[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6277422,"mediaKeyId","2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42","parentId",2655114,"title","Fire and EMS: town plans new tanker and ambulance; ambulance enterprise projects roughly $550,000 in revenue","audioSeconds",4027,"startMs",9213000,"endMs",13240000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42&start=9213&end=13240","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42/thumbnail_9213000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277422/Massachusetts/Fire-and-EMS-town-plans-new-tanker-and-ambulance-ambulance-enterprise-projects-roughly-550000-in-revenue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277422-08e201a403ad769857f0300a92539f76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169666&Signature=AWiiGcfiU2v9Wh1i3hiIXIa1EM1AycePzTSDsbIaqTI7PzurDWdwZiVkvsqvd3wcO8GEw~1VXCoFn7X7eK5OidJawz~~wxZJmo7Ao6HxWXGLUdDs-yh~YXOP1sLL7DRkVZrQZ5hYTLIzf6IJHGshhQhX07buEw3YlpLYj1z7t2ZKmrUGNXf41FdI8s5Jbx1ko7~AZ~~fpX4vBM8enkDU8Ic0USq2HLaD3mRyBFm9pix491Zb6ePLUA69hGTx3Ctc7uS3LmY-yPGz2d8AUB~w803AjIkSTHWRDJTlayDMTEBWfT5hXi-KKLXY2Z3KYsvfDFZ3IIHT93kA4L9ubiU-Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Templeton, MA","date","2025-03-15T11:57:40Z","article","Templeton Fire and EMS leaders told the Select Board and Advisory Committee on March 2 that capital procurement and ambulance enterprise finances are a central part of the town's FY2026 planning.

Apparatus and capital: Fire Chief reported a tanker unit has been ordered (chassis in the queue) and the department is finalizing ambulance procurement; supply-chain delays mean lead times can stretch to 18 months or longer. The chief said the older tanker will be traded in and that an older forestry truck is being prepared for auction. He warned that repairs on older apparatus and intermittent out-of-service time can stress operations.

Ambulance enterprise and revenue: The ambulance/EMS enterprise fund is projected to collect roughly $550,000 for the current fiscal year, the chief said. That revenue supports operational staffing and equipment; the chief said agreement and service contracts (for monitors, maintenance and software) add necessary recurring expenses but also reduce catastrophic replacement costs by covering equipment repair under contract.

Mutual aid, billing and regional arrangements: Chiefs explained regional mutual aid and contractual arrangements with area ambulance providers. If outside ambulances transport a patient for Templeton (for example when Templeton resources are unavailable), the outside provider typically bills and retains transport revenue; if Templeton provides a paramedic to another agency's ambulance, the towns have negotiated offsets. The chiefs said written agreements govern these arrangements and that the billing system and Medicare/Medicaid rules (CMS) drive much of the outcome on reimbursement.

Budget pressures and next steps: Chiefs requested careful stewardship of supplies and asked that the board consider how enterprise receipts can be used for capital replacement and maintenance. The department has set aside or sought free-cash appropriations to cover early-year lease payments for a tanker and is working to align payments and procurements with fiscal timing.

Direct quote: \"We are the closest emergency services to them,\" the fire chief said when discussing calls to a nearby facility and how mutual aid and billing interplay.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Templeton Department Budget Hearings of March 15, 2025 (Part 1)","oneSentenceSummary","Fire Chief described apparatus purchases in process (tanker and ambulance), mutual-aid reliance and budget pressures; EMS director projected roughly $550,000 in ambulance receipts for the year and said enterprise funds should cover vehicle and equipment needs if managed carefully.","taxTitle","Town of Templeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",51753,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277427,"Police chief warns current budget leaves department short-staffed; says he \"can't do this next year\"",375,6143000,6518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42&start=6143&end=6518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42/thumbnail_6143000.jpg","/articles/6277427/Massachusetts/Police-chief-warns-current-budget-leaves-department-short-staffed-says-he-cant-do-this-next-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277427-940edf38e393759b4d99fcffc9e86660/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169666&Signature=ff9x7nZvQgER3LFIS6dG5ntYhqIFG~sFRTCn7UBcHI9MqZp9dIQMZYKMvidI4kkeKPNTtBveVNW-MVIWhvNZXtp-0wSgbnUJUHN2djAcxbsfauxQqDn2zdlYXM5UHEVQDxO~fwhIKiKLOZ5x2tfVfk2KHu2voS1dpwNPj4quziRsAXEWvy1~N-HBDI8oGF0qsj2JsSablyqbiGJ0jOwf~EOZjz0YwvDu2s-grQADXNitiATq6RzCypQ0qMMK-5aYOgCpCYf4wciCPdh-6eUFAlW2sCimt~H-hByWcn8uiJ9B1MVvFaTqvCi0KeouEQVIJhCWV2yTH1~w1c8EtiSl1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief (identified in the transcript as Chief Bennett) told the Select Board and Advisory Committee that the police department's FY2026 request starts below last year's funding but that the department is already stretched thin and relying on overtime and part-time coverage to fill shifts.

