Narragansett Budget

I just received a call from someone who went to the Narr. budget subcommittee meeting. and I guess they voted to submit a $18.6 MILLION dollar budget. yep that's right people woo boy they are going for an override. according to my buddy, its a $691,000 override.

Are these people soft. Just this past few weeks 6 families have come into the town offices and asked for help seems that they are out of oil and don't have any money to by more.

6 families people. How many people in town are using the food pantry. huh Ann Marie and Dot can you give us a figure. I think this "subcommittee" has their heads in the sand.or somewhere else hee-hee-hee but it's not funny!  Yeh I know teachers deal with a lot but people are broke in this town. we are paying back $700,000 that was wasted away by Jerry Skelton, Bob Columbus, Dennis Obrien etc. People are loosing their homes. I just heard about a young family that sent all the papers in to get their mortgage adjusted and after months they were tuned down for a modification. so they will loose there home. and they have kids.

Wake up people the average joe in town can not afford an override. Since school started back in August 22 families have had complaints of foreclosure filed and 12 homes were foreclosed on .

I have a niece who works in the Narragansett school district. she has told me that many of these kids are coming to school hungry.

Wake up people - the people in our town can't give anymore.

HEAVEN HELP OUR TOWN OF TEMPLETON

GOD HELP OUR TOWN OF TEMPLETON 
Gerald Skelton Just took out papers for Selectman. 

Your thoughts please

Fox news on veteran services.sent by a blogger

Here's an interesting news story than ran last night on Veterans' Services on Fox25. A couple of interesting points: 
 
Mike Beaudet was able to obtain the very historical data (number of cases per 

year for a town based on population) from any town he chose that Julie tried to 

ask for from McGuirk. 

This is todays letter to the editor TGN

An attempt to override the rates in Templeton? To the Editor: 2/28/2013

Gregg Edwards Templeton To the Editor: The recent hostile takeover attempt by the Templeton Board of Selectmen of the Light and Water Commission is provided with the following analysis. Unfounded accusations relative to transparency and wind turbine audits do not support a transition of this magnitude. So what drives these winds of change?

Pre-Town Meeting Feb. 27th

Pre-Town Meeting Feb. 27^th

At last night’s Pre-Town meeting, the Advisory Board met to discuss and to vote on the articles for the Special Town meeting. The meeting was held in the Kiva.

The warrant for the STM contains 6 articles. The Advisory Board voted on 5 out of the 6 articles. The Advisory Board did not vote on the Light and Water citizen petition – Article 6. The Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend FOR the first 5 articles.

Article 1: Seeks to reverse a vote that was taken at the May ATM. The vote to use $163,100 2008 MEMA Reimbursement Account to fund town charges was found to be improper by the DOR. (This money should have gone to “Free Cash”; been certified as “Free Cash: then it could be used to fund the operating budget) As a Town we need to rescind this vote so we can set the tax rate.

ATTENTION READERS OF THE BLOG

ATTENTION READERS OF THE BLOG

Please read and read again Jeff Bennett's Blog about why we should vote for the Citizen's petition to take back Templeton Light.

after you read it a couple of times  make sure you go to the town meeting on Wednesday March 6th at 7:00 PM in the NRHS auditorium

PRETOWN MEETING TONIGHT

 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 27th 

6:30PM at the KIVA 

NARRAGANSETT REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

What is wrong at Templeton Light?

What is wrong at Templeton Light?

After reading the last few blog entries concerning flouride and fluching the sewer commissioners, I feel there may be a small disservice to the readers of the blog, which at its heading states it is to keep Templeton residents informed. I believe right now, the blog needs to stay focused on the Special town meeting issues, and while they may make a point and contain important information, those blog items may in fact distract taxpayers from the issue at hand, but I digress, I need to stay focused.
Right now I wish to focus on the article in the Gardner News and the comments by L&W commissioner Dana Blais. Seems like the other 2 commissioners either could not be contacted or chose not to speak. What struck me most was the line "we do things right over here." To that I would simply say if you were doing things right, there would most likly not be a citizens petition seeking to abolish a commission that "is doing things right." Speaking of which, I would point out that unlike the warrant article to dissolve the sewer commissioners, which was promulgated entirely by some members of the select board, the petition to dissolve the L&W commissioners is brought forward by regular town citizens. I do not believe town citizens would seek to dissole one of their elected boards if said board was in fact doing everything right or doing a majority of its work correctly.

