$5 Million BAN signed

$5 Million BAN signed 

"THE TOWN HAS FAILED TERRIBLY IN MANAGING ITS CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CORRESPONDING FUNDING:"

Management Letter p13, Tony Roselli, CPA April 25, 2017.

 

Last night the Templeton selectmen signed documents for the placement of a $5 MILLION dollar, six month general obligation bond. 

This bond will cover the $1.2 million dollar deficit in the Templeton Elementary School Project. The redesign will commence.

This borrowing is a general obligation bond to be issued on June 2, 2017 and will be paid back by December 1, 2017. The interest rate for this borrowing is 1.5 %. The premium for this borrowing is $11,212.36.

The vote on debt authorization for the Templeton Elementary School Project   on 11/9/2015:

ARTICLE 1 DEBT AUTHORIZATION: TEMPLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the Templeton Elementary School Building Committee for the purpose of paying the costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Templeton Elementary School located at 17 South Road, Templeton MA, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project"), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town, through Narragansett Regional School District may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"). The Town acknowledges that MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA through the Narragansett Regional School District, shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town may receive through the Narragansett Regional School District, from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) 62.84% of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA. 

Submitted by the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Narragansett Regional School Committee

A Motion was duly made and seconded to move the question. Passed by 2/3/November 9th @ 8:13pm

On a motion duly made and seconded the Town voted to appropriate the amount of Forty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand, One Hundred Eighty-Four Dollars ($47,563,184) for the purpose of paying the costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Templeton Elementary School located at 17 South Road, Templeton MA, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project"), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town, through Narragansett Regional School District, may be eligible for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), said amount to be expended under the direction of the Templeton Elementary School Building Committee; and to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, is authorized to borrow said amount under M.G.L. Chapter 44, or pursuant to any other enabling authority; The Town acknowledges that MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA, through the Narragansett Regional School District, shall be the sole responsibility of the Town; provided further that any grant that the Town, through the Narragansett regional School District, may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of: (1) Sixty-Two and Eighty-Four Hundredths Percent (62.84%) of eligible, approved Project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; provided that any appropriation hereunder shall be subject to and contingent upon an affirmative vote of the Town to exempt the amounts required for the payment of interest and principal on said borrowing from the limitations on taxes imposed by M.G.L. 59, section 21C “Proposition 2 1⁄2”; and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduce by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the Narragansett Regional School District and the MSBA.

Passed by 2/3/November 9th @ 8:14
A motion was duly made and seconded to reconsider Article 1. Defeated/November 9th @ 8:16

 

"THE TOWN HAS FAILED TERRIBLY IN MANAGING ITS CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CORRESPONDING FUNDING:"

Management Letter p13, Tony Roselli, CPA April 25, 2017.

Sound Familiar? Ringing any Bells?

‘Scary’ financial picture under review in Webster

By Brian Lee
Telegram & Gazette Staff 

WEBSTER – The state Department of Revenue recently certified the town’s “free cash” amount as of July 2016, and the negative $4.1 million picture isn’t pretty.

A large portion of the negative value of free cash was because of not borrowing money for the Park Avenue Elementary School project when the funds, made available through a previous town meeting, should have been borrowed, said Town Administrator Douglas C. Willardson, who inherited the financial problem when he began the job in December.

Fortunately, a remedy was fairly simple, according to Mr. Willardson, who in the meantime has called for an independent financial review of the town’s financial picture.

This issue was resolved last week when the Board of Selectmen authorized town Treasurer James Chauvin to sign bond anticipation notes. That action, Mr. Willardson said, “made us whole.”

Mr. Willardson attempted to downplay the issue, but acknowledged during an interview, “that’s a big number,” and later noted, “Negative $4 million is a scary number.”

Fiscal 2016 free cash was impacted by the delay in certification of fiscal 2015 free cash, which was finally certified in late March. It was negative $3 million.

Meanwhile, a full financial audit of the town’s finances is expected to be completed by the end of June.

Mr. Willardson said he asked the DOR to conduct a financial management review of the town, and one of its recommendations was to oust the town’s longstanding auditor.

“As part of our review, we will recommend that the Town of Webster strongly consider engaging a new outside audit firm,” said an email to Mr. Willardson from the DOR’s Zack Blake. “Webster has contracted with the same accounting firm, Borgatti Harrison & Co., to conduct its annual audit since 2007. While staying with one auditor over multiple years provides continuity, we agree with the (Government Finance Officers Assocation’s) advice that communities change outside auditors every five to eight years because cycling new auditors provides fresh perspective and fosters greater independence.”