The chief said several officers work extended hours because the department lacks sufficient full-time staff and that legal and safety standards limit extended part-time coverage; he described broader recruitment challenges for law enforcement across the region. \"I can do this this year. I can't do this budget again next year,\" the chief said, describing a staffing situation that he called unsustainable.

Why it matters: Select Board members and residents raised concerns that extended shifts and low staffing increase risks to officers and residents, that call response times could suffer, and that relying on overtime and part-time hires is not a long-term staffing strategy. Board members and the chief discussed possible offsets — hiring additional full-time officers would increase salary costs, but might reduce overtime and premium pay costs elsewhere in the departmental budget.

Discussion and context: The chief and board members compared Templeton's officer-per-population ratio with neighboring towns, discussed post‑police‑reform training and certification requirements that now make part-time hires harder to recruit, and described the cost effects of arrests and transports that require additional personnel and court time. One board member suggested pursuing grant-funded officer hires as a temporary measure but noted the town would have to sustain positions after grant expiration.

Next steps and budget implications: Board members said they will consider options and noted this is a townwide fiscal choice: provide additional tax dollars to hire officers, accept lower service levels, or identify other savings. The chief said grants could help but stressed the need for a sustainable plan for staffing and operational costs.

Direct quote: \"I can do this this year. I can't do this budget again next year,\" Chief Bennett said when asked about absorbing cuts.","Police Chief said the department is operating below recommended staffing, relying on overtime and part-time hires; he warned he can make this year's budget 'work' but cannot sustain it without additional positions or funding next year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277432,"Town manager proposes mothballing Scout Hall and Emergency Management Building to cut FY26 costs",500,2918000,3418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42&start=2918&end=3418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42/thumbnail_2918000.jpg","/articles/6277432/Massachusetts/Town-manager-proposes-mothballing-Scout-Hall-and-Emergency-Management-Building-to-cut-FY26-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277432-dfe164491e7fef6d5849cb071089bae7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169666&Signature=YtOKLxdzluniEMdn3c9TJpwntgzTlonZ00cHBSizUihcp5iVyzE42JJz8v1tjmQ~AdMEod6sIIR40lhosO6L5iDLKTsjTXy1Dp4C5CTdopZR1jt5SlmMYXEOtFDCx3cvpcDkfBUIOgdNAW0Me2HQTD0G87wDTuBhgygu41GPyZJmB6jyKG24aQUVKdwBxmQBfxF-NViNcy9J415pHRRYoJtvNSOmQ-VT8-nI4ZPRqv-Lif7Sghw5199RrRGvaYw50x2EzJcrEbSKBdETB6tNoNMv6AkmiML5Qyq79qZ-b4qjvGPg7eJ2zwOl2Z8VhHKoNFhvQHtKRcDXeXmKFubNQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Administrator (acting) recommended mothballing Scout Hall and the Emergency Management Building as a cost-saving measure during tight FY2026 budget negotiations, telling the joint meeting that the older Emergency Management Building is not ADA compliant and has high energy use.

Why it matters: The administrator framed the recommendation as a safety and liability action as well as a budget choice. He said keeping the Emergency Management Building in regular use exposes the town to OSHA and ADA-related liability and ongoing utility costs that the town can no longer sustain in the constrained budget.

How it would work: The administrator proposed keeping buildings in \"mothballed\" status — winterizing and using them for storage where feasible, or otherwise restricted use. He suggested the first floor of Scout Hall could be used for limited storage and that some departments (TCTV, other town users) could revert to town hall conference space for meetings.

Questions and concerns raised: Board members and department heads asked where programs and equipment would be relocated. Parks & Recreation said they rely on Scout Hall storage for benches, concession stand materials and program equipment; police and EMS noted that equipment staging and access are operational concerns. Residents and commissioners also raised insurance and winterization costs: vacant buildings can increase premiums and require additional winterization of plumbing and hazardous materials if stored equipment contains fuel.

