Welcome to Templeton! Birthplace of Delusional Math!

Welcome to Templeton! 

Birthplace of Delusional Math.

 So according to the Gardner News(11/29/2016), "Town officials had stated that the $200,000 shortfall was created in part due to voters' recent rejection of using $87,500 of the town's stabilization fund to pay for the debt for the property at 252 Baldwinville Road."

 Nope. Wrong.

The $200,000 shortfall was created by really bad budgeting figures for FY 17. Those bad figures ( i.e. lies) were presented to the annual town meeting by the board of selectmen. No discussion was allowed line item by line item in May. The chairman of the board of selectmen responsible for the FY 17 unbalanced budget was John Columbus.

The $87,500 for the debt payment boo-boo for 252 Baldwinville Rd is one part of the shortfall because the selectmen and the former town administrator screwed up. 

The FY 17 budget presented by the selectmen and voted in May also screwed up:

$50,000 snow and ice

$27,500 health insurance

$15,000 unemployment costs

$13,000 audit-related expenses

$7,000 other expenses

Don't think that's the end of the screw ups/shortfalls.

To date over $300,000 has been spent to get the FY 13 books and other subsequent fiscal years in shape so they can be audited. 

NO AUDIT  ON FY 13 HAS BEEN COMPLETED TO DATE! 

A contract for auditing services was signed in October 2016

On the bright side, the contract has been signed to have the audits completed:

Templeton Watch

Templeton Watch

for the benefit of johnny columbus!

Message from Town Administrator Bob Markel

The Department of Revenue has always discouraged the use of free cash to balance the budget. Bond rating agencies do the same, and the low bond rating for the Town reflects, in part, the lavish use of free cash to fund the operating budget. However, this is not illegal; it is simply unsound financial policy.

The amount of free cash available changes yearly, and it is not predictable. Free cash is considered one-time revenue, and the Department of Revenues recommends that it used to augment the Stabilization Fund (reserves) or for one-time purchases like capital items.

Audit firms do not do a thorough job of auditing the books (unfortunately). They come and test various areas of the town’s finances to see if there are problems, but some problems are not caught and can persist for years. They tell you up front that they cannot do a thorough audit for the relatively modest amount they charge. The DOR representative at today’s meeting called the standard municipal audit a “hit and run” audit. Still, some firms are more reputable and more competent than others. I cannot name names in this message, but there are several firms that I would never hire.

Recommendation: The Selectboard should create an Audit Committee of knowledgeable citizens who will have two responsibilities: 1) Bid the audit contract every three years, and hire an independent auditor; and 2) Receive the annual audit and do a public review of the findings and the management letter. Municipal auditors are typically hired by the Town Administrator, Town Accountant or Finance Director. This is an inherent conflict of interest since town officials who do the hiring are the ones whose work is being audited. Hiring and receiving the audit should be an arm’s length transaction from the Town’s financial team.

The Department of Revenue oversees 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. They accept data provided by the Town Accountant, the Treasurer/Collector and the Assessors. They often question the data, but they are not always able to verify if data submitted on the Tax Recap or Schedule A are accurate. The DOR does not have access to the town’s accounting system. For example, the DOR was in Templeton today to question whether the Town has properly reported debt obligations on the DE-1 section of Schedule A. Some debt is paid from general revenue within the town budget and some debt is paid through debt exclusion. There is a correct way to report these two types of debt on Schedule A. The DOR representatives checked to see if the Town reported the data correctly, but they are limited in their ability to verify the accuracy of the data.

The long term solution to Templeton’s financial problems is to hire a professional Town Administrator who will put in place a competent financial management team – Accountant, Treasurer, Collector and Assessors. The Selectmen and Advisory Board have the responsibly to oversee the T.A. and the financial team on their management of the Town’s finances. To complement the BoS and Advisory Board, the Audit Committee should retain a reputable accounting firm to conduct an annual audit with the results made public.

Bob Markel
Interim Town Administrator

Furious Democrats Blast Stein's Recount Effort As Nothing But A "Scam"

by Tyler Durden

Nov 28, 2016 9:50 PM

 

With the passing of each new day, it's growing more and more difficult to find anyone that is actually supportive of Jill Stein's recount efforts (aka fundraising scam).  The Obama administration has already weighed in saying that the election results "accurately reflected the will of the American people" while Clinton's campaign attorney even confirmed they had not "uncovered any actionable evidence of hacking or outside attempts to alter the voting technology."

Now, even prominent democratic strategists are turning on Stein as Joe Trippi described her efforts as a "waste of time and money." Worse, in an accusation that may have more substantial consequences,  some Democrats have gone so far as to echo Trump’s charge that re-tallying votes from the presidential race is just a “scam” being advanced by Stein, who has raised more than $6 million to fund potential recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states critical to the Republican nominee’s win.

