capitalism but not abuse of the capitalist system. There always needs to be checks & balances (which there hasn't been last 10 years at Light) in order for it to work efficiently & fairly. I also don't believe in redistribution of wealth to people who just don't want to work. However, I also don't think that a few have the right to raid the coffers & deplete all that is there for their own personal gain. Shame on these few!! I doubt that they are capable of feeling any shame. If they were they couldn't hurt this town to that extent if they were able to feel remorse for what they have done. No, they just want more & more. That's why Greed is a true sickness. And, to me, it is not just the Light co that has this skewed type of thinking. I believe there are some in the school administration (oops not supposed to say anything about the school dept, heaven forbid) who are also "out of control" on spending. All my opinions. I also appreciate reading the views & seeing every bloggers input & will always be open to correction if I am wrong or way off the mark.
DeleteIf no one spoke up at a L&W meeting and questioned the service charge, how many more years would they have kept billing their customers at $4/mo. even though it really isn't needed?
ReplyDeleteI figure we would be paying that charge forever!! Bev.
DeleteI think we hit the nail on the head last night! The fact that we were stopped from further questions tells me that the cats getting out of the bag! The 300k Renewable energy credit bonus is just one pot of gold they get,on top of the power they sell us from the wind turbines "11 of them",yes 11,the pile of money collected for us being their customers and other sources are a vast amount and would be even clearer to you if they allowed more of my questions!Dana knew where i was headed with the money questions and they were put on the spot to be truthful/on tape is the only way to get the answers i want!
ReplyDeleteWe were not allowed to question because of the questions that were about to come!
They have lots of time for executive sessions and little time for the public to get involved and "that's wrong".
I won't stand for it and neither should you. They work for us i think 1,500.00 worth each? So they say!other benefits?Trips,tournaments,ect?
The fact that Dana made me remove my C4T hat must of made him proud of the power he has to control his meeting, Dana without my hat i will stand up for Templeton even taller to get to whats going on there! The buck doesn't stop here and won't be the last time you hear about a pilot plan or budget for this is Templeton's light dept and not the light commission's dept!
The 4.00 is just a way to say look we help you with that and we know that has been a screwing day one.
168,000.00 worth or more! 300,000.00 REC money and there is 1/2 million and that wen't to the pensions didn't it!
Question's that were not asked about the lawyers fees and lack of details were to come and not allowed.
You are giving fuel for the cause to remove your commission as you know but didn't say when asked that you work for the people of Templeton,OR DO YOU? Who do you work for when you stop us from questioning! We need more meetings if you will only allow a minimal amount of time to get the answers and information we are demanding, What say you chairman!
Put on your Templeton hat and man up for your town! Stop being the problem and help out or quit and let people that care take control. You could sign my petition for starters!
Let me show you the real problems Templeton faces and ways to correct them! The previous pilot payments were handed to you and should shed some light on the topic of that and why it is not enough as to the times were in,if you don't care now be ready to say that at town meeting in your defense to keep the commission. The insults and names are just enough to push me to get resolve and results and when i add that we don't get to ask question for a "reasonable" amount of time that will tell anyone wondering how to vote. Vote in support of the abolishment of the commission!Get it? The Selectmen will permit more time and won't limit the discussion topics when it gets under your skin,I will dig till you cooperate and show you are working for US Shareholders Your Owners! DO YOU GET IT?
What is the policy for time for questions?
Do you have any written policies?
Are you able to show the people that you work for them?
It doesn't stop at a buck and the people that were sick and could not come are proof that you are in trouble and will only get worse the more you try to hide things!
We have the law on the peoples side and you know it!
Don't hide anymore and it will be better for us all,you should know that by now! Lawyers were paid to tell you that! Public records and all.
JD please send the info you said you would asap to smart@nii.net lets together better Templeton as a team, You should all be on Templetons team.Thats who you all work for,get paid from and live in,don't you.Not you JD from Leominster
Shareholder
Dave Smart
Dave, I'm glad you could follow the meeting, sorry but when JD speaks I just want to go zzzzzzzzz
DeleteOur MUNICIPAL light dept is supposed to be an asset to the town. Having one of the highest rates in the state is not helping the town. Not having a formalized PILOT is not helping the town. Being unwilling to answer questions just shows they are ego-driven and do not know the first thing about customer service.
DeleteThats the floride
ReplyDeleteHere's the first sentence of the Peabody Municipal Light Company's mission statement:
ReplyDelete"Peabody Municipal Light Plant is a consumer owned, not-for-profit electric utility owned by the citizens of Peabody and dedicated to providing safe, reliable electricity and high quality service at the lowest possible rates."
Does Templeton Municipal Light Dept have a mission statement?
Sorry, but it looks to me, that your mission is to squeeze as much from the taxpayer as you legally can, keep the department in the best of equipment, and provide the biggest retirement benefits and salaries, that are possible. I find it commendable that you now are talking about helping the seniors and people who need assistance. I know that you would not be even speaking about this, if you had a choice. You know that Mr. Spring and the rest of us will watch for all of these things to happen. This also includes a plan to work with the selectmen to formalize a "real" PILOT. Like it or not, this is not going to be a subject that will go away. Bev
DeleteWell "Dana" what you got over there for a mission?
ReplyDeleteChris,Greg? How about the general?
Anything for the few of us you want to share?
I think you could start with a sorry we got off on the wrong foot but now that we are your team players, what can we do for you all today?
I've got it Dana 5 words to live by!
Move it or loose it!
More than 5 have you on notice!
Alot are watching now!
Shareholder
Dave Smart