The DOR official said he would also provide the town in the coming weeks other recommendations, including those on debt, cash flow, outstanding receivables, reconciliations, deficits, purchasing, retirement system fees, and state School Building Authority reimbursements.

Town Accountant Pamela A. Leduc submitted a free cash amount to the state in March 2015, but the DOR did not certify it. Ms. Leduc had served as acting town administrator for more than a year until Mr. Willardson was hired as permanent administrator. She has said that she took on too much responsibility during her year-plus leading the town.

Some members of the Board of Selectmen last year cited concerns about free cash as the reason they couldn’t support Ms. Leduc’s candidacy for permanent town administrator.

Andrew Jolda, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said in an email, “Going forward, the Board of Selectmen will be reviewing the financial policies that are currently being developed by the Town Administrator and members of the Finance Committee.”

Mr. Willardson said he asked the DOR to conduct a financial management review of the town, and one of its recommendations was to oust the town’s longstanding auditor.

“As part of our review, we will recommend that the Town of Webster strongly consider engaging a new outside audit firm,” said an email to Mr. Willardson from the DOR’s Zack Blake. “Webster has contracted with the same accounting firm, Borgatti Harrison & Co., to conduct its annual audit since 2007. While staying with one auditor over multiple years provides continuity, we agree with the (Government Finance Officers Assocation’s) advice that communities change outside auditors every five to eight years because cycling new auditors provides fresh perspective and fosters greater independence.”

The DOR official said he would also provide the town in the coming weeks other recommendations, including those on debt, cash flow, outstanding receivables, reconciliations, deficits, purchasing, retirement system fees, and state School Building Authority reimbursements.

Town Accountant Pamela A. Leduc submitted a free cash amount to the state in March 2015, but the DOR did not certify it. Ms. Leduc had served as acting town administrator for more than a year until Mr. Willardson was hired as permanent administrator. She has said that she took on too much responsibility during her year-plus leading the town.

Some members of the Board of Selectmen last year cited concerns about free cash as the reason they couldn’t support Ms. Leduc’s candidacy for permanent town administrator.

Andrew Jolda, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said in an email, “Going forward, the Board of Selectmen will be reviewing the financial policies that are currently being developed by the Town Administrator and members of the Finance Committee.”

****************************************

 So how do these financial messes happen to community after community?

Liars Club

Liars Club - Tonight

Templeton Board of Selectmen
Town Hall, 
160 Patriots Road, 
East Templeton Tuesday, 
May 30, 2017,
6:00 p.m. 

Agenda
1. Call the Meeting to Order 

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Action RE: $5M Bond Anticipation Note

4. Action RE: Potential Budget Transfer(s)

5. General Discussion

6. 6:30 p.m.-Town Administrator Candidate Interview 

7. 7:30 p.m.-Town Administrator Candidate Interview 

8. Potential Request for Executive Session ~ Per M.G.L. c.30A, Sec. 21.2, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel. 

9. Adjournment

The listing of Agenda items is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent it is permitted by law. 

THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Wednesday May 31st

Gardner family traces secret behind death of WWII soldier

By Paula J. Owen
Correspondent 

GARDNER – It was Nov. 26, 1943, and the men on the British troopship HMT Rohna shared a brief moment of relief as a second wave of bombing from the Germans ended. Then, sheer panic hit when a mysterious and powerful new German weapon struck the ship in the Mediterranean Sea, killing 300 GIs instantly and knocking out the electrical system, leaving those below deck in total darkness.

In the chaos that followed, many drowned as life vests failed. Some were killed in the resulting fire, and others tried to escape on lifeboats that were rusted to the ship or rotted. As the Rohna tipped, others clamored down rope ladders and cargo nets bloodied from slipping hands. Some became entangled in the nets and went down with the ship, others were terrified by the screams of those who were burned by oil in the water that caught fire. Then, German planes returned to fire at the men who were easy targets floating in the sea.

Many have not heard of the Rohna disaster, known as World War II’s secret tragedy. It was the greatest loss of life at sea during the war caused by enemy action: More than 1,000 troops perished.
It was likened to the tragic attack on the USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor. Except the destruction of the Rohna was hidden by the U.S. War Department and wiped from history for half a century. The families of those lost on the ship were left hoping one day their loved ones would return home.
One of the men lost on the Rohna was Gardner native Cpl. Lawrence “Larry” Lukasevicius, said his nephew, James Kraskouskas of Princeton.

