Capital planning committee reveals new master plan
Eryn DionNews Staff Writer
TEMPLETON — Capital Planning Committee Chairman Doug Morrison recently revealed to the Board of Selectmen the committee’s Master Capital Plan — a collection of the town’s capital assets and a replacement schedule designed to help manage costs and streamline the repair process.
“The advantage to having this Master Capital Plan as we saw it, is it allows us to project out what our costs are going to be over the course of time,” Mr. Morrison explained. “In average, it looks like we need to be investing about $400,000 a year in capital to sustain the capital requirements of the town.”
The committee began meeting with department heads in December, collecting inventories of their capital assets as well as what needs to be replaced and the cost. A ‘capital asset’ was defined as any item used in town operations with a lifespan of over two years and worth more than $5,000.
Mr. Morrison said the departments did a good job in providing information and creating a comprehensive picture of the town’s capital assets.
The plan extends out 20 years and lays the groundwork for future capital and stabilization investments to be presented on town meeting floor. Mr. Morrison explained that the plan also reduces the workload on department heads, who often submitted capital improvement forms year after year to no avail. He said once an item is added to the plan, it will be addressed, and departments can add or change things as needed.
“Once it’s in the plan, it’s in the plan,” Mr. Morrison said.
This year there are 18 capital items that need to be addressed, although Mr. Morrison said after review, the committee deferred six to future years. Of those left, the committee ranked them based on how critical the need is. The plan also notes whether the item will be have an impact on the tax rate.
The first item on the plan is a new Advanced Life Support-equipped ambulance which would allow the Fire Department to replace a 14-year old vehicle currently in use. The ambulance will be paid for through a five-year lease funded by receipts generated by the service. There is currently an article on the March 29 Special Town Meeting warrant to authorize this purchase.
Other notable items on the plan, include the preservation of the East Templeton School building by using Community Preservation Act funding. The funds will cover work to the building’s roof and boiler, with the select board expressing an interest to turn the former school into town offices. Further down the list is a handicapped accessible ramp and bathroom for the building, which will be covered by the cost of not renting space at their current town offices at 690 Patriots Rd.
The Highway Department could receive two new vehicles, according to the plan — a dump truck paid for with a debt exclusion and a loader funded through Chapter 90 money.
The new elementary school building design was also included in the plan. According to Mr. Morrison — based on his calculations using last year’s tax rate and levy — the $200,000 needed for the design could add 37 cents-per-thousand to the tax rate. The school district’s biomass boiler project was placed lower on the list, under a new roof for Templeton Center School.
Mr. Morrison said he was proud of the work the committee put into the plan and hoped the document would prove useful in the coming years.
Materialistic profoundly ....... , in a climate advance by skeptical and town KINGS
ReplyDeleteThe inhabitant can not amount a defense or certify reason When general people do not participate
I think that is just another way of saying "If you do not vote or attend the meetings that count, you will get the government you deserve". Bev.
DeleteThe Cemetery Department has been buying brand new tractor/mowers every year, from their expense budget. When the $12k was cut from the 2014 budget, the department head purchased them at the end of the FY13 budget year. $12k to replace 1 year old tractors, at a time when the town has a negative number for free cash. Six new tractors, with the old ones traded in. It seems an extravagence to me, and the replacement of tractors should not have been bought when the money was cut from the 2014 budget.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Huffy thinks it was a wise move, The cemetery dept. buys top of the line tractors too, if they are buying every year all they should be buying are the 2500. Home Depot ones.
DeleteIt is hard for me to understand the need to buy new, unless these tractors are being used with out simple maintenance. As dad used to say, it is cheaper to check the oil, than buy a new motor. Along with checking the oil, the blades should be sharpened on some sort of schedule. Like anything else, if the workers treat these machines like they are their own, maybe things could improve. I do not find easy to throw Bud under the bus, or lawn mower, when it comes to him doing his job. We all know the effort he takes to have things looking good. I know very well, no one has done better, no matter how you cut the grass, or run over a tomb stone, hee hee. It may be the machines they buy just are not the quality it takes to do the job he has for them to preform ?? I respect the job the people on the Advisory Board are doing, but talk with Bud, he may offer some reasons that we did not think of. Bev.
ReplyDelete