Cover Photos of Templeton’s Police Department Courtesy of their Facebook Page. Our Police Department does so much more than Protect & Serve the residents of the Town. They do a lot for the community - holding events for residents, such as Shop with a Cop; assisting with local fundraisers; working very closely with our Fire Department; and visiting with Town residents, as Officer Malnati is doing in the cover picture-buying lemonade from a local child’s stand. Annual Report 2018 was Created and Edited by Holly Young, Assistant to the Town Administrator TOWN OF TEMPLETON Incorporated 1762 Population as of January 2018 – 7,562 Registered Voters as of January 2018 – 5,171 Representative in Congress – Second District Congressman Jim McGovern, Worcester, MA State Senate Senator Anne Gobi, Spencer, MA Executive Council – Governor’s Council MA Governor’s Councilor – 7th District Jennie L. Caissie, Oxford, MA Representative 2nd Franklin District Susannah Whipps, Athol, MA Town Counsel Brooks and DeRensis, P.C. (through February 2018) Miyares and Harrington, LLP (March – June, 2018) ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE TOWN OF TEMPLETON IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 JULY 1, 2017 – JUNE 30, 2018 DEDICATION The Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018 is dedicated to three devoted members of the Templeton community. PRISCILLA LECLERC NOVEMBER 3, 1929 – FEBRUARY 7, 2018 __________________________ An integral part of Templeton’s community for almost 60 years, Priscilla raised her children and grandchildren here; attended Holy Cross Church; and after retiring became actively involved in her community, especially Templeton’s senior center. She was devoted to community service, becoming the founding member of the Senior Center Building Oversight Committee & remaining an integral part of the committee for over ten years working diligently with other team members to finally see the reality of the new Senior Center open in 2015. She was an active member on the Board of Directors of the Council on Aging and held many offices, including President through June of 2017, earning the respect and admiration of a grateful community as a generous, thoughtful, calm and understanding volunteer that was always willing to help and was known as the heart of the community and key to the Senior Center. Priscilla was presented with a Proclamation for Hometown Hero by the Board of Selectmen on July 10, 2017 for her efforts and involvement in the Templeton community. She is dearly missed by the Senior Center community, Town residents, friends and family. DEDICATION The Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018 is dedicated to three devoted members of the Templeton community. PHILIP P. SMITH OCTOBER 14, 1942 – JANUARY 15, 2018 __________________________ Phil graduated from Narragansett Regional High School of Baldwinville with the Class of 1961. He was employed in the shipping and receiving department of Garlock Printing and Converting Corporation of Gardner for 17 years, prior to retiring in 2007. He was previously employed by Temple Stuart Furniture Company of Baldwinville for 28 years. Phil dedicated 50 years to this community as an on-call Firefighter with the Town of Templeton Fire Department. He was a member of St. Martin’s Church of Otter River and Holy Cross Church of Templeton. He was also a member of the Otter River Sportsman’s Club of Templeton. Phil is missed by his Fire Department and the Templeton community. DEDICATION The Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018 is dedicated to three devoted members of the Templeton community. THOMAS MARTIN JULY 8, 1945 – APRIL 13, 2018 __________________________ A graduate of Rutgers University, Tom had worked as an English teacher and guidance counselor at Narragansett Middle High School until his retirement. Tom was a former selectman for the Town of Templeton, served on many town committees and worked at the former Templeton Developmental Center at one time. Tom proudly served his country as a member of the United States Air Force. He was a member of the American Legion in Baldwinville, PACC of Gardner, Templeton Lions Club and the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Tom also operated his own wine business from his home, Martin Farm Winery. Tom was well loved by his students and community and will be missed. Table of Contents SECTION DEPARTMENT/BOARD/COMMITTEE PAGE 1. ADMINISTRATION 10 & FINANCE Board of Selectmen 11 Town Counsel 13 Advisory Committee 14 Board of Assessors 15 Town Accountant & Audit 19 Town Clerk 90 Vital Statistics 90 Warrant, Fall Town Meeting, November 14, 2017 91 Warrant, Annual Town Election, May 7, 2018 105 Warrant, Annual Town Meeting, May 19, 2018 110 Elected Town Officials 147 Appointed Town Officials 148 Treasurer/Collector 155 2. COMMUNITY 159 SERVICES Boynton Public Library 160 Cable TV Advisory Committee 160 Community Preservation Committee 162 Council on Aging 163 Cultural Council 165 Historical Commission 166 Housing Authority 167 Recreation Committee 168 Scholarship Committee 169 Senior Center Oversight Committee 169 