What the heck?

What the heck?

What the heck is going on? 

Here are the invoices from Templeton's Town Counsel billed 4/7/2016:

Here is a comment posted to the blog from the town administrator:

Robert MarkelMay 31, 2016 at 11:24 AM

Regarding the expenditure for legal advice on the recent election, the Town Clerk came to my office with an important question: Can a candidate for election to the Water Department Board have his wife sign out nomination papers? This happened at 2:00 p.m. on the last day for pulling nomination papers. The law requires that the candidate must take out nomination papers in person. We did not know if there was case law or other decisions that were relevant, and we were aware that the Secretary of State would answer this question but it normally takes several days to get an answer. We did not have time, so I asked Town Counsel for an opinion and told the Clerk to issue the nomination papers to the wife contingent upon the opinion from Town Counsel.

If we had denied the nomination papers and Town Counsel came back with a ruling that we should have issued them, we might be accused of unfairly keeping a candidate off the ballot. It we simply issued the nomination papers without checking the legality, we might be accused of ignoring the law, so the Clerk and I agreed that issuing the papers contingent upon Town Counsel opinion was the best and fairest course.

The advice of Town Counsel was that issuing the papers to the candidate's wife was valid and that the candidate's name should appear on the ballot. The practice in most towns is to reveal the opinion of Town Counsel but not to release the written opinion. I would not release the written opinion without agreement by the Board of Selectmen.

Lastly, I want to assure residents that we are making every effort to consult Town Counsel only when absolutely necessary. For the first time in recent years, the Town's expenditures for legal counsel will be less than the amount in the budget.

So now we know why town counsel was contacted about the nomination papers. But why was town counsel having conference calls with the attorney from Light and Water?  Are the ratepayers footing the bill for THAT  legal advice?

If you think it would be apparent in the invoices from the TMLWP attorney Stephen Doucette, think again:

 

 Here is the link to two of the invoices from Attorney Stephen Doucette. 

Hard to tell anything from this invoice from Attorney Stephen Doucette:

" Dear Mr. Driscoll:
           I have enclosed my bill for services for August 2012 in the amount of $900.00. Thank you for allowing me to be of assistance in this matter. If there are any other matters with which I can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me."





Would YOU pay an invoice like the one from Attorney Doucette?

Wonder what the auditors will make of it?




 

Five years on, cleanup of Fukushima's reactors remains a distant goal

Removal of nuclear fuel from power plant that suffered triple meltdown following 2011 tsunami could take 40 years or more

Yet Tepco is persisting with the government’s roadmap for the Fukushima cleanup, which envisions fuel removal to begin in 2021 and end between 30 and 40 years later, at an estimated cost of almost $20bn (£14bn).

In the chaotic two years after its name became forever associated with nuclear disaster, the Fukushima Daiichi power plant “resembled a field hospital”, according to the man who is now in charge of the most daunting task the nuclear industry has ever faced:
 removing hundreds of tons of melted fuel from the plant’s stricken reactors.

“Now it really does feel like the situation is settling down and we can look ahead,” said Naohiro Masuda, head of decommissioning at the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco).

Five years after a magnitude nine earthquake triggered a giant tsunami that killed almost 19,000 people along the north-east coast of Japan and caused a triple meltdown at Fukushima, the plant has been transformed from the scene of a major disaster into a sprawling building site.

Masuda can point to lower radiation levels in and around the plant, better conditions for its 1,200 Tepco staff and 6,000 other workers – including the recent provision of hot meals and a rest area – and progress in containing huge quantities of radioactive groundwater.

In late 2014, the utility overcame arguably the most dangerous challenge since the meltdown, with the removal of hundreds of spent fuel rods from a storage pool inside a damaged reactor building.

But work on removing the melted fuel – something no nuclear operator has ever attempted – has barely begun.

All that Tepco knows for certain – although it was slow to admit it – is that fuel in three reactors melted down after the tsunami knocked out the plant’s cooling system on 11 March 2011.