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!

America’s Vaccine Injured Warriors Deserve More

America’s Vaccine Injured Warriors Deserve More
Posted: 5/24/2017 10:12:27 AM

By Barbara Loe Fisher
To activate and view hyperlinked references, please click here once and then click any superscripted number below to access a hyperlinked reference, or scroll down to the bottom of the article to view all hyperlinked references.

There is no greater betrayal by government than to order a citizen to risk injury or death “for the greater good” and then treat that person and their family like dirt once the harm is done. The inhumane treatment of the vaccine injured at the hands of doctors in denial and the refusal of government to compensate the majority of those injured, while blocking lawsuits against drug companies profiting from mandated vaccines, is a national scandal. ¹

A recent news report by Action News JAX in Florida investigated reports by two combat marines, who suffered heart inflammation (myopericarditis) and permanent health damage after smallpox vaccinations they were ordered to take. The investigation discovered that the U.S. government is still refusing to compensate soldiers for smallpox vaccine-related health problems, such as heart inflammation, even when those health problems are acknowledged as causally related by the vaccine manufacturer in a black box warning on the package insert and by government health officials. ^{2 3}

The callous indifference toward once healthy young men and women disabled or killed by smallpox and anthrax vaccinations, which the Department of Defense insists are necessary to combat “bioterrorism,” has been going on since soldiers started heading to the Gulf War in the early 1990s and came home sick and disabled. ⁴ From pregnant women soldiers given Biothrax anthrax vaccine, ⁵ whose babies were born with birth defects, ⁶ to the cover-up of anthrax vaccine related deaths of Army soldiers, ⁷ to Air Force pilots whose careers ended with crippling anthrax vaccine injuries or court martials for refusing to get the shots, ⁸ the history of the US military vaccination program is marked by human experimentation ⁹ and violation of human rights. ^{10 11}

The tragic consequences of the government’s callous indifference toward the vaccine injured is poignantly illustrated in interviews with anthrax vaccine injured soldiers in Scott Miller’s award winning 2003 documentary “Direct Order.”

Anthrax and smallpox vaccines continue to be given to U.S. soldiers, even though no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) supplies of weaponized anthrax and smallpox, have been found. ^{12 13} And, yet, the reports of vaccine injuries and deaths from both vaccines keep piling up. ^{14 15 16}

Echoes from the Past

 Echoes from the Past

  April 24, 2015

Templeton Health Agent out of line?
As posted on this blog, from information found on the world wide web (is that thing great or what) and that information shows that the current Templeton Health Agent is or has in the past, using Templeton resources, as in a telephone in an office as well as an employee with benefits, all paid for by the Templeton taxpayers, to do the business of at least one other Town. Phil Leger is or has acted as a health agent in a number of other towns on an apparent part time basis or on a per diem basis (paid when needed) while being paid as a fulltime employee of the Town of Templeton. This raises a number of questions for me and you will have to decide for yourself. In my mind, how much business for the Town of New Salem did Phil Leger do on Templeton taxpayer dime? Did the elected members of the Templeton Board of Health know of these goings on and did or doo they approve of them? what other business, besides giving the telephone number for the Town of Templeton Board of Health as "my office number" as is documented on the New Salem Official Town website? Did Phil Leger use other office equipment and supplies, such as copier and paper, fax, computer etc., to do other town's business while being paid by the Town of Templeton? Did Phil Leger charge other Towns for service while he was actually in the office of the Templeton Board of Health?


As you contemplate these questions and others, ask yourself this; if Phil Leger can do the work of Health Agent for all these other towns on a part time basis, why does he need to be full time in Templeton? My answer is Phil Leger needs someone to pick up his fulltime pay which leads to benefits and retirement pay. Why else has Phil Leger been advocating to fill this position at 40 hours?
My thought is to only fund the Health Agent for Templeton at 19 1/2 hours and if he says he cannot do the work required in that amount of time then he should seek help from the elected members of the Templeton Board of Health, which if checked, those are the people who get all the power from Massachusetts General Law. If those elected members are unable or unwilling to do the work, then resign, don't run and don't volunteer.


