Well, the first night of town meeting did not go so bad. I only have one article that bothers me and I will tell you why. Article 25, was poorly written, who knows why. I have to give the people in the selectman's office, credit for pulling this years warrant together. It must have been a huge job, being short handed, for as long as they have been. Back to Article 25, when we got to the East Templeton School, and the money to use CPA funds, to fix the school roof. This building is not in real bad shape. I had never been in there, and it is beyond me why the school was not being used. At any rate, the windows are nice and big, the rooms are not in bad shape, and the yard in the back has more than enough room for parking. I thought we could use ET School as a polling place for half of the town, and the Senior Center for the other half, once that is off the ground.
That would get us away from the school, before someone gets hurt, trying to go down that driveway to the gym. The school would be thrilled to get rid of us, anyway. Another thing, being positive, would be getting more of the town departments under one roof. We are paying to dam much for oil, to heat, the clerks office and that building. We could close the old fire station in Baldwinville, and move the Assessors Office, and Board of Health to East Templeton, that way if a person has a permit that needs to be signed, they do not have to search, high and low to find people. I find it amusing that the people against this article, are the very people who did not have a problem with the town spending 400,000. to buy 252 Baldwinville Rd. Now if I was really nieve person, I could think Bubba, O'Brien, Mr.Q {at least he did not say"If it's not broken,don't fix it"} and Virginia had the town's best interest at heart. Oh yah, that will be the day! The bottom line is, we are spending too much money on Athol Road. That place is not a place I would like to spend a lot of time in. God only knows if or when Templeton Center could be empty. One more thing, I think it is time East Templeton has something nice. It will be a lot nicer than a building that will go to down the tubes, if some one does not do something with it. Oh yes, we can just board it up!! We can fix it up, use it, and sell it later, if that is what people decide to do. No Virginia, it will not have marble stairs, or gold toilet bowls, but it will function very nicely and save us money in the long run. Bubba, O"Brien and company did not come to that meeting in the best interest of the town, in my opinion. They have been against this idea since Will brought it up, kind of a payback for our not supporting 252 Bald. Rd. Will Spring has done a lot of work on the building in East Templeton. I know him, and if there is a way to do a good job cheap, he will find it. I will find out what we are spending, where we are, if I can tomorrow morning. I will try to put it on the blog so you can see it, before tomorrow night.My opinion, Bev.
How ironic that Bob Columbus and dennis O'brien got up to say ET school was a waste of money. I hope evryone realized that they were part of the team that WASTED $700,000 on 252 Baldwinville Rd. Money that the school could use NOW! you are right Bev it was just payback for Will, not the best interset for the town. The CPA money is collected as a seperate tax, the money can only be used for 3 purposes, 1) Open Space/Recreation, 2) Historical/Cultural Preservation and 3) Community Housing (senior/Low income) We have done work on the Grange Hall, work on a private person's house, restored tombs under the "historical/cultural" part.
ReplyDeleteDo these people realize what the town is spending out of the budget to maintain 4 Elm st, and pay rent at 690 Patriots Rd?
I would like to know why O'Brien keeps spewing a 2 million dollar price tag for the ET school. Where did he get that figure? And, if these former Municipal Building Committee members were truly on the side of the town, they would be all for finding another solution for the town hall instead of trying to kill the project. Seeing the same culprits were also former members of the Elementary School Building Committee, will they also vote against the land article for the school site? Is revenge their only mission? Are their lives so empty that they have nothing better to do than to continue to stir the pot and cause trouble in town? Its really pathetic. I think its going to take some more time to educate the general public on the real issues facing the town. If people cannot see that maintaining a town building is in the town's best interest financially, then there's a lot more work to be done in town.
DeleteDennis O'B is as dumb as a box of rocks. I heard someone say that he looked like a wounded chicken when he was flapping is arms at the mic.
DeleteI can't figure out how the same people voted to spend $80k on tomb restoration, but would not spend $250k to secure a valuable town building.
ReplyDeleteI too feel that the East Templeton School is worth renovating. If the article is not brought up for reconsideration then perhaps we can look at this issue again at the next Special Town Meeting. Yes the building is eighty years old but the Tucker Building is much older and functions just fine. In my opinion many of the school aged parents were getting tired and wanted to get to articles involving that subject.