Of greatest concern, though, is reactor 1, where the fuel may have burned through the pressure vessel, fallen to the bottom of the containment vessel and into the concrete pedestal below – perhaps even outside it – according to a report by the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning. Reactors 2 and 3 are thought to have suffered partial meltdowns.

Meetings the Week of May 31, 2016

Meetings the Week of May 31, 2016

Tuesday 5/31/16

Assessors                  PCS Town Hall*             4:00 pm

Elem. School            ???                                    5:30 pm

Wednesday 6/1/16

Adv. Board                  PCS Town Hall*          6:00 pm

Thursday 6/2/16

BOH                            PCS Town Hall*        7:00 pm

* Pauly Cosentino Sr. Town Hall

In Response to ...

 Templeton Fire Chief...from Templeton Watch

From Templeton Watch

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Templeton Fire Chief contract not to be renewed, which means that at least three selectmen have agreed to not do that. Considering what has been done that last few years, there has to be a pretty interesting reason not to do it. It could always be "the good ole boys" system raising it's head, which means a local people is gonna get the job, just because they local, that happens alot in small towns and not always in the benefit of the residents. Or the Town Administrator could have fired him and the selectmen backed him up on it, either way, it seems the fire chiefs days in Templeton are numbered.

At some point in time, the current Templeton fire chief will no longer work for Templeton and since there are usually several sides to a story, perhaps I can get the chief to tell me his side, as in the why, the who and the when. Because I believe there is a story there, how or why did a fire chief who apparently did what the Town and the selectmen wanted, ALS ambulance service in Templeton, the selectmen put the light on the fire department when Templeton was presented as a Heart safe community. It made the pictures when a new/used fire truck came to Templeton without taxpayer money. So I think there is a question there, why not renew his contract?

posted by Jeff Bennett

Posted by Jeff Bennett at 6:45 PM

 

11 comments:

1. 
   david smartMay 27, 2016 at 6:48 AM

   There are reasons for the agreement our town has for not renewing the Chiefs contract.
   Good ones! If any chief was in his shoes the outcome would be the same. If not i would lead the recalls like we see in Barre.
   It will all come out in the future but like everything in Templeton we will just hear so many stories that get added to for listening pleasure.
   Our Selectman need to do things we won't agree with but they aren't there to please us.
   Think for a minute who you hear the story from and when it turn into a bag of shit remember who and don't listen to them again.
   As our town gets to much info from people who add to the stories we can as a small town get led away from the truth.
   If you plan on telling someone about a topic know it don't make it up as you go.
   Templeton needs honest people telling the stories truthfully.

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   DO is STUPIDMay 27, 2016 at 6:57 AM
   This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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2. 
   Jeff BennettMay 27, 2016 at 7:31 AM

   1. Fire chief will not be reappointed. 2.It takes a majority of selectmen (3) to make that happen.
   3. The selectmen and or other members of fire department say one thing, i am sure the chief has other things to say. 4. When the chief's time is officially over, July 1, 2016, maybe he will speak to this issue. 5. The next fire chief appointment may show true small town business. 6. Just appoint so an so because he has been there for 20 years. That does not always work out well for residents. 7. Selectmen took action in executive session which means we may never hear what was said by whom or why. 8. Dave seems to have the inside scoop so why not tell us the rest of the story Dave, the real story? 9. Dave, why not lead a recall of light & water commissioners if they are breaking the law as you have claimed, no contracts in the office of the light department.? Hope you can understand that Do, as it was written the same as above, in English.

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   DO is STUPIDMay 27, 2016 at 7:49 AM
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3. 
   Baldwin TempletonMay 27, 2016 at 8:06 AM

   Chief LaPorte was a well liked and respected Chief who had the credentials to hold the Strong Chief position. There were those who may have believed the Chief was a little paranoid concerning his position as Chief but clearly in this case the Chief concerns were not imaginary. I believe a lawsuit is in The Town of Templeton's future and that the facts of the who, what, why,where,when and how will come out clearly there. We actually have a town by-law that states all current law suits will be presented in the Town's Annual Report so if the Advisory Board can keep the pressure of the Board of Selectmen to do their job we can all read about it there.

