MGL c 41 Section 108P. 
In any city, town or district that accepts this section, a collector or a treasurer who has completed the necessary courses of study and training and has been awarded a certificate by the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association as a certified Massachusetts municipal collector or a certified Massachusetts municipal treasurer or a certified Massachusetts district treasurer, shall receive as compensation from such city, town or district, in addition to the regular annual compensation paid by such city, town or district for services in such office, an amount equal to 10 per cent of such regular annual compensation, but not more than $1,000 per year. A collector or treasurer who has been awarded both certificates referred to above shall receive such additional compensation for only one such certificate. In order to qualify for such additional compensation, a collector or treasurer shall submit to the mayor or the board of selectmen of such city or town, or the governing board of a district proof of the award of either or both such certificates. The additional compensation provided in this section shall be prorated for any 12 month period in which an eligible person does not hold the office of collector or treasurer for 12 consecutive months. Such additional compensation shall be discontinued when certification is discontinued or withdrawn.

The above covers the CMMT budget item. Templeton appropriated $500.00, which is shown in the Templeton weekly budget vs. actual information put out by the Town accountant. This item shows $500.00, which according to Town Administrator, is now used for training costs so the Treasurer/collector can be trained and certified, which is a very good thing to happen. The problem may be in using this item for training rather than the office expense line item is that it could bring a red flag if and when Templeton's books are audited.  General laws of Massachusetts and the association of treasurers and collectors state the same thing, CMMT, requires training and continuing education to obtain and keep certification. It may be a small thing and a small amount of money, but with all the issues with Templeton's financial records, along with the many other area Towns, it seems irresponsible to not have either a separate line item for training costs or to take the training expense out of the office expense of the treasurer / collector. I believe these types of things continue to give Templeton residents pause and therefore reluctance to vote in favor of any overrides or debt exclusion questions. Perhaps Board of Selectman Chairman John Columbus has forgotten what he said when he was running for office, "Templeton has to be run by the book." 

Jeff Bennett