Fiscal shortfall to dominate election
Templeton Selectmen hopefuls take stance, offer suggestionsEryn Dion
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON — The Board of Selectmen special election is two weeks away and the recently discovered $505,000 budget shortfall, with the potential loss of taxpayers trust, is weighing heavily on both candidates.
While each aspirant has their own approach to dealing with the issue, both agree a course of action must be agreed upon.
“People are shocked,” said Diane Haley-Brooks, a local realtor running in the Jan. 14 election. “They’re shocked that all of this can be happening.”
Ms. Haley-Brooks organized the “Gansett Greatness” grassroots campaign group to rally in favor of the $620,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override in town for fiscal year 2013, which was eventually approved by voters. She hopes to use that experience and her community ties to get residents more invested in their community.
“You can’t do anything alone,” she explained. “Long-term for me is about getting people educated and involved.”
She admitted that the taxpayers have been hurt during this ordeal, but cited trust and transparency as a way for the board to regain their standing in Templeton.
Robert Mitchell the second candidate running for the open seat. He is a former selectmen who sees implementing the suggestions given to the town by the state’s Department of Revenue as a long-term solution.
“It’s not something that will be solved overnight,” he said. “But, if we can get control over some of these departments, that will go a long way.”
The state revenue department conducted a financial management review of the town in October 2009 and many of their recommendations have gone unanswered. Chief among them was replacing the Town Coordinator position with a Town Administrator that would be tasked with managing the various departments and running day-to-day operations. The state also suggested that Templeton complete long-term financial planning for the next 3 to 5 years, and to limit their use of free cash.
