TIME NEVER ENDS

Neither does the BOS chairman. His highness has done it again. He installed a temporary fire chief who may become the full time chief. He may be qualified to fight fires, but he may not be the most qualified for medical services. His highness went against the previous fire cheifs' recommendation of a person with EMT experience. Medical services constitutes the majority of the departments duties. Again, the chairman went against what is best for the residents of Templeton.  Another appointment of a friend over the person with the experience to do the job. I think that is called cronyism. How many residents may be hurt or possibly die while the new chief learns the job? Of course it is only my opinion. Pa Pa Bear

Whats that smell?

I don't know, but it could be Templeton politics. Just like fresh manua, it seems to get stronger by the week. After spending $5000. for 12 days of legal services in February, an old gent asked His Highness{the board chairman} what the bill for legal services, for the town, was for the month of March ? The answer was that  the BOS had not received a bill yet. The question was asked on April 23rd. No bill for services rendered in March ! SOMETHING SMELLS REAL BAD HERE. On calling the board chairman His Highness, someone in the audience asked him who appointed him king? Actually, no one did. The chairman appointed himself king. PHEW, I HAVE TO GO, THE SMELL IS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY.

PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY

With bad government now running rampant in Templeton, who is to blame? In most societies, people choose people to run the business of the community. Some people don't get to choose. Tyrants take over on their own. Sometimes regular and decent folk become the tyrants. Such is the case here. The BOS is a virtual dictatorship run by three selectmen who are in over their heads. They are not qualified to run a dog pound. Do I blame them? No. It is not their fault. They are not qualified, thats all. The fault belongs to the voters who voted for these People. Also at fault are the voters who didn't bother to vote. An old gent told me this awhile back,[ Son,] he said, [You only get the government that you deserve.] PLEASE VOTE WISELY MAY 7. VOTE JULIE FARRELL FOR SELECTMAN
PappaBear

The Howdy Doody Show

Back in the 50,s there was a show on tv called the Howdy Doody Show. It reminds me how similar the BOS meetings are to that show. Howdy was a puppet that was manipulated by a person unseen. Howdy had friends also.One was Clarabell the clown. Every show has a clown., yes the Howdy Doody show and the BOS has its  similarity's. The only difference are there are no curtains and Clarabell had a horn.
Pappa Bear

WHAT COUNTRY IS THE TOWN OF TEMPLETON IN

I have been to a few BOS meetings, trying to figure out how it works. It definitely is not a democratic institution.  It might be a form of a republican system, but not a very good one. Some how it resembles the way fascism worked, or it may resemble the way Russia or China works. They have only one party, and towns have committee's with a chairman. The chairman is the absolute power. This is the way the selectman's board is functioning now, in the Town of Templeton. The chairman is in a role of dictator. Nothing is done without his approval. There is no democracy or intelligent discussion to arrive at the best possible solution for the good of the town. If Templeton was in Russia we would have no chance to correct this situation.  Thankfully Templeton is in the United States of America. On May 7th,. we can vote for Julie Farrell. This is just a step, in getting our voice back.
Pappa Bear

Just thinking on a windy day.

I was amazed how fast the old legal council for Templeton resumed power. What could the reason be?  Well, for twelve days in February they were paid about $416.00 a day. If there are 365 days in the year, Koppelman & Paige theoretically could earn a 151,840.00. Gee, don't you think we could buy a new truck for the highway dept, and a cruiser for Templeton's, finest. Some day down the road ,when we don't have anything to do, we should add up how much money our "old coordinator"  has spent on our darling law firm.in the past nine or ten years. I think I don,t want to know the truth, it might make me sick...-K&P really loves  our town. They could not wait to get rid of the law firms Julie & Bob hired, could it be they need to be in control, maybe they are afraid we will discover what really came down with the sewer plant deal. They should worry, one day it will all come out..Now  with the law suit against Julie, Bob.& Jeff., you know we will watch every move that is made...Ok Bubba, What are you going to do now?  Papa Bear

Government not working for Templeton Residents

There is absolutely no regard for the Templeton taxpayer. Especially by the B.O.S. chairman and our two newly elected selectpersons. One selectman, as skuddle butt has it, was let go of his job for not protecting

Winchendon town property. Now he is doing harm here, not protecting tax payer money.

How many thousands of our tax dollars have been squandered making lawyers wealthier? Bullying Mr. Ritter to get him to leave. A man the town needs badly, for his experience and knowledge. Are they going to replace him with our former town coordinator...At what cost. Smacks of cronyism!

How much of this money could have been used for needed equipment by the highway dept or police dept. All of the town departments have to cut their budgets by 20% to balance the budget at town meeting, along with using the rest of our free cash...

We need to take a stand and say no...YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH HARM!

It is important that you tell everyone you know in town to read Pauly's Blog. Everyone has to be informed, and support Julie in May.

Pappa Bear

The award goes to

It has become more clear that are town is in very bad way-we are floating down the river, heading for Tully Dam, with no one in charge smart enough to row toward shore, or throw out the anchor.