Fluoridegate

Fluoridegate

The documentary Fluoridegate : An American tragedy, will be broadcast on Channel 8, Templeton Community Television. The schedule is:

Sundays 12:00 PM

Wednesdays 7:00 PM

Fridays 9:00 PM

Saturdays 8:00 AM

This documentary is directed by Dr. David Kennedy, the Past President of the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT).

If you are unable to watch TCTV, Fluoridegate is available online. The documentary is a little over an hour in length. So pull up a chair and get comfortable. Hat made of tin foil optional.

My opinions…supported by FACTS ! ! !

Julie Farrell

If you would a copy of this DVD, please contact me at:

978-939-2501

978-340-2503

Today's News

For those of you that do not get the Gardner news - here is the Page 1 article about the L&W petition. and the continuation on page 4

Selectmen meeting

SELECTMEN'S MEETING TONIGHT

MONDAY FEBRUARY 25  6:30pm

Discuss and sign application for Tomb Restoration Grant
Vote CPC Article for Annual Town Meeting to include in tomb grant application
Revenue Anticipation - Note borrowing - Dan Keeney Treasurer
old Business
new business
  Discuss ATM warrant article process

Don’t Flush the Sewer Commissioners

Don’t Flush the Sewer Commissioners

The following is an editorial written by former Sewer Commissioner Peter Farrell. [items within brackets have been added] See you at the end. JMF

  Article six of the Special Town Meeting to be held on Nov 16^th [2009] at the Middle School Auditorium asks Templeton voters for Special Legislation to eliminate the sewer commissioners and place those duties with the selectmen. The Town of Templeton currently has qualified individuals in charge of the sewer system.  Two out of three commissioners hold the highest license in the wastewater field.  The qualifications to hold a grade VII wastewater license require both education and time in the profession. There is no one remotely qualified on the Board of Selectmen to oversee the Sewer Department compared to the two Sewer Commissioners that hold the highest license in the field.  These qualifications are what got these current Sewer Commissioners elected to office.  There will be no election involved with this Special Legislation. What events have transpired to bring this article before town meeting?  What is the history of this article involving Special Legislation?  Who stands to benefit by this change? Who stands to lose?

Upcoming meetings

Agendas for  Meetings

Upcoming

Agenda for the Monty Tech Policy Sub Committee 2/26/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Narragansett Regional School District Policy Sub Committee 2/26/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Historical Commission 2/27/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Advisory Board Pretown 2/27/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Monty Tech Capital Improvements Sub Committee 2/27/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Narragansett Regional School District Agreement Sub Committee 2/27/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Narragansett Regional School District Budget Sub Committee 2/28/13 Meeting

Public Hearing Notices

Upcoming
Agenda for the Planning Board 2/26/13 Public Hearing
Agenda for the Planning Board 3/5/13 Public Hearing

Moving forward, one step at a time

Moving forward, one step at a time

Some people may think the citizens petition concerning L&W is nothing more than a power grab (no pun on my part) while others may think this is no different of a move than was made in the past when some selectmen wanted to abolish sewer comm and take control of sewer. This is my opinion and thoughts on this issue! Going back to the sewer comm., I believ the action there was 2 fold, one get access to the cash at sewer and secondly, push the salary of the former town coordinator up hence an increase in retirement. This may have been a copy of a tactic used with the merger of L&W back in 2000 or so, least the same last name was involved. While the intent of the L&W merger may be hard to prove, the results are easy by simply perusing the annual town reports for salary and eventual pension of L&W manager. Once again, I digress.

thought this was interesting. This was posted on a trail in NH.

When did our light at Templeton Municipal Light started to dim?

Long ago I was told by those that know of Templeton. Light and Water had a true commission and were on top of the issues and actions at that time. The names Dembeck,Kwasny, were said to be “no nonsense people” They were the checks and balance that we now lack at light and water. When that generation faded out is when the dimming started at the Light and Water. As they evolved into what now is a combined light and water, control has been changed to a commission that is a part of l+w and just a rubber stamp of the general manager and has been that way ever since .Laws of open meeting, violated and many issues were swept under the surface and always the attention put on the power being on and not losing it in storms. Quick to compare with others that did a lesser service and had a poorer response than them. Treatment of other commissioner’s questions put aside and ignored, like the audit for the multimillion dollar wind turbine, still incomplete. When we all suffered during the big ice storm in 2008, we all went into the dark .It took several days and millions to restore it. That storm did a great job of thinning the forest and of week and old trees and wires/poles that were a problem or soon to be one. Thank you Mother Nature and Templeton light workers, kudos to you and your efforts. Templeton appreciates all you do. This petition is not about you or your performance.