Insurance and compliance: Officials warned mothballing could increase insurance premiums and require expenditures to winterize vehicles and stored equipment. The administrator said some storage use could be retained for essential equipment but acknowledged that winterizing stored vehicles and equipment carries added costs.

Next steps: The administrator said his last day in the role is forthcoming; he urged the board and staff to continue work on options, including potential relocation of equipment and evaluating insurance implications. Board members asked staff to identify short-term savings and report back on where $10,000 (the number cited for insurance/maintenance/utility savings) could be found in the budget.

Direct quote: \"Keeping that building open, puts the town at severe liability,\" the town administrator said, describing ADA and safety concerns.","The town administrator proposed mothballing Scout Hall and the Emergency Management Building to reduce operating costs and limit liability; department heads and board members raised questions about storage, insurance and where services would shift.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277436,"DPW warns of tight highway budget, highlights paving costs and Chapter 90 limits",3858,282000,4140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42&start=282&end=4140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42/thumbnail_282000.jpg","/articles/6277436/Massachusetts/DPW-warns-of-tight-highway-budget-highlights-paving-costs-and-Chapter-90-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277436-9ff130ef244c244cca473fdcb2cab686/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169666&Signature=MAh1Jd2gvTh0sfPywgtuEzUKo6AupJAoIBxE6pbTVwCnT06MCXj933as1mrPWKZdylWpaHOp2bElKeXSyLo8ADtnZlN7fDPP60OgxuABBygBwInDoWTJjqnO829~B4g5zCqGY9b8qvy8PD-RDjgTWCKrjjp~pcsB7kAJHVBeM7yjctZYz0Carl0jJY2xDquaFhhM6YaK-29X7WpKJfUuR-6khNiZAFSdSxLTAd4ZGIhD5jBIBp5SnlT6DN7rgO6OSoD8wUKBlgABUZhQlCGr1-GiTZAQStiRGKziIkASw1hpMBEwWJ1M-RJ-UA1jMDOaWAMOOm2GdpeuW5nnBvcYnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town of Templeton Highway Director Robert Sosik told the Select Board on March 2 that his FY2026 operating request is essentially level-funded compared with the prior year but faces several ‘‘lump sum disallowed’’ adjustments the board must absorb as it finalizes the budget.

Sosik said personnel steps were included where applicable and that the department currently shows six full-time highway workers listed under the highway account, with additional grounds positions elsewhere in the budget. He said he expects to hire at least one laborer and possibly a foreman in the coming year but cannot set exact costs until union negotiations conclude.

Sosik highlighted capital and supplies pressure: the highway supply and maintenance lines include proposed cuts that would reduce pavement painting, tree-cutting and cold-patch/hot-mix supplies. \"Everything's going up and up and up,\" Sosik said, describing a $56,640 disallow on the capital side that he would likely try to absorb by trimming vehicle repairs, tires and batteries where possible.

Why it matters: The department said a full pavement program is expensive; Sosik and speakers at the meeting cited a local estimate of roughly $1 million per mile for full reconstruction and said a 2018 road study estimated tens of millions in needs. They also discussed Chapter 90 — the state program that funds local road work — and its limits: Sosik said Chapter 90 cannot fund small patch projects under minimum length/eligibility rules.

Key discussion points: Select Board members and Advisory Committee members pressed Sosik on options to save money. Ideas discussed included regional sharing or rental of larger “hot box” asphalt heaters, reusing reclaimed pavement millings, and buying a larger hot-box unit (three- or four-ton) to produce in-house hot mix. Sosik said the town already owns a small hot box and has considered conversion kits or partnering with neighboring towns to share larger equipment. He reported prior experience where neighboring towns rejuvenated leftover pavement and used it to save costs.

Capital funding and constraints: Committee members noted that Chapter 90 is distributed by road miles and population and that the town typically receives around $350,000 per year but that prior years’ distributions varied. Sosik said he was preparing the town's Chapter 90 plan and that certain projects must meet minimum lengths and design thresholds to qualify.

Environmental and regulatory notes: The highway director reminded the board that the town's MS4 stormwater management program is required for compliance and that failure to continue it could expose the town to penalties. He also corrected a line-item error in the budget where a street sign replacement was listed as $50,000 but should have been $5,000.

Next steps: Sosik said he will refine the budget once union negotiations conclude and will return with chapter-90 project planning. Board members said they want to consider equipment-sharing or rental agreements and to examine whether the town can better capture road millings for reuse.