As for our, lady selectmen, at this point I am not sure if she is the "queen of mean"or a " drama queen"

A young child knows it is wrong to yell for help for no reason. There are some things you do not do: you do not yell fire in a crowded room when in fact there is no fire.

Calling for the police the other night when everyone was leaving the room, please! Getting a restraining order against Pauly, just to embarrass him-gives the Gardner News something to write about-Good move! Just think, forbid something was to happen-who is going to rush to your aid-it reminds me of Chicken Little .The sky is falling, the sky is falling. Who is going to look up.

The drama queen sure has found a way to play to the press. I'll bet she has never had so much attention in her whole life. It is too bad we don't hand out Academy awards. The three of them could do well as best in comedy, if they were not so sad. She could get a award for best in drama, seeing this whole picture is a horror show.

Oh damn, this is not Hollywood-this is Templeton-to find Hollywood go West. I'll help you pack.

This is my view from the hill on South Road.

Bev

The taxpayers will come

 

I think I have told you my family has been in Templeton for four generations. I love the land I live on and I plan to stay here until I die.

My husband spent most of his life in Leominster. They have a mayor and a city Council. I told my husband "in Templeton we have town meetings. You can vote for what you do or do not like". We have selectmen, you can go to a meeting and discuss any issue you have and they can try to get problems resolved. It always felt good that we as citizens could have a say in what was going on. I always felt it was more open and honest, a better form of government.

I have found the people of our town will stand back and let officials do their job, as long as they feel they are being treated in a fair manner. When the time comes that the good, honest taxpayers of Templeton feel they have not been represented fairly, they are not afraid to let their feelings be known.

I have no doubt that the recall of Julie and Bob M. was the very worst thing that has happened politically in Templeton's 250 years. 

We had the biggest snow job in the town's history and the highway trucks never left the town barn-this occurred when the "let the people speak" group organized and took it upon themselves to distort the truth and lie to the good citizens of our town.

The people of Templeton have come to let the newly elected selectmen know the "truth is out there" the scam is done and we have your numbers.

In case Ms. Wilder has forgotten, we pay the way-you work for us. It is beyond belief that she has the nerve to criticize her fellow taxpayers for trying to attend a meeting. Some of the people attending these meetings are in their 70s and 80s.

Why are they there? You may ask. No it is not to disrupt the town or “impede the process of town government.” It is so they can make sure you don't drive the town off the cliff. It is already in the ditch.

The residents will attend these meetings until they can regain the trust that has been lost. How long this takes depends upon those in office. Play fair and by the rules-or it will be a long siege.

This is my view from the hill on South Road. Bev B

Please everyone attend the Selectmen’s Meeting Thursday, March 8, 6:00PM in the Narragansett Middle School Cafeteria. and the Selectmen's Meeting Friday March 9, 12:00 PM 690 Patriots Rd

Pauly's Stand

Pauly has stood alone trying to get someone, anyone, to hear his voice.
This can be a lonely, isolated feeling - to be loud enough for the people in town to pause in the routine of their day, to take a few precious minutes, the short time he had to try to get them to listen and understand what he had to say.

In the beginning his support group was small: a sign on Route 2A, one or two in a person's yard, no support from the local paper;  They have taken a side - but not his. They took the wrong side but they won't figure that out until it's too late.

Pauly's blog started small - a way to give a voice that would not be heard any other way. He has taken a beating. The only time the Gardner News can find the ink to use about him is when it's in a negative way.

A good friend, Jeff Bennett, can unravel what Pauly says, but more often than not he is misunderstood by the people who would prefer to use his own words against him. This has finally begun to change.

Pauly has spent weeks trying to get time on the selectman's agenda. Mr. Columbus has refused every request. Something has to give. Too many people know Pauly's story. Why are they are afraid to grant his request? Could it be Pauly is right? If he is not, give him some time. What will it hurt... unless of course you have something to hide...

This is my opinion and my view from the hill on South Road.

Bev

Templeton's Witch Hunt

In 1692, nineteen men and women were convicted of witchcraft and hung. Many of these innocent people faced accusations without benefit of a trial. Not much has changed since that time, as we have had our own witch trials here, 2012 style.

Hysteria and the failure of a majority of our voters to understand the true dynamics in the workings of town government has put our town in dire straights. Probably one of the most troubling aspects of these recent events is the lack of honest reporting by our local newspaper and the refusal of the same paper to publish most rebuttals. As a result, the residents are only getting a one sided narrow view of events making it almost impossible for residents to make an intelligent decision based on facts. 

As everyone should know by now, a new election was held and it appears Julie Farrell and Robert Mitchell were voted out of office. A recount is going to be held and we should know next week how that comes out. If the election stands, I am sure it is not going to take long for people to realize they made a very bad mistake. Mrs. Farrell and Mr. Mitchell had been working hard trying to do what's best for the town. They and Mr. Bennett had started saving the town money. They had hired a new law firm and a new coordinator.