Veterans Services 172 3. DEVELOPMENT 174 SERVICES Agricultural Committee 175 Table of Contents Board of Health 175 Building Department 176 Conservation Commission 178 Electrical Inspector 177 Gas/Plumbing Inspector 177 Planning Board 178 Zoning Board of Appeals 179 4. PUBLIC SAFETY 180 Animal Inspector 181 Emergency Management 181 Fire Department & EMS 182 Police Department & Dispatch 183 5. PUBLIC WORKS 184 Department of Public Works: 185 Cemetery & Parks Commission 185 Highway Department 186 Sewer Department 188 Municipal Light Department 190 Municipal Water Department 200 6. SCHOOLS 208 Montachusset Regional Vocational Technical School 209 Narragansett Regional School District 225 Baldwinville & Templeton Center Elementary 227 Narragansett Middle School 228 Narragansett High School 230 Phillipston Memorial School 232 Narragansett Regionals School District~Financials 236 7. TOWN 241 INFORMATION Employee & Volunteer Recognition 242 Board & Committee Meetings 244 Committee Interest Form 245 Hours of Operation 246 Important Telephone Numbers Back Cover SECTION 1 ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Page 10 BOARD OF SELECTMEN The Board of Selectmen respectfully submits this report of its activities during 2018. At the Annual Town Election on May 7, 2018, Julie Richard was re-elected to serve her second three- year term. Thereafter, the Board elected John Calpis as Chairman for the upcoming fiscal year. The board approved a Meeting Schedule in May, changing its meetings to Wednesday evenings. The Board meets throughout the year to handle important tasks, including adopting Town Policies, issuing licenses and permits for commercial activity, approving contracts for municipal projects and services, and making recommendations on the annual budget and other items to come before Town Meeting. Board members sometimes serve as liaison to various municipal boards and committees throughout the year. In addition, individual Selectmen serve on many ad hoc committees established by Town Meeting or the Board of Selectmen to advance a project or policy issue. Financial Management This year has been a year of continuing financial recovery and establishment of stability. The fiscal year 2017 audit was completed by Roselli & Clark earlier this year. We amended and updated our Financial Management Policies. We had 5 new members appointed to the Advisory Committee, who have really been collaborative with the Board of Selectmen. Audits After completing the 5 years of backed-up audits for (FY) 2013 to FY 2016 in Fiscal Year 2017, we are continuing on the path of getting the audits completed in a timely manner thanks to our Accounting office. The FY 2017 audit was completed in April of 2018. Insurance The Insurance Advisory Committee and our primary insurance carrier will be looking at ways to lower the increase in insurance costs that the Town faces each year. Town Administrator After many years of interim Town Administrators, and having a part-time Town Administrator, the Board has decided to try a new method of hiring a Municipal Management Fellow who works full-time very closely with the Town Administrator and after a year a decision will be made as to whether he may be hired as the first Full Time Town Administrator. Town Projects The Templeton Center Elementary School project has been coming along well and the school is scheduled to be completed for the Fall of 2019. A committee was formed for the disposition of the Baldwinville Elementary School. Page 11 Organizational Changes After holding interviews, we hired a new Town Counsel, Miyaris & Harrington in March, 2018. Other Highlights We purchased a new Fire Truck, Police Cruiser and DPW one ton. We are working on replacing old vehicles and maintaining our town owned vehicles. We traded vehicles with Winchendon, giving them a bucket truck we no longer needed and obtaining a dump truck that we needed. We had a Town Common Tree Risk Assessment done in order to have a plan to replace older dying trees. We held another successful All Boards Meeting with all of our Town Boards, Committees and Commissions to communicate things that have happened throughout the year and goals for the coming year as A Town. We adopted new Selectmen’s Goals for FY’20 to FY’22 for the Board of Selectmen. Future Aspirations Templeton continues to move forward providing a standardization across all departments some of our main focus was and is the finical team which has improved greatly. Maintaining tax dollars in our coffers (Stabilization, Capital and OPEB) has increased the Towns ability to move to a future bond rating. Working more with the community and maintaining open communication and information for all Taxpaying residences. Utilization of the Towns Web Site and Social Media has opened the Towns information and transparency at all levels. Maintaining synergy with all Departments of the Town and our partners at the Narragansett School District. Providing Direction and leadership for this community to continue its path moving forward. Thank You The Board of Selectmen would like to acknowledge that all accomplishments were efforts of a community.