Special Town Meeting
October 18, 2018
7 PM
Advisory Committee Recommendations:
From Jeff Bennett's Templeton Watch
Thursday,
October 18, 2018 – 7:00 P.M.
Article
1. Payment of late or unpaid bills
from prior fiscal year:
Sewer Dept. - $1,795.97
Cable Dept. - 110.40
Highway Dept. 220.80
Advisory
Committee: This article funds outstanding obligations from prior fiscal years
that the Town must pay. These bills will be funded from the current fiscal year
budget.
Advisory Committee
recommends favorable action on this article.
Article
2. Amend Town by-laws with adoption
of “stretch energy code”
Advisory
Committee: This article will increase the cost of building in Templeton,
however, it is a step toward Templeton becoming a “Green Community” and should
benefit the Town by way of grant eligibility in future efforts to save on energy
costs Town wide.
Advisory Committee
recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 3.
Amend Town By-Laws for repair of private Ways / Roads.
Advisory Committee: This article will allow all
taxpayers to receive services paid for by tax dollars. Furthermore, this
article along with other actions being pursued will allow these private roads
to eventually become approved Town roads ending any stigma or division among Town
residents concerning private roads versus Town accepted roads.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 4.
Filing of special legislation to establish an infrastructure betterment
fund.
Advisory Committee: This act would simply create an
account /place for any funds collected from residents on private roads for
permanent repairs or improvements completed on said roads/ways.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 5.
Adopt Massachusetts General Law chapter 80, section 13b: defer repayment
of certain betterment liens.
Advisory Committee: This article would help some
residents over age 65 in the way in which betterment repayment is dealt with
regarding the Town.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 6. Amend
Town By-Laws by having employment contracts for all department heads.
Advisory Committee: This article would allow the Town to
utilize this option as a marketing tool in attempting to attract new Town
employees. Town Meeting must realize that some elected boards, such as Board of
Health have say in employment contracts under the law.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 7. Amend
Town By-law regarding animal control.
Advisory Committee: Action on this articles consists
of repealing the current existing Town by-law in its entirety and replacing it
with article 7 verbiage to bring the by-law in step with current state law. This
article also allows for increases in dog license fees as well as significant
increase in non-criminal disposition fines.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 8.
MART dial a ride promotion.
Advisory Committee: This article deals with the Town’s
share of ride share fees with regards to services such as Uber and Lift.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 9.
Stone or Stoney Bridge road study.
Advisory Committee: This article deals with one step
in the process that could allow the Town to pursue grants or other funding
sources to be used in efforts to repair, maintain or replace of structure known
as Stone (Stoney) Bridge.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 10.
Fiscal 2019 Cable department budget supplement.
Advisory Committee: This article allows for more of
the funds collected by way of contract agreement with Comcast Cable to be
utilized to support the operation of the Town’s cable channel and broadcast of meetings
of many Town boards, committees and events held in Templeton.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 11.
Capital budget supplements.
Advisory Committee: While the committee has
reservations of going back to taxpayers multiple times for more funding on the
same project (s), it also acknowledges that town assets must be protected and
invested in for long term tax dollar savings.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 12.
Capital budget supplements
Advisory Committee: This article deals with two
subjects, one being money for the Assessor’s office to replace a funding source
that was presented to Town Meeting by board of selectmen that “fell through”
and the other item involves tree work on Templeton common, which falls in line
with maintaining , protecting and investing in Town assets.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 13.
Fiscal Year 2019 general fund operating budget supplement.
Advisory Committee: Again, the committee cautions
against the continued practice of using one time funds to support re-occurring
expenses of the Town’s general fund expenses. The Town does have a reserve fund
to deal with unanticipated emergencies. The committee also questions the need
to supplement a legal budget of $60,000.00 as well as the need for additional IT
funding this early in the fiscal year. Provided there is sufficient explanation
of additional funding requests for legal and IT;
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 14.
Payment of Town share of Narragansett Regional School District debt.
Advisory Committee: This article will fulfill Templeton’s
obligation to pay debt service that was dealt with at the May 2018 Annual Town
Meeting.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
Article 15.
Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget transfer.
Advisory Committee: This article requests Town Meeting
to approve a transfer of monies from one Town fund to another but it lacks
specificity as to where the funds will be used; under Fire & EMS on the
Town’s monthly expenditure report, there are funds for personnel, employee
support, purchase of services, supplies and “other”. The committee feels that
Town Meeting deserves to know what this proposed transfer will be used for,
salary increases, maintenance, etc. Due to insufficient information on this
proposed reallocation of funds:
Advisory
Committee recommends against this article.
Article 16.
Deposits to the Town’s stabilizations funds and OPEB reserve fund.
Advisory Committee: The committee favors regular
deposits into these funds, as it shows the Town is committed to building
savings and/or reserve funds as well as providing a means to handle long term
Town financial commitments and capital investment.
Advisory
Committee recommends favorable action on this article.
In conclusion, Advisory recommends that residents of
the Town be involved in the process of Town government by attending Town
Meeting, voting and becoming involved through elected or appointed positions
and committees that work to make the Town of Templeton a better place to work
and live in.
Respectfully submitted by the Templeton Advisory
Committee:
Jeffrey Bennett – Chairman Michael Currie – Vice-Chair
Lee Guthrie – Clerk Tony DeJoy
Amy Guthrie Debra Wilder
Wil Spring
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