Saturday, September 7, 2013

Templeton selectmen to 'Gansett schools: 'Arrange back-up snow plow service'

Templeton selectmen to 'Gansett schools: 'Arrange back-up snow plow service'
Kerry O'Brien
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON — The Board of Selectmen recently decided to inform the Narragansett Regional School District that if a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 increase does not pass, the town may not be able to plow the schools in a timely manner this winter.


“I can’t predict how this budget thing will work out,” said board Chairman Jeffrey Bennett. “We don’t know how many people we’ll have working. It’s something they should think about planning for.”

Following voter approval of providing the school district with an additional $551,000 — over the $4,430,615 voters approved at Annual Town Meeting — town officials are planning to present voters with an override to provide the additional sum.

Without a tax increase, town officials say there is no “fat” to cut from the town’s $4,981,074 budget, so cuts to the largest departments — public safety and highway service — could result.

The selectmen and Advisory Board have yet to finalize how much they will request from voters on an override and when.

Both boards have discussed presenting override requests of about $560,000 — just to cover the school assessment — up to $1.5 million— to also fully restore municipal operations— and several options in between.

The Advisory Board voted earlier this week to recommend a $750,000 override.

In addition, that board is also recommending that the selectmen have every municipal department cut 30 percent of their budget, if the override doesn’t pass.

The selectmen plan to set the warrant and the dates for the ballot vote and town meeting for the override request on Monday.

Selectmen stated that they’re informing the school district of the possibility of the town not being able to plow the school on time during the winter so that the district can be prepared.

“We don’t want to tell them they’re stuck without a plow at the last minute,” Mr. Bennett said.

Highway Superintendent Francis “Bud” Chase disagreed with the selectmen’s statement that the town may not be able to plow the school if they have to cut workers. Mr. Chase pointed out that the school district pays $25,000 per year for the plowing service from the town.

“We can plow it in two and a half hours or less,” Mr. Chase said. “It doesn’t cost $25,000 to do that.”

Mr. Chase said that if the school has to contract private plowing services, it will be a significantly higher cost that eventually falls back on town and the taxpayers.

“Private contracting is crazy high,” he said. “They get their money from the town, they’re going to have a line item in their budget for plowing and we’re going to have to pay for that.”

39 comments:

  1. Hey! Look at that! The Hwy Supt sticking up for the schools. Im glad they published BOTH sides.

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    1. As far as I know, the blog has always published "both" sides. One question is, just how meany trucks it takes to do this job, in two and a half hours or less? How hard the highway is hit makes all the difference in the world. Watch what you wish for! There is a up and down side to everything. Bev.

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    2. Kerri needs to start getting her facts straight. This is quite what happened. There are several instances that she has gotten information and quotes wrong and those that read the paper become misinformed.

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  2. Mr. Chase does not live in Templeton so he does not pay taxes in Templeton. The line item would be true but not for this winter coming up. Mr. Chase also has stated in the past that the fleet is in bad shape and needs to be replaced. How can this bad shape need to be replaced fleet complete this extra work so easily? I hope Mr. Chase has the amount of salary, overtime, fuel materials to plow. sand/salt and sweep the school. Also, perhaps this number should be used in considering the assessment of Templeton, we are providing a service at a reduced cost so more reason for the district to give a little more on Templeton's part. Remember, this is/was a warning, as in be prepared just in cast. Mr. Chase should also be aware that due to possible budget constraints, he will not have free rein on snow & ice as in deficit spending. Just something to think about.

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    1. Ummm. If you charge the school more, doesnt that just increase their budget? Thereby defeating the purpose? I believe that was Buds point. If they contract out, it would cost us all more.

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    2. Well said Jeff, we should look at all of the expenses when deciding whether or not $25,000 is adequate for plowing the schools. We've heard that the highway fleet is "junk" for many years. Thank you for providing some accountability rather than a rubber stamp.

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    3. thank you huff and puff!! This isn't rocket science!!