“It’s a waste of time and money. It is not going to change anything,” said Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, who served as campaign manager for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign.

“I think it probably was the Stein people looking for a way to stay relevant, raise some money and take the stink off of them. Instead of everybody screaming, ‘You made Trump happen,’ she is counting the votes to change that whole narrative.”

Moreover, democrat strategist Robert Shrum confirmed that the "Clinton people would have preferred this not to happen" while adding that there is "no chance" that the recounts will change the election's outcome.

Aides to former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have sought a middle ground on Stein’s push. The remaining Clinton campaign team will “participate” in the effort but is not actively supporting it.

In a Medium post on Saturday, Clinton lawyer Marc Elias wrote, “Because we had not uncovered any actionable evidence of hacking or outside attempts to alter the voting technology, we had not planned to exercise this option ourselves.”

Support Your Town ! Attend the November 28, 2016 Selectmen's meeting!

SUPPORT!

1. Help support Your Fire Fighters and EMTs, Monday November 28 @6:30 Pm. Thank You!

    DO is STUPIDNovember 22, 2016 at 8:03 PM

   SUPPORT!!!
   
   Templeton Fire Department
   9 hrs ·
   Due to recent town budget shortfalls , It is being recommended to remove the Chief and Deputy Chief of the department, and replace them with a Public Safety administrator ( The police Chief). living in town all my live and after 36+ years service to the town as a Fire Fighter, EMT-B. Working my way up through the ranks, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief and now the Acting Chief of the department. I have given over 110% to the towns people, as most all of us do in public safety. Missing holidays, weddings, cookouts, birthdays! I have Seen men, women, children, friends and family hurt, sick and injured, saving many and loosing many. I feel betrayed, let down, stabbed in the back. The Fire dept. and equipment is in a deplorable state. Not from lack of management skills, but a lack of the required funding. Removing 30% of the budget in past years, Keeping old equipment and having no funds to repair it is a major disaster waiting to happen. Miss management at a higher level than the department should not be placed on the solder in the trenches! Help support Your Fire Fighters and EMTs, Monday November 28 @6:30 Pm. Thank You!
   Everyone have a safe and wonderful holiday.
   Acting Chief
   Denis Hamel

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Bob MNovember 22, 2016 at 8:48 PM

   Do,
   
   You point out the problem exactly. Our BOS favors Short term savings that will actually over time cost us more.
   
   How many cities or town have a "Public safety administrator" and dont have a Police Chief, Fire Chief. Or they will create this position, then pile on responsibilities to Captains who will get raises to the point of being a Chief because they are doing the work.........1 Town employee added to the bureaucracy is all we'll get............
   
   
   
   
   How much could the excess $300k we've spent on audits have helped

   
   

   
   

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Brad LehtonenNovember 23, 2016 at 12:13 AM

   the "quick, short term fix" has never worked, and never will. js was an expert in "short term quick fix". that's why we have 40 year notes!! that's part of why we are where we are!!!! FIX, is not popular, hurts, and doesn't get you re-elected. but it is needed!!!!

   ReplyDelete

Meetings the Week of November 28, 2016

Meetings the Week of November 28, 2016

Monday  11/28/16

Capital Planning                 PCS Town Hall*            6:00 pm

BOS                                    PCS Town Hall*            6:30 pm

Tuesday 11/29/16

Assessors                            PCS Town Hall*           4:00 pm

Scout Hall                        Scout Hall                    6:30 pm                       

Wednesday 11/30/16

TA Search                          PCS Town Hall*           4:30 am

Thursday 12/1/16

Cable                                 PCS Town Hall*             6:00 pm                       

* Pauly Cosentino Sr. Town Hall

Lead in the Water at Schools?

Thanks to Bob M. again for more information regarding lead in the water in our schools.

Why isn't the water in our local schools (Templeton and Phillipston) tested for lead? If it is tested, why isn't it reported on this LIST? 

Below is a copy of the form which is supposed to be submitted:

Support Your Town ! Attend the November 28, 2016 Selectmen's meeting!

Lead in Gardner Public Schools' Water

Lead in Gardner Public Schools' Water

Thank you to Bob M. for the link to this information. So where is this information for the Narragansett Regional School District? It's all about the children, right?

 The Gardner High school 2nd floor bubbler Stairway C registered 

7.6 mg/L  The Mass action Level for lead in the drinking water is 0.015mg/L.

Mr. Fluoride Song

Mr. Fluoride Song

Support YOUR Town!

 Support Your Town !

Attend the November 28, 2016 Selectmen's meeting!

Jeff Bennett:

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

So the selectmen think making the chief of police head of police, dispatch the new jail and fire is going to save some money? Does anyone remember the sales pitch for combining light with water? What happened there?

