BOS
Meeting Sept. 8, 2014
Part 1 of
the Sept. 8 2014 BOS Meeting
Part 2 of
the Sept. 8 2014 BOS Meeting
Part 3 of
the Sept. 8 2014 BOS Meeting
The
Town Administrator Report was presented and covered much activity. There
was short explanation of the revenue projection for FY 16; town hall update
with a projected date of October 8, 2014 for the move to town hall; town clerk
vault issue was discussed.
The
position of town accountant was re-advertised. The Town treasurer/collector was
advertised.
MBI
conference was discussed. Playground at
Templeton Center will be
built Sept. 25, 26 and 27th (Thursday – Saturday).
The
new administrative assistant (Pamela Rogers)for the Highway Dept. was
introduced as well as a new police officer, Patrolman Sarno.
The
pro-Forma Tax recap sheet will be finalized this week….6 months ahead of last
year! Still waiting for word of the DOR visit.
RFP
for land for the elementary school has been sent to the Central Register.
Light
and Water – After discussion, it was decided that the town administrator and
the general manager would meet to work out the details of a PILOT payment and
negotiate a cost for services the town provides.
The
Economic Development committee was formed and tow people appointed to the
committee – Linda Couture and Glenn Eaton. We need a third person for this
committee. This committee will decide which economic development procedure is
best for the Town of Templeton.
Town
Office Relocation – there was lengthy discussion of which offices to move to
East Templeton. There is an issue with the location of the Town Clerk’s vault.
A long list of requirements for the vault was presented to the BOS for
consideration. The list was obtained from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Much time and energy has been devoted to finding a solution to
this conundrum.
Advisory
Board had a number of questions for the town administrator and the BOS. These
questions will be fully answered to correct a number of inaccuracies, in writing,
at a later date.
This was a interesting meeting. There has been some push back from a few departments who would rather not move to East Templeton. There is no reason why they can not move, and more reasons why they should. It is high time that all of the departments be under one roof, especially the Town Clerk, Board of Health and Assessors. It is only fair to the tax payers in this town that we stop paying to heat some of these old buildings, and allow town business to be done with out running from precinct to precinct, trying to get a bill paid or a form signed. It is a wonder that the building the Town Clerk is in, hasn't fallen into the river. I went to the new town office building in East Templeton Saturday, and washed a few windows. As usual Julie and Pete were working to get another room ready. Their have been a number of people who have worked very hard and a few that have not shown their face. Some of our selectmen would be aware that the safe will be fine in E.T., if they had spent any time there at all. I stood in the hall and looked around in wonder at how beautiful the building is, and how much character it has. I know how happy people will be when it is done. I do have to give Mike Green credit for going to the selectmen with his concern about how things are going. With our new administrator, apparently this is a no no, Mike is supposed to go directly to Mr. Markel. I have mixed feelings about this because of what we have gone through, and I think I can speak for others, when I say trust is going to be hard to come by. I know we will not tolerate any shady doings in Town Hall, and as long as that is understood we all will be fine. If the Board of Health thinks they can blow all of their money and come back to the town for more, they should think again. Their department is not any different than any other, and they should have made the money last. The Advisory Board has a account that they can use if a department runs short of money, but there has to be a good reason. As it was said "their inability to do math or plan ahead is not an emergency." As I have said a number of times, we have to have a new reality when it comes to spending money. We have to stop using our free cash as much as it will hurt, as it is the only way we have to get on our feet for once and for all. Bev.
ReplyDelete