From the Past...

From the Past...BEFORE the $1,000,000 shortfall for FY 13 was made public

Can This Project Be Changed?
Comment from the Blog-

Bob M January 23, 2016 at 4:27 PM

OK, so a continuation of my previous line of thought. $22.7 million is only roughly 48% of the entire cost of the project.
None of the numbers I'm hearing seem to be adding up. I believe Ms. Farrel mentioned a 62% figure for state re-reimbursement.

Is anyone aware of a method in which we could stop this school from progressing at this point. You know your getting fleeced when the tax calculation has already been made and we have no final design or a bond rating.

C'mon, I just read the teachers wanted the lounges moved together and on one floor which has to change the design and cost structures, additional this, moving that.......yet we have a price to build.................lol.



There has been some talk about a citizens petition for the annual town meeting in May. Not to stop the project but to move the location of the elementary school - either to Putnam's land or 9 Main St. in Otter River.

Maybe that petition would read something like this:




To see if the Town  will vote to amend the vote taken on November 9, 2015 which states "
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the Templeton Elementary School Building Committee for the purpose of paying the costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Templeton Elementary School located at 17 South Road, Templeton MA, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project"), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town, through Narragansett Regional School District may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"). The Town acknowledges that MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA through the Narragansett Regional School District, shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town may receive through the Narragansett Regional School District, from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) 62.84% of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA.


TO: To see if the Town will vote to " appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the Templeton Elementary School Building Committee for the purpose of paying the costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Templeton Elementary School located at 9 Main Street in Otter River including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto (the “Project"), which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town, through Narragansett Regional School District may be eligible for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"). The Town acknowledges that MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any Project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA through the Narragansett Regional School District, shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town may receive through the Narragansett Regional School District, from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) 62.84% of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA.


At this late date, I don't think such a citizen's petition will get very far; nor do I think it will be upheld by the Attorney General.

I do believe Templeton needs a new elementary school. I believe that "need " was created by letting the elementary schools in Templeton fall into total disrepair.

If there are those who are interested in stopping the project ...
( I don't think you can separate out the location from the vote. The voters voted at the November 9, 2015 Special Town Meeting AND at the ballot on December 8, 2015)

the best bet may be to initiate a Ten Taxpayer lawsuit  against the Town of Templeton and the NRSD for promulgating a school building project when the Town of Templeton does NOT have a Bond Rating.

From a case in the Town of Norwell involving CPA funds:

As Bob M points out:

 "I am seriously bothered by the idea of planning, voting and designing a $50 million dollar building while out finances are not in order. It appears to me to be absolutely irresponsible.

These people are still designing this building, how can anyone know the costs????? $1.74 per $1000.

The math is just beautiful right. Like the numbers you posted. The cost $47,562,184 x 62% equals $29,489,174 which would leave Templeton responsible for $18,074,010 so why are we being shown completely different numbers.
I've read that the MSBA funds from 40-80% of these projects. Why are we at 62% if we really are?


When people talk about this $1.74 they seem to think it reasonable. Thats somewhere between 10-12% increase in property taxes for 30 years.
Oh, another point. Who is making sure we wont get stuck like we have with the wind mill, school boiler, or the other projects in town that are defunct or over budget, behind schedule.............but Templeton ratepayers are still paying for this "government"........"

Ball's in your court...so to speak.

Posted by Paul Cosentino at 2:10 PM
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15 comments:

Baldwin TempletonJanuary 24, 2016 at 3:40 PM
"If you think "schooling" and education are one and the same, well you have been "schooled." If you think "schooling" and education are opposites, you have been well educated. anonymous.

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Mark BarrieauJanuary 24, 2016 at 9:34 PM
I am not in favor of the way that this project was approved. Having a Special Town Meeting and a Special Election with low turnout is not in the spirit of fair play, and in the interest of the will of the majority.

One thing that may be possible is a Prop 2 1/2 underride. It can be initiated via Citizen Petition. Revoke the debt exclusion. Schedule the election for the annual town election. At least that way, it would be more than 29.3% of the registered voters making the decision.
It is bad civics to sneak items through by scheduling an election in December. That's been the case too often in Templeton.

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Bev BartJanuary 25, 2016 at 10:04 AM
There is no surprise that I do not support the building of a school of this size, within the chestnuts throw of the Common. When I was in high school, maybe 9th. grade, the town was in the process of tearing down the Templeton Inn. I walked through it, and climbed the stairway to the top. This was a beautiful building, that never should have been torn down. I could not do anything at that time, but I can atleast try this time. I will support and work with anyone that wants to take this on. Hit or miss, I will know that at least I tried. Bev.

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Bob MJanuary 25, 2016 at 10:52 AM
David,

I see were you are going with this. Wouldn't the 10 person lawsuit by denied by the fact that we have spent money on the design?

I'm totally willing to sign on to anything that delays or stop us from building this monstrosity in teh center of town.