Back in 2000, taxpayers paid Harry Aldrich about $65,000.00 per year to supervise highway, water and sewer. Now, taxpayers pay Bud Chase about $63,000.00 per year for just highway. A water superintendent makes about $90,000.00 per year and the sewer superintendent makes about $70,000.00 (from the FY 2014 annual town report) there is no report of the treasurer or accountant in FY 2015 annual town report. So, you now pay about the same for the highway super as you paid for three departments, how did that merger work out for you? It did work out for one individual's retirement plan.  Where is that updated annual town report, per instruction by town meeting? Now that is an insult to democracy, thank you John Columbus.

 Support Your Town !

Attend the November 28, 2016 Selectmen's meeting!

 

Support Your Town ! Attend the November 28, 2016 Selectmen's meeting!

Thanksgiving!

Support Your Town ! Attend the November 28, 2016 Selectmen's meeting!

Weather Update for T day!

Weather Update for T day!

Subject: Higher Probability of Light Snow to Rain Thursday & Elevated Risk of Freezing Drizzle Thursday Night.

Good Afternoon,

Changes From Previous Forecasts ...

Thursday...Slightly increased probability of precipitation type Thursday taking on the form of light snow during the morning hours especially inland and possibly mixed with rain closer to the coast.
 

Thursday night...increased risk for a period of freezing drizzle across interior MA.
 

What we know...
 

SUPPORT!!!

1. Help support Your Fire Fighters and EMTs, Monday November 28 @6:30 Pm. Thank You!

    

    

    

    DO is STUPIDNovember 22, 2016 at 8:03 PM

   SUPPORT!!!
   
   Templeton Fire Department
   9 hrs ·
   Due to recent town budget shortfalls , It is being recommended to remove the Chief and Deputy Chief of the department, and replace them with a Public Safety administrator ( The police Chief). living in town all my live and after 36+ years service to the town as a Fire Fighter, EMT-B. Working my way up through the ranks, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief and now the Acting Chief of the department. I have given over 110% to the towns people, as most all of us do in public safety. Missing holidays, weddings, cookouts, birthdays! I have Seen men, women, children, friends and family hurt, sick and injured, saving many and loosing many. I feel betrayed, let down, stabbed in the back. The Fire dept. and equipment is in a deplorable state. Not from lack of management skills, but a lack of the required funding. Removing 30% of the budget in past years, Keeping old equipment and having no funds to repair it is a major disaster waiting to happen. Miss management at a higher level than the department should not be placed on the solder in the trenches! Help support Your Fire Fighters and EMTs, Monday November 28 @6:30 Pm. Thank You!
   Everyone have a safe and wonderful holiday.
   Acting Chief
   Denis Hamel

   ReplyDelete
    
    
2. 
   Bob MNovember 22, 2016 at 8:48 PM

   Do,
   
   You point out the problem exactly. Our BOS favors Short term savings that will actually over time cost us more.
   
   How many cities or town have a "Public safety administrator" and dont have a Police Chief, Fire Chief. Or they will create this position, then pile on responsibilities to Captains who will get raises to the point of being a Chief because they are doing the work.........1 Town employee added to the bureaucracy is all we'll get............
   
   
   
   
   How much could the excess $300k we've spent on audits have helped

   
   

   
   

   ReplyDelete
    
    
3. 
   Brad LehtonenNovember 23, 2016 at 12:13 AM

   the "quick, short term fix" has never worked, and never will. js was an expert in "short term quick fix". that's why we have 40 year notes!! that's part of why we are where we are!!!! FIX, is not popular, hurts, and doesn't get you re-elected. but it is needed!!!!

   ReplyDelete

Into debt we go...

Debt and Borrowing Limits

Bill Arrigal - Bureau of Accounts Public Finance Section and Susan Whouley - Bureau of Accounts Analyst

The sky is not the limit when it comes to borrowing for certain purposes for every city, town, and special purpose district in Massachusetts. In this case, it's not just a matter of affordability or restriction based on a levy limit. In this article, we're focusing on the debt authorization limit.

Background

The concept of an authorization limit can be traced as far as the mid-19th century and is discussed in Tony Rassias' "A Sketch of the History of the Massachusetts Bureau of Accounts and Related Matters in the Growth and Development of Municipal Finance."

Passage of the Municipal Indebtedness Act was an attempt to control the use and rise of debt after the Civil War. The increase in municipal debt was unbridled. A municipality was allowed to borrow in anticipation of the current fiscal year's tax revenues as well as for the next. Borrowing was allowed for ordinary operating expenses, could be incurred to meet other loans at maturity, was allowed with no limit and did not require proper provision for payment when due.

