Templeton Voters Manipulated

Templeton Voters Manipulated

Once again our little town has been forced into having an election to replace a select person for 4 short months. At this time the town does not have the financial resources to do so. So many times in the past, the special interests in the town of Templeton have let the voters be used to get it their way. Change not always favorable to the majority of the voters.   Many stacked meetings have allowed the few to get what they want and have led us down the dark road we now are forced to travel. Why it is the people who vote to continue this behavior are not outnumbered? A vote to reconsider the chapter 93 acts of 2000 is a prize from their past. The fact is if the law was never passed the select board may have had to borrow the 6+ million and we would be in the hole but at least we would have some say and input as to how the business is run. Not like it is now with the rates lied about and future intentions to spend as the commission will on whatever they want. The Commissioners say it’s to be compliant with the regulations. With all the money they spent on fences and gates to be compliant why do we see them open and not locked up?

Now that your rates are higher than ever ask yourself how well they are doing for us now. The commissioners said the rates were not going up last May town meeting and the truth is now the rates will be at least doubled by 2017.

 At least for now we have to do with what we have and begin to educate the people to step up and question why we pay the highest of water rates in the state. Soon the Electric rates will also be doing the same for the voters who own these municipal departments. Treated just like a customer, even the town will be stuck paying more without any say or resources to back these increases. Previous general managers were more than glad to help the town with monetary transfers as large as 300k. Year after year previous commissions would help the town keep the bills paid and tax rates lower. The lack of our Light and Water Commission to help the town out of the hole were in has never been so carless, obtuse and thoughtless than it is now. With the rates going up so much so fast it’s hard for me to sit by and do nothing. If we can educate voters, a better Templeton is the one way to get the changes to occur. The water rates are a result of management’s inability to adjust rates over time.  The Light department commissioners have just raised the cost and doubled the wind turbine maintenance amount to 100,000.00 per year and will charge the customers for it. Yes it’s 100k to maintain our “uncertified” wind turbine. That’s 1 million in 10 years. This is one way for the commission to justify the new higher rates they will charge us. Because the commissioners have not been questioned for years about how and why rates are what they are. This commission has been able to raise rates without any compassion for those who scrape to just get by now. Including the Town of  Templeton. Have you heard “It is our Business” after all.

David Smart