It seems the only control that voters have over the Board of Health is the election and the pocket book, they can only spend what you give them, as if you don't fund a fulltime agent, there will not be one. If the Board of Selectmen wish to fund the position at 35 hours then go to Town Meeting and try to amend the motion and change the dollar figure for the line item for salary for Templeton Health Agent. It is easy and it is your right. It was stated at last nights BOS meeting that all town departments were going to be united this year at town meeting, almost if they were unionizing in principle, so voters should be united in efforts to spend their money as they see fit.


Look for a financial breakdown on the Board of Health in the Templeton Town reports, as in how much is spent to bring in X number of dollars. You might be surprised.


Jeff Bennett

 

 

  A numbers problem

Sept 17, 2015 

****************************************

BOH New Salem

BOH New Salem  :

Board of HealthBoard of Health Jenny Potee - Chairperson C. Lynn Layton Jamie Beauchesne Donna Ballentine - Clerk Health Agent:Philip Leger R. S. Cell: 617-584-9714 Stowell Building 19 South Main Street New Salem, MA 01355 Phone:  978-544-9673 Fax:      978-544-9673 Email: nsboardofhealth@gmail.com Hours: Board meetings are once a month in the Stowell Building.  Meeting time and dates are posted in the town meeting binder located in the mailbox in front of the Town Hall Annex. Clerk hours:  Mondays 9:00am-11:00am Transfer StationAttendant: Bob Roy 22 Blueberry Hill Road Phone:  978-544-9673 Hours: Saturdays 8:00am-4:00pm     ALL YEAR Wednesdays 4:00pm-7:00pm     MAY 1 - SEPTEMBER 30 EEE Risk Level Raised to High in New Salem From New Salem Health Agent: Please see attachment for announcement from Massachusetts Department of Public Health concerning a case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a neighboring community. The risk level has been raised in our communities to high. See press release for precautions and about limiting activities if possible from dawn to dusk. I am available to assist and discuss with anyone. My office # 978-939-2377 cell 617-584-9714. Phil Leger Health Agent New Salem Town Officials are urging all New Salem

TA Report from May 25, 2017

 TA Report from May 25, 2017

 

Important Notice To All Departments

Please remember the last date to submit bills for FY ’17 will be 10 AM on Monday, July 10, 2017.

If you have capital or specialty projects in the FY ’18 budget please be prepared to talk soon about the timelines to get those out to bid. 

If you’re going to need vacation rollovers, provide them by June 6, 2017, to Carter with employee name, reason needed, and how many hours needed. 

We are seeking applicants for Veterans Services Officer, Assistant Town Accountant, Administrative Assistant I (ODS), Treasurer/Collector & Seasonal Laborer. Please encourage qualified applicants you may know to consider applying (See Web Site). 

The following is intended to provide information where a full memo may not have been warranted or supplement the provided information.

Business Meeting or Workshop: 

3. We received bids on our $5M Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs). We had three bidders ranging from 1.5% to 2.25% gross and, after application of the bond premium, 1.05% net to 1.84%. This positions us just where we wanted to be for the fall bond rating and bond offering for the school project. You will now need to take a formal vote to award the placement of the Bond to Eastern Bank. As planned, this erases the deficit in the capital accounts and fully funds the several contract amendments for Colliers and SMMA from your meeting of 05/22. 

4. We have a need for two transfers. One is for $1.5k+/- to cover an unexpected expense in the group insurance for a second infusion into your high deductible insurance coverage for your 111F (Police & Fire) expenses. The second is $3.5k+/- to cover the out-of-class pay and staff shortages in a department. At this time, we are finalizing the numbers and best approach (i.e. statutory internal transfer or request for a reserve transfer). This may not be finalized until meeting time. 