   ReplyDelete
   So when an issue like this arises, it is difficult to gather facts. The selectmen can't talk about due to employee confidentiality and executive session.  So how do you get some facts - look at the town counsel invoices. 
   Here is the link to town counsel invoices from January 2016 to April 2016. Nothing in there concerning the Fire Chief.
   There are other interesting items:
   

Ruthless Wonder ? A Call for HELP!

Ruthless Wonder? A Call for HELP!

phatarchivesMay 27, 2016 at 10:55 AM

Hi I am a Pioneer parent and requested her to leave . She has destroyed our school in such a small period of time. Please whatever information you have send me at ttyson3@hotmail.com , or print here .. Please we are losing a great man and lost so many already and these people are not jumping in life boats but in the water , Our kids spirits are so low and teachers are in fear . What the hell is she ?

phatarchivesMay 27, 2016 at 11:05 AM

http://www.recorder.com/Sparks-fly-at-PVRSD-Committee-Meeting-Thursday-2425180

She was also called homophobic ..she has something against gays we should be aware of?

 

Sparks fly at Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee meeting

 

• 
  
• Cars lined Brattleboro Road Thursday night as students, teachers and parents of the Pioneer 
• Valley Regional School District flocked to a committee meeting to voice their concerns 
• over recent changes within the district. Shelby Ashline
• 
  
• The Pioneer Valley Regional School District Committee meeting was held Thursday night
  at Pearl Rhodes Elementary School on Brattleboro Road in Leyden. 
  recorder staff/Shelby Ashline
• 
  
• The Pioneer Valley Regional School District Committee and Superintendent Ruth Miller hear 
  from students, teachers and parents during a meeting Thursday night at Pearl Rhodes 
  Elementary School. Shelby Ashline
• 
  
• Madison Tyson, a student at Pioneer Valley Regional School, speaks to Superintendent Ruth Miller and the School Committee during a meeting Thursday night at Pearl Rhodes Elementary School. recorder staff/Shelby Ashline
SHELBY ASHLINE
Recorder Staff
Thursday, May 26, 2016
LEYDEN — Approximately 75 parents, students and teachers crammed into the small Pearl Rhodes Elementary School cafeteria in Leyden Thursday night to voice heartfelt and often heated complaints of Pioneer Valley Regional School District Superintendent Ruth Miller.
Miller, who took over the position of superintendent from Dayle Doiron prior to the 2015-2016 school year, has faced sharp criticism on several fronts. During a half-hour allotted at the start of the meeting, community members voiced concerns about the finances involved in moving the superintendent’s office, a large number of beloved Pioneer staff members resigning and hiring a public safety officer.

The recent resignation of Pioneer principal Mike Duprey was the last straw for many upset parents, teachers and students.

“Mike Duprey is the one that supports us,” said Madison Tyson, a student at Pioneer. “I don’t feel comfortable at all going to Pioneer. We have teachers that don’t even want to go to school because they feel like they can’t be themselves.”

Duprey is not the first long-term staff member to leave the school since fall 2015. Computer Network Manager Mike Holloway, Director of Special Education Sharon Jones and Bill Wehrli, principal of PVRS before Duprey, round out the list.


“The system is bleeding administrators that are leaving,” said Scott Lyman, a former principal of Bernardston Elementary School and Gill Elementary School, who was the first to speak.
“I would ask that you as the committee do exit interviews with these people as they’re leaving,” he added, echoing a need to find answers that was shared by many audience members.

However, Miller said that the number of staff members leaving Pioneer — including six retirements and a sabbatical — is not unusual in comparison to years past.

“It’s really pretty consistent that we have quite a few people leaving,” she said.

During the last half-hour of the meeting, the committee went back and forth concerning whether or not to accept Duprey’s resignation, without coming to a clear solution.

“I think it’s a travesty to lose him,” Committee Member Bill Wahlstrom said. “Given the sentiment that was expressed tonight, I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of this yet.”