Pauly’s Blog

Pauly’s Blog

Sometimes we need to be reminded about a few things. Many people visit Pauly’s blog. After a while you forget to read the words under his picture:

My name is Paul H Cosentino Sr. Everyone calls me Pauly, I have lived in the town of Templeton,MA my entire life. I started my businesses, Cosentino Salvage & Recycling, Inc. in the 1970's after a long battle with the town. I am currently a member of the Conservation Commission and have been since 1999. I attend the Selectmen's Meetings, Town meetings, etc. I have witnessed wrong doings in the Templeton. I have tried to get these wrong doings corrected and the persons held accountable. I have been banned from the Town Offices for trying to bring attention to these issues. This blog is for the benefit of Templeton Residents and Taxpayers so they can be kept informed.

It is important to remember why this blog was started. Today’s Gardner News has a small article about a similar situation in Shirley. Maybe Mr. Schuler should start a blog.

Julie Farrell

Information/Data Collection

Information/Data Collection

Has anyone else noticed that you can’t download and save YouTube videos anymore? I use many YouTube videos and TED talks for instructional purposes (for math skills). I like to download the videos and save them to my pen drive or Google drive(docs). If I download the videos, I always have them. If the Internet goes down, I can still teach my class. In the library world and business world, it’s all about the bandwidth. Libraries are notorious bandwidth hogs, because of our intensive need for data. The impact of not being able to download and save videos, means I need to rely on my Internet connection at all times when I am teaching. If my school does not have sufficient bandwidth, everything comes to a halt. I am fortunate to work in a district that is working to increase our schools bandwidth.

meeting change

The personnel Board meeting has changed


2/20/2013 CANCELLED

Agenda for the Personnel Board 2/22/13 Meeting

Lighting the path for Templeton

 Lighting the path for Templeton

Templeton has a great ability to change when change is needed . The petition to abolish the light and water commission is the change we have for needed for some time now. The facts have been dug up and the numbers don’t lie. Questions go unanswered and requests get shunned . The rates rise and the rebates we were told don’t exist. We purchased a wind turbine and it produces little more than a bill and repairs that have unknown costs. A audit for the cost of the multimillion dollar dud is just a joke to the management and board and never gets a serious answer. They always blame the company doing the audit for not returning the calls. They have been digging a hole of debt for Templeton to be in for a very long time to come. It’s still not clear what debt is for what loan.

The point of the petition is for Templeton to start to gain a central control of all of Templeton’s departments and also know what every checkbook and balance sheet looks like. The way it is now that is not the case. We can start to formulate what each department has involved Templeton in. To be run like a business you need to have all departments report to one central control or the control gets lost and the issues we face now will get us in more and more debt. The water dept has a staggering amount of debt and will never be paid off.

STATE HOUSE NEWS

This is interesting reading and information for taxpayers and any elected person alike. This seems to suggest that being elected, one should not consider hiring father, brother
, etc for any work because of the pitfalls of financial gain and the shady area left by the ethics commission.
From: State House News Service
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 4:12:38 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
To: news@statehousenews.com
Subject: AFTER ETHICS MEMO, REPS ADVISED TO USE CAUTION ON JOB RECOMMENDATIONS

AFTER ETHICS MEMO, REPS ADVISED TO USE CAUTION ON JOB RECOMMENDATIONS

March 6th STM Warrant

The warrant for the Special Town Meeting was approved at tonight’s BOS meeting. There are six articles on the warrant.

The Gardner News had an article in today’s paper regarding the Special Town Meeting. The article provides some interesting reading.

The Pre-Town meeting with the Advisory Board will take place next Wednesday (February 27^th) in the Kiva at 6:30 p.m. By that time, a plan should be in place to resolve the $163,131 shortfall in FY’13’s budget.

Please stay informed of the issues, which will be discussed at this special town meeting on March 6, 2013.

My opinions…supported by FACTS ! ! !

Julie Farrell

From the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

From the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

DOER's Leading by Example (LBE) Program and Green Communities Division, in partnership with Massachusetts electric utilities and Philips Lighting, were able to offer a year-end, no-cost high efficiency lighting program to over 100 public entities, resulting in significant reductions in energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Participating municipalities, state agencies, and state colleges and universities met a December 12, 2012 deadline for ordering an array of energy-saving lights provided free-of-charge through a joint program from Philips Lighting, NSTAR Electric Company (including Western Mass Electric Company), and National Grid. Under terms of the program, all bulbs will be installed by March 31, 2013 as replacements for less-efficient existing lights in public ways and facilities.

