Clown Show Part II

7/13/2018 10:14:00 AM Fortes calls for change Says loss of workers shows selectmen must get involved

‘Whether it is intentional or not this board has expressed apathy towards its residents, employees and businesses ...’ — Cameron Fortes, Templeton selectman Chance Viles News Staff Writer TEMPLETON - Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Cameron Fortes openly called for reform within the board at a meeting earlier this week, citing apathy as a reason for the loss of Municipal Man­agement Fellow Eric Pollitt, among other staff losses. At the close of the meeting, Fortes read a letter stating his disappointment in the Board of Selectmen for not being as active in making sure Pollitt stayed in town, as Pollitt was slated to be the next town manager after Town Administrator Carter Terenzini’s term expires in October. Fortes said that with Terenzini serving somewhat as the human resources department as well as the hiring/firing power, it left little room for people like Pollitt or other town employees and volunteers to vocalize their issues with the town, possibly driving them away. Fortes also brought up the high turnover rate within town government, citing the loss of Pollitt, Depart­ment of Public Works Director Alan Mayo, as well as the assistant town ac­­countant. “The apathy that this board has shown to the recent resignation of (Pollitt) is clear and present,” Fortes said. “This plan (to train Pollitt for an administrative position) was brought forth by (Terenzini) and the board accepted his proposal. This is by no means a reflection of Carter’s plan as a failure, to which it may have been successful under different circumstances.” Fortes claims he tried to schedule a meeting to discuss options on replacing Pollitt and eventually Terenzini, but it never came to fruition. Fortes also went on to say that he does not believe the reason given for Pollitt’s resignation, which was finding a job closer to home, was the true reason he had left, saying rather Pollitt may have left because he did not see a future in Templeton, and was dissatisfied with the work he was given. “Currently, we don’t have (human resources) so we don’t have any way to determine why our employees resigned aside from the words of our town administrator,” Fortes said. “I am not suggesting (mishandling of personnel) was the case with either (Pollitt) or the assistant town accountant but there is a risk it could have been and with that comes a legitimate possibility. ... If there was an HR director we would have reasonable evidence to support a claim for or against mishandling of … personnel.” It should be noted that Templeton has never had a human resources department. “Whether it is intentional or not this board has expressed apathy towards its residents, employees and businesses within the community,” Fortes said. “In the name of apathy towards the residents let us review the timeline of Laurel View Road.” Fortes went on to talk about how after Mayo left for another job, Terenzini had stepped in as interim DPW director. Not long later, the residents of Laurel View Road got a letter stating their road would no longer be plowed. Fortes cites the apathy from the fact that a public meeting was held with the residents, which none of the selectmen, including Fortes, attended, which he acknowledged. Fortes also calls for a more aggressive plan on economic development, as opposed to levying higher taxes. Fortes raised concerns that a possible override next year for about $1 million to support the new school will not pass, and that there must be other ways to produce growth. “If the solution to our revenue issue is destroying our residents with crippling taxes that wealthier communities struggle to afford, then we are not the leaders that the citizens of Templeton need,” Fortes said. Fortes said he’s recommending more set procedures to keep the board on track, as well as just having himself and the other selectmen checking in more with what’s going on and being more involved. Selectmen Chairman John Caplis responded to the speech in an interview, seeing the need for reform but not agreeing on every facet of Forte’s call for reform. “I think we can improve, there is always improvements ... I agree to an extent. There should be more things paid attention to as far as the information we are getting, but we are out there,” Caplis said. “I am in Town Hall a couple times a week, same with Diane Haley Brooks. Obviously there can be some improvement. I don’t agree with everything he said, but Cam is right. If we don’t know there is an issue, we can’t address it.” Caplis went on to talk about what has changed in the past three years with the selectmen, believing that these changes are the beginning steps to getting entirely on the right track. “Things have gotten better and more organized. When I first got in three years ago it was like the ’50s. They all had typewriters ... now it’s all automated,” Caplis said. “We have things in place to make things go in the right direction. ... There are communication gaps between boards and we are trying to bridge that gap, that’s why we have the all-boards committee we are trying to do twice a year. We have a role in the community, and we are working to build teamwork.” Caplis said that a major roadblock in finding other avenues of income is the fact that the town needs more volunteers and people running for boards like the Economic Development Board. “I can’t twist people’s arms to join the Economic Development Board ... when you look at the towns they are in the same positions,” Caplis said. “We are blue collar workers out here, people are working with families and they don’t have time to donate to join a board, they need that time for their kids. The average age of the housing board is 63. If you look at the boards, it’s the older folks, which is great but we need more people.” Ideas on reform have been placed on the agenda for the next selectmen’s meeting, but Caplis believes that Fortes did the right thing in vocalizing his discontent. “He’s very passionate ... I am proud of Cam for doing what he did,” Caplis said.