Weekly Report: Many thanks to Carol H for processing our By-Law amendment for the Capital Committee so quickly. We already have it back approved! Carl G. has resigned (effective 06/13) to enjoy full retirement. The position has been advertised and I’ll review the RIF/RIG Draft to see if we should be looking to give the laid off ConCom clerk some sort of preferential treatment. With Mallory S. on leave with her new baby girl this will leave us short staffed during a busy building permit season. I’ll be approaching you to carry over some of Laurie W’s vacation time to help bridge the gap. Likewise, I will need to approach you to carry over some of Carolee’s time to cover for being short staffed in the Treasurer/Collector’s office as a result of the resignation of Ms. Myers. This also means that Ms. Eaton will be staying full-time for a short time into FY ’18. The T/C position has now also been advertised. I’ll be looking to put together a small screening group to shortlist candidates for a final interview. Our recruitment incentive of 05/22 was not enough to bridge any personal gaps in our prospective recruit for FF/EMT-P. We will shortly advertise the position out of house. I attended a meeting with Alan M. the Town Engineer, and TLWP representatives. The DPW report will fill you in. I met with the Chair and representatives of Collins following up on the development of Draft financial polices under the MA grant for submission to you in the near future. I’ve reached out to Glenn Eaton to see if we can establish a schedule that brings the EDIC formation before you in time for that group to lead the charge at the Fall Town Meeting (simplified permitting and the like) for the other items should you decide to proceed with those. We have been working to complete the contract package for the Scout Hall Insulation job. As the contractor’s parent company is an out of state entity, we have been struggling to get them to complete the correct forms. We hope to have it all resolved shortly so we can get them a notice to proceed next week. 


Administration & Finance 

Town Accountant: Over the last few weeks I have been in and out of the office using up my vacation. Now that the audits have been completed, I have been focusing on the back log of FY 17 things that need to be done. Also, have been working on the prior year’s issues that needed additional work, so hopefully in the next fiscal year can be reconciled. I am working with the departments that have outstanding accounts that they were not aware of that need to be cleaned up. I will be out of the office next week on vacation. 

Treasurer/Collector: The bad check policy has been approved by the Board of Selectmen and has been issued to the Departments. Real estate and personal property demands have been mailed. Jeffery and Jeffery Have been instrumental in helping collect past due personal property accounts, to date nearly $1,400 collected. Commitment 3 motor excise bills are going in the mail this week; thank you Luanne for helping stuff 700 bills! I also completed the tax taking of 21 accounts from Fiscal 2016, With all prior years up to date. 

Assessor: Processed 3 Motor Vehicle Commitments for FY17 to the Collector/Treasurer, totaling $ 1,002,762.30 committed for FY17. Bills have been processed, stuffed and are now ready to be mailed with a billing date of May 25, 2017 with a due date of June 26,
2017. Attended Department Head meeting Tuesday. Continue to review building permits and line up fieldwork. Working on updating newer commercial properties in town and getting ready to go out and visit them. Continue to receive inquiries from residents about interest and demand

bills going out. Getting paperwork ready for FY18 exemptions. Sorting and organizing town maps in the office. Lighter office flow this week. 


Town Clerk: Posted the approved by-law from the Attorney General’s Office. Still busy with Marriage Certificates and genealogy. 


Public Works 

Highway Department: More sweeping for the week as the weather was pretty good. The highway assisted the water department with the rebuild of a catch basin. There was a meeting held with Fuss and O’Neill the engineers working on Royalston road to propose other road projects. And also a meeting held in North Hampton for review criteria for bridges. The fleet is suffering with 5 vehicles red lined with various problems that are costly and will have to wait until the New Year to be repaired. 

Cemetery & Parks: The water has been turned on in the cemeteries for the watering of flowers, plants and shrubs. Prepared for one Saturday burial, planted trees and trimmed and mowed the surrounding area. Added additional trash barrels @ Gilman Waite for upcoming week end softball tournament. Prepared for a mid week funeral service @ Green Lawn cemetery. Mowed and trimmed all common areas in preparation for the Memorial Day week end. Bark mulch and mowing and trimming done @ the Baldwinville fire station. 

Sewer Department: Contacted Tuthill Company executives to demand they repair blower which failed while under warranty at no cost. After receiving no satisfaction I recommend to Commission that we proceed with litigation having Town Counsel file suit and me representing the Town. Attended annual town meeting where the budget and the Pleasant Street pump station affirmation vote both passed unanimously. I notified the engineers, USDA, bond counsel and town counsel of the successful votes and scanned and forwarded the town clerks vote certification to relevant parties. I attended the selectmen’s audit management meeting. The crew rearranged the secretary’s office to improve work flow. Marked out dig safes on Route 68 from Baldwinville center to Gardner line. I learned of a grant from DEP for free GIS data development for all town sewer infrastructures. Only 15 towns were able to participate and we are one of the few! Chuck and I worked to select, organize and tabulate approximately 175 blue prints which were picked up by an engineer from Tighe and Bond Inc. This is a huge leap forward in technological capability that I have wanted to have done for over 10 years, but cost and time were prohibitive. I am elated at this opportunity. Instructed Chuck to begin gathering quotes for the installation of the Crotty Ave. pump station replacement pumps and valves. Investigating a way to possibly lower chemical costs, set up a polymer tank and lines at disc filter. Purchased a new refrigeration unit for head works composite sampler 


Public Safety
Templeton Police Department: Nothing to report this week. Templeton Fire/EMS: Nothing to report this week. Emergency Management: Nothing to report this week. 