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    4. That would be correct for the following years but not for this year as there is no line item for plowing other than the 25 grand already accounted for. On another note, if there actually is or it becomes fact that after the October filing of the district finances, the district E&D fund grows by 100 to 150 thousand, there would be the extra money for private contract plowing. Of course, this whole plowing thing was a heads up from my point of view, as in be prepared just in case. All of this will be a moot point if the override finally passes. Perhaps another question to be asked of Mr. Chase is this; is it really cost effective to use a front end loader as a very large wheel barrow, especially when he keeps coming forward to explain the town's two loaders are worn out. Perhaps stop using them as wheel barrows, spend more time on after winter preventative maintenance, which is not rocket science. The town's sweeper has high dump capability so perhaps we should use it. Maybe more direction coming from the BOS to the highway super!

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  3. Public Schools teach nothing of our current dilemma and this is by choice. In 1786 Marquis de Mirabeau founded an Illuminati lodge in a Jacobin monastery in Paris. These Illuminati members soon called themselves 'Jacobins' (French Revolution). Another Illuminati group was founded the same year in Frankfurt under the name The All-Seeing Eye (Look at your dollar bill). This group was later to be infamous as the Frankists. The lodge was led by the extremist Jews Jakob Frank and Michael Hess, the latter employed by Meyer Amschel Rothschild. If we are to fund our schools in good conscience, should we not expect useful information, that can be used to make informed decisions for our youth?

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    1. If the number of men left to plow are cut, then there will not be enough man power to do the roads, never mind the school yard. That is reality, not a threat. In the seventies we got a big snow storm. The town lost the road. That means they did not plow enough times to keep ahead of the snow, and it got to a point where the town had to hire Walt Lawrence's bulldozer to open the road up. A big storm keeps men working for hours. Less money+less workers=less overtime. The bright side to this equation is that snow melts. Bev.

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    3. Every town in the commomwealth lost the road in that blizzard. Gimme a break!

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    4. Mr. Morgan...WTF does this have to do with plowing the schools??? Also, where have you been since 1826??

      Let's stay on topic please everyone.

      Just sayin

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    1. Ok I am ALL for the life safety...I have said this over and over again....we CANNOT lose our life safety but really?? you are going to publicize that incident today to push for an override???? I am a parent AND an advactor for the life safety department but I am sorry that was a little tasteless.

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    2. Can we please take a step back and keep all those involved in this incident in our thoughts and prayers?

      Please?

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    3. sorry folks for my tasteless comment I would erase it if I could

      lets all pry for the little ones!!!

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    4. Thank you for the apology....I do agree we need EMS and how important it is...I have needed to call 911 before...my thoughts and prayers are with all involved in yesterdays incident...

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  5. sorry Stacy but this is life you can not make everybody happy and some times we all need a slap in the face ..and I don't mean any disrespect to anybody ... and I own a home in town and do you think I want to raise my own taxes it is like putting a stick in your eye !! but I was a firefighter emt in this town over 30 years and seen lots of tragedy and if you cut public safety peoples lives are at risk!!!

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    1. Is EMS even on the payroll?!!! Last I knew they were not.

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    2. ya know people maybe my post was tasteless but to say nothing is also wrong but if fire dept has to cut 30 percent where would you cut and still provide some kind of service ..close a fire station and cut guys so then you have a huge delay in response and if there on the pay roll or not ....


      just let me say this so the fire chief does not get any grief on my post I am retired from the dept. and this is my own opinion

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  6. Its so tasteless to use the tragedy of two young children this way. This override has just as much to do about the survival of families that are having a difficult time financially as it does with public safety. To go for an override more than the amount needed to cover what the school sucked out of the town is irresponsible. Yes it would be nice that the town workers could get their raise, but to go for more than what is needed for the year is a reach.