As of the 16th, our "new select persons" refused to listen to reason and common sense and voted out the new law firm to replace it with the old law firm K & P. (Talk about going backwards, not forwards!) The selectmen were warned they could be putting the town in jeopardy. That did not matter! Where is the money going to come from to pay the firm that was fired. If they take us to court, God only knows. We are broke.

The town coordinator told me, "he is going to be next". This is a shame because Mr. Ritter, seems more than capable. I told him I was sorry he was thrown in the middle of this. I guess he wanted the job and was willing to take his chances. 

Paul Q. said this was a really sorry time for our town and he is right. There were many times in our past that personalities clashed. Things could get tough but no one ever crossed the line and did a recall. It does not matter if we agree with the firing of our past town coordinator or not - legally Julie and Bob had the right to do what they did.

I think what really is the problem is that when people are in a job too long, they lose sight of the fact that "it is a job." It is not a divine right to be in this position, that they know better than anyone what the town needs - regardless of how the people of the town feel. 

The proposed "town hall" may have had a decent chance if it had been presented in an open and honest way - with correct figures, complete paperwork, and the voters given the right to a vote. This is their town. When you are in office and you forget that, it is time to step down.

We need to go forward, stop the bickering, back of the building deals, and figure out how we can get some industry in town once the economy is better and how to survive in the meantime.

This is my opinion and the view from the hill on South Rd. 

A History Lesson

For the newer residents of the town of Templeton, the residents that were too young to remember, and for those who have forgotten - I am going to tell you about the Battle of the Bales.

This is not the first time our town has been divided. In 1975, two men from Templeton went hunting off Hubbardston Rd. They came across a huge area that was filled with baled trash. That was the day the Battle of the Bales started.

A company from Cambridge had gone to the town of Hubbardston and asked if they could bring via railroad car, rubbish to their town to establish a dump. The residents refused loudly. This company then came to Templeton but this time it was not brought before the residents. There was no permit or vote. Instead, one of our respected landowners decided to do a deal on his own, apparently thinking they would not be caught. Once the word of the discovery was out, a cover up was in the works. Trucks hauling gravel and a bulldozer worked quickly to bury the evidence. 

Templeton's first Concerned Citizens group was established. Gladys Salame became our spokeswoman. The residents of the area attended the next selectmens meeting, demanding action.

The result was pretty much no response at all. The concerned citizens were relentless, putting pressure on selectmen, trying to determine what was in the material dumped and what to do with it.

A hearing was held in Boston and the police chief and conservation chairman tried to cover for their friend.

The two men that found the trash also testified about what they had seen.

One selectman quit his position even though he had nothing to do with the cover up and did not need the added pressure. I could not blame him; things got very nasty.

DEP decided they would have the bales where they were. They could not send it back, and it was too much for our landfill to hold - it is still buried off Hubbardston Rd and every year I pray it won't cause environmental problems. 

As a result of how poorly the situation had been handled by the board of Selectmen, Gladys decided to run for office. She was running against a selectman from Baldwinville. I was her campaign manager. She and I went door to door in every precinct asking the residents for their vote. No one had ever done that.

The election was on May 3, 1976. Baldwinville was the largest precinct at that time. Their votes would be counted last. The results from East Templeton, Otter River, and Templeton Center had Gladys ahead by 156 votes.

The good old boy network did not want her to win. When the tally was done, she lost by 46 votes! Gladys asked for a recount. The recount was held. I remember standing in the town clerks office. The atmosphere was hostile to say the least. I was leaning on the counter with Gladys on my right. I could see the Town Clerk just inside the safe. He was trying to get an envelope to stay closed. It had the ballots from Baldwinville in it. It had been opened and the rubber cement would not stay stuck.

There was nothing we could do. We did not have the ballots sequestered and we did not have a lawyer with us - we were too trusting and dumb. 

After the recount, Gladys lost the election by 44 votes. The next year she won Baldwinville by 166 votes.

After all this time, you must be wondering why I am writing this. For one thing, when Jeff Bennett won the election, then it was lost only to be won in a recount, I told him I did not think it was a mistake. Someone did not want him to be looking over their shoulders any more than when Gladys ran.

At Candidates Night, I was told this is not the past. I can only say some people think "the ends justify the means." I do not. I know how bad politics can be and how bad they have been in the past 9 or 10 years.

It is not okay to treat anyone badly when they go to the selectmans office for help or for information. Elected officials work for every citizen, not a select few.

When Paul Cosentino confronted our past selectmans coordinator, she should have sucked it up and admitted a mistake had been made instead of letting things get out of hand. I could only think, "that could have been my father."

As a resident, you may have felt the need to sign the recall petition, or maybe you were in the uncomfortable position of being afraid to say no.

Just remember, no one knows who you vote for when you go into the voting booth.

Julie and Bob need our support. The town needs to settle down so we can enjoy our 250th Anniversary.

This is my view from the hill on South Road. 

Beverly Miganowicz Bartolomeo