Development Services 

Building Department: The Building Department issued three permits for roof replacement and Commissioner Hanks completed multiple inspections Gas/Plumbing had a total of one permit issued and the Electrical Inspector had three. 

Planning Board: Received payment for the Gardner T Hangar project; preparing for the stormwater public hearing. 

ZBA: Variance decision for Michael Bouthot time stamped by Town Clerk; mailed decision to petitioner with instructions on appeal; processed minutes from last ZBA meeting. 

Conservation Commission: Filed “notice of intent” for Drury Lane and Cottage Lane and submitted public hearing notices to the Gardner News for both to be published; processed minutes from last ConCom Board meeting. 

Board of Health: Agent witnessed percs at both Gray Road and Lord Road; scheduled percs for Laurelview and Otter River Roads next week. On Saturday, the BOH held a bulky waste event that had approximately thirty cars come through, filled two roll off dumpsters and took paint, electronics, metal and lights containing mercury. Continued work on trash issues and Abandoned Housing Initiative. 

Community Services
 
Council on Aging/Senior Center: 

Library Director: We have been accepting donations of flowers in preparation for our “6-pack Saturday” on May 27. All of the flowers collected will be planted in our ‘Roz Hendrickson Memorial Garden’ by library staff and volunteers. Many thanks to all who donated and
helped! The Trustees will be meeting soon to discuss/vote on what days the additional 5 open hours will be distributed, as well as putting together a job description for the additional Library Assistant position. Planning continues on our Summer Reading Program activities. Story Hour concludes next week with a festive celebration. We continue to fulfill numerous material requests which have been placed on the CWMars network, and circulation in general is steady. 

Community TV: Nothing to report this week. 

Important Dates to Remember Selectmen’s Special Meeting on May 30, 2017, at 6 p.m.

Selectmen’s Workshop Meeting, Monday, June 5 2017, at 6:30 p.m. Selectmen Business Meeting on June 12, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. 

Department Head Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.

What’s the Difference Between Companies Selling Cigarettes and Companies Selling Vaccines?

What’s the Difference Between Companies Selling Cigarettes and Companies Selling Vaccines?
Posted: 5/23/2017 

By Barbara Loe Fisher

To activate and view hyperlinked references, please click here once and then click any superscripted number below to access a hyperlinked reference, or scroll down to the bottom of the article to view all hyperlinked references.


Do you know the difference between companies that sell cigarettes and companies that sell vaccines in America?

When cigarettes injure or kill people, tobacco companies are financially liable in civil court. But when vaccines injure or kill people, drug companies are not.

That’s right.

If you get lung cancer from smoking cigarettes, you can sue the tobacco company. ¹ But if you or your child suffers brain damage or dies after getting a vaccine, the drug company cannot be sued. ²
And you can’t hold any person who licensed, recommended, gave or voted to mandate the vaccine accountable in a court of law, either. ^{3 4}

Here is why:

In 1986, Congress gave drug companies a partial civil liability shield for vaccine injuries and deaths. ⁵

In 2011, the US Supreme Court effectively banned all vaccine injury lawsuits, ruling that vaccines are - quote - “unavoidably unsafe.” ⁶

Then, in 2016, Congress lowered licensing standards for experimental vaccines so that drug companies can fast track them to market without conducting large clinical trials. ⁷

Now, drug companies and their friends in medical trade are lobbying state legislatures to strip vaccine exemptions from state public health laws. ^{8 9}

That’s right.

Even though drug companies and doctors have been given an unprecedented liability shield removing all responsibility for vaccine injuries and deaths, ¹⁰ they want more.

They want “no exceptions” vaccine laws forcing you and your children to use every dose of every government endorsed vaccine without your voluntary, informed consent. ¹¹

What’s the difference between companies that make cigarettes and companies that make vaccines?

When cigarettes injure and kill people, Big Tobacco is legally accountable in a civil court in front of a jury of your peers. But when vaccines injure and kill people, Big Pharma is not.