The Municipal Indebtedness Act of 1875 contained an indebtedness limit of 2.5% for cities and 3% for towns of their last preceding assessed valuation of taxable property. The current debt limit law has its roots in that legislation.

*****************************************

Templeton's 5% Debt Limit $28,574,135:
 *****************************************
Current Debt Limit Law

MGL c. 44 sec. 10 requires that debt authorized by cities and towns under certain sections of law, primarily MGL c. 44, sec. 7, cannot be authorized in total in excess of 5% of their most recent Equalized Valuation (EQV) or in excess of 10% of the EQV if approved by the Municipal Finance Oversight Board (MFOB).

Former Hubbardston tax collector sentenced to jail, restitution for thefts

By Gary V. Murray
Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER — Cynthia Washburn-Doane, the former Hubbardston tax collector charged with embezzling $535,000 in town funds, was ordered to serve a year in jail and pay restitution in an amount to be determined after pleading guilty Friday in Worcester Superior Court.

Judge Janet Kenton-Walker sentenced the 62-year-old Ms. Washburn-Doane to two years in the House of Correction, with one year to be served, after she changed her pleas to guilty on charges of embezzlement by a municipal officer, larceny of more than $250 by a common scheme and falsifying corporate books. The balance of the jail sentence was suspended for three years with probation.

As conditions of probation, Ms. Washburn-Doane was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and any related treatment deemed appropriate by the Probation Department and to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court within 20 days of her release from custody.

Assistant District Attorney John A. O'Leary had recommended that Ms. Washburn-Doane be sentenced to 4 to 5 years in state prison with three years of probation to follow and an order of restitution. Ms. Washburn-Doane's lawyer, John M. Dombrowski, asked the judge to impose a suspended 2-year jail sentence with probation and restitution.

Mr. O'Leary said if the case had gone to trial, he would have introduced evidence showing that Ms. Washburn-Doane stole $535,000 in tax proceeds over a 10-year span beginning in 2004 and ending when she resigned at the end of May 2014. Her resignation came after financial irregularities were uncovered by the town and an audit was conducted.

The report found that Ms. Washburn-Doane, who had been the town's tax collector for 25 years, would take property owners' cash payments for herself, and the accounts for which the money was intended would not reflect any payment made.

In the next quarter's tax bills, Ms. Washburn-Doane would adjust the accounts for the payments she stole to prevent those accounts from becoming delinquent. She would apply cash payments from other taxpayers to the delinquent accounts, so they would appear paid and up-to-date, according to the review.

MFOB ...say what?

MFOB  ...say what?

An agenda item at tonight's selectmen's meeting:

 

So what the heck is this all about? Everything is Awesome! Right?

Could there be a problem with obtaining a bond for the elementary school project? Say it ain't so! 

So you want to borrow more money when the town is broke? without a bond rating? With no audits completed for FY13, FY 14, FY 15, FY 16 and FY 17?

On the bright side, the contract has been signed to have the audits completed:

 Downside? You have to be able to pay for this service!

 
$28,000 per audit. 5 audits @ $28,000 = $140,000

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Meetings the Week of November 21, 2016

Meetings the Week of November 21, 2016

Monday  11/21/16

Insurance                           PCS Town Hall*            2:00 pm

BOS                                   PCS Town Hall*            6:30 pm

Open Space                       Boynton PL                     6:30 pm

Conservation                    PCS Town Hall*            7:00 pm

Tuesday 11/22/16

Sr. Center                       Senior Drive                    6:30 pm                       

Wednesday 11/23/16

Economic                        PCS Town Hall*    9:00 am

* Pauly Cosentino Sr. Town Hall

Ron Paul Reveals "The Real Fake Media News List"

by Tyler Durden

Nov 19, 2016 11:36 PM

In response to the make-shift "fake news" list created by a leftist feminist professor, Ron Paul's Liberty Report has realesed another fake news list has been revealed and this one holds a lot more water.


This list contains the culprits who told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and lied us into multiple bogus wars. These are the news sources that told us "if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor." They told us that Hillary Clinton had a 98% of winning the election. They tell us in a never-ending loop that "The economy is in great shape!"

This is the real Fake News List (and it's sourced): 

Norridgewock residents defend New Balance from social media uproar

 

 

 

Will The People of Massachusetts Get the Marijuana Law They Voted For?

November 17, 2016, 1:39 pm "Radical" Russ Legalizing Marijuana

 

Marijuana is a drug that is so powerful it can make people hate democracy. Our latest example: the opinion columnist at The Boston Globe who has suggested “Five ways to fix the bad pot law Mass. just passed“.