Direct quote: \"I pretty much, did a level budget, the best I could,\" Sosik told the boards as he opened the highway presentation.","Public works director said the Highway budget was submitted level-funded but faces disallowed amounts that will require cuts to supplies, pavement maintenance and tree work; speakers flagged high paving costs and limited flexibility of Chapter 90 funds.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6277441,"Select Board, Advisory Committee approve $100,000 cap for Parks & Recreation revolving fund",2604,3489000,6093000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42&start=3489&end=6093","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2655114-488ba69db224161aca812e3b5b781d42/thumbnail_3489000.jpg","/articles/6277441/Massachusetts/Select-Board-Advisory-Committee-approve-100000-cap-for-Parks-Recreation-revolving-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277441-be22707b83e294484a5f59c112be4d8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169667&Signature=CiqarlPp-zG8jWwmbNMu6wJUyEagh5xdZ8uMMOeHSZAFe5jLxHR4YpKGiLS2oM~wmGRVp0JrxaBtvG8BsszUMNQa1M8-RMtLceTyoTrUAME4tH2uhvUVnGDGOa36JmtQbYDLlu0lxmEn15aAzCMwdXxFIJbrFolr0WJVLATpYrecK3MarwbDDlTIIu3Fl8~Z7JV0qk~AWhurqjR5-U9nxPZnFuARJxzKi7xUxvnflNtJQ~a3fnCk31kMnCDAMACAC6KK4sudm-zfx2t1ypucCfu1tJn1W5J-5xBoXifFz8~0Asme7dAJz6NLC2nOoQjQDRDGIuESSFLgtotoAIW5GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Templeton on March 2 approved increasing the Parks and Recreation revolving fund ceiling from $75,000 to $100,000 for the remainder of fiscal 2025, following presentations from Parks commissioners and a joint vote by the Advisory Committee and the Select Board.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Candace Graves told the Select Board that the commission had earlier voted to seek the higher cap and that the line is needed to cover seasonal program expenses and anticipated spring spending. \"We voted for this amount,\" Graves said in presenting the request.

Why it matters: Revolving accounts allow departments to retain program revenue (fees, sponsorships, rentals) and spend it without annual appropriation for specific purposes. Raising the cap lets Parks & Recreation spend more from receipts without returning to Town Meeting for authorization.

Discussion and context: Commissioners described revenue sources — program fees, sponsorships, and a revolving account used for shirts, equipment and seasonal hires. Graves and Commissioners described tighter general-fund budgets and said the revolving fund covers many recurring summer-season costs that the department expects to incur before the fiscal year ends. Advisory Committee members and Select Board members asked about current balances and whether the larger authorization was intended to avoid repeated requests later in the year.

Votes and outcomes: The Advisory Committee voted first and recorded a 4–0 approval (advisory recorded as 4 yes, 0 no). The Select Board then voted by roll call; the board vote was 5–0 in favor, and the board chair recorded the motion carried at 10:11 a.m. Select Board members voting yes were recorded in the minutes as Toth, Bennett, Griffith, Curry and the chair. The motion was made on the Select Board floor by Select Member Curry and seconded by Select Member Bennett.

What happens next: With both bodies approving the increase, the Parks & Recreation revolving account may accept and spend up to $100,000 in FY 2025 for qualifying programs and expenses, per the town bylaw the board cited (Town bylaws, section 28-6 on departmental revolving funds). Commissioners said they will continue to track sponsorships, registrations and program spending and report back to the town as part of routine budget updates.

Votes at a glance: Advisory Committee — motion to raise Parks & Recreation revolving fund from $75,000 to $100,000: result 4 yes, 0 no (advisory roll call noted). Select Board — motion to raise Parks & Recreation revolving fund from $75,000 to $100,000: mover: Select Member Curry; second: Select Member Bennett; result 5 yes, 0 no (roll-call vote recorded at 10:11 a.m.).","The Select Board and Advisory Committee voted to raise the Parks & Recreation revolving account authorization from $75,000 to $100,000 for the remainder of fiscal 2025, after Parks Commissioner Candace Graves explained program revenue and spending pressures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fire and EMS: town plans new tanker and ambulance; ambulance enterprise projects roughly $550,000 in revenue

Police chief warns current budget leaves department short-staffed; says he "can't do this next year"

Town manager proposes mothballing Scout Hall and Emergency Management Building to cut FY26 costs

DPW warns of tight highway budget, highlights paving costs and Chapter 90 limits

Select Board, Advisory Committee approve $100,000 cap for Parks & Recreation revolving fund