The amount that was budgeted for Templeton Town Counsel for the period of July 1, 2012 until June 30, 2013 was right about $52,000.00. Even if that entire amount were spent this period, I believe this will be the smallest amount the town has spent on town counsel since 2004. One can go back and look at the annual town reports and see the numbers. As you look back thru those years, the name you will likely see the most is Kopelman & Paige, along with the names of Skelton and Bob Columbus. Whenever there has been a Skelton and or a Bob Columbus and K&P has been in the mix, you will notice expensive legal bills to the town. Fiscal year 2013 (beginning July 1, 2012 thru June 30, 2013) there has been no Skelton, no Bob Columbus and no K&P and we are looking to have the smallest legal expense in quite a few years. Now I do not want to try and predict the future, but using history as in past performance and facts and figures on the record, it seems if Templeton wishes to stay on track of getting its financial picture back to the center, it is my opinion that Templeton residents should look at the three candidates for selectmen who have not served as selectmen before in Templeton. It is your money and it is your town and I believe this is just one more thing you should consider prior to going into the voters booth this year. It is a very important time in Templeton as we get closer to getting the town's financial ship back on course. It is not the time to go backwards.
Jeffrey Bennett
It cost us dearly to have K&P as our legal council. It takes the cake when if we had a Special Town Meeting, within the Annual Town Meeting, they would charge us with attending two meetings. It did not matter that they never left the room, or got out of their chair!! They charged us anyway!! We got ripped off, in my opinion, so many times and ways. The Special Town Meeting we had a month ago, never should have happened, if K&P had done their jobs. They approved the warrant when the money from the ice storm was used the way it was. Come to think of it, we should charge them for the cost of the meeting!! If things were done right, we never would have had to go through the expense of a Special Town Meeting in March. Maybe they thought they would be here, and it was just another way for them to make some more money!!! We will never know, but I think we should ban them from the Town of Templeton. Mr. Skelton is lucky this is not 100 years ago. Back then they used to tar and feather people!! This is my upinion, Bev.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the PROOF ?.
ReplyDeleteIn the PUDDING!
DeleteHaven't you had ENOUGH proof to know that the old guard should stay away, and let the real professionals take care of the mess left behind?
DeleteI think Mr. Robinson has cooked his goose. There is a Robinson sign on Echo Hill!
DeleteThe proof is every bill the town received. If you do not believe me, go see Mr. Ritter. He must have their invoices on file. Bev.
DeleteIt's only logical that GW would support Robinson. Who else would he support...Pauly?
ReplyDeleteDo you mean GS Anon 4:26
ReplyDeleteLets not forget that K&P said they would work within the town's remaining legal budget if they were rehired last Feb 2012. Then, after the ATM, they wanted $4k more above the budget for the ATM and STM. $4k more for changing wording on articles that they were not supposed to do (with interim Town Coordinator Carol Skelton's help) and for misguiding the town with the article on Big Ice money. This is why the ATM last 4 nights. A lot of substitute motions from the floor. There are numerous examples such as this one that can be listed as to why K&P was very bad for the town. I hope someone asks candidate Skelton if he's elected, will he bring back K&P? Oh, that reminds me, did he ever give the "white binder" filled with all the paperwork for 252 Bald. Rd. back to the town?
ReplyDeleteAnd another example of K&P's poor performance was when they ignored their own guidelines for purchasing property for municipal use when overseeing the purchase of 252 Baldwinville Road for the town hall. I think our new attorneys are good and far more professional and trustworthy. This was another good step in the right direction for the town. New attorneys, new accountant, new town coordinator, new treasurer, and new Advisory Board all acquired within the past year. This is very good news. And it says a lot about how bad of shape the town government was previously. I believe Pauly deserves a big hand for the years and years of trying to bring so many of these issues to light. Pauly, you were right!!! I'm sure the Echo Hill gang "loves" to hear those words. But its true. I never would have understood town politics if Pauly didn't start this blog. Now that the town has made some progress, lets continue to make sure it continues to improve. Do not support anyone or anything that will take us backwards. It was broken. Even the state recognized the mismanagement and wrote it all up in the DOR Report from 3 years ago. Remember that one of the men running for selectman refused to accept that state report because it pointed out some things to change in his leadership that he didn't want to. You want someone like that to actually have access to town records and sensitive info? All I say is vote in new blood. Keep the town evolving, not reversing.
DeleteHi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about the legal invoices with K+P. I have a number of K&P legal invoices which I will collate and post to the blog later this week.
Templeton is at a turning point. Templeton can't afford to go back to the days where our town counsel was on speed dial and the phone passed around the office for "little chats". Attorney Paul DeRensis has helped this town get back on its feet. Our town coordinator, Jeff Ritter uses legal counsel wisely.
I hope Templeton has had ENOUGH of large legal bills and files and piles of outdated opinions.
Vote for good government on April 30th!
What about Mr. Bennett and legal ???
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Mr. Bennett does not respond to anonymous, if you have something to say, please post it and sign your name to it.
ReplyDeleteGood going Jeff!! I sign all of the things I write, and so do you. If more people were not afraid to sign what they write, they would think twice about what they have to say about other people. Think, would you say that to a persons face?? If not, don't blog it!! If it is not true, don't say or write it. Bev.
Delete