Templeton First, Reality Second

The following is my take on Templeton 1st and their propoganda

Templeton 1^st Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the public with information which will allow them to make informed decisiopropoganns regarding the community in which they live (Candidate Bob Columbus has already failed this misston, as information needs to be dragged out of him ans is not provided freely). We will promote projects (252 project & maybe a new dump) and activities that will lead to the betterment of the town. We will seek to support candidates for local election that we believe are fiscally responsible and will work in the best interest of the town as a whole (as long as you feel that spending wildly on K&P is fiscally responsible). As a group we value our town and would like to see it continue to be a desirable place that we may all be proud to call home.

Templeton 1^st Issues

We must remember why we needed a change in our town government (The following list could be written FOR Julie Farrell and AGAINST their candidate):

Undemocratically run Select Board

Mishandling of town finances

Unfair firing of a town employee

Jeopardizing the town in legal matters

Ignoring public opinion

If we want to keep the town moving in a positive direction we must continue what we have begun!

 Town Government Run in an Open and Respectful Manner:

Do you want a town government you can trust? Do you want elected officials that listen to your concerns? Do you want a town that is welcoming and unified? (Templeton is getting NONE of this with Bob Columbus)

The supporters of Templeton 1st answer "yes" to all of the above, which is why we believe that we must continue to move Templeton (Backward) forward. On February 6th the people spoke at the polls, the people wanted a change (because of the lies that they were told) and we must now work to maintain (the lies) that change. It has only been a few short months since the election and much (lying) work is left to be done

The current Select Board has been faced with many difficult tasks left by the previous board members and some decisions that may not appear to be "politically correct" (like the unfair dismissal of Mr. Ritter as Town Coordinator or the persistent 252 project), but are truly in the best interests of the town. Some wrongs need to be righted and mistakes need to be corrected in order for the town to move forward. (Does mean that Carol Skelton is coming back?) The people need to think long and hard before casting their vote on May 7th. Do the people want to move forward, or do they want to return to what they voted out in February? (Return to what some people voted out because they were lied to by this group)

The selectmen that were voted in on February 6th, as well as our current candidate, will work toward a more (bankrupt) unified town and in the best interests of (some of) its citizens. No one will ever agree with every (Bob Columbus and Isaac Matson) decision 100% of the time, that's what makes us all so different, but when the decisions that are made are in the best interests of (some of its citizens)  the town, then you can be assured that your elected officials are working for (anyone but) you. The townspeople must not hinder the work of the Select Board, (Or What? Is this a veiled threat?) but must work with them in order to make Templeton a better place.

Currently, the town as a whole, has become very hostile and we all need to work together to change that situation (People are brought together through acts of Love. There is not much love being spread by Bob Columbus) . Supporters of Templeton 1st would never hide behind anonymous names or false profiles (instead, they will just outright lie to you) in order to start rumors or make scandalous accusations about elected officials, town employees or other citizens (Some might just tell the truth about the scandalous behavior of our elected officials). They also would not make threats of violence toward elected officials or townspeople. Is that behavior that you would choose to be associated with? (no one wants that, but do you want to be associated with someone that has multiple complaints of bullying as their legacy?) We, as a community, need to leave the schoolyard bullying of finger pointing and name calling behind and work together to unify Templeton. We must support our town government and allow them to get on with the business of the town so that we can once again put (some of the chosen few in) Templeton 1st!

Unfair Dismissal of a Town Employee:

As employees we expect fair treatment from our employers. When an employer dismisses an employee without cause, simply because of a "feeling", then justice is not being served. This is exactly what has happened in the Town of Templeton, and we must work to right that wrong (Does mean that Carol Skelton is coming back?). Our former Select Board Chairman chose to dismiss a long time (complacent, self-serving) town employee without even looking at the employee's past record (written by her husband) or service to the town. Is this how you want your town to be run?

Templeton 1st believes that all town employees deserve to be treated fairly. Templeton cannot afford to loose valued employees simply because one individual makes a subjective decision. We cannot allow the town to go backwards, we must continue the forward momentum (How can the rehiring of K&P and the return to Carol Skelton be considered moving forward?) that was begun on February 6th and we must right the wrongs of the former board (Does mean that Carol Skelton is coming back).

Ignoring Public Opinion:

When you as a citizen attend a board or committee meeting and have questions or concerns you expect to be able to voice those concerns, that is the premise for democracy (Agree). This has also been the norm in the town of Templeton (Disagree) and all citizens should expect fair and equal treatment (Agree). The current Board of Selectmen are attempting to bring back that philosophy which seemed to be haphazard at best under the previous chairman (Disagree). At times the public was not even allowed to speak (As to not open the Town to lawsuits) and some were even forced to leave the meeting (Virginia Wilder, because of her not following the rules). During this time when the board chose to ignore public opinion, the citizens remained civil (Untrue, candidate Bob Columbus called other BOS members “Chicken Shit” which can clearly be heard at 31:36 mark of the 9/26/11 BOS meeting before the meeting had been adjourned) and allowed the business of the town to continue.

Since the change in the make up of the board, many more citizens have chosen to attend meetings on a regular basis. This, on the surface, seems to be a move in the right direction, increased citizen involvement. The current chairman of the Select Board has repeatedly worked to allow these citizens time to voice their opinions and ask their questions in a respectful way (Questions are asked, but not answered). Unfortunately, many of these citizens are becoming increasingly disrespectful and unruly (Unlike the crowd at the 9/26/11 meeting?), thus hindering what work (The unfair dismissal of a Town employee, Mr. Ritter?) should be happening at these meetings.

All the citizens of Templeton have a right to their opinion, but those opinions must be voiced respectfully and appropriately in order for our town to move forward in a positive manner. Let us continue to keep a Board of Selectmen (that is not) willing to hear your concerns and (not) work with you, not a board that muffles your opinions and tosses you out the door (Like what Mrs. Wilder would have done to you).

A Centralized Town Hall:

During these tough economic times a centralized town hall just makes fiscal sense (not if you look at the actual numbers this 252 project will cost the town). All town offices under one roof where departments can interact more easily, costs can be shared, staff can work as a team and citizens can go to one location for all of their town needs. The time for this concept (East Templeton) is now!  

For many years a group of dedicated citizens have put countless hours into the project of a new Municipal Building. They have worked tirelessly to look at many different options and have gotten the approval of (around 100 of) the citizens of this town (on the third night of town meeting at 19pm with a non-unanimous vote, no matter what the Moderator says) to go forward with the project. A building was purchased (via email, no address on the email, and signed by only 3 selectmen) and plans were laid, but new hurdles emerged and now the project has been halted (because the majority of the town VOTED to stop this project). The town has invested many hours and much money into this building and it now stands empty and the efforts seem to have been wasted (the fault of a select few who tried to pass a quick one by the town). Is this a responsible use of your tax dollars, (over)spend them on a project and then leave it unfinished and wasting away? (No, but it was the supporters of Templeton 1^st that did it!),

The foundation of this project has been set and it must (not) continue. The current town offices continue to cost us increasingly more each year and we have a very viable solution within our reach (the former East Templeon school). Templeton can move forward and on into the future (by voting for Julie Farrell), or we can remain stagnant and be left in the dust (by voting for Team Columbus), always trying to make ends meet, but never quite making any progress.

We must put Templeton 1st and think of (ourselves in) the future.