Markel Stays Another Year

Markel Stays Another Year Templeton town administrator extended

Tara Vocino Reporter TEMPLETON  Selectmen have voted to keep interim Town Administrator Robert Markel on for another year. His term will be extended from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017. “I’m certainly pleased to continue for another year,” Markel said. “I knew that the contract expired on June 30. They asked me, ‘What are you doing next year?’” Markel said he’d only stay if they all wanted him to. Selectmen voted unanimously. Board of Selectmen Chairman John Columbus said Markel works well with him and the other board members. “In a lot of ways, we think alike,” Columbus said. “He works well with the board.” Columbus said Markel will bring expertise by helping him to find his successor. “We’re conducting a search, and he agreed to be a part of that,” Columbus said. On Markel’s arrival, Templeton had serious budget issues that he had to remedy. Markel said he accomplished a balanced budget surplus in fiscal 2015, a balanced budget for fiscal 2016, and his second review leads to a balanced budget for fiscal 2017. During his term so far, he also restored nearly all services that he had to cut in fiscal 2014.