Thursday, May 29, 2014

Action Plan

Action Plan

I read this statement after the executive session on May 27th.

Action Plan

Now that ATM has dissolved, the BOS and the town administrator have their work cut out. I believe it is imperative that we as a board try to identify ANY and ALL sources of revenue and savings for FY 15, which begins on July 1st.

Laundry list of items –

Investigate the possibility of a waiver of Templeton’s minimum contribution as set forth in the provisions of Chapter 38 section 71 of the Acts of 2013.

Once the state budget is voted, review and pursue any reduction in regional transportation costs from both NRSD and Monty Tech.

Negotiate a contract with Light and Water to process payroll and vendor warrants. Neither light nor water budgets have been appropriated at town meeting. The BOS authorization to sign payroll and vendor warrants comes from the votes at town meeting that approve budgets. As it currently stands, we have no authorization to sign light and water payroll and vendor warrants.


Pursue and negotiate a formal PILOT payment with Templeton Municipal Light department.

Pursue and assess a cost for dispatch services to enterprise funds to include but not be limited to the water dept., the sewer dept. and the light dept.

We need to ask the acting accountant to estimate how much money will be needed to pay unpaid bills for FY 14.

This figure will drive the timeline on employees returning to work. If the Hwy crew comes back in Sept. or Oct. the construction season is effectively over. Residents need to be informed if there will be a delay in road construction projects that were discussed at prior meetings.

The Cemetery Department is running on fumes – literally. There is no money to pay for the gas to mow the cemetery. Can volunteers fill out waivers to help with the mowing?

The lack of inspectional services will impact many projects including the building permit for the wood chip boiler; title V inspections to sell homes, businesses coming to town.

The BOS should meet with the school department regarding plowing the NRSD property. The town will not have the capacity to plow the schools.

When will the new elementary school project be ready to go for a ballot election for the capital debt exclusion?

All of these items need to be closely coordinated to avoid multiple town meetings and ballot elections….which cost money that we don’t have.

Respectfully submitted,

Julie Farrell

23 comments:

  1. Maybe Phillipston can send a few trucks up to plow snow at the school.

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  2. Does you action plan include raising all the property values? What a great way to get extra money for the town. I hope those that have told me theirs went up $50k talk to the assessors office, that is rediculous for this town.

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    1. I doubt their property values went up, but their taxes did. That is what happens when you vote for a debt exclusion or a override. A debt exclusion only lasts as long as it is voted for, like the Senior Center debt exclusion, which was paid for in one year. A override is forever. Bev.

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    2. No Bev their property value went up as did mine. Just another way of getting more money, raise taxes then raise the property level get double the money.

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  3. Jeanne i will be sure to check with the assessors office and see about the valuations increase you speek of.
    I do know Templetons valuation has gone down from the housing peak and was part of the reason for the lack of tax income that forced the town to use up free cash and also reserves at a fast rate putting us in the position were now in with the budget shrotfall.
    As house prices rise so do evaluations of all property,as when they fall like in the 2005-2012 time period did also.
    The assessors don't control any selling prices and when the market gets slimmer with fewer houses to sell prices go up and so do the price that paid for them.

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    1. Dave,
      Your statements in the comment above is very hard to understand as well as confusing and doesn't pertain at all to the evaluations set on property. I was an assessor for almost 10 years here in town. From 2004 to 2013 and believe me there is no way someone`s evaluation on there home went up $50,000 in on year. Just for example, my home did go up in evaluation from $189,700 to $190,800. A $1,100 increase Any resident can get a free field card at the Assessor`s office which will explain what you are being taxed on and the total evaluation on their property.
      On your tax bill it gives your present evaluation and if you look back to last years copy you can see what it was back then. What people don`t understand is we paid the first two quarters of 2014 using 2013 tax rate of $14.12 per thousand. Because the 2014 tax rate didn`t get certified until just the other week. Now that the 2014 tax rate has finally been set at $16.25, you owe $2.13 per thousand more on the first two quarters you paid, which was added to the present last two quarters.
      No ones evaluation went up 50,000 dollars on their home without adding a $50,000 addition to their home. That would be almost a $1,000 a year increase in their tax bill. Unheard of.
      If you have any questions about your evaluation on your property or your tax bill please go to the Assessors Office and ask for a free field card on your property and check out what and how much you are being taxed. It`s free for the asking. This town doesn't need false and incorrect rumors

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    2. I know for a fact that your valuation is the same as it was a month ago. The increase is due to the town playing catch up, because like Steve said the tax rate has gone up, and that is the increase you are seeing. Bev.

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  4. Steve Laprise as i stated the first sentence be sure to check with the assessors office. Not confused yet!
    The point i was to make as to the tax rates they have gone up and down after revals and also have seen my tax rate go down and eval go up so i sure the rates are what we vote on if over the 2.5% cap but when the reval hit and values take a hike you tell me if the tax stays the same unless skelton is the chairman.If the people in this town don't understand the reason for the increased rate over the 1st and 2nd quarters and the added amounts to them and the 3rd and 4th are what they are they would also be surprised to not have any police here after 2am. There are many large rocks in Tempelton that are being lived under.

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  5. Simple way to tell whats up is to just compare the tax bill from last year to this year.

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  6. As Steve has stated the 2014 tax rate incorrectly i would like to let the people know the actual tax rate is set in Templeton at $16.24.If your bill has any other rate please call assessor @ 9789392793 . thats a 2.12 increase over the preliminary tax rate.
    Still a bargain in 2014- look around and see what the other towns are for rates. Orange 20.00+ Athol 20.00+
    And soon Templeton with a new school 20.00+ get ready for the new rates soon to be voted on as we enter the new phase of the new elementary school project we need. What will be our tax rates to support all the new costs that go with it?

