BOS
Meeting December 16, 2013
This
was one very long BOS Meeting! First the good news!
COA
Van – COA Director Bethany Loveless approached the BOS about submitting a bid
for a used van. The bid was submitted and we won! The bid was $3,612. Good
news, but wait there’s more! Bethany contacted Rep. Denise Andrews and with her
help the actual bid was lowered to $1,635. I’m sure there will be an update in
the COA newsletter, probably pictures as well.
Vendor
Warrant Checks – If departments need a check for a vendor held, departments may
make the request to the town coordinator for approval to hold the check. It is
a better business practice that there is a single of contact to issue vendor
payments. This procedure is a change to past practices with a goal of better
financial management.
MIIA
Workers Compensation Insurance – The BOS voted to accept the 2-year proposal
from MIIA with a goal of re-instating the IAC-Insurance Advisory Committee to
review all insurances for the town.
The
Board voted and approved a Class II license for Lang’s Old Car Parts and a
Class III license for JL Auto Parts. A motion was made to disapprove the liquor
license renewal for the Otter River Hotel due to taxes not being paid and no
building inspection.
Mass
CDBG Fund application was awarded to Community Opportunities group in the
amount of $9,900. Only one person showed up for the public input hearing. There
are three more public input sessions scheduled for January to solicit public
input on the community needs for this grant. The sessions will be held on
January 7th (2 sessions) and at the January 13, 2014 BOS meeting.
Six
bids were awarded for work on the Senior Center for the Emergency exit ramps
and the main entry way and the cricket roof and fascia.
Tax
Rate Issue – generated the most discussion. Templeton has a deficit on the
books of $505,000 higher than local receipts. There are two ways to close this
gap – raise taxes or reduce expenditures.
The
analogy was used that someone copied someone’s homework and the homework was no
good. The model used to develop the FY 14 budget was flawed. Some possible
options to deal with the shortfall:
1. override
2. cut the budget
3. use available funds..
stabilization and money for other accounts to make up for the shortfall.
Or
a combination of all three.
After
discussion, the BOS voted to freeze all hiring and discretionary spending with
review by the town coordinator.
The
BOS also voted to instruct department heads to submit budgets for FY 15 with a
2 % reduction.
This
budget crisis has developed over a long period of time. The lack of continuity
in the treasurer’s office as well as the transition to new accounting software
and procedures brought this problem to light.
In
the past, the town has voted to use every penny of free cash and stabilization
to balance its budget. In one year alone, the Town (at town meeting) was
presented a budget that used over $600,000 in Free Cash and $200,000 in
stabilization. Free cash is something that fluctuates from year to year.
Relying on Free cash to balance the budget is bad policy.
Town
finances are restricted by Prop 2 ½. The amount raised by increasing 2 ½
percent is very limited. The levy
limit projections for the next 5 years without overrides debt exclusions or
new growth show that next year (FY 15) the additional amount raised by taxation
is $219,496. That $219,496 has to cover all increases in insurances, employee
raises, and overhead expenses like heat, water and sewer…not to mention demands
in increased assessments by the school department and Monty Tech…or the town
can deal with another round of the nuclear option.
There will be another BOS meeting this
month on December 30th. By that time, more information should be
available on closing FY 13 and the status of the books for FY 14. Another STM
will need to be held.
In
other business –
The
Sick Bank has over 600 hours of leave in the bank. The employees of Templeton
generously donated this time. Withdrawals are at the sole discretion of the
BOS.
The
warrant for the ballot election scheduled for January 14, 2014 was voted and
signed by the BOS. More information will be forthcoming regarding the
non-binding ballot question.
Town
Coordinator issues – discussion about the policies and procedures of the BOS
which was voted by a prior board. Changes were made to this policy. The red
lined copy was discussed. The change from Town Coordinator to Town
Administrator was also discussed.
A job description for Town Administrator will need to be developed by
the BOS.
The
BOS appointed Chris Stewart to the Templeton Elementary School Building
Committee.
The
COA by-laws were discussed and some changes were suggested by the BOS. A letter
will be sent to the COA board explaining the reason for the changes to the
by-laws.
There
will be another informational meeting regarding sewer rates by the Sewer
commissioners on January 6th at 4:30 pm at the Sewer Department
during the regularly scheduled Sewer meeting.
Under
selectman comments –
Chairman
Bennett took exception to the inaccuracies in the TMLWP general manager’s
letter to the editor regarding the 23 % water rate increase. Tighe & Bond
the consultants who were contracted for the water rate study are also the firm
who post the water rates across Massachusetts. Templeton’s water rate is
listed at $801.00 annual cost by Tighe & Bond.
My
opinions… supported by FACTS ! ! !
