Sunday, April 27, 2014

Andrews is seeking re-election

Andrews is seeking re-election

State representative says she still has more work to do
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer


State Rep. Denise Andrews, D-Orange, has formally begun her bid for a third term as representative for the Second Franklin District, returning the required paperwork to the Elections Office last week.

“As your State Representative I have established good relationships with leadership in Boston to insure that our district receives fair share funding and support,” Rep. Andrews stated in a press release. “I am doing my part to balance strong fiscal management and investing tax payer money into services and areas to promote growth, sustainability and vibrant communities.”

Rep. Andrews said her priorities will focus around job creation and economic growth and obtaining support and financing for state programs.

Originally from Orange, Rep. Andrews was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and serves on the Joint Committee on Election Laws, the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, and the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. She has submitted 13 bills to committee this session and has co-sponsored numerous initiatives in both the House and Senate. 


Earlier this month, Rep. Andrews released her campaign meet-and-greet schedule, where she will speak with residents in every town in her district. Locally, she will be making stops at Country Mischief in Templeton on May 18 and King Phillip Restaurant in Phillipston on June 7. During these events Rep. Andrews will collect non-perishables to donate to local food banks. 

The Second Franklin District is comprised of 12 towns – Athol, Belchertown, Erving, Gill, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Warwick, and Wendell.

One Republican, Karen Anderson, also of Orange, has announced her intention to run against Rep. Andrews. The primary election will be held Sept. 9 and the general election will be on Nov. 4.

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On Thursday, April 24th, Rep. Andrews was present to offer testimony before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary regarding S623 - An Act relative to request an investigation by the attorney general into the following incidents in the town of Templeton. testimony was submitted by Rep. Andrews, Rep. Gobi and Senator Brewer. Residents forwarded letters on behalf of this legislation as well.

Julie Farrell, Pete Farrell and Bev Bartolomeo went to Boston to testify on behalf of this bill.



Testimony from Julie Farrell:

Testimony S623
Senator Brownsberger and members of the the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, thank you for your time and your consideration here today. My name is Julie Farrell. I am a resident of Templeton as well as a member of the Templeton Board of Selectmen. I strongly urge you to recommend and report out in favor of S623. All of the documents referred to in this testimony are available on the flashdrive provided as well as some print documents.
S623 lists 4 incidents in Templeton that exemplify the worst aspects of government. On Nov. 15, 2012 the voters in Templeton passed warrant article 8 requesting an investigation by the Attorney General into the four incidents.  Former boards of selectmen, citizens, and taxpayers have asked for similar investigations. All requests have been ignored.
Incident 1 – regarding the purchase of 252 Baldwinville Rd. for a municipal building.
Incident 2 – return of a gift of money ($369,681.40) to Casella Waste Systems.(2008)
Incident 3 – Enactment of Chapter 93 Acts of 2000 whereby the Templeton Municipal Light Department assumed control of the water system in Templeton.(2000)
Incident 4- Templeton WWTP Contract and ensuing lawsuits.

Arguably, the request for an investigation into the procedures and activities to enact Chapter 93 of the Acts of 2000 is the most urgent. The Town of Templeton and its inhabitants need a determination of the status of the Town’s water system as an enterprise under state law. This determination is necessary in order to be eligible to apply for state and federal grant money to repair our aging water infrastructure.

Templeton requests the following determination from the Attorney General regarding the nature of the water enterprise system: Does the town’s water enterprise system operate under M.G.L. Chapter 164 or under M.G.L. Chapter 44, §53 F ½  ?  When the Legislature enacted Chapter 93 of the Acts of 2000, which regulatory interpretation did the Attorney General’s office approve?

Currently, water department receipts are not being recorded by the town as local receipts, and not as town enterprise fund revenues. The Town of Templeton needs immediate clarification of the status of the town’s water enterprise. 