"We were pleased we could make this offer available - and doubly pleased at the number of communities, agencies and campuses that scrambled in December to take advantage of it,"

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Agendas for Town Meetings

Upcoming
Agenda for the Board of Selectmen 2/19/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Common Improvement 2/20/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Personnel Board 2/20/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Conservation Commission 2/21/13 Meeting
Legal Notice for the Conservation Commission 2/21/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Monty Tech Capital Improvements Sub Committee 2/21/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Historical Commission 2/27/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Advisory Board Pretown 2/27/13 Meeting

Just a reminder - Monday is Presidents Day so all town offices are closed.

Making thinks clearer

Just to clarify a few thing – the tax rate can not be sent until we have the Special Town Meeting to reverse the vote that was taken the May Annual Town Meeting. You see we had finally received MEMA reimbursement from the 2008 ice storm. We had already paid for those expenses and paid back the short term  loan we had taken out to pay those expenses. The money that we  received (finally) from MEMA was suppose to go to free cash. This is the law – it is the same if we get money on old tax bills or sell off 252 Baldwinville Rd or other property – goes to Free cash , gets certified by the state, then in the following year we can spend it or save it.

Now let’s review- when the Town Meeting warrant was being worked on last year,  Julie had been recalled (as well as Bob M) Patrick Mullins and Virginia Wilder had been voted in.  Chairman at the time was Bob Columbus, Bob, Virginia and Patrick proceeded to FIRE newly hired Town Coordinator Jeff Ritter and brought back Carol Skelton. They also fired the newly hired law firm (sorry their name escapes me) and rehired Kopelman and Paige.  Now we paid Carol Skelton and Kopelman and Paige to look over the TM Warrant and we paid K&P a lot. Guess what the vote was illegal. so these three selectmen Bob Columbus, Virginia wilder and Patrick Mullins with told disregard for the towns well being brought back a town coordinator Carol Skelton and a law firm K & P that obviously didn’t know how to do their jobs and didn’t care.

Sounding off from Afghanistan

I may not have a selectmen with me nor do I have access to television, but I do keep up as best as possible and some people keep in touch with me. Now last I knew, there are no plans to build an elementary school anytime soon, heck we do not even have land yet for a school site. So why would anyone associated with the school district, past or present be wildly concerned with a plan on reuse of the three presently in use elementary schools? Last time I checked those are Templeton town property and we can deal with them as we see fit after they are no longer used for school buildings when and if that time comes. There is certainly no need for the selectmen to give immediate approval of any plan. Now maybe the state can assist us with funding for reuse of those buildings if it ever comes to that, but lets stay focused. First things first, lets plan and talk about it before we jump on anything. Templeton cetainly has no need nor business even considering buying Templewood golf course. If that is for sale, perhaps the owners should talk to someone who's property borders the golf course and who has or had plans for a sub division of some of thier land. Now I do not claim to be a mind reader but if there are people in Templeton with children is school and they feel frustrated for lack of movement on the elementary school or they feel the need to leave the school district for some alternative, as in the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, well I would say good luck to them and I am sincere in that wish. I do not wish for this, but if a mass exit of children from the NRHS school district were to happen, that would mean a need for fewer teachers and teacher aids which equals a reduction in cost as in a lower budget for the district. One major down side of such an event would be the pink slips of all those involved. I believe some people within the school district need to get a grip and realize there is some planning to do and first we need an actual land site controled and owned by the town first. I do not want to rush, I do not want to hear the sky is falling and see a couple hundred more thousand taxpayer dollars go down the drain, so to speak because we rush or we listen to dire unfounded hogwash. So I would ask whomever wants to speak in terms of idle or made up scenarios, get a grip and let the people who are trying to get a land site do the work and get an answer before we start yelling the sky is falling. This is no conspiracy theory, this is just my thoughts on things that I see and hear, thru e-mail and phone conversations and yes I bought an Afghan cell phone that I can call the states with and cheaper than a long distance call in the states. I will say this is a message from me to some people who may be trying to add to the mess already in place rather than let those who are actually trying to get some things going in the right direction. Perhaps what we really need and what the people with the school district can do is provide the enrollment numbers for the last five years or ten years or both, has enrollment gone down or up. That is important because even with the creation of MSBA, there has still been excess capcity being built into new schools built under thier guiadance as in taxpayers spending more money than required on larger school buildings than they need. Seems like there is still a culture of we need more and more for the kids and after you look at all the money spent on the kids, they are no better educated than before and there are numbers out there to prove it. Businesses spend millions on getting employees educated, colleges have more and more basic level course just to get kids up to spped to attend college and the military did a study that showed over half the kids who take an asvab tes fail because they can't comprehend the questions; translated, they were given a diploma but can't understand what they read. But still we need more and more money for the kids. But I digress because it bugs the hell out of me to here the teacher unions and others always saying they need money for the kids and the kids are the last ones to see anything from all that money. Perhaps I should not care so much but then I take after my dad. Thank you to all who read this while allowing me to sound off
. I need some more brownies damn it. oops, I said a swear word, my bad....from Afghanistan, Jeff Bennett

