Templeton budget season spotlights proposed planner, grant-writer and custodial staffing
March 21, 2026 | Town of Templeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts
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Templeton’s budget hearings in early March highlighted staffing shortages and debates over how the town should allocate limited resources.
At the March 7 “Super Budget Saturday” session, a department representative, Chantal Weed (S3), told the Select Board and Advisory Committee the town has become “overwhelmed and understaffed” and argued for hiring a planner and a grant writer. “We were hoping that through a full-time position, we could get somebody that was here every day, all day to work with the other departments,” Weed said.
Board members questioned whether the planner position should also encompass grant writing or whether separate duties would be required. The discussion follows previous use of a planner position; speakers said a planner had been employed in November but left, and several vacancies remain across town departments.
Custodial staffing drew specific attention. A Select Board member (S4) noted the town once split a 19.5-hour-per-week custodian across facilities and questioned coverage and continuity. “If you pay two, part-time ones, you get somebody always cleaning and you don't pay” in benefits, the Select Board member said, while others pointed out a single full-time custodian would mean paid benefits but more guaranteed coverage for roughly 40 hours of work per week.
Officials also discussed consolidating purchases across departments to reduce costs for common supplies such as paper and postage. Town staff said some central purchasing occurs now and cited past efforts that yielded savings; board members encouraged further review of whether centralized procurement or vendor coordination could secure group rates.
No formal motions or votes were recorded during the portion of the session covered on the broadcast. The Select Board and advisory groups are continuing budget reviews as they prepare recommendations for the annual town meeting.
The budget season remains active; residents who want more detail on department requests and proposed positions can review Select Board materials or attend upcoming meetings.
At the March 7 “Super Budget Saturday” session, a department representative, Chantal Weed (S3), told the Select Board and Advisory Committee the town has become “overwhelmed and understaffed” and argued for hiring a planner and a grant writer. “We were hoping that through a full-time position, we could get somebody that was here every day, all day to work with the other departments,” Weed said.
Board members questioned whether the planner position should also encompass grant writing or whether separate duties would be required. The discussion follows previous use of a planner position; speakers said a planner had been employed in November but left, and several vacancies remain across town departments.
Custodial staffing drew specific attention. A Select Board member (S4) noted the town once split a 19.5-hour-per-week custodian across facilities and questioned coverage and continuity. “If you pay two, part-time ones, you get somebody always cleaning and you don't pay” in benefits, the Select Board member said, while others pointed out a single full-time custodian would mean paid benefits but more guaranteed coverage for roughly 40 hours of work per week.
Officials also discussed consolidating purchases across departments to reduce costs for common supplies such as paper and postage. Town staff said some central purchasing occurs now and cited past efforts that yielded savings; board members encouraged further review of whether centralized procurement or vendor coordination could secure group rates.
No formal motions or votes were recorded during the portion of the session covered on the broadcast. The Select Board and advisory groups are continuing budget reviews as they prepare recommendations for the annual town meeting.
The budget season remains active; residents who want more detail on department requests and proposed positions can review Select Board materials or attend upcoming meetings.
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