    VOTE NO ON ANY OVERRIDE

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  7. Vote YES to recover from the schools failure to work together

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  8. This blog truly has degenerated to a very low point. Rather than a place for information and ideas it has simply become a place for less than productive discussion. To use an announcement of a 9/11 memorial as a podium to bring forth more conspiracy ideas and to use an override question as a place to put forth a tragic accident as a reason not to cut this or that is truly the low of lows. There some bloggers who talk of "our group" does this or that and then there is the other group, etc. etc. I believe there is only one group in Templeton, that of the taxpayers, who of course have different ideas and views on how things should go. I am of the opinion that when selectmen spend 399 thousand dollars of taxpayer monies on a building, that should be done at an open public meeting of the BOS with a vote and all selectmen in favor should sing at said open meeting for all to see. We should not be buying a building nor spending that much money as thought we were buying office supplies. I know some may disagree with my opinion and I would hope those who do could explain why and own up to it as in under their real name if that is how they feel on the subject. Own up to your opinion. Until then, enjoy the blog minus yours truly.

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  9. I agree jeff, perhaps you should take that up with Mr. & Mrs. Farrell... the king and queen of conspiracies!!!! I agree completely disrespectful to all victims of 9/11, nothing new for Mr. & Mrs. Farrell.. Transparency is a beautiful thing!!!

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  10. This will be in two posts as it's too big for just one:

    I’m sorry but, why does everyone assume that the school committee didn't take a second and a third look at the budget? I believe they did right up front and they instructed Ms. Miller to go back and make the budget at a 2% or less increase and it came back at 1.98%. What makes everyone believe that the choice they made to stick with the original budget wasn't hard for them also? Aren't they a part of our communities? I am forever confused about that. Compromise is a two way street not a one way street and I am a TOWN supporter and I was sick and tired of my children, the other children and Phillipston's children always taking the hit. My child, the youngest, the cuts have followed him every single year. Oh, my and hasn’t the town taken hit after hit after hit and when this town voted to cut hours and not give raises and no step raises... REALLY? Like that didn't hurt? What about them? Why did we do that do their livelihood and say, well it needed to be done. Why didn’t we fight for them? Now we see the writing on the wall? I saw the writing long ago. I am tired of arguing how this all happened because the school, just like the town, has been cutting and cutting.

    Yikes, I am here reading all the back blog posts and the current blog posts especially over the last few days and trying to get my head around the issues~ ALL OF THEM ~and all I see is name calling and bashing and lecturing and negativity and fighting about that same things. Who is going to win that battle or one up each other? Where, pray tell, is the productivity in that? I was reading something about 9/11 and it's all just the same old stuff...do we have any RESPECT at all? Some of the posts are all just dripping with sarcasm. You are all very intelligent people. Some of you have been here awhile, some of you are just starting out, some of you are passionate about one cause and some another. Mrs. Farrell has done a lot of good for this town as she does side with the majority of the voters. She puts forth citizen petitions because she does care about what happens here. I really wish Mrs. Farrell that the "talking down to us" and the eye rolling would cease because it's not how we should be treated, but we need to give credit where it's due and your resilience is commendable. Mr. Bennett runs a good meeting and has served his country and our town in a manner that I think is respectful. He does not have to let one person speak at a Board meeting and he does; listens and responds. He takes the citizens ideas and concerns and puts them on the agenda and allows a say. Please, can we just stop all the nonsense bantering back and forth and begin the process of putting things back together?

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  11. We are a small community that has been divided. You might not like to think so, but we have been divided for more than just this year because of how the school budget passed. We need the older citizens because they know what has gone on here and will help to ensure it doesn't happen again. We need the middle aged citizens because we have lived some life and we have some fresh ideas and who's going to be there as our older generation goes on to be with the Lord? AND we need the youngest generation as they will help lead us into a newer future with technology and maybe even a better form of government and again, who will take over when my generation moves onto the other side of the grass?