At NVIC.org, learn more about vaccines, diseases and the human right to informed consent to medical risk taking.

Empower yourself today with well-referenced information that can help you make educated decisions about vaccination.

It’s your health. Your family. Your choice.

Fluoridated Water Destroys Your Brain and Teeth

 By Dr. Mercola
In the U.S., water fluoridation has been widespread for the last 70 years. Despite the fact that clear-cut evidence suggests consuming fluoride is dangerous to human health and does little to protect teeth from cavities, it continues to be supported and recommended by nearly all public health and academic institutions.

This includes the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization (WHO). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even went so far as to name water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century.

Meanwhile, the evidence continues to stack up against this archaic practice, with federal data now showing more than half of U.S. kids may be suffering ill effects from consuming too much fluoride.

Most US Kids Have Fluoride-Damaged Teeth

According to research presented at the April 2017 National Oral Health Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 57 percent of youth between the ages of 6 and 19 years have dental fluorosis, a condition in which your tooth enamel becomes progressively discolored and mottled, according to data from 2011 to 2012.¹

The statistic represents an increase from 37 percent reported from 1999 to 2004. Further, the author stated, "There was a significant increase in caries experience ..." When Fluoride Action Network (FAN) researchers analyzed the same set of data, they found "The 2011 to 2012 NHANES survey found dental fluorosis in 58.3 percent of the surveyed adolescents, including an astonishing 21.2 percent with moderate fluorosis and 2 percent with severe."²

According to FAN, "The data suggests that up to 24 million adolescents now have some form of dental fluorosis, with over 8 million adolescents having moderate fluorosis, and 840,000 having severe fluorosis."

In stark contrast, when fluoridation was first started in the U.S. in 1945, it was promised that only 10 percent of people would suffer from mild dental fluorosis.³ Public health officials often brush off fluorosis as a purely aesthetic issue, one they believe is a good trade-off for the supposed benefits of fluoride but, in reality, fluorosis is an outward sign that fluoride is damaging the body.
Research has found impairment in cognitive abilities among children with fluorosis (even mild fluorosis) compared to children with no fluorosis. And some studies have even found that children with higher levels of fluorosis have increased rates of cavities.^4,5

US Lowered Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water, but Risks Still Remain

With all the fanfare over water fluoridation, you may be surprised to learn that in 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to lower the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water for the first time in 50 years. This meant the level of fluoride in drinking water was reduced to 0.7 mg/L from a previously recommended range of between 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L.

This was a significant reduction in fluoride exposure for some U.S. communities, but it's important to understand that at doses ranging from 0.7 to 2.3 mg/L of fluoride per day, adverse effects including reduced IQ, behavioral alterations, neurochemical changes, hypothyroidism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been demonstrated.

Also noteworthy, reduced IQ has been seen in study participants with higher urinary fluoride concentrations, even when no dental fluorosis was present, which suggests that the doses of fluoride that impair cognitive ability are lower than those that cause severe dental fluorosis.⁶

Override? Really?

Override? Really?

 In the article below, the community of Uxbridge defeated an override to fund the school budget. 

Uxbridge has a bond rating and more than $142,000 in stabilization to back up its budget. 

IMHO, Templeton has got to get its financial act together before it can entertain the notion of an override.

When will Templeton gets its financial act together?

When will Templeton  start to correct the material findings in the Financial Management Letter?

When will Templeton hire a full-time Town administrator? Someone who may be invested in the long term financial health of our community?

When will Templeton hire a Treasurer/Collector who can perform the duties of that office as outlined in the financial management letter?

See "Definition of Insanity"

How will the $1.3 million dollar deficit for the Elementary School project be resolved? By redesigning the project? Incurring more costs without a plan to deal with the $1.3 million dollar deficit?

So yeah,

Override? Really?

Uxbridge voters defeat school override

By Susan Spencer
Telegram & Gazette Staff  

 

Rand Paul To Force Vote On Massive Saudi Arms Deal, Warns Sales Would Drag US Into Yemen War

by Tyler Durden

May 25, 2017 5:00 AM

 

Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY) intends to force a vote in the Senate on the record US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, a deal which the Trump Administration has estimated will be worth some $350 billion over the decade.



Paul was expected to introduce the bill on Wednesday.
 

 

The Arms Export Control Act gives senators 10 days to bring up opposition to arms sales, and Paul will have to act particularly fast this time because the Senate is leaving Friday for the Memorial Day holiday, during which they take an entire week off.

