March 2, 2015 BOS Meeting...the Movie

March 2, 2015 BOS Meeting...the Movie

Part 1 of the March 2, 2015  BOS Meeting

Part 2 of the March 2, 2015  BOS Meeting

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2016 Budget Down To The 'Bare Bones'
Town administrator says 12 positions left vacant

Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON  The town is facing another financially tight year after interim Town Administrator Bob Markel unveiled his preliminary budget for fiscal 2016 to selectmen Monday night.

“This is an absolutely bare-bones, nearly level-funded budget,” he said of the document.

“It incorporates only those costs that are absolutely essential and uncontrollable.”

In explaining the report, Mr. Markel contradicted the perception that, as the town regained fiscal stability, local government would expand back to pre-fiscal 2014 levels — the year when more than $500,000 was slashed from the budget to close a shortfall.

“I counted the positions we’ve left vacant,” the administrator said.

“Twelve positions that are on the town’s pay plan that remain vacant in this budget.

Other than two assistants in the clerk and assessor’s office, we have not added new people to the payroll here.”

Mr. Markel outlined several instances where significant savings could be recouped, including sending the town’s general insurance out to bid, as well as a proposal to share building inspection services with Winchendon.

He also named target areas that will need additional funding in coming years, starting with the Highway Department’s vehicle maintenance account.

Mr. Markel described the $102,000 spent each year to repair the town’s old fleet as “outrageous,” saying the department is struggling to complete their work around town.

To address the problem, Mr. Markel originally proposed to take $50,000 out of the maintenance account and have a five-year bond issued that could be used to buy new equipment.

With the town’s bond rating likely to remain revoked for the foreseeable future, however, officials are short of options.

“Now that we can’t bond, that’s not in the cards,” Mr. Markel commented.

Another zone for improvement suggested by Mr. Markel were salaries for town employees.

The high rate of turnover in town offices across the board could be attributed to the comparatively low salaries offered, Mr. Markel explained, and many qualified and talented individuals will pass over the town in their job search if those numbers are not boosted.

“The town is not competitive in a number of departments,” he said.

Raises for all non-unionized and non-bargaining employees was the first item included on what Mr. Marked dubbed the “add-back” list — initiatives that could be funded from the $360,000 left over in the budget.

“These are requests from various department heads,” Mr. Markel told selectmen.

“I think they all have merit.”

The list is 16 items long, with initiatives ranging from $8,000 to raise the town accountant to 30 hours per week, to $12,000 for the next part of the town’s master plan, $30,700 for an additional employee for the Highway Department, and $17,000 to restore the Recreation Commission’s budget.

Providing raises for town employees will run about $59,000 and represents Mr. Markel’s highest priority.

After reviewing the list, Selectman Diane Haley Brooks requested a full-time equivalent firefighter/EMT be added, costing $67,000 with benefits.

With Town Meeting only two months away and the governor’s budget numbers set to be released Wednesday, Mr. Markel asked selectmen to make their final policy decisions regarding the “add-back” list by the middle of the month.