    I would respectfully request to stop being called just "school supporter" as I am a TOWN supporter and I know I am not alone in that whether we said no or yes to the budget. Do people that vote no this time around for the override will that make them outcasts because they cannot afford it? Are we as a group going to bash them all over the place and start calling them "outcasts". We are a democracy and we vote how WE see fit as an individual and how it affects us and our situation. I can say that on this page and on the Gansett Greatness page we have never called anyone on here any names, or classified you as any kind of group to make you feel terrible. AND, before you go off on me, I KNOW there are people that say you do not support education and I KNOW that is not the case so we need to stop saying that too. If it was derogatory to any group it was deleted. I speak boldly on behalf of my town and my children, the children of this district and all of its citizens. You may not always agree with me or my group, but I believe in a better place for all of us.

    I will ask again, please can we come together and learn to speak to one another in a nicer way. I challenge you all to stop the bashing and say it in a more pleasing manner here and anywhere else you speak out loud. We are a commUNITY and we need to remember that. Respect goes a long way to healing and being able to solve problems and working toward a better tomorrow.

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  12. Diane

    I agree that the goal of everyone involved has been to create a better community. While I vehemently disagree with the process used to arrive at this junction, we have to find some way to work together. I agree that respect goes a long way to healing and being able to solve problems and working toward a better tomorrow. I would appreciate it if I were not criticized for every breath I take, even if delivered as a backhanded compliment.

    I speak boldly on behalf of the town employees and residents and taxpayers. I believe that is my job as an elected official. To give voice to those who are intimidated and have been harassed for their views. Before I go advocating for an override, I am compelled to represent the taxpayer, to ensure their hard earned tax dollars are wisely spent. It has taken years to reach our current level of transparency and accountability in town government. My goal has always been good government for Templeton. If I see something that I believe is wrong or harmful to the town, I will speak out about it. Templeton finally has a great team in place who are/were working toward correcting the many mistakes of past town management/mismanagement. And then along comes the budget issue for the school.

    I got emotional last night when thanking Carol Harris for bringing forth the proposal for a sick bank for town employees. The fact is Templeton has more than its fair share of employees who have need of this sick bank.
    Even in this stressful, difficult period, our employees are trying to help each other out. These are the same employees who will bear the brunt of a 30% budget cut; some of whom have already borne the brunt of a 12% pay reduction. You don't see that level of generosity every day.

    We have a long road ahead of us. There are people who are willing to work together for the successful passage of the override. I am one of them. Because I acknowledge the difficult road ahead, does not mean I will not work for the successful passage of the override.

    We will need to get the word out about the Town Hall meetings as well as other meetings, including the use of social media, to educate people about the devastating impact a 30% budget reduction means to all of the town's residents.

    Here's to a better tomorrow.

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  13. To me, the school committee showed total disrespect for the will of the voters of Templeton. They chose the path they took. In the end, they got what they wanted. I don't believe they changed anyone's mind in the process. They just kept on voting until the answer was to their liking. That blatant disregard for the will of the voters will harm the efforts for an override.

    You can talk about respect, but the truth is the "school supporters" didn't care how they got the money that the NRSD wanted. THAT is not respectful.

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  14. Here are some points from Diane's post to which I have some response:

    "I’m sorry but, why does everyone assume that the school committee didn't take a second and a third look at the budget? I believe they did right up front and they instructed Ms. Miller to go back and make the budget at a 2% or less increase and it came back at 1.98%."

    1) Take a look at the school budget, compare the spending on administration (central office, secretaries, assistants and expense) to administration budgeted in the town. Which budget is truly lean? I have looked at the school budget, have questioned certain line items, with no satisfactory answers. Spending $436k or just budgetting $436k for assistants and secretaries salaries makes no difference. The money still comes from Templeton, which budgets about the same to run the following offices: Town Clerk, Selectmen Office, Assessor Office, Tax Collector Office and Treasurer Office. Secretaries are likely doing a lot of work that Directors and other such exalted individuals should be doing. The budget doubled the line item for the Technology Department secretary. It's easy to just spend more money than to ask tough questions and maybe say "no" once in a while. Civilian oversight means you have to question the "education experts", not just take everything they say is a "must have" as gospel. If you don't question and hold people accountable, you are not doing your job. If you think the only people who can have an idea about school budgets are proffessional educators, than why bother having a rubber-stamp school committee? Just appoint the Superintendent Tsar, and let her take what she wants.
    2) It might be true that the budget only increased by 2% YOY, but let's not forget that the E&D funds were brought into play. So Templeton's assessment is much much greater than a 2% increase. Spending $13k+ per student is hardly bare bones. The school committee may choose to play this as a 2% budget increase, but it is based on a budget that was inflated with the use of E&D money for an operating budget.