Congratulations Massachusetts, we just passed one of the worst pot bills in the country.
…Our Beacon Hill leaders should do what they didn’t do in the first place, which is steer this runaway train down the right track. The Yes on 4 campaign successfully tapped into voter sentiment on legalizing recreational marijuana, and the ballot measure passed comfortably with about 54 percent in support.
…This is a law written by the marijuana industry, and it’s got their best interests, not ours, in mind.
…Lawmakers now have the ability to go back and make amendments without undoing the will of the people.

Excuse me? A majority of the voters in Massachusetts – 53.6 percent – passed Question 4 as written. If the people thought it was “one of the worst pot bills in the country”, they would not have passed it. We’ve already seen this happen four times in the past six years:

• 2016 – Arizona Prop 205: It would have protected citizens from any punishment by the state solely for the presence of marijuana – inactive or active – in a person’s system. That means not only no drug-test-only evidence for marijuana DUIs, it could’ve meant no drug testing discrimination for any position contracted by state or local governments*. Talk about a “runaway train”! It failed with 48.5 percent of the vote.
•  
• 2015 - Ohio Issue 3: It would have written into the state constitution a system whereby only the ten $2 million investors in the amendment campaign would own the land where commercial cannabis could be grown. Talk about “one of the worst pot bills in the country”! It failed with just 36.4 percent of the vote.
•  
• 2012 – Oregon Measure 80: It would have allowed growers and processors to control five of seven seats on the commission created for regulation and price-setting, set no age limits or personal possession and cultivation limits, and completely deregulated industrial hemp. Talk about a “law written by the marijuana industry”! It failed with 46.6 percent of the vote.
•  
• 2010 – California Prop 19: It would have created protections for cannabis consumers in the workplace that opponents felt would end so-called Drug-Free Workplaces* and thus invalidate federal contracts with California firms. Talk about the industry’s “best interests… in mind”!  It failed with 46.5 percent of the vote.

These four failures show that you can’t just throw “legalizing recreational marijuana” on the ballot and “successfully [tap] into voter sentiment”. If the voters see a deal-breaker, they’ll reject legalization.

“How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!” – Samuel Adams

So what five “fixes” does The Boston Globe columnist suggest for this “bad pot law”?

The Massachusetts law automatically allows pot shops… Communities must now vote by referendum to keep marijuana shops out… The Legislature should rewrite the recreational marijuana law to mirror Colorado’s opt-in concept.

This one really pisses me off because it echoes what we heard and experienced here in Oregon. We passed legalization that required a locality to hold a vote before it could ban marijuana licenses. Eastern counties, which had rejected the statewide measure, passed a law giving them a special privilege to be able to ban licenses without a public vote. Despite that, those counties still got their share of the special tax that was only being paid by cannabis consumers allowed to shop in the western counties.

The will of 53.6 percent of the people was that pot shops are legal until voters reject them. How do you make pot shops illegal until voters accept them without “undoing the will of the people”?

The Massachusetts law allows each individual to grow up to six marijuana plants at home for personal use… Massachusetts Treasurer Deb Goldberg… is urging lawmakers to get rid of the home-grow provision because it could hurt the retail market… In a recent “60 Minutes” segment… the sheriff of Pueblo County detailed how criminals are moving into the state and setting up… “illegal homegrows.”

The purpose of legalization is not to enrich government and corporations; it is to end the senseless and cruel imprisonment of citizens over a plant the Founding Fathers farmed! News flash, Treasurer Goldberg: criminals have always been criminals and will continue to be criminals. Just because fraudsters and robbers take advantage of the First and Second Amendments to commit their crimes doesn’t mean we repeal free speech and gun rights for law-abiding citizens.

The will of 53.6 percent of the people was that citizens have a right to grow their own cannabis. How do you nullify that right without “undoing the will of the people”?

Proponents of Question 4 kept the tax on marijuana on the low side — up to 12 percent — to discourage the black market. Sales are subject to an excise tax of 3.75 percent, plus the general sales tax of 6.25 percent. Cities and towns can apply an additional sales tax of 2 percent.
But our rate seems out of whack with Colorado and Washington, where effective tax rates range from 25 percent to 44 percent.

You’ve got to admire the chutzpah of a writer who can complain about the influence of black market marijuana in Colorado and Washington and then wants to boost taxes to the black-market-subsidizing rates we find in those two states.

The will of 53.6 percent of the people was that marijuana taxes should be low enough to discourage the black market. How do you double those taxes without “undoing the will of the people”?

The other two suggestions have to do with restructuring the cannabis commission to draw from appointments from the governor and attorney general to add to the treasury appointment and to set up systems for data gathering and public health support. These two changes would generally fall in line with the will of the voters.

If legislatures are going to drag their feet and not work on marijuana reform until we, the voters, force them to through passing initiatives, we need to be more explicit about what exactly it is we want. California’s Prop 64 contained amendment provisions that clearly staked out what could and could not be changed by the legislature. Look for future legalization campaigns to adopt that sort of language or to run constitutional amendments that legislators with a cavalier disrespect for the voters can’t gut as easily.