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Paul CosentinoJanuary 25, 2016 at 12:32 PM
Bob M,

The money for the design phase was voted and borrowed already. There is no explanation of how the town is going to borrow 47 million without a bond rating which would be the basis for the ten taxpayer lawsuit. An injunction may be possible to stop the project until the town has a bond rating. Then actual costs for the project would be known.

Look up Mass General Law chapter 40 section 53 for more information. You might want to argue that a $48 million dollar project without a bond rating is an abuse of corporate power. You may be to "restrain the unlawful exercise or abuse of such corporate power." by filing a ten taxpayer lawsuit.
You won't know if it will work until you try.

You might want to submit a blog here to see if there is support for such an idea. It will be posted.

Send blog to :
paulcosentino9@gmail.com



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Bob MJanuary 25, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Paul, I'm not remotely convinced we could do that. The way the warrant for the town election was written it states........

Shall the Town of Templeton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to pay costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Templeton Elementary School located at 17 South Road, Templeton Massachusetts, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?


Nothing in that notice states a rate, amount of any kind. It just says the taxpayers agreed to pay whatever the damn thing costs. We were told all type of things, but what we voted on is so basic anything they spend money on we are stuck paying for.

In my spare time I will be looking for means to halt this process. I'm willing to sign on to anyone viable plan, but if I'm going to spend my time I need to be convinced I'd have some chance of success. I'm not looking to cost the town more money fighting me just because I filed.



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Brad LehtonenJanuary 25, 2016 at 3:00 PM
ANYTHING that will allow change to this terrible plot is worth looking into. where do I sign?

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Bob MJanuary 25, 2016 at 6:18 PM
Just a thought for everyone to think about and hopefully spark a workable idea.

Is the lack of an specific information on the warrant an issue we could work with? Something like, how could the citizens reasonably determine what they voted for, no numbers,nothing. That vote is a blank check. How can it be valid?

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david smartJanuary 25, 2016 at 7:54 PM
The fact we are spending millions on a building tear down and road infrastructure changes not to mention a new playground removal and installation are some of the costs not about a school improvement project. The fact is spending money that will not improve schools or education is not what the people voted for. The days for spending money we don't need to spend are and should be gone. Are they? Will we go borrow millions and spend millions we don't need to? Why? Look what we could spend the millions on if we thought it out better and were not being pushed into a shitty deal by the state MSBA. Who thinks the center of Templeton should be the worst part of Templeton. Those who voted for this project to be put in Templeton center are being used and taken advantage of as uneducated taxpayers sold on a poor outdated education system we can no longer trust with our money. One only has to look at the new wood chip boiler math to see what i mean. You will be told what you need to hear to vote the way they want you to vote. When the budget is short they take it out on the kids threaten to cut things like sports and buses. This gets to the voters and the votes go the way they want. Let the schools fall apart, don't paint them or do repairs and then show the voters how bad they are so we need a brand new one. The true vote for a new school is needed when we have financial bond knowledge, a cost for it, a place for it and the people in favor of it as a majority of the town. I'm NOT sure at this point we have any of the things just mentioned.

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Bob MJanuary 25, 2016 at 9:42 PM
David,

I completely agree. No town representative should be allowed to create new debt when we dont even know our financial shape. We dont have certification of free cash, audit for 2013, never mind 2015.


I hope everyone who reads this blog talks, googles, researches so we might find a better solution together or a means to at least stop this disaster.

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Brad LehtonenJanuary 25, 2016 at 11:50 PM
finally a few people are making sense!! late, but making sense. we have 40 year notes set up by past selectman that tell how smart they are. econ #101 will tell you if you can't afford something don't get it. a 40 year note means that you can't afford it. we have had select people, you can't call them men, that have not allowed towns people to speak, and then as a total coward call for police protection to get to his car. bob m, I have said many times I will not pay attention to anyone how won't show there face and tell us how they are. in your case I have made a exception!

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Bev BartJanuary 26, 2016 at 8:55 AM
The few taxpayers that voted yes, have given the builders a free pass to spend what they want. Did anyone ask who was going to pay to move the playground, at the last meeting ?? I did not watch the meeting, but I will guess that no one did. If they did not think to ask, why not ?? Are we made of money ?? I know I am not. I do know we need to get out finances straight, or it will be like every other year, mickey mousing things, so they "look good", until things get bad again. This is how the Town has run since the 70's. With change orders as the project goes along, how much do you think this school will cost??

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DO is STUPIDJanuary 26, 2016 at 10:05 PM
With all due respect to Dave, Bev, and Pete F., if this is to be brought to town meeting we really need Someone else to stand and present the case, I'm just saying that it doesn't matter what the issue is, as soon as 1 of you guys get up the crowd has already made up their mind and will vote against because they have all been led to believe you are all troublemakers. If this comes to fruition I just may come out from behind moms apron.

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david smartJanuary 27, 2016 at 6:47 AM
Will she allow you to?

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david smartJanuary 27, 2016 at 3:59 PM
Hard to tell who "we" are Do when "you" stay in the dark unknown part of Templetons history.

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