    Somebody might feel mighty satisfied about the way that all this turned out. Many voters feel that they were cheated out of their vote. These antics lead to disillusionment with voting.

    Many people on this blog supported Denise Andrews in her election campaign. Have any of them contacted Ms. Andrews about changing the law that permitted the debacle we just experienced?

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  15. Julie, thanks for your response. If I offended you in any way I assure you I did not mean to as I don't understand your sentence about the backhanded compliment. I meant what I said and I am definitely not one to deliver things backhandedlyh...I say them exactly like they are. I believe that recent events have skewed your record and I am only saying that is unfair that we are not looking at the WHOLE picture. So again, I meant absolutely no offense at all.

    Mark, I have been over this and I thank you for your comments and putting the information out there and I am ready to move forward with what is now needed to be done.

    Let's develop a strategy and get the override accomplished and stop all this bickering and bashing and .... ya, I'm over it.

    Diane

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    1. Diane - I'm sorry if you think I am somehow acting up. I thought you were posing a question (Why does everyone assume that the school committee didn't take a second and a third look at the budget?). That is why I answered, even though we have covered this ground before. You see, you don't ever answer my point. The reason why I think the school committee did not look closely at the budget. It is because I have, and because of what is still in there. You have never answered with your own beliefs as to the line items I have questioned and whether you think that the town budget is actually a whole lot more lean than the school budget. Also, I would be interested in your opinion about the contract given the superintendent by the NRSD school committee. 60 sick days? That is a budget buster for the future, whenever Ms. Miller leaves! Do you have an opinion on this contract?

      Lastly, you quoted the school committee line that the budget only increased 2% YOY. I want to point out that it is an unfair characterization because of the spending of money from prior years, the E&D funds. Suppose there had been $1,000,000 in E&D funds? Spend it all on operations, and it becomes part of the baseline for negotiation with the town.

      I also thank you for your comments, and would ask you to take a critical look at town budgets. By "critical", I don't mean criticize. I mean in a manner open to questioning the status quo. People are, by nature, builders. They will try to build up their domain. If unchecked, each person's domain may become too expensive and it will demand more resources than the town has available. Resources that may be more wisely spent elsewhere, or maybe not spent at all.

      Moving on should not mean to avoid discussion and facts. The NRSD budget will be here next year, and it will be interesting to learn if the budgeted amount was spent for all of those positions or if they were included in the budget to inflate it. To give more money to build up the E&D account, and in a few years to repeat the debacle of 2013.

      Thank you for your involvement and your positive attitude. I hope that the voters of Templeton are not so angered by the process as to vote no on the coming override. It would be a hollow victory for the school supporters to get their budget passed, only to see the kids in school until we're picking tomatoes because the town can't plow the roads.

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    2. I will take all that under advisement.

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  16. the bottom line is the town is divided. Doesn't matter what anyone's opinion is the FACT is the town is divided...If Mrs. Farrell truly wanted what was best for Templeton she would resign so the town can start fresh and move forward...she will not because with mrs. Farrell it is not about what is best for templeton...it is a quest for power and control to feed her ego....

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    1. Clicking the "like" button over here again! This whole thing with the snow plowing is just Mr. Bennett throwing a hissy fit because he didn't like the results of the JTM.

      Dear BOS,
      Once and for all, put aside your opinions and personal agendas and start moving forward in UNITY!!!

      Just sayin

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  17. Nobody who likes democracy liked the results of the JTM. Special rule for schools: Just keep voting until you get the result you like, then stop voting and "move on".

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