Templeton Memorial Day Observation

Templeton Memorial Day Observation

The American Legion Post 373 Honor Guard will visit the following memorials: Otter River at 9 a.m.; East Templeton at 9:15 a.m. and Templeton Center at 9:30 a.m.

The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. leaving Narragansett High school and marching to Baldwinville center, where the Memorial service will be held once all parade participants have arrived. 

Hope to see you all there!

• Controversial West Brookfield fire chief is stepping down

• By J.P. Ellery
  Correspondent

  
  Posted May. 27, 2016 at 1:35 PM
  Updated May 27, 2016 at 6:51 PM
  
  

  WEST BROOKFIELD — Selectmen this week said veteran part-time Fire Chief Paul J. Lupacchino will leave his post next month, but that does not tell the whole story.

  The chief and the board jointly announced his departure, effective June 24, the board said in a press release Thursday: Chief Lupacchino "will be leaving his position of fire chief for the Town of West Brookfield and the town will begin the search for a new fire chief immediately."

  Selectmen, who offered no reasons for the chief’s departure, said the town and the board thank Chief Lupacchino for his many years of service to the town and wish him well.

  Chief Lupacchico, 58, was named chief in 2009 and has had a 40-year career with the town’s on-call Fire Department, but his tenure as department head has been marked by frequent controversy, battles that the chief has insisted have been unjustified.

  A request to the chief for comment on his departure received no response.

Deficits raise concern

Deficits raise concern School accounts more than $500,000 in the red

Damien Fisher News Staff Writer WINCHENDON  Concern over still-unresolved deficits in the current fiscal year’s School Department budget has at least one selectman ready to take action against TMS, the private company contracted to manage the school district’s business office. “Can we not pay these people,” said Selectman Michael Barbaro. Barbaro and the rest of the Board of Selectmen heard a financial update from Town Manager Keith Hickey Monday night. While the town budget is trending in a positive direction, with the possibility of free cash at the end of the fiscal year, the school budget is showing red flags, according to Hickey. Hickey said the way the school budget is being managed by TMS is also troubling. “There are less-than-desirable conditions over there,” Hickey said. “They are not performing to their contract.” TMS took control of the school’s business office in 2014, when the district Business Manager Melissa Dunnet resigned suddenly. TMS was originally hired to assist Dunnet, but took over in a move approved by the School Committee. Barbaro was on the School Committee at the time of the change. Hickey reported on Monday night that there is more than $500,000 in deficits in the school budget, with another $40,000 deficit learned of on Monday. Hickey said that it is not clear how the deficits will be dealt with so close to the ends of the fiscal year.

A bittersweet sendoff

A bittersweet sendoff Former students say goodbye to Templeton Center School

+ click to enlarge Courtesy photo The Templeton Class of 1941 say goodbye to Templeton Center School on Sunday. TEMPLETON Hundreds of students past and present said farewell to Templeton Cen­ter School on Sunday as the spring weather cooperated nicely for this inspiring and sentimental goodbye to the building. Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hemman welcomed the guests as former Principal Ken Vaidulas shared reflections, including his time spent wearing his legendary velvet vest. Former Templeton Center School students Ella Swanson, Callie Wiedle, James Allread, Emma Lottig and Michael Capps shared memories along with community member Andrea Brooks. Congratulations were offered by state Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, R-Athol, and state Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer. Incoming Super­inten­dent Dr. Christopher Casavant closed the ceremony by pointing Templeton Center School toward the future. A historic timeline of pictures and events were displayed in school, with current student work adorning the festive outdoor event. The Historical Commission, Narragansett Historical Society and newly formed Parent-Teacher Organization were recognized. Local magician Eddie Raymond provided magic and tricks while children enjoyed bubbles, face-painting and assorted games. Usborne Books provided children’s books for sale.