---

some things are worth repeating -

Thank you Citizens of Templeton

A while back, I filed an ethics complaint against Dennis O'Brien for his involvement with 252 Baldwinville Road. Imagine a selectmen signing off on a deal that would improve property right across the street from their own property. You can see a blog entry by Julie Farrell citing the conflict of interest law that covers this. Well that complaint was sitting there down in Boston with ethics not doing anything until..........the citizens petition for an investigation finally got going. Within that petition is a question about 252 and how the entire mess was done. It has a senate docket number now so ethics is forced to deal with my complaint and hopefully Mr. O'Brienn will be paying a nice fine for it. Funny how things move along without interference from good ole Len Kopelman (my opinion there by the way) Makes me wonder how many ethics complaints went untouched because of that link. Ethics did nothing when I filed a complaint against Police Chief David Whitaker when he got involved with the so-called hearing involving Paul Cosentino sr..

Pilot Report

Here is the report, it has all the information on PILOT and what the percentage should be and the numbers you use to formulate. I believe this report uses gross power revenue and I think the last time i blogged, the report said use net electric revenue, either way it comes to more than 100 grand.

Thank you Jeff Bennett for sending us this. you know it's pretty amazing that our selectmen who is serving our country and thousands of miles away in the desert - is more up on this stuff than other board members who sit these boards. hee-hee-hee

pilot math lesson

Jeff wrote this as a comment -but I thought it should go as a blog - ok all sharpen you pencils and get your calculators out.

First off, what is the big so called sevret according to a public power website, the formular is a percentage of the net revenue of the light dept. I wrote a blong on this a while back. I did the math and I believe Dave Smart did also, it came to about $378,000.00 using financial information from the light department. Perhaps someone can look back for that blog and information. I believe the percentage average for mass muni light co was 4%. On another note, if one looks into the downfall of many politicians and ceo, it is usually the coverup that does them in rather than the actual even, american people can be very forgiving if you are sincerely honest with them. I believe it is in our culture to forgive people for some things if they are big enough to honestly explain themselves. Now about swearing especially in public and by our elected officials, bad bad bad idea. Hey we all know people swear, I am very good at it and there are boat loads of people and politicians who are very adept at the use of such language. anyone who has served in the military knows this....but there is a time and place to be respectful and polite and to me that time is when any citizen stops to speak with me, regardless of how I feel about them or they me, regardless if we like one another, always take the high road and be respectful, especially if you hold an elected office. use to be how people acted, cordial and respectful in public. I would just ecpect better from people at a meeting in a small community. lastly, why is someone a jerk for asking questions? Again, in my mind there is a great conflict of interest with regards to Mr. Stewart, he has a financial interest in maintaining the status que as in light commissioners being paid a salary, if the selectmen take over at light, he could lose that money and I believe action like that can get you fined. That is my opinion on things from Afghanistan.

  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!

Hope you all remember your sweethearts.

TGN Editorials

Wednesday’s Gardner News had two local editorials: one regarding predator drones; the other regarding TMLWP.  I thought I would post them here because I know many people no longer subscribe to the Gardner News.

Where was Mark Haranas at Monday’s BOS meeting? Hope he’s ok.

Julie Farrell

Here it is folks.....

BOS Meeting February 11, 2013…the Movie

Part 1 February 11, 2013 BOS Meeting

Part 2 February 11, 2013 BOS Meeting

(veterans agent conversation + PILOT discussion)

Part 3 February 11, 2013 BOS Meeting

Just an FYI – The BOS re-voted the date for submitting warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting in May. The new date for ATM articles is March 14, 2013.  The BOS will vote to approve articles for the ATM on March 18, 2013.

