Pauly's Templeton Watch

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Town Meeting – by Norman Rockwell

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In 1943, Norman Rockwell created four oil paintings to illustrate

the Four Freedoms that President Franklin Roosevelt spoke about

in his 1941 State of the Union Address. The image Rockwell

chose to exemplify the Freedom of Speech is inspired by

Rockwell’s impressions of Town Meeting in Arlington, Vermont.

According to legend, the person central to the work represents an

individual who was the lone voice of dissent on an issue before

Town Meeting. Rockwell portrayed a proud man, a free man,

speaking his piece at a New England Town Meeting. Rockwell

managed to capture the best of Town Meeting. Rockwell also

portrays, Town Reports in hand, the voters of Arlington. They

listen respectfully to the man expressing a minority view. Maybe

he changed some minds, maybe he did not. But from this painting,

we get a sense that he was not subjected to catcalls, was not

demonized and was given a fair hearing of his views by his fellow

citizens and taxpayers.

We Templetonians should strive to live the ideal portrayed in

Rockwell’s Freedom of Speech.

Listen like the folks of Arlington while others are speaking.

Refrain from personal attacks.

Remember that people can be civil despite disagreeing on an

issue.
And do not feel intimidated about attending Town Meeting.

Do not feel shy about expressing your viewpoint and voting your

conscience in an open public forum.

Do not neglect your right and duty to participate.

Vote YES on Question 8

Vote YES on Question 8

The school project vote is TONIGHT at the special town meeting.

7 PM NMS Auditorium

It is Article 8 . There will probably be a an attempt to move this article depending on the people who show up at this special town meeting. If you wish to participate, attendance is mandatory - you can't phone it in!

As important as Article 8 is to the entire town, the other articles are important as well.

Article 1 is to pay $66,000 in sewer bills from last year. Why is this an article? Why does this have to go to town meeting for a vote?

Not only a vote, but this vote needs a 9/10ths majority vote to pass...because the sewer department was late in submitting these bills for payment. The sewer department screwed up.

Article 2 is to take $87,501 out of stabilization fund (Templeton's rainy day fund) because the selectmen screwed up the FY 17 budget. Until Templeton's finances are corrected as in the audits are complete, AND the DOR approves the audits AND there is no large deficit like the $1,000,000 deficit identified in FY 13 there will be no money to replace this $87,501 from stabilization for many years to come.

Stabilization currently has about $142,000 in it. In towns that are financially stable, stabilization accounts have about 10% of O & M set aside as reserves in case of emergencies. Templeton's stabilization account hovers at 1% BEFORE this vote is taken.

Article 3- Looks fairly innocuous. This is where you need to pay attention to the details. There will be supporting documentation for this article. Article 3 is the reason why this special town meeting was called. This article is an attempt to balance the FY 17 budget by making transfers/amendments. Read footnote 7.

If there is not enough money in October to fund general insurance and unemployment accounts, why would there be money to fund these accounts in May?

Please vote YES to rescind on article 8

Templeton needs to get its finances in order

BEFORE

it builds a new school!

Please vote YES to rescind on article 8