* Note: I’m completely for ending drug testing as a means of discrimination… but this is a bridge too far for the general electorate right now.

Boston Globe massachusetts question 4

"Radical" Russ

"Radical" Russ Belville, as he is known on-air, hosts The Russ Belville Show, a two-hour news and talk radio program for the cannabis community, weekdays at 3pm Pacific on CannabisRadio.com. With well over 2,000 shows heard by hundreds of thousands of listeners, "Radical" Russ is one of the most recognizable voices in the marijuana media. Russ is based in Portland, Oregon, and travels extensively, lecturing and presenting on marijuana law reform issues. In addition to his writing for WeedNews.co, Russ's writing is featured in print in HIGH TIMES, Cannabis Now Magazine, and Oregon Cannabis Connection, and online on HIGHTIMES.com, Pot.TV, Alternet, Huffington Post, and many other websites.

"You're The F**king Experts Of Fake News"

Paul Joseph Watson Blasts The MSM: "You're The F**king Experts Of Fake News"

by Tyler Durden

Nov 18, 2016 8:30 PM

 

 

Paul Joseph Watson is back with another epic rant....this time eviscerating the mainstream media for spreading an obviously biased list of "fake news" sources compiled by a left-wing assistant professor in an obvious attempt to undermine conservative news outlets. 

We wrote about the list a couple days ago as Zero Hedge itself was actually a target of Melissa "Mish" Zimdars' fake news wrath.  To our complete "shock", the list of fake news sources created by the self-described "feminist, activist" who is an avid supporter of numerous "neutral" political groups, like Occupy Wall Street, included several conservative news outlets like Breitbart and InfoWars but somehow missed leftist sites like The Huffington Post which was exposed by WikiLeaks to have been overtly colluding with the Hillary Clinton campaign.

As always, here are a couple of our favorite lines though the full clip is a must see.

Oh, and when they say "fake news," that includes any reporting or opinion that contradicts their leftist narrative.

Who gave the mainstream media the right to be judge, jury and executioner of what constitutes "fake news"?  All you do is put out fake news.  You're the aficionado of fake news.  You put out the fake news that Hillary Clinton was 98% likely to win the presidency.  You printed out and shipped copies of Newsweek celebrating "Madam President."  You put out fake, rigged polls that were proven spectacularly wrong.  You create fake narratives like Trump being responsible for violence at his own rallies when it was DNC-funded agitators all along.  You're the fucking experts of fake news. 

As WikiLeaks exposed, you're a public relations front for the Democratic Party.  You lost the argument.  You trashed your own credibility.  And now you're trying to resurrect it by claiming that everyone that beat you is "fake news".  Give me a break.

As a reminded, here is the full list of news outlets deemed "fake" by the snowflake of infinite wisdom, Melissa Zimdars: 

Timely Reminders from the Division of Local Services

Timely Reminders

In our last edition of City & Town, the Ask DLS focused on changes made by the Municipal Modernization Act. One of the questions related to bond premiums and how they are to be treated under the new law. It closed with "[B]ond and municipal counsel should be consulted for language to be used to amend existing borrowing authorizations and to include in future authorizations in order to use premiums for project costs and reduce the amount authorized."

With town meetings on the horizon, it's important for every municipality that has debt that was previously authorized but has yet to be issued to include a warrant article that contains this blanket language so that the community can take advantage of the ability to either reduce the amount borrowed or set aside the premium for a future capital project. Please consult bond counsel and municipal counsel so that a warrant article can be included for upcoming Town Meetings.

We also want to take this opportunity to provide a reminder to municipalities regarding submittal of referendum votes. These votes include debt exclusions, overrides, underrides, capital exclusions and stabilization fund overrides. In order to efficiently assist cities and towns with expedited services, our Municipal Databank asks that city and town clerks email all votes to databank@dor.state.ma.us. Votes can be mailed to the attention of the Municipal Databank at the Division of Local Services, P.O. Box 9569, Boston, MA 02114.

Submissions should include votes that pass (win) and votes that fail (loss). Referendum votes must include a specimen ballot, certified results, and a signed true copy attest by the clerk. Additional copies of these votes may be sent to your BOA field representative; however, please note that the Municipal Databank is responsible for maintaining the DLS Gateway Votes Database. In the interest of the environment and for tracking purposes, we encourage clerks to send Proposition 2 1/2 votes electronically.

As always, I like to hear from our partners in local government. We are here to assist municipalities in practicing strong municipal financial management. If we're delivering as promised, let me know. If we are not, I also want to know. If you have an idea we may not have thought of, please pass it along by emailing me at croninse@dor.state.ma.us. Enjoy the upcoming holidays!