ReplyDeletehey what was with L&W commissioner Gregg Edwards reading the newspaper when the water dept budget was being discussed? Guess the l&w commissioners feel that they don't owe the ratepayers any explanation or even their attention. and by the way maybe Mr Driscoll shouldread the MGL ch 164 he quoted http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2000/Chapter93
ReplyDeleteespecially the part "Said manager shall render to the board of selectmen, as often as they may require, a full report of all operations under his control during the period reported upon, and annually, and from time to time as required by said board of selectmen, shall make a synopsis of such reports for publication and shall keep said board of selectmen advised as to the needs of the town within the scope of his duties; and shall annually, not less than 120 days prior to the expiration of the fiscal year of said town, furnish to said board of selectmen a detailed estimate in writing of the appropriations required during the next succeeding fiscal year for the proper exercise and performance of all said rights and duties."
It was just another display of arrogance by the water & light "professionals". I thought it was great having Driscoll get up and make excuses why he can't figure out how to use a spread sheet, lie to us and quote MGL. Guess what boys: you ain't getting any bills paid until you show us a line item budget....period! And we pay this professional.... how much to get this kind of BS?
DeleteBTW, I saw him bending town council's ear out in hallway after his lies to the taxpayers. I wonder how much that will cost the ratepayers. Dana ?
I have a question about the pink ballots that were given out last night. Will they hand out new ballots tonight that are a different color? Otherwise, who's to stop someone from bringing the one from last night and saying they forgot it, get another one and then have two ballots to use. I've never seen the ballot used before and not sure how it works.
ReplyDeleteBeats me! I hope I can find my little pink tag! I guess I am just getting old. I will talk to Mr.Ritter and Will, to see about reconsidering ET school article. Maybe "stupid" will shut up when the ethics board hands him a nice big fine, you know who I mean. I may need some support, so back me up, ok. I just thought of something. Article 41 talks about giving the town coordinator permission to sell obsolete equipment, then article 46 talks about appointing a town administrator. I wonder how that change will affect the position, when the title is changed? Something I will ask Mr. Ritter. I am sure we will get flack about that change also. Ms. Wilder can let her inner animal out when she is sitting in the cheap seats. I think we will get a lot of push back from the Echo Hill extension. Mr.Bergeron sounded real tired last night. Maybe he could ask Darren to help, reading the warrents. I do not see why not. Please stand up and give support to the things we need the most. We need to have Article 46 pass. If our coordinator had more power, he could take care of things like departments that do not send in complete budgets. Until that happens, he does not have any real authority. I was glad to see Deniese Andrews last night. She is keeping a eye on all of our interests. Bev.
DeleteThe Town Clerk said we will be given new ballots in a different color
DeleteThanks for the info, Gina!
DeleteBev, If you see Ms. Andrews tonight I would appreciate it if you would point her out to me. I am very DISAPPOINTED in her. She can press the flesh when she wants votes but seems quite unwilling to respond to multiple emails from me requesting her reasoning for her vote on a recent bill. **typical apparatchik if you ask me. **
Deletetonight we get to listen to mrs miller, not a tax payer, and her band of followers tell us they "need" $690k, while town people work two or three jobs, town workers take a 12.5% pay CUT, and elderly juggle food/heat/meds !!!!! why we need guidance counseling for 6 year olds is beyond me !!! as a nation, in the last 50 years, student population have doubled while teachers have increased by 250% and administration, NON_TEACHING, have increased by 700%!!!! we spend more than all but one other country per student, yet more than 25 score better in testing !!! it the "educational industrial complex" were a business, the board of directors would fire them all !!!! VOTE NO !!!
ReplyDeleteHow they can justify having two principals and two vice principals, in virtually one building, is beyond me. I spoke to a woman I know very well. I do not think she even looked at the budget. People look at the hand out, the school people made, and take it as the truth. If it is "all about the Kids" then why do they feel free, to cut what will hurt the kids the most. A good way to get to the parents! Guilt, about not giving the kids enough. Well it is like the Water Department. Don't look at yourself for places to cut, just jack up the rates. With the school, the game is the same, don't look at the administration, cut the things the kids want the most. Time to let them know we are, not, playing their games! My opinion, Bev.