To complicate matters, the Inspector General issued an opinion on December 6, 2007. Templeton is in receipt of a different interpretation from Gerard Perry, DOR Bureau of Accounts issued January 9, 2014. S623 requests a determination from the Attorney General regarding the special legislation Chapter 93 Acts of 2000. This special legislation was approved by the Attorney General back in  2000. The Attorney General is the appropriate person to make a ruling on this matter.
 
In summary, S623 has the potential to affect the financial well being of the Town of Templeton for years to come.  We urge you to consider this during your deliberation of the facts.

Templeton is less than 2 weeks away from an override vote. If the override vote fails, the Town of Templeton will be placed under a control board run by the state. Templeton will have the dubious distinction of being the first town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to go into receivership.
Repeated requests for state intervention/determination have fallen on deaf ears. The question remains will this request for an investigation by the Attorney General made by the citizens of the Town of Templeton continue to be ignored? I urge you to report  S623 out favorably for action.
  
Julie Farrell
24 Myrtle St.
Baldwinville, MA 01436
978-340-2503 

Testimony from Pete Farrell

 
     I support S623 because It is alleged that The Town of Templeton has lost over thirty million dollars in contractual obligations due to serious ethic violations and outright corruption of the law firm of Kopelman and Paige in conjunction with Erving Paper Mills.   
      
It is alleged that the contract and accompanying User Charge Regulations were distorted by intentional omissions and errors in State Case 02-2424C by our then town attorney’s Kopelman and Paige and their representatives Mark Reich and William Hewig III and that obstruction of Justice by then Board of Selectmen in Templeton allowed Erving Paper Mills of Erving Ma. to avoid contractual costs that had already been established in Federal Court Case No. 96-40140NMG.
    
It is further alleged that Kopelman and Paige used their powerful and trusted influence in the court system and at the municipal level to cheat the town of Templeton out of contractual obligations justly due the town and its citizens from Erving Paper Mills Inc. by allowing another town board to interfere in the rightful prosecution of case 02-2424C.  This is the same law firm that was instrumental in the writing of State Ethic Laws. 

Peter Farrell                   


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on
May 5, 2014

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1 comment:

  1. I support Denise Andrews. She has really tried to start this investigation process.

    At candidates night at Kamaloht, I was asked what I thought we would get out of an investigation. I think the investigation is important for a number of reasons. The most important is that we as a town don't repeat the same mistakes over and over.

    Templeton didn't get into this financial mess overnight. The structural deficit took years to build and now we are at the edge of a cliff, looking at state control. State control will mean the loss of just about every cultural program - COA, library, parks, recreation - in Templeton, as well as the loss of value in our homes. Many people already "owe " more on their homes than they are worth. Further erosion of home values will push many people over the edge into foreclosure.

    A resolution to the problems caused by the passage of Chapter 93 Acts of 2000 will bring some stability to the town.

    In spite of the negative financial situation, good things are happening in Templeton. Finally! We have a town administrator. We have needed a town administrator form of government for a very long time. Someone to be accountable and make the day to day decisions for the town. Someone accountable for the town's operating budget. We have a new VSO John Caplis, who is working tirelessly on behalf of veterans in our town. The Senior Center project is moving along. The Fire chief is well on his way to attaining full ALS service for the residents in Templeton. I don't want to lose the progress the town has made. I support the $505,000 override.

    I'm reading Elizabeth Warren's new book "Fighting Chance". On page 186: "Let's be honest: America is facing some really, really big challenges. Climate change, educating kids for jobs of the future, taking care of an aging population - the list is long and daunting. And let's also admit that our government isn't perfect, and it can't solve everything. But we're going to need a well-functioning government if we are going to have a prayer of tackling these very complex problems."

    My political goal, my political "agenda" has been to try to improve town government - so Templeton would be well run. Good town government has been difficult to achieve. Despite the setbacks and the roadblocks, progress is being made. On May 5th please vote for candidates who support the town so progress can continue.

    Julie Farrell

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