Sean Cronin
Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services

****************************************

From Jeff Bennett's Templeton Watch

Friday, November 18, 2016

Happenings in Templeton - as we hear them.

Possible new veterans service officer in Templeton - wife of current/former Templeton veterans service officer John Caplis.

Templeton Senior Center gets a 30 day extension and the food pantry will be allowed to stay open no matter because the down stairs is in code -???

Some cuts coming as it seems the fiscal year 2017 expense spread sheet was/is not as good as the selectmen and former town administrator told town meeting it was/is.

I take that as the selectmen and town administrator fibbed to town meeting, so if they think a tax override is the way to go to fix that mess, good luck with that approach.

Assistant treasurer/collector now doing the payroll for the town, per orders from the selectmen/town administrator, because apparently the town treasurer/collector "has alot on her plate."

On the good side, 4 selectmen signed the tax recap sheet and all of the assessors signed so it has been sent off to the DOR. selectmen John Columbus could not be bothered with signing the most important document.

The DOR office in Boston is keeping an eye on Templeton while wondering how Templeton is going to borrow 47 million for a new school and the one million dollars for police station work.

There are apparently about 20 candidates for town administrator for Templeton.

There is serious talk about the merging of cemetery and highway as well as some eyes on and questions about sewer debt and the spending over there by the way the process was done - apparently there may have been some steps or a process that was shall we say, mishandled.

enjoy the weekend.

posted by Jeff Bennett

 

Kennebunk-area voters decide to cease water fluoridation

Source: Portland Press Herald | November 10th, 2016 | By Peter McGuire, Staff Writer

Location: United States, Maine

Voters have decided to stop fluoridating water in the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells Water District.

Residents of seven towns in the district voted to stop treating drinking water with fluoride, 9,922 votes to 5,625 votes.

Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Ogunquit, Arundel and parts of Biddeford and York get their water from the district. Fluoride is commonly added to public water supplies across the country as a way to combat tooth decay.

“The Water District is pleased with the outcome of the fluoride referendum,” said district superintendent Norm Labbe, in a written statement.

“It’s evident that the voting public is now more informed about the subject than they were back in 2002, when fluoridation was voted in. The water district thanks the Campaign to Reconsider Water Fluoridation volunteers and in particular the voters for their knowledgeable decision to cease the addition of fluoride to out water,” Labbe added.

“We look forward to staying true to our mission of providing the highest quality of water at the lowest reasonable cost.”

Fuel Assistance Information

Fuel Assistance Information

For Fuel Assistance contact:

New England  Farm Workers Council

473 Main St. 3rd Floor

Fitchburg, MA 01420

(978) 342-4520

or

MOC

66 Day St.

Fitchburg, MA 01420

(978) 342-7025

 

 

Central Mass. upholds reputation as increasingly red

 By Brad Petrishen
Telegram & Gazette Staff

The political map of Massachusetts after Tuesday’s presidential election mirrors that of America – red in the middle.

Continuing a years-long trend, voters in Central Massachusetts voted more Republican than most areas of the state. Though nationally defeated Democrat Hillary R. Clinton won Central Massachusetts, she did so by a considerably smaller margin than the rest of the Bay State.

Mrs. Clinton edged GOP President-elect Donald J. Trump 52 percent to 42 percent here. That 10-point difference is far tighter than the nearly 28-point gap statewide.

Mr. Trump won 41 of the 70 municipalities in Central Massachusetts, with a high mark in East Brookfield, where he garnered 57 percent of the vote, and a low point of 25 percent in Harvard.
If one subtracts the blue dot of Democrat-laden Worcester – where Mrs. Clinton won by 39 points – Central Massachusetts gave Mrs. Clinton the nod 49 percent to 44 percent.

Several towns that voted for President Barack Obama in 2012 opted for Mr. Trump in 2016, including Millbury, Leicester, West Brookfield, New Braintree, Barre, Templeton, Ashburnham, Winchendon, Royalston, Athol and Orange. (This paragraph has been corrected. Hudson sided with Hillary Clinton.)

Mrs. Clinton won the following towns that in 2012 backed GOP nominee Mitt Romney: Sturbridge, Upton, Boylston, West Boylston, Holden, Paxton, Lunenburg and Lancaster. She did best in Harvard, which gave her 69 percent.

As the T&G reported Monday, though Mrs. Clinton outraised Mr. Trump 11-to-1 statewide, she did so less than 4-to-1 in Central Massachusetts; voters here gave Mr. Trump nearly 10 percent of his statewide tally, while accounting for just 3 percent of Mrs. Clinton's.

Former Worcester mayor and Democratic operative Joseph C. O’Brien said Wednesday that the vote tallies played out about as he thought they would in Worcester County.