DeleteIt was hard to get information for tonight. Everyone is out straight getting ready for tonight's town meeting. . One thing I do know is we have spent 42,625 this year for rent, thru the month of May, at the Athol Road address. That is a lot of money, time goes by fast and the cost just goes up. I asked about the cost of heating some of the buildings we need to get out of. Where the Town clerk is, it cost about 4,000. The old Bald, fire dept building, the cost is about 3,000. The money Mr.Spring was looking for, from the CPA does not have to be paid back. It can not be used for the schools, only open space, fixing historical buildings, things like that. Will said, the roof has a hole in it, and needs to be fixed. Otherwise the building is structurally strong. If we do not fix it, {he has a tarp covering it now) we will get into a mold situation, and it will bring more decay. He has figures that he has received, and figures the building can be brought up to snuff, for between 500,000. and 700,000. dollars. He said he figures more toward the lower range. For the people in East Templeton, this is time for you to step up and have your say. This is what a town meeting is for. This and the road fixed where they meet, will make your precinct shine. Help us do this! Thanks, Bev.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of the people around me voted to pass over the ET article just to get to the school articles faster. They didn't have a clue about what the ET project is really about. The town can also make the next round of CDBG grant for improving ET area. Improving the building will only benefit the town. Unfortunately, I think the majority of the crowd has a one track mind right now. If anyone asks to reconsider the vote before the school vote everyone is just going to vote it down. Hope everyone has a hearty dinner because this meeting is going to be a tough one.
DeleteSomeone should have gotten up and expressed that view on town floor.
DeleteRound 2 of ATM was grueling. Hard to think the "townspeople" could have been more rude to the moderator.
ReplyDeleteDear Supt. Miller -
We get it! You want the town to go broke. The advisory board and the most of BOS get it as well. You want the town to amputate itself at the knees by taking $691,000 from town charges.
Go for the override.
If it fails, then the state will come in and amputate town government at the knees. The advisory board and the BOS do not seem interested in self mutilation.
Imagine that - you take democracy out of the hands of the people and they react! This is typical - the Advisory Board/BOS are all for Fact, Law and Transparency until it doesn't suit their agenda. Case in point is the lumping together of the CPC articles into one - EVEN THOUGH some required a 50% vote and some required a 2/3 vote. It was clearly done to try to force the people into approving the ET project. Although I supported that article, our leaders shouldn't be using deceit and trickery to obtain their objectives.
DeleteIt's Ruth's Job to do what's in best interest for the schools and the children in them! The town needs to get its act together and start making money, which it is NOW seeming to do, and then the schools can get the things they need due to past budget cuts! I loved the project starting at $250 thousand dollars on the old East Templeton School! Lets fix it for centralized offices! Where was that idea when there were children in it Truth Fairy? Or do the children of Templeton rate that low on the scale?
ReplyDeleteIt was the school departments decision to move the kids out of ET. The school Dept will not fix anything. They want new buildings. The town's workers, and appointed and elected, havebeen working it's hardest to keep the town running. We inherited Mr. Enough's long term debt, and bills that amounted to nothing, for 252 and the golf course estimate, and of course the town is on the hook for, the Elementary school Committee spending 200,000. to look for land, that amounted to 0. I could never quite figure out how they managed to do that. Right now I feel we have the best group of selectmen we have had in years. Like they say, when the world hands you lemons, it is time to make lemon aid. Bev.
DeleteFTP 8:48 am
DeleteI can't speak for the truth fairy, but I will speak about the ET building. When the last override failed, the school department voted to turn that building back to the town.
The town/BOS did not kick the students out of that building. The BOS can't do that.
If you take the time to educate yourself on 252 Baldwinville Rd, ( see Important Documents :
http://www.citizens4templeton.com/Important_Documents.html)
You will begin to understand the some of the details around the lack of a town hall. ...or not. You seem to be suffering from memory lapses.
ET was not an option for a town hall UNTIL the school department abandoned the building and turned it over to the Town of Templeton.
Have a great day! It's beautiful outside