Select Board Hires New Public Services Director

Select Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Templeton's police chief warned further budget cuts would be "absolutely devastating," telling the Select Board the department could lose its school resource officer and detective position. Chief Steve said the department, down to nine full-time officers with no funded part-timers and two officers out injured, is "the lowest staff police department in the entire Worcester County," having already eliminated its evening shift this year. Overtime topped $200,000 last year, which the chief said could be cut by roughly $150,000 with three more hires costing about $366,000 total, a sum the town's residential tax base cannot support without a Proposition 2½ override.

Separately, the board voted 5-0 to hire Christopher de Moranville as Public Services Director through June 30, 2029, voted to remove Conservation Commissioner Amanda "Susie" Simmons after 10 missed meetings, appointed Devin Moskiewicz as animal control officer, and moved an expected $200,000 state winter-recovery reimbursement into a special revenue fund for fiscal 2027 snow and ice costs.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,756 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.