“Hillary’s performance is fairly similar to Obama’s in 2012,” he said, and better in some towns.

Mr. O’Brien advised against painting Central Massachusetts with a broad brush; although it is waxing Republican overall – particularly to the south and west – there are Democratic strongholds in Worcester and points northeast, he noted.

“I was actually surprised at how well Hillary did in the county,” he said, adding that, in general, the higher-educated, more well-to-do towns like the boroughs tend to vote Democrat.

Mr. O’Brien said the Central Massachusetts presidential vote appears reflective of anger against Democrats, both nationally and in the state.

Take Action Now

Take Action Now

The Templeton Senior Center may be closed in the very near future.

The building inspector ( (978) 894-2770) has issued a cease and desist order for occupying the building. The one of the main issues is the siding on the building has not been completed.

If the Senior center is closed, what will happen to the Food Pantry?

If the Senior center is closed, what will happen to the Cemetery  Office?

If the Senior Center is closed, who will help the seniors?

If the possibility of closing the senior center concerns you, call the Templeton Selectmen's Office :

  (978) 894-2755

 

 

AG Maura Healey: Mass. residents' rights will be protected from post-election hate crimes

AG Maura Healey: Mass. residents' rights will be protected from post-election hate crimes

maura healey.JPG
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey testifies before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, in Boston earlier this year. ((AP Photo/Steven Senne, File))

Shira Schoenberg | sschoenberg@repub.com By Shira Schoenberg | sschoenberg@repub.com

on November 14, 2016 at 3:40 PM, updated November 14, 2016 at 3:50 PM
2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE

AG Maura Healey: Mass. residents' rights will be protected from post-election hate crimes
Women fear effects of Donald Trump presidency on attitudes, abortion rights


BOSTON — Amid a post-election uptick in hate crimes in Massachusetts and across the country, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has set up a hotline to take reports of incidents of bias and discrimination.

"My job as attorney general is to not wait for bad things to happen but to make sure people know here in the state of Massachusetts that their rights will be protected, that the attorney general's office will be here to work with our partners in law enforcement to enforce the law and defend people's rights," Healey said at a press conference on Monday.

The hotline will be available for Massachusetts residents to report bias-motivated threats, harassment and violence that they experienced or witnessed. Residents should still report any hate crimes, such as bias-motivated assault, battery and property damage, to their local police.

According to Healey, the hotline will be managed by attorneys and staff in her office. Some matters may be referred to local law enforcement or to district attorneys' offices for investigation. Others will be investigated for civil or criminal enforcement by Healey's office.

"I want residents around the state to know they have a place where they can report incidents, and that the attorney general's office will review all of those matters as they come in and will take appropriate action as necessary, working with others in law enforcement," Healey said. "I think it's vitally important that we make clear that, in Massachusetts, people have rights, and those rights are to be protected."

Healey declined to specify how many incidents she is aware of in Massachusetts and whether her office is involved in any investigations.

Incidents reported in the media include: Anti-Semitic and racist pro-Trump graffiti was spray painted on Mount Tom earlier this month; volunteers mobilized Friday and over the weekend to clean it up. Two male Babson College students on Wednesday drove around the Wellesley College campus, the women's school that Clinton attended, reportedly waving a Trump flag, yelling sexist slurs and spitting at women; one later apologized on Facebook but denied using profanity or spitting.

A postal service worker at a Cambridge gas station allegedly yelled at a Hispanic man to "go back to your country" because "this is Trump land." Letters containing threats, racial slurs against black people and profanities were sent to a home in Natick. A swastika was reportedly carved into a Jamaica Plain recycling bin. A Sikh man studying at Harvard wrote on Facebook that he was harassed in Cambridge by a man who mistook him for a Muslim.

Healey said if someone calls the hotline, her office will investigate to determine whether a crime occurred and whether there is a criminal or civil offense.

"Going forward, to the extent (someone) witnessed or experienced or were subjected to anything that appears to be bias-motivated harassment or violence, whether it's on the basis of race or ethnicity or religion or sexual orientation or their status as an immigrant, they need to know that there are laws in the state of Massachusetts that protect them," Healey said. "I will be there to enforce those rights and protect those rights and work with others in law enforcement to keep people safe."


The Anti-Defamation League has reported an uptick in hate incidents since the election.

Healey said she was motivated to establish the hotline by the uptick in hate crimes since Republican Donald Trump won the presidential election after a divisive and emotional campaign. Healey supported Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

"It naturally follows what has been a presidential election campaign cycle that involved at times some pretty outrageous conduct and statements," Healey said. "There has been a divisiveness throughout this election, and I think that you see actions and conduct in the wake of that."

The attorney general's hotline can be reached at 1-800-994-3228. Residents can also fill out a civil rights complaint form online.