Fluoridation (Re)education

Source: Yes! Weekly | May 25th, 2016 | By Joel Landau

Location: United States, North Carolina

 

 

The lady is pissed. “Somebody has to point out that the fluoridation emperor has no clothes,” she says. She’s taken this job on herself. But I’m ahead of myself… The 2008 Material Safety Data Sheet for HYDROFLUOROSILICIC ACID states: “EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: DANGER! CORROSIVE. Causes severe burns to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Harmful if inhaled. Harmful if swallowed. Contact with water may generate toxic, irritating and corrosive gases.” This substance, hydrofluorosilicic acid, also known as HFS, is the chemical used to fluoridate Greensboro’s water. Water Department employees have to wear full body hazardous material protective gear when handling it. When HFS is added to our water, it is diluted to supposedly safe levels. But it turns out that “safe” is a controversial judgment call. Fluoridation causes tooth discoloration known as dental fluorosis, now seen in 36 percent of white children and 58 percent of black children. In moderate and severe forms fluorosis can negatively affect a child’s self-image. Cosmetic dentistry to hide it is expensive.

Fluoride is a neurotoxin and hormone disruptor. Fluoridated water is associated with hip fractures (by making the bones brittle), joint problems, lower IQ, ADHD and low thyroid. Folks, this is nasty stuff. The HFS we use to fluoridate our water is a toxic byproduct of fertilizer production; it’s costly for the manufacturer to dispose of properly. Then it was discovered they could save that expense and actually earn a few bucks by selling it for use as a fluoridating agent. So why do we add HFS to our water? Because back in the 1940s some studies were done that concluded that sodium fluoride in the water reduced the rate of cavities. These early studies didn’t use HFS, and their methodology has since been discredited.

Since those early days of fluoridation we’ve learned that fluoride’s effect on teeth is topical. That means you have to apply it directly to the tooth surface to get a positive effect. Drinking it doesn’t help you resist cavities. Many studies show that since WWII tooth decay has declined at the same rate whether or not water is fluoridated. Indeed, many cities and most European countries have ended their fluoridation programs.

Fluoridation of the municipal water supply violates personal liberty. Generally speaking, government does not mandate medical treatment. Vaccinations are an exception. With vaccines the argument is made that an unvaccinated person puts the vaccinated people at risk. There is no such argument with fluoridation. Whether or not I drink fluoridated water has no impact on your risk of getting a cavity. Also, fluoridated toothpaste is readily available. Each person can make their own decision whether to use it. When we put fluoride in the city’s water, people lose their individual choice.

Templeton Fire Chief...from Templeton Watch

From Templeton Watch

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Templeton Fire Chief contract not to be renewed, which means that at least three selectmen have agreed to not do that. Considering what has been done that last few years, there has to be a pretty interesting reason not to do it. It could always be "the good ole boys" system raising it's head, which means a local people is gonna get the job, just because they local, that happens alot in small towns and not always in the benefit of the residents. Or the Town Administrator could have fired him and the selectmen backed him up on it, either way, it seems the fire chiefs days in Templeton are numbered.

At some point in time, the current Templeton fire chief will no longer work for Templeton and since there are usually several sides to a story, perhaps I can get the chief to tell me his side, as in the why, the who and the when. Because I believe there is a story there, how or why did a fire chief who apparently did what the Town and the selectmen wanted, ALS ambulance service in Templeton, the selectmen put the light on the fire department when Templeton was presented as a Heart safe community. It made the pictures when a new/used fire truck came to Templeton without taxpayer money. So I think there is a question there, why not renew his contract?

posted by Jeff Bennett

Posted by Jeff Bennett at 6:45 PM

 

This Is How Much Your Health Insurance Payment Is About To Jump By

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/26/2016 15:27 -0400

inShare40

It's official: years of warnings that Obamacare will lead to dramatic increases in healthcare premiums are about to be validated.

As the WSJ writes, big health plans stung by losses in the first few years of the U.S. health law’s implementation are seeking hefty premium increases for individual plans sold through insurance exchanges in more than a dozen states.

To be sure, we have extensively covered the imminent danger of rising healthcare prices as a result of Obamacare's intrusive intervention in the insurance sector; however now that this is about to become mainstream information, we expect consumers to hunker down and save even more in anticipation of what is about to be a shock price increase for millions of middle-class American families.