Sen. Paul argued that increasing US armament of the Saudis would mean deeper US involvement in the Saudi invasion of Yemen. That of course is something many in the Trump Administration want at any rate, so for them that is seen as a bonus, if anything.

Sen. Paul has been supported in the past in trying to rein in Saudi arms sales by some Democrats, particularly Sen. Chris Murphy (D – CT). It is unclear at this point if he has much support, though the arms industry’s eagerness to secure this lucrative deal is likely to have them lobbying against his efforts.
 

 

Thirteen Reasons Why: America’s High Schools Are Creating (Another) Lost Generation

by Sprott Money

May 23, 2017 12:35 PM

 

Thirteen Reasons Why: America’s High Schools Are Creating (Another) Lost Generation

May 23, 2017

Peter Diekmeyer 

Netflix’s recent announcement that it would be producing a second season of Thirteen Reasons Why has raised new questions about the disastrous state of the US public school system and its effects on the economy. 

 

“Hey, it’s Hannah Baker,” says the show’s protagonist, played by a stunning Katherine Langford in the opening episode. “Get settled in. Because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended.” 

 

The Thirteen Reasons’ portrait of how a stifling, bureaucratic system progressively cuts this teenage girl to pieces, eventually driving her to death, provides a dramatized, insightful reflection on (another) emerging lost generation. 

 

The statistics are grim: a third of 18- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. live at home according to the US Census Bureau. Homeserve USA finds that nearly one in three Americans can’t come up with $500 to fund an emergency. As if that were not enough, according to the US Congressional Budget Office, governments have saddled today’s young with more than $100 trillion worth of pension and healthcare debts. 

 

The harder truth depicted in Thirteen Reasons Why is that today’s high school graduates emerge with few skills, little education and a sanitized view of the world. In short, they are totally unprepared to take on the challenges they face. 

 

Following are Thirteen Reasons Why:

MBTA pension fund needs $1 billion, report says

MBTA pension fund needs $1 billion, report says

KEITH BEDFORD/GLOBE STAFF/FILE

“We certainly would not expect our riders to fund a bailout of this size,” said Brian Shortsleeve (above), the MBTA’s acting general manager

 By Beth Healy GLOBE STAFF  MAY 22, 2017

 
The MBTA Retirement Fund will need $1 billion in additional taxpayer funding over the next 18 years if it is to pay retirees as promised and remain solvent, according to a report the transit authority’s chief plans to present at a public meeting Monday.

The shortfall is due not only to mediocre investment returns but also to a serious math problem.


The $1.5 billion pension fund has 5,786 bus and train drivers, track workers, and other employee members. But the number of retirees who participate in the fund — 6,685 — is greater, making for lopsided finances.

Over the last 10 years, benefits paid to retirees have exceeded money coming in from the taxpayer-funded transit authority and worker contributions, as well as gains on investments, said Brian Shortsleeve, the T’s chief administrator and acting general manager.


“The T will not have the internal resources to fund this,’’ Shortsleeve said. And, he added, “We certainly would not expect our riders to fund a bailout of this size.”


The dire pension report comes as the T itself is working to recover from years of financial woes and aging infrastructure that nearly crippled its operations two years ago.

Happy Anniversary!

A Response!

A Response!

The request:

Hello Everyone,

At tonight's Advisory Committee meeting, it was voted that I should contact you to bring an issue in the latest Budget to Actual to your attention.

On page 4 of 17 of the Expenditure Ledger, Dispatcher wages is expended 97.38 %. According to the May 11, 2017 version of the Expenditure Ledger, there was $6,933.19 left in this account to pay for dispatcher wages for the rest of this fiscal year.


​
The Advisory Committee is concerned that there is not enough money in this account to meet payroll this week and for the rest of this fiscal year.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We are look forward to your response to this matter.


Best,

Julie Farrell

May 17, 2017 

The Response:

It is being paid out of the 911 Grant as budgeted for this year.

Kelli Pontbriand
Accountant
Town of Templeton
978-894-2765 

The issue:

Accountant/Auditor Responsibilities

 "Verify that every expense payment is lawful and justified and that funding exists under the appropriate budget line item (MGL c41 section 52)"

" Provide notification when an appropriation has been expended or appears likely to become overdrawn." ( MGL c 41 section 58 )