Julie Farrell
The movie is coming ...4 parts
The people on the Select Board have done their best to keep the town solvent. The Advisory Board has done more work than any board in the history of this town, in my opinion. Something like this was bound to happen sooner or later so the cat is out of the bag, so to say. Pauly was right when he spoke of our past Conservation Commissioner being paid more than he was budgeted for. You might ask yourself where did the money come from for that and the other things we do not even know about. I have to give Bethany, our COA Director credit for doing a good job getting the town a new van. Credit also has to go to Rep. Denise Andrews for helping Bethany get the job done. As for our friend J.D., how could he write a letter to the people in our town and not be honest?? I think it is because most people do believe what they read in the paper. If you look at the report from Tighe and Bond you will see that there are only four other cities or towns that have water rates higher than ours. Bev.
ReplyDeleteI think there is more to this error than the BOS wants the people of Templeton to know. The BOS owes the Town a few answers. Like, who was entering the data for the FY14 budget? Why did it take 6 months into the FY14 to find the error? When was the forensic accountant brought in and why? If the BOS wants to get the town to fork over another override there better be some answers and corrections made to the system to prove to the Towns people that this error won't happen again.
ReplyDeleteJulie made the comment before that "Jeff was right in wanting to ask for a million dollar override" hmmm did Jeff know this had occurred and did not tell. Did Jeff knowingly keep this from the town knowing that the town would not support a 1 million dollar override? Did Jeff think that the town would be more receptive to a second override?
I think there are some big questions about the way this town is run. And stop with the excuses. It seems that BOS wants to blame the recall election, why does the town stop working during a recall? Oh and lets not forget the School, yes that nasty school committee, well get over it, and move on. Since the BOS can't seem to work friendly with any department within the town offices, maybe its the BOS that needs a big attitude adjustment.
Stop wasting time with the Light and Water and figure out how to actually make a viable budget.
Vote Mitchell for Selectman
ReplyDeleteRemember the past to ensure a better future
The nuclear option should never be used.
Really Julie? You're going to continue to go down the same path? Yourself & previous boards got us into this mess & you have proven that you cant get us out. You didnt even seem to care as to why this latest screwup happened. Thankfully we have 1 concerned selectman that continues to grill the Adv board.
DeleteThe same old, same old wont work.
Julie we remember the past - like in the recall. Why make another mistake and reelect Mitchell when we can have a real Selectman in Diane?
DeleteVOTE DIANE HALEY-BROOKS FOR SELECTMAN
I agree H & P..... Time for Templeton to move in a new direction...stop pointing the finger at everyone else and making silly excuses for the present state of Templeton Jules! If you honestly wanted what was best for Templeton you would have stopped this nonsense a long time ago. all truth
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the Inspector General will do a thorough investigation and resolve these matters.
ReplyDeleteyes I remember the recall, fire a law firm in mid stream and cost taxpayers an extra 5 grand, fire Jeff Ritter along with a settlement for 15 grand and bring back a dear friend (Virginia Wilder's words) and cost the taxpayers another 5 grand (approximate) with CS taking 1.9846 hrs in her last day (which time clock put that figure out) it took the last penny out of the coordinator salary account! That is what the recall got you. Along with throw that whole section out over there. Ask Ms. Haley Brooks how she feels after fighting for the school then finding out tonight the school district has in the E&D fund $188,820.00 after stating that FY 2013 budget was so tight and there was no room for reductions just as they said for 2014 because they would not compromise one penny. I was at tonight's school committee meeting and it did not appear Ms. Brooks was happy about that information. Now which selectmen continues to grill the advisory board because I have not seen that grilling at a BOS meeting.
ReplyDeleteThe one that had to cross examine the forensic auditor for 30 mins just to get him to own up to it. The same one that went to their mtg last night looking for answers.
DeleteFinally people are starting to realize julie Farrell is the problem in Templeton! Took a long time but as bev says "it all comes out in the wash" hahah all truth
DeleteJeff what happened to the site being for specifically facts?? "It did not appear ms. Brooks was not happy about the info".. Not facts Jeff .. It's called being a hypocrite! I know you will come back with a lame excuse blah blah blah this is what you do.. Problem is what you do does not help templeton! Cold hard truth
DeleteLet's hope the Inspector General will do a thorough investigation and resolve these matters.
ReplyDeleteVote Mitchell for Selectman
Remember the past to ensure a better future
The nuclear option should never be used.
Remember the past head for the future VOTE DIANE HALEY-BROOKS for Selectman
Deletewhy would i ?
DeleteWhy would you vote back in one that was recalled?
DeleteVOTE DIANE HALEY-BROOKS for Selectman