As the WSJ reports, the insurers’ proposed rates for individual coverage in states that have made their 2017 requests public largely bear out health plans’ grim predictions about their challenges under the health-care overhaul. According to the insurers’ filings with regulators, large plans in states including New York, Pennsylvania and Georgia are seeking to raise rates by 20% or more.

In states such as Florida and Maryland, insurers are seeking to raise premiums by percentage averages that are markedly above 10%. Among those that have published so far, only in Vermont do big insurers’ requests fall below 10%.  Proposals still have to be approved by state regulators, and a full picture of final approved rates across the entire country likely won’t be known until shortly before HealthCare.gov and state equivalents reopen for the law’s fourth main enrollment window on Nov. 1. 

Nonetheless, the proposed average increases that are available are a vivid indicator this year of how insurers are adapting to the 2010 Affordable Care Act’s transformation of the way health coverage is priced and sold in the U.S.

So for all those currently enrolled in healthcare plans administered in the following states, this is how much, on average, your plans will go up by.



The silver lining? Since this effective tax goes straight to "boosting US GDP", we look forward to a year of "above trendling" GDP growth thanks to this forced reallocation of consumers' disposable income into the infamous "healthcare" category.

RUTH Less

RUTH Less

Mortgage foreclosures up in Springfield, region, across Massachusetts

A single-family home in Springfield that was auctioned off following foreclosure. (File photo | The Republican)

By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com
Follow on Twitter
on April 01, 2016 at 7:01 AM, updated April 01, 2016 at 7:10 AM

Real Estate

SPRINGFIELD — The number of early-stage home mortgage foreclosures in Springfield was up 83 percent over the first two months of 2016 compared with the same time period last year.

The number of new foreclosure petitions in January and February of 2016 was 121. There were 66 of these early-stage petitions for the city in the first two months of 2015.

As far as foreclosure deeds being filed – typically the last stage of the process –there were 16 in February 2015 and 24 in February 2016, a 50 percent increase.

Deeds were up 35 percent year-to-date with 46 in the first two months of 2016 and 34 in January and February 2015.

It is part of a statewide pattern, according to The Warren group, a Boston-based provider of real estate data that compiles foreclosure data from county registries of deeds. The Warren Group believes these foreclosures are part of the continuing fallout from the 2008 financial crisis.

Statewide, The Warren Group said, lenders filed 1,264 petitions to foreclose in February this year, compared with 868 filed in February 2015.

This was the highest number of petitions filed in a February since 2012.

There were 2,188 petitions filed in the first two months of 2016 across Massachusetts. That was a 47.2 percent increase from the 1,486 filed in January and February 2015.

There were 519 foreclosure deeds filed in February 2015, The Warren Group said. That was a 66.9 percent increase from the 311 deeds filed in February 2015.

There were a total of 867 deeds recorded in Massachusetts in January and February of 2016, a 52.6 percent increase from the 568 filed through February 2015.

State and federal laws made it harder to foreclose in the wake of the 2008 meltdown. That means some lenders are only now getting a chance to clear their books of long-delinquent accounts.
Timothy Warren Jr., CEO of The Warren Group, said:

"While there's no doubt some new delinquencies are occurring, the majority of what we're seeing as 'new' foreclosures are loans that have been delinquent for quite some time. Lenders continue to work through what remains of their backlog from several years ago, when the entire industry ground to a halt to await the outcome of legislative and regulatory changes and updates."

He discuses the situation in a podcast, available here.

County-by-county statistics:

Hampden: Petitions are up 75 percent from 145 in the first two months of 2015 to 254 in January and February 2016. Foreclosure deeds are up 34 percent from 76 in the first two months of 2015 to 102 for the same period in 2016.

Hampshire: Petitions are up 52 percent from 31 in the first two months of 2015 to 47 in January and February 2016. Deeds are up 40 percent from 10 in the first two months of 2015 to 14 in 2016.

Franklin: Petitions are down 24 percent from 29 in the first two months of 2015 to 22 in January and February 2016. Foreclosure deeds are up 117 percent from six in the first two months of 2015 to 13 in 2016.

