Last
night’s meeting was well attended and very well run. Good job Kenn!
After
the pledge, the BOS discussed and voted to purchase playground equipment from
the state bid list not to exceed $70,000. Playground equipment procured from the
state bid list will speed up the process and is less expensive than going out
to bid for playground equipment. There was discussion about the other
playgrounds in town. The $70,000 will come form the Pajari stabilization
account. The money from the Pajari stabilization account can ONLY be spent on Gilman Waite. With the
change in CPC regulations, CPC money can be spent on other playgrounds in town.
After
discussion from the Police Chief and the representatives from Charlie’s Angels,
the tollbooth fundraiser was approved to run at Templeton Center on June 15th
from 9-1 p.m. It was pointed out that this precedent might open up the
floodgate for other groups to petition the BOS for similar tollbooths.
A
one-day beer and wine license was granted to the Templeton Fish and Game for
the Annual Acadien day on June 15th as well as a one-day
entertainment license for the Otter River Sportsman Club for an event that has
turned into a benefit on June 15th.
June
15th…busy day!
Special Town
Meeting Warrant is OPEN!!
The
STM meeting is now open. It will close on June 12th at noon. The BOS
have tow articles that need attention at the STM – pay for Snow & Ice
$47,000 and Veterans benefits $35,000. There may be an article to create a
capital stabilization account for East Templeton repairs. Maybe the TMLWP
commissioners will submit a budget for the water department.
The
date for the STM has not been set but will take place the last week in June.
No
motion was made for temporary pay for COA administrative support. The COA
Director job posting is up and will be published in the Gardner News.
The
BOS directed the town coordinator to send out a notice all departments to
curtail all non-essential spending from expense accounts. It was decided to try
this approach instead of a more drastic spending freeze.
Proposed
joint meeting with TMLWP commissioners-
The
BOS discussed holding a joint meeting with TMLWP commissioners to try to
resolve some issues…like the lack of an appropriation for the water department
for FY 14. The BOS voted to request the “memorandum on town governance”
($16,000 and counting from Ferriter & Scobbo) from the Light and Water
manager. Hopefully, the meeting will take place on June 10th, which
is before the date set for closing the STM warrant.
During
discussion, the treasurer, brought forward a letter
from the TMLWP manager. In the letter the manager would like a response from
the treasurer if he will pay water bills and payroll “despite the Town meeting
vote to reject the FY14 Water Budget.” He needs “to receive written assurance
from you by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 3, 2013 or I need to make arrangements to
shut off water, lay off employees and/or take other actions.”
It
is my hope that the TMLWP commissioners will agree to a joint meeting on June
10th and resolve outstanding differences to include a detailed water
budget (originally requested in January, February and March) so this issue may
be resolved at the STM. I hope the request for the ‘memorandum on town
governance” will be forthcoming as well. To note, the town treasurer is
appointed by the BOS. The town treasurer reports to the BOS. A majority of BOS
signatures is required for all payroll and vendor warrants for ALL departments. The town clerk may
only sign the payroll warrant under certain circumstances – not the vendor
warrant. Chapter 164 section 56 states in part:
“and the selectmen
in towns, shall approve the payment of all bills or payrolls of such plants
before they are paid by the treasurer, and may
disallow and refuse to approve for payment, in whole or in part, any claim as fraudulent, unlawful or excessive; and in that case
the auditor or officer having similar duties, or the selectmen, shall file with the city or town treasurer a written statement of the reasons for the refusal;
and the treasurer shall not pay any
claim or bill so disallowed. “
From
Chapter 164.
BOS
Vacancy – it was decided to take no action on the BOS vacancy at this point in
time. The main reason is the cost ($5500) and timing – an election over the
summer is not a good idea. The term of the vacancy expires in May 2014.
Other
business –
Templeton
Arts and Crafts Fair needs HELP!!
Please call Darlene La Clair 978-939-7323 for details!
Forensic
accountant, Matt Angell has been hired for no more than $1,000 out of BOS
expense to reconcile the books between Vadar (new software) and City and Town
(old software) for FY 13. We don’t want a repeat in setting the tax rate late.
Our
ISP is going belly up…no more town website as of June 25th. It is
hoped to have a patch in place before June 25th!
The
BOS has been invited to the Relay for Life at MWCC June 7th and 8th.
My
opinions…supported by FACTS ! ! !
Julie
Farrell
I agree with the lady sitting next to me last night, this was one of the best run selectmen's meeting in a long time. Maybe it was because no one was armed with knives or bats. I will be thrilled to see Mr.Driscoll come to a meeting with the rest of his crew. We will see how bad his leg will bounce, he does that when he gets stressed. This meeting needs to happen. These guys have had their own way for too long, and their thinking needs to change. The light commissioners do not think they are "part of the town", I think they are wrong. My grandfather was a commissioner in the thirties. I do not think the Light Dept, was established so they could eat steak while the rest of the town starves. Like I say, It will come out in the wash. If Driscoll thinks he is going to gain anything by threatening to do harm to the people in this town, I have news for him, not a smart move, and he can be replaced. He would be smart to remain neutral, but it looks like that will not happen. My opinion, Bev.
ReplyDeleteI think the power of the purse will run the water dept. After people get the new inflatd water service charge they may want to ajust the amount they pay to reflect the service they recieve from the general manager.With no detailed budget how can we understand what is wrong with the water department managemnet. Idle threats are a poor judgement in management.
ReplyDeleteI have been giving Mr.Driscoll's letter some thought. What kind of a manager would do harm to the people in this town, the very people who pay his wages, and ask little else from his department. I would think that it would be in his best interest to negotiate with the selectmen, to resolve the issue that they do not agree on. The last thing the elderly in town need to be afraid of, is having their water shut off. If you are wrong, it is up to your department to work with the selectmen in the town. The same goes if the decision goes the other way. I have been thinking for the past couple of years, a meeting needs to be had, to air the differences between departments. I guess Mr. Driscoll needs to learn a valuable lesson. You gain more by being nice, than you do being threatening. This starts any meeting off on the wrong foot. I do believe the selectmen have the maturity to let this go, so both departments can come to a resolution. My opinion, Bev.
DeleteI hope the commissioners will be able to attend the BOS meeting on June 10th. It is important that it be a joint meeting so that both the BOS and the commissioners can vote an article for the STM if they come to an agreement...in order to do what is best for the town.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand how a department that is $60,000 in the hole can keep on expending money excessively on legal opinions.
I plan on re-submitting the article from the ATM Article 51 as an article for the STM. If this by law passes at the STM, then the attorney general reviews the issue of the water enterprise at no legal expense to the TOWN or the TMLWP. This plan is the the fastest and cheapest way to resolve the issue once and for all.
It is time to move on. Last night's meeting was a glimpse of good government. I'm working on uploading it so everyone can view it.
Julie Farrell
question, if we just voted at the town meeting (art 16)to purchase this Vadar software which will take effect July 1, have the books been balanced for fy 2013 through the existing software? whose job is it to balance the books? the accountant or the treasurer? If we have two capable people why are we hiring more help?
ReplyDeletequestion 2, Did I read that right, the L&W manaager is going to shut off all the water in town if he doesn't get his way?
Bev To answer your question . The type that is about to have the door hit him in the ass. Observer yes you did,it also says he will need to send out lay off notices too!
ReplyDeleteMy god how will we manage the water department without Mr. Driscoll. We can only hope he is on the list 1st. Would it only be fair to do that also? We need a general Manager that follows the law and cooperates with the town not, This crap we see, Arrogance,Obtuse,Negativity! "PERIOD"