The politics of Templeton

We have a playground grant, we don't have a grant. We have $300,000.00 to spend, we don't have $300,000.00 to spend. We are getting $110,000.00 for snow &and ice, no, we're only getting $30,000.00 for snow & ice. We have a budget line item CMMT, but that is for training rather than professional certification, which the law says that is what it is for, certification and professionalism. The Town books for FY 2015 are all correct and on time, Wait, perhaps the FY Town books of FY 2015 are not so good after all. Templeton is due certified free cash as soon as the Town books are audited, no, free cash for Templeton will be available with only a balance sheet. Templeton certified free cash will be available in November - December, no, early in calendar year 2016, no, ah it will be available.....when ever, if ever. Perhaps the best thing to say is we have no free cash and we cannot count on it or anticipate it at all. If and when we ever get any, good, no great, then put it all in a rainy day fund, just in case there is another financial mis-step again.

Now, about that excavator for Templeton. It is over $25,000.00 so did it need to go out to bid? Did it go out to bid? Was the excavator bought with chapter 90 money? Is it going to be paid for with chapter 90 monies? I have to ask is it legal to buy it any other way without first having a Town meeting with a debt exclusion question. The Massachusetts General Law covering chapter 90 road money states equipment can be bought out of chapter 90 money. An article at Town meeting contains a sentence with regards to allow the Board of Selectmen to buy equipment out of chapter 90 money. Now the question is, if the selectmen now try to pay for the excavator without using chapter 90 money, is that legal? It has the appearance of by passing town meeting by the Board of Selectmen, in my opinion. I am not so sure the Board of Selectmen or the Town Administrator can trans fer money from the Planning Board or any other account in the amounts reported in The Gardner News. I wonder where the spokesman for the Templeton Highway department sits on this one?

I was sitting at the selectmen meeting where Board Chairman John Columbus stated before the vote that a no vote on the excavator was a no vote on road projects. I also have the article from The Gardner News where the same John Columbus said  the Town had to be run by the book. I have to wonder what book he was referring to? The one where the selectmen try to transfer money at the end of the year, then someone points out the law concerning the amounts allowed and the time frame involved. Then there is the two special Town Meetings, of which only one was needed if the law had been looked at prior. If Town counsel had been asked or the easiest method, which is call the division of local services, which costs nothing directly from the incorporated Town of Templeton. In my opinion, that long lost bank account with $110,000.00 should not even be in any conversation regarding spending until we are told and shown what account is it, what was the money originally for and has that reason been met?

Now, if the books are not complete, still in bad shape, the tax rate may be late, whatever, I believe the residents should be told. I do not believe the goal of building confidence will be met by being political with information and then have it go up in flames. If anything goes bad this time around, it sits squarely on the Board of Selectmen, Since the election of 2014, the selectmen have given the Town Administrator the authority to do just about everything, but the responsibility lies at their feet.

There are certain documents that are suppose to be completed by September 30 and a simple request for copies of those items will tell the story.

Jeff Bennett