If anyone is keeping track...:

Recently at a meeting of the Templeton elementary school building committee, some documents were handed out. A few of these included what seem to be invoices with records of monies billed and paid out. These have SMMA in the heading, I believe this is the firm doing the design, architecture, engineering part of this project. At this meeting, it was indicated that some things listed below have been completed, but when these invoices were submitted, they had not.

One has a date of July 16, 2015 and reads Total this invoice : $16,963.00

It also shows outstanding invoices:

4/9/2015    for    $  8,481.50
5/21/2015  for    $33,926.00
6/15/2015  for    $50,524.50

Total                   $  92,932.00 (outstanding)

current                $  16,963.00

Total                   $109,895.00

all of this is for professional services from June 6, 2015 to July 3, 2015


2nd invoice dated August 13, 2015:

Total this invoice : $  71,500.00

Total prior;             $109,895.00  

Total;                      $181,395.00



Billing Phase                   Fee        % complete           earned          previous                current

amend #2           $  11,440.00            100                $ 11,440.00      $11,440.00                  000
amend #3           $  84,815.00            100                $ 84,815.00      $84,815.00                  000
amend #4           $  13,640.00            100                $ 13,640.00      $13,640.00                  000
amend #5          
schematic           $250,000.00              25                $ 62,500.00                 0.00      $62,500.00
geo tech             $   22,500.00           0.00                            0.00                 0.00                 0.00
traffic                 $  18,500.00            0.00                            0.00                 0.00                 0.00
hazardous          $     8,000.00               50               $   4,000.00                  0.00     $  4,000.00
survey                $   10,000.00              50               $    5,000.00                  0.00     $  5,000.00
hydrant flow      $     5,000.00            0.00                           0.00                  0.00                0.00
testing.
Total amend 5   $ 314,000.00                                  $  71,500.00                  0.00     $71,500.00

Total Fee           $ 423,895.00                                  $181,395.00    $109,895.00     $ 71,500.00

Obviously, this needs a clear simplified explanation of where this money came from and how much is left, if any. Remembering there was an original $550,000.00 appropriated and another $500,000.00 approved at another town meeting. Perhaps the Board of Selectmen should have been more forth coming with some of this financial information when asked for it. Remember, the "financial team" has everything under control. We have found $300,000.00, ah well perhaps not that much, but we can spend it all very fast! Then came a change via election and the "financial team" found another 100 thousand, now can we spend that too?

Now call the school or the your town hall, check both websites and find out when any informational meetings will happen and go and ask, no, demand answers, clear simple answers, it is your money!

Jeff Bennett