BOS
Meeting August 11, 2014
Part 1 of the August 11, 2014 BOS
Meeting
Part 2 of the August 11, 2014 BOS
Meeting
The
Town Administrator presented his report to the BOS. Work is being done on the
Pro Forma tax recap sheet as well as revenue projections for FY 16. The revenue
projections for FY 16 will guide the budget process, which will begin shortly.
Candidates
for town accountant have been interviewed.
Work
continues on town hall.
The
BOS made a number of appointments of election workers, to the police department
and the creation of the Community Veterans Oversight Board.
Sunday
September 28, 2014 will be the day to remember and honor all Purple Heart
recipients and will designate Templeton a Purple Heart Community.
Candidate
for state senate Mike Valanzola
introduced himself to the BOS and spoke briefly.
Three
more members were added to the Recreation Committee. Hopefully, the Advisory
board will meet soon so the Rec committee might have a budget in time for fall
sports.
The
sewer commission presented the BOS with a contract for consideration to design
an upgrade to the Pleasant St pumping station. After discussion, the contract was
tabled until the next meeting. Selectman Morrison asked a good question about
the life expectancy of the upgrade. The proposal includes a 40-year USDA loan
to pay for the project. The life expectancy is 20 years. It seems this pattern
of debt has come up before and has proven a problem for the town.
Information
was presented on forming an economic development committee. Glenn Eaton
prepared a document for the board’s consideration. This topic will be discussed
at a future meeting.
My
opinions…supported by FACTS ! ! !
Julie
Farrell
The Water department also needs a loan to paint and do a little welding on the ladder hill tank. Just a 580,000.00 dollar job every 20 years. After the next 20 years the tank will need to be replaced and the cost now would be 2.5 million and last 80 years. It also would be a usda loan ? years ? Lets push the debt off to the kids we think the school is educating for their future. I think they will know enough to move out and run from this area as it will be so far in debt it will take relocation to get out of it.
ReplyDeleteThe Emergency Reserve fund is referenced in MGL Chapter 40, section 6. As it would pertain to funding of the Recreation Commission budget, the following 2 statements are of key importance:
ReplyDeleteThe DOR has commented on the use of Emergency Reserve funds with the following comment:
"if town meeting has rejected funding for a particular item, it cannot later be funded through the reserve fund"
As well, the Association of Town Finance Committees has given their opinion"
"It is also understood that a reserve fund should not be to reverse a vote of town meeting "
That last sentence should read:
Delete"It is also understood that the reserve fund should not be used to reverse a vote of town meeting"
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see the Advisory Board has scheduled a meeting for September.
Thank you for the clarification that :
"It is also understood that the reserve fund should not be used to reverse a vote of town meeting."
In this instance with the funding for the recreation department, I don't believe the town meeting intended to abolish the Rec department. I don't think many people at town meeting were aware that if the Rec dept. budget were zeroed out, the Rec department couldn't function because of the insurance issue. I know I wasn't aware of it. Were you?
I suggested to some members of the Rec department to approach the Advisory Board for some minimal funding so that they could begin to function and provide recreational opportunities for our kids. I did not make the suggestion to undermine or reverse a vote of town meeting. If town meeting had been aware of the consequences of a zero budget for the Rec department, they probably would have voted a nominal amount so that the Rec dept. could operate with donations.
I voted to zero out the Rec department because of the severe financial pressure the Town is under. I would not have supported a large Rec budget but enough so that they could function.
I will put forth an article at the STM in the Fall for a nominal amount for the Rec. department budget. The STM will likely take place sometime in November. November will be too late for fall sports sponsored by the rec department.
I have faith the Adv. Board will listen carefully to the Rec. Department's request.
The town will abide by the Adv. Board's decision.
I did attend their meeting last Wednesday to talk with them and put them on the agenda for discussion.
Delete