In the market for a flood of goats?

In the market for a flood of goats? MSPCA has you covered.

MSPCA

The goats are settling in at Nevins Farm in Methuen.

 

By Andy Rosen Globe Staff  May 24, 2016

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is looking for a lot of good homes for goats after a Western Massachusetts farmer — surprised at the rate at which the animals were breeding — surrendered 46 animals to the rescue group.

The MSPCA, which has the goats at its Nevins Farm facility in Methuen, said it has seen few cases of this size.

“It’s definitely one of the largest goat surrenders we’ve ever managed,” Gia Barss, barn manager for the farm, said in a statement. She has been “working nonstop to settle the goats into temporary living quarters,” the MSPCA said.

Many of the goats, which are “an assembly of Alpine, Pygmy and Angora mixes,” are pregnant females, and there are 10 nursing kids younger than six months old.

Most of the goats are suffering from Coccidia, a contagious bacterial infection of the intestines, and parasitic infections including round, whip and tape worms.

“Despite these ailments—which are not uncommon when a population of herd animals like goats is allowed to grow unchecked—they are generally well socialized and friendly animals,” said Barss.
The MSPCA did not identify the farmer who surrendered the goats to the MSPCA’s law enforcement division.

Barss believes all of the goats will recover completely, and the MSPCA is looking to find good homes for the animals.

“Goats are herd animals and do much better with friends of their own kind—or even the company of ponies or other herd animals,” said Barss. “We also hope to adopt out many of these goats in pairs or groups.”

People with questions about potential adoption can email barnstaff@mspca.org .

Andy Rosen can be reached at andrew.rosen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @andyrosen.

In response to :Appointments & Approval of Hiring (On-Call Fire Department)

In response to :Appointments & Approval of Hiring (On-Call Fire Department)

Yesterday, the following was posted:

From Jeff Bennett's blog - 
Massachusetts General Law, chapter 48



Section 58. In every town which accepted chapter two hundred and ninety-one of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and sixteen or chapter one hundred and forty of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and seventeen, or in which the provisions of chapter thirty-one were, on April third, nineteen hundred and seventeen, applicable to the chief of the fire department thereof, such chief shall hold his office continuously during good behavior unless incapacitated by physical or mental disability to perform the duties of his position; provided, that in every such city the official having the power of appointment, with the consent of the confirming board, if any, and in every such town, the selectmen, may, for just cause and for reasons specifically assigned by said official or selectmen, remove such chief, first giving him a copy of such reasons and allowing him a reasonable time to answer them in writing. A copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal, shall be filed with the town clerk.

posted by Jeff Bennett 

The response from the town clerk:


Good Morning Julie,

To date, I have not received any information concerning Chief Ray LaPorte.

Thank you,

Carol A. Harris
Templeton Town Clerk, CMMC
160 Patriots Rd.
P.O. Box 620
E. Templeton, MA 01438
(978) 894-2758 phone
(978) 894-2766 fax

From: Julie Farrell [mailto:j_farrell@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 5:39 AM
To: Town Clerk
Subject:

Hi Carol,

According to MGL chapter 48 section 58 😊

Section 58. In every town which accepted chapter two hundred and ninety-one of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and sixteen or chapter one hundred and forty of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and seventeen, or in which the provisions of chapter thirty-one were, on April third, nineteen hundred and seventeen, applicable to the chief of the fire department thereof, such chief shall hold his office continuously during good behavior unless incapacitated by physical or mental disability to perform the duties of his position; provided, that in every such city the official having the power of appointment, with the consent of the confirming board, if any, and in every such town, the selectmen, may, for just cause and for reasons specifically assigned by said official or selectmen, remove such chief, first giving him a copy of such reasons and allowing him a reasonable time to answer them in writing. A copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal, shall be filed with the town clerk.

Is there a copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal of the Fire Chief on file with your office? If so, could I please have a copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal of the Fire Chief?