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    1. I am not talking about the tax rate. I am talking about the value of the property going up. Mine went up from last year, it was small $2,000 I have talked to those whose property value was increase $50,000 that on top of the increase tax rate is really not fair to the towns people. I talked today with a couple others whose PROPERTY VALUE went up. So I don't know why david keeps talking about tax rate, duh it went up I know that. But seems very suspicious to have all the property values go up when the town is desperate for money. Guess that is Plan C on getting Templeton out of the toilet.

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    2. Jeanne Evans,
      You say you have talked to those whose property values was increased $50,000. I`m going to say it one more time. NO ONES PROPERTY EVALUATION IN TEMPLETON HAS INCREASED $50,000 WITHOURT A MAJOR ADDITION ADDED TO THEIR HOME. AND I WILL BET MY LAST DOLLAR AND ALL 4 OF MY AKC REG GOLDEN RETRIEVERS ON THAT. PERIOD !!!!!

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    3. DAVE,
      I WAS ONLY OFF A PENNY, . I`M SORRY FOR THE MONITARY INCORRECT INFORMATION !!!!

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  7. Tuesday June 3rd the light commission will enter into an executive session to discuss the Ten k solar vote failure.
    One vote is enough and it must be voted on by the people. For them to come back and spend more of our money to push this through is a violation of the peoples trust in the commission. Not to mention they will not answer the questions we ask about it.
    I have many, How much is the power going to cost us? Do they lock in the PPA amount for 20 years?
    Have they followed the laws this time and place a value on the assets for the tax to be paid like the rest of us do.
    compaired with the gardner solar deals we were not being allowed to get enough money for the town. What upgrades do we have to do to have them hook up to the grid? At what cost do the upgrades have to happen?
    We need to look at the way our commissioners do this and in secret is not any way for us to look at all.
    Can you get a deal on NET METERING? Have you heard about it?
    We will know Tuesday when i ask about it.

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  8. Steve you won't be deleted,just use your full name like we require from others plaese!

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    1. FULL NAME ?? GIVR ME A BREAK !!!!
      NO WONDER NO BODY BUT YOU AND A HAND FULL OF OTHERS ARE THE ONLY ONES MAKING COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG NOW.. THIS IS NOT HOW PAULY SET UP THIS BLOG. YOU SHOULD START YOUR OWN BLOG AND STOP MAKING RULES ON A BLOG THAT IS NOT YOURS.
      .I DON`T THINK PAULY KNOWS HOW YOU HAVE TAKEN OVER AND CHASED EVERY BODY AWAY. IF HE WASN`T SO SICK I WOULD BE AT HIS PLACE HAVING A LONG TALK ABOUT YOU CHASING PEOPLE OFF HIS BLOG.
      I WAS COMMENTING ON THIS BLOG WAY BEFORE YOU CAME INTO THE PICTURE AND NOW YOU MOVE IN AND TAKE OVER AND CHASED ME AWAY FOR GOOD.
      WHERE ARE ALL THE REGULAR BLOGGERS THAT USE TO COMMENT GONE ? LIKE ISTEACH, TO NAME JUST ONE. CAN`T YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE RUNINING PAULY`S TEMPLETON WATCH WEB SITE?
      SO YOU DON`T DELEATE THIS COMMENT. STEVE LAPRISE IS MY NAME. SO HIGH LIGHT IT AND REMEMBER IT CAUSE YOU WON`T SEE ME ON THIS WEB SITE AGAIN.

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  9. Along with the school permits holdup would there be a holdup for any solar projects if anyone wanted to put up a solar field in the town large or small?

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  10. Uncle is happy with whats going on and i and him invite those who want to bother to sit with him to do just that.
    Patty has been taking great care of him and the only reason i asked for you to post the name is so that you did it like all others are required. The chasing has been done by those who are posting under others names and are the reason with Pauly's permission we now do this. The permission is from him and please go sit with him and ask. He sure could use the company.
    When i see him next time i will tell him you asked about him.
    Thank you!

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  11. Steve sorry i upset you but if you were in our shoes , tried to preserve this blog and were faced with few options to eliminate the problem people who are few what would you do. Looking back to your last post it was so long ago you don't comment anyway. The backlash about free speech has all been expected and caution was used prior to the decision to require the names of the commenters.The reason for the most part is fully understood and people agree without it the blog must stop with comments and only be a one way information site about Templeton and the things that afflict it.
    We have had to require the identity for the comments after a few like huff n puff were only out to destroy what uncle has done for Templeton. We suspect who h+p is and delete asap when "it" puts up a comment. Require a identity and check is the only way to be sure the viewers are protected and respected. Uncle wants it that way and is fine with it. Please go see him as he can use the company. Through this bolg and the help of many Templeton has seen more information than any and all combined sources bar none. As this blog reaches the 1,000,000 hits we all need to remember who means the most about this site and it's not any of you or me. Thank you uncle Pauly!!!

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  12. h+p smart@nii.net time we talk or is "it" not what your made of!
    "no" comments for those like you that hide!

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  13. By the way, where is our old pal Puff ? I'll be he is keeping a low profile now that he has a new position. Is that gavel heavy, Puffy?? Puffy may think the schools are more important than the town, but I do not think everyone will agree, since the schools will not plow your road this winter. Bev.

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