TEMPLETON — In an emotional 11th hour decision, the Board of Selectmen voted Thursday night to
adopt drastic and devastating cuts to their current operating budget to cover an existing
$505,000 budget gap, a move that narrowly allows the town to avoid receivership.
The cuts leave the town government gutted, with every department from the Board of Selectmen’s
office to the Police Department to the public library and the Board of Health feeling the sting.
“The town will barely operate for the next seven weeks,” said Town Administrator Bob Markel.
“I think we have no other choice.”
Furloughs and permanent layoffs under the cuts would be effective Monday morning,
with employees retaining their benefits and health insurance until at least the start of the
new fiscal year.
Spreadsheets outlining the cuts were made available at the meeting, but represented only numbers,
not the human cost to the town. Department heads described exactly how the cuts would affect
operations and recognized each employee who would not be returning to work Monday morning,
thanking them for their service to the town.
The Police Department will be losing their third shift from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., according to
Police Chief David Whitaker, with schedules being adjusted to keep officers working.
The department will be covered from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. with eight-hour patrol shifts
beginning at 10:00 a.m.
State police and surrounding towns will assist while the station is closed and dispatch will
remain open to field calls. In-town officers will also be available to respond to emergencies.
“You may not see the response time you’re used to, but we will get there,” he said.
Sergeant Paul Schwartz and Chief Whitaker will also be retiring by the end of the fiscal year.
Highway Superintendent Francis “Bud” Chase said he would be losing four full-time employees,
with the Highway crew reduced down to only himself, one foreman, one mechanic, and a secretary.
All street-sweeping and line painting operations would cease and the department would operate on
an “emergency only” basis, responding to pothole calls only if the situation is deemed dangerous.
“You won’t see any heavy equipment out unless it’s an emergency,” he said.
Council on Aging Director Bethany Loveless said that through the hard work and dedication of
her staff and other town departments the senior center would remain open. The town’s Food Pantry
would only serve residents one day a week and all special day-trips planned for seniors were cancelled
until July 1. Construction on the new senior center would continue through labor provided by
Monty Tech students and donations provided by the Friends of the Templeton Elders. The Council’s
bookkeeper would be furloughed, but work one day a week as a dispatcher for their van services.
“It’s just a setback,” said Ms. Loveless. “We’ll be alright.”
The Board of Health would only remain open on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Health Director
Phil Leger out in the field on Wednesdays. New restaurants in town may have to delay their openings
and Mr. Leger may be forced to take an early retirement.
Determined to keep the library open and certified, Library Director Jackie Prime said she made
the regrettable decision of cutting three employees and leaving the library open only 20 hours a week.
“We’re going to hopefully be able to limp forward and keep open,” said Ms. Prime.
Mr. Markel, who is scheduled to work two days a week, also offered to serve the town on
his own time every Thursday until his departure on June 30.
After listening to testimonies, the Board of Selectmen commended department heads and
employees for their dedicated service to the town and expressed regret at the current turn of events.
“There’s no other way out at this point,” said member Julie Farrell. “Unfortunately it’s our employees
who pay the price.”
Chairman Kenn Robinson said the cuts were not personal, nor did they reflect on any employee’s
performance. He also added that the board would work hard in the future to make sure this situation
never occurs again.
Representative Denise Andrews, D-Orange, who was in attendance and listened to the moving
statements, said that Templeton was on the right track to recovery and the town has important
work to do in rebuilding confidence in their leadership.
“This will make us better,” she said.
Rep. Andrews offered her services for employees being laid off, saying she will help them
network and work on their resumes to prepare them for their next job opportunity. She said she
would also press the Senate to include provisions in their budget for the senior center and
equipment for the Fire Department.
“We’ve still got one more budget in Mr. Brewer,” she commented.
The dramatic cuts will allow the town to get their tax rate certified and bills out to residents in time
to get revenue in the door before loan payments come due. Accepting state intervention and
receivership could have delayed that process several weeks and leave the town to
potentially face default.
“We cannot default,” Mr. Markel stated simply.
Mr. Robinson described default as a place even lower than the situation the town is currently facing,
with most cities declaring bankruptcy before defaulting on payments. The action would ruin both
the town and the state’s bond ratings for the foreseeable future and would prompt drastic action
from the state.
Despite the town’s desperate financial condition, Mr. Markel said that looking ahead he was
optimistic about the future of the town, describing the current financial management team in
place as “first rate.”
“We will not have these problems going forward if we maintain a professional operation,” he said.
The board voted unanimously to enact the necessary cuts, although formal changes to the
town’s budget will occur during the Special Town Meeting on May 17. |
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It is a shame that Ms. Wilder did not come to this meeting. She would have seen first hand, the pain she caused with her Letter to The Editor in the Gardner News. It is one thing to encourage people to vote, but I do not think it was in the best interest of the people who work for the town, for her to use her influence to persuade people not to vote for the override. I guess maybe she does not care who is hurt, but I know I could never do what she did. People in general do not have a clue as to what to believe, so if they think a person is credible, they listen to what they say. I am sorry the town is in this mess, but I know we will never go this way again, so now we have to get through this bad time. What doesn't kill us, will make us stronger !! Bev.
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