The warrant closes for the STM on February 19, 2013. The STM will be held on March 6, 2013 in the NRHS auditorium at 7:00 p.m. This STM has been called to address some articles/votes from The May ATM and the STM in November 2012. There will also be an article regarding land for the new elementary school.

Also, the number of signatures for a citizen petition to be included on the ATM warrant is 10. In this matter, Templeton is now like every other town in the commonwealth.

Be inspired to participate!

Julie Farrell 

February 11, 2013 BOS Meeting

February 11, 2013 BOS Meeting

There was a good crowd at last night’s BOS meeting. The first few agenda items went smoothly. The BOS voted to enter into a contract to send out billing that was over 180 days to a collection agency for uncollected ambulance fees. First Financial works on a contingency basis.  The BOS also completed the HIPPA form so that we could review the older cases and hardship letters with the Fire Chief before these accounts went out to collection.

Next up in the batting order was Cemetery Superintendent Alan Mayo. The engineering contract for the tomb restoration project is now signed and the application process will begin shortly.

Veterans’ Services…Again

Veterans’ Services…Again

Wow! Ok. At tonight’s BOS meeting, Dennis O’Brien attended the meeting to discuss Veteran’s Services under Old Business.

I wrote a blog about the last time the board discussed veteran’s services. It just keeps getting better and better. Tonight, Dennis delivered this message from Neil McGuirk, the Veterans agent.

I guess if you dare to ask questions of the veterans’ agent that means you must hate veterans. One of my favorites from McGuirk is :

“6. I believe Ritter and others are outwardly demonstrating behaviors consistent with public protests leveled against active service-members and veterans during the late 60s and early 70s. “

and

“11. Ritter and Selectwoman Farrell despise the fact the district is my employer. Power hungry individuals tend to communicate pettiness and could care less to the harm they may cause to the community as in this situation, Templeton’s veterans.”

All this because I asked for historical data on how many veterans in Templeton per year had received services from North Quabbin Veterans District?  Information that I would never receive even if I had made a public records request?

Now I am convinced we need to do better by our veterans than this.

I’ll blog more tomorrow about the rest of the meeting. Even power hungry individuals need their rest.

My opinion …supported by FACTS ! ! !

Julie Farrell

a comment to a blog Dave Smart

1. Bev. The information you bring us is worth more than we will ever know. The facts are there and we catch the commissioners asleep time and time again. Funny reaction from the chairman Dana when you mentioned the heat pumps, your installer should have told you,i think is what he managed to answer you with.
   That was a clasic obtuse answer, the meetings are full of them and that fit in with the others well. They asked Driscoll did you know about these things,"duh", for the customers? But the real question about the low income and fixed income seniors and disabled were not even followed up on not mentioned after 3 meetings and said to us they would check, nothing!
   your Commission had not a word brought to the meeting about it, Reclosers were again 10-15 minutes of wasted time. Seems were doing ok without them,Lets try to run the light and water without commissioners too.Try to get them to do anything is like makeing a fire with 2 sticks and no string or flint. My point is with the petition is to get something to change so Templeton has a municipal light dept that works for the ratepayers again, I'm sure they don't now and they have proved it to us time and time again. Wil didn't bring up the elderly rate for the simple fact that they show they don't care to bother with helping the seniors or low income,When 1st asked about the lower rate