Thank you for your help,

Julie Farrell 
  

So the Town clerk does not have a copy of the reasons, notice and answer, and of the removal of the Fire Chief.

Anyone else see a lawsuit coming?

May 23, 2016 Selectmen's Meeting

May 23, 2016 Selectmen Meeting

During the town administrator's report the signed certificate for the Community Compact was presented. Under the Community Compact the town will focus on Internet security and regionalization initiatives.

The addition of childcare costs to the flexible spending accounts was added to FSA reauthorization for FY 2017 after some debate and clarification on what a flexible spending account is and how it is funded.

There is an issue with the posting for the March 21, 2016 Special Town Meeting . It seems that meeting was not posted correctly according to Bond Counsel. In order to borrow the money for the Water Tank project, emergency legislation will be brought forward to correct this mistake. No borrowing can occur until this mistake is corrected. Also discussed was the waiver of electrical and building permit fees for the Water Tank Project. 

POLE HEARING - to move two poles on Plant Rd. to allow the upgrade of the Gardner Wastewater Treatment Plant to proceed. The Gardner Wastewater Treatment Plant is located in Templeton; just as the Gardner airport is located in Templeton.

Complete Streets Policy- the board voted to adopt the Complete streets program which will allow to incorporate sidewalks and bike paths where feasible on road construction projects. There are ten standards that comprise the Complete Streets program. There is state money available for the design portion of projects. One proposed project is Bridge St. Once the design is completed, then other grant money may be available for construction of these projects in addition to Chapter 90 money - like MassWorks grants.

 56 hours of vacation time was approved to be carried over until September 2016 for COA director. 29 hours was allowed to be carried over for another COA employee.

Appointments & Approval of hiring (On Call Fire Department)

Two new recruits were appointed as call firefighters/EMTs .

The long list of yearly appointments was tabled until people could be contacted to see if they would like to be re-appointed to those committees.

Personnel policy revisions by town counsel had just arrived on Monday  May 23, 2016. Topic was tabled for discussion until the next selectmen meeting.

Under New Business - Goals for the selectmen were discussed briefly and will be discussed at the next meeting.

Executive session was called at 7:30 pm to conduct strategy sessions in preparations for negotiations with non-union personnel...

 

 

Let's revisit the past for a minute...

Let's revisit the past for a minute...

A response to : Miller To Leave 'Gansett 

Bev.Bart.April 26, 2015 at 9:01 AM
Oh yes, but clean up the back parking lot before you go ! Take the apple trees you want to plant with you. They will cost more to maintain than they will be worth. Take any other half ass ideas with you, and lets hope the School Committee where you are going is a strong one, so the community still has money to run the town when you are through. My opinion, Bev.
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phatarchivesMay 23, 2016 at 9:56 PM
I am from Pioneer Valley where this nightmare came to . We need to know about this woman and if she has issues with Gays? She is totally destroying our school spirit and we are losing very important people to our kids including paras .Please we need to know what she did to you . Basically bullying our teachers
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 Miller To Leave 'Gansett
accepts superintendent POST at Pioneer Valley Regional schools
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON  Narragansett Superintendent Ruth Miller will be leading the Pioneer Valley Regional School District next year, having negotiated a deal that will have her overseeing five schools in the Northfield-based district.

“Everything is set and ready to go,” Ms. Miller said, adding that she will sign the new contract on Wednesday.

Ms. Miller’s departure comes at a time when school officials are beginning to reassess the needs of the district, exploring possible reconfigurations in staffing and administration to better serve students. The hiring of interim Principal John Jasinski — who has 34 years working in the district — is part of that process, Ms. Miller explained, and she wants to ensure there is a clear path forward before starting her new position.

“I’ll try to work on a transition plan for them but also for here,” Ms. Miller said. “I want to make sure that everything is really nailed down before I move on.”

In her six years with Narragansett, Ms. Miller said she has strived to make gains academically — helping to institute new curriculum that has aided the middle school with achieving Level 1 status, and assisting the high school in maintaining the same standing — as well as pursued projects such as the new biomass boiler in the middle/high school building that improve the district as a whole.