From our Selectman serving our country

Thank you Citizens of Templeton

A while back, I filed an ethics complaint against Dennis O'Brien for his involvement with 252 Baldwinville Road. Imagine a selectmen signing off on a deal that would improve property right across the street from their own property. You can see a blog entry by Julie Farrell citing the conflict of interest law that covers this. Well that complaint was sitting there down in Boston with ethics not doing anything until..........the citizens petition for an investigation finally got going. Within that petition is a question about 252 and how the entire mess was done. It has a senate docket number now so ethics is forced to deal with my complaint and hopefully Mr. O'Brienn will be paying a nice fine for it. Funny how things move along without interference from good ole Len Kopelman (my opinion there by the way) Makes me wonder how many ethics complaints went untouched because of that link. Ethics did nothing when I filed a complaint against Police Chief David Whitaker when he got involved with the so-called hearing involving Paul Cosentino sr.. Remember he read a statement from former con com agent David Koonce, the only he forgot was to mention how Mr. Koonce is a con com agent in Winchendon, where Mr. Whitaker lives and serves on the con com. oops! While serving on the com con, Mr. Whitaker must have been involved in the hiring of David Koonce in March of 2008, right after Mr. Koonce was hired in Templeton in February 2008, double oops. You read a statement on behalf of a con com agent that you work with and probably was involved in hiring and you fail to mention this while getting a citizen banned from town buildings for asking a question. "What do I have to do to get your attention, go postal?" That is the question Mr. Cosentino asked and the selectmen failed to answer that evening. But later on at a BOS meeting that was not posted, I filed a complaint about that as well and the Attorney General found the board guilty of violating the open meeting law! I wonder how many other valid complaints went unchecked because of interference from K&P (my opinion again based on personal observations) I also hope the advisory board will have time to go back and look at past bills from K&P and see how many times the town was billed twice for the same call. Thank You to Paul Cosentino and the citizens of Templeton for standing up for what is right. I believe this will finally show people that Mr. Cosentino was/is not some crazy old man but rather someone who had the interest of Templeton in mind, had facts and proof on paper to back it up, only the deck was stacked against him by his own representatives and law firm. Someone please point this out to Denise Andrews.
Jeff Bennett

Another reason

Another reason why I signed the Light and Water Petition

By Julie Farrell

Conflict of Interest

(f) Appearance of conflict. Acting in a manner that would make a reasonable person think you can be improperly influenced is prohibited. (See Section 23(b)(3))


A municipal employee may not act in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to think that she would show favor toward someone or that she can be improperly influenced. Section 23(b)(3) requires a municipal employee to consider whether her relationships and affiliations could prevent her from acting fairly and objectively when she performs her duties for a city or town. If she cannot be fair and objective because of a relationship or affiliation, she should not perform her duties. However, a municipal employee, whether elected or appointed, can avoid violating this provision by making a public disclosure of the facts. An appointed employee must make the disclosure in writing to his appointing official.

Meetings for the Week of February 11th

Agendas for Town Meetings Upcoming Agenda for the Board of Selectmen 2/11/13 Meeting Agenda for the Monty Tech Workforce Sub Committee 2/12/13 Meeting Agenda for the Advisory Board 2/13/13 Meeting Agenda for the Templeton Housing Authorty 2/13/13 Meeting Agenda for the Templeton Elementary School Building Committe 2/14/13 Meeting Agenda for the Historical Commission 2/27/13 Meeting

Templeton under a white blanket of snow

Hey people how's it look out there?How's everyone doing.  remember if you have elderly neighbors you may want to check on them. Any powers outages in town? Bet the highway guys are really tired.
There is still a ban on driving.

Soooo let us all know what happening at you end of town.  my junk is almost all covered here hee-hee-hee

Bev what's happening on the hill.

Pauly

Happy Blizzard!!!!

Woo Boy Hope everyone got all their milk and bread and beer hee-hee-hee .  Gas for the generator. Got your snow plows on. plenty of wood for the wood stove.  Don't forget the dog food. (Tank never let's me forget wooboy)For anyone who hasn't heard the roads are being shut down at 4pm - emergency vehicles only. Hey remember the blizzard of 1978 where were you - I was towing cars off of rt 2. This storm I'll be out in my loader. wooboy can't wait.

Thank you in advance  all Templeton emergency people - police - fire - rescue and yes thank you the light co linemen.  Thank you Bud and the highway guys and sewer guys that plow.

Happy blizzard everyone. stay safe and warm. Pauly

Turn on the lights

Yes, as most of you know, we had another fact filled night at the Templeton Municipal Light Plant!! The only problem was, they lack the facts, and I guess we are only supposed to talk about what they have on the agenda. I have been doing so poking around different municipal light web sites. You do not have to look far to find a lot of information. Ashburnham and Sterling have great sites.. You will never believe what I have found out. First lets back up to say, last fall. Will Spring, had spent at least two meetings, trying to get our light people and Commissioners to agree to help out the elderly and people on fuel assistance. He asked about a deal on light bulbs, and power strips. The response was not warm and fuzzy,

Payment in Lieu of Taxes …PILOT

Payment in Lieu of Taxes …PILOT

There has been much discussion on the blog about following the DOR recommendation and formalizing the PILOT paid by the Light department. Bev has unearthed some interesting information about Chapter 164A ( New England Power Pool) in addition to Chapter 164 (Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity)

Section 8 of Chapter 164A specifically in subsection C:

From Chapter 164A section 8

(c) There is hereby imposed on each municipal electric department an annual payment in lieu of taxes equal to the then equalization percentage of (A) the original cost less depreciation of its direct ownership interest in electric power facilities located within the commonwealth,

Shedding some light…February 6, 2013

How odd is this? A Light and water meeting with the back row of Mr. Cutting, Virginia Wilder, Dennis O’Brien, Carol Skelton and Jerry Skelton? Then Bob Columbus walks in? Are they worried? They didn’t say much. Anyway, I digress.

Water Update- Old Business

FY 12 Water Audit – ended up $42,000 in the black. FY 13 will be a different story. Not as many new homes so revenue from connection fees is down. Multiple water main breaks and problems with a vehicle will be problems for this fiscal year.

your request

Here it is Chapter 93 of the Acts of 2000


and just incase anyone wants to brush up on chapter 164

DON"T FORGET

DON"T FORGET

LIGHT & WATER MEETING TONIGHT

Agenda for the Water Commissioners 2/6/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Light Commissioners 2/6/13 Meeting

Light and Water Petition By Pete Farrell

Light and Water Petition

A couple of people that I respect asked that I write a blog on the citizen’s petition to place the control of the light and water department under the control of the Board of Selectmen.

I signed the citizen’s petition because in my mind there is something wrong with the way business is run up on Bridge St. and getting people talking about an issue often brings ideas out into the light of day. It is believed that this petition seeking control of the Light and Water Department by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) has done just that.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE BUDA!!!!!!!!

Election Date

Due to the state-wide special election to fill Senator Kerry’s Senate seat, the state is allowing cities and towns to hold their local elections in conjunction with the state-wide election.

The state-wide election will occur on April 30, 2013. Our local elections would normally be held (according to by-law) on May 6, 2013. One reason for this action is to save the cost of a separate election one week apart.  There will also be a special election on June 25^th.

This topic will probably be discussed at the February 11, 2013 BOS meeting. The date for taking out nomination papers would be February 11, 2013 and the nomination papers would need to be turned in by March 12, 2013.

Just something to think about…

Wonder who will run for elected office in the town of Templeton?

Please make every effort to attend the TMLWP meeting on February 6, 2013 and the BOS meeting on February 11, 2013.

Julie Farrell

Upcoming Meetings

Agendas for Town Meetings

Upcoming
Agenda for the Board of Selectmen/Community Opportunies Group 2/2/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Monty Tech Financial Planning Sub Committee 2/4/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Recreation Committee 2/4/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Sewer Commissioners 2/4/13 Meeting
Agenda for the NRSC Policy Sub Committee 2/4/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Templeton Elementary School Building Committe 2/5/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Monty Tech School Committee 2/6/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Board of Health 2/7/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Cable Commission 2/7/13 Meeting
Agenda for the Historical Commission 2/27/13 Meeting

and of course don't forget The agendas for the  Light and Water Meeting  scheduled for February 6, 2013. which of course are not on the town website 

question for the day

remember the meeting recently at the red barn with Virginia, Bubba, Dennis, Grimley and others. well as I start to get out of the house I bumped into an old friend who told me - woo boy are you ready for this - they know someone in Baldwinville who knows the Skeltons and they were told that it was a Selectmens meeting that Saturday at the red barn. Soooo my question for today is was Mullins and Stewart there to. illegal meeting. why are they telling people it was a Selectmens meeting - lying again to get support..... Maybe next time we should all stop in when we see the cars there and attend the meeting - hee hee hee!!
Come on let's get those comments keeping.  Pauly

Save the Date

February Light & Water Meeting

February 6, 2013

The next meeting of TMLWP is scheduled for February 6, 2013. The agendas for both meetings are not posted to the town website. The Water meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. and includes Old Business – FY 12 Water audit. New Business includes: Back Bay Updates; Baldwinville Road Reconstruction project; Templeton BOH regulations and customer comments & questions.

The Light department agenda under Old Business includes: Templeton Wind turbine Cost Certification; TMLWP website; Recloser bid opening.

January 28, 2013 BOS Meeting…the movie

January 28, 2013 BOS Meeting…the movie

The long wait is over! You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You will throw things at your computer monitor. The upload of the January 28^th BOS meeting is complete.

Part 1 January 28, 2013 BOS Meeting

Part 2 January 28, 2013 BOS Meeting

Part 3 January 28, 2013 BOS Meeting

The date for the Special Town Meeting has changed to March 6, 2013.

Enjoy!

Julie Farrell