Tuesday, February 7, 2012

"urge restoration of funding to the Franklin Library"

The Milford Daily News reports on the library de-certification:
Franklin Library Director Felicia Oti today indicated she wanted meet with Franklin library trustees to discuss the situation, and steps that may be taken to appeal the decision, before commenting. 
The Franklin Library, famed as the home of the first public library collection, was decertified by the state board on Feb. 2. According to the Norfolk Library's advisory, the action was taken because of "inequitable budget cuts." 
"The Franklin Library was hit with a 30 percent cut in its funding this year. This is far below the threshold set by the Board of Library Commissioners to grant a waiver," the advisory states.

We are in the middle of FY 2012 with the budget cycle for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 already starting. At the State level, the Governor released his budget proposal. The House and Senate will follow to release their version which will likely result in a compromise among the three before heading to the Governors desk before Jun 30. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

In Franklin, the individual departments have already prepared their capital budget which will be coming to the Town Council soon. The individual operating budgets are usually reviewed by the Finance Committee over several budget hearings before they make their recommendation to the Town Council. The Town Council holds two budget hearings after which they vote to accept a budget.

The budget always has to be balanced. The question is how to reach the balance between expenses and expected revenue: continue to cut services or raise taxes. Any increase over and above the 2.5% requires an override vote. If there will be an override put to the voters, it should be scheduled in late May or early Jun to allow for the results to be incorporated into the budget.

As for the Library budget, given the cut of more than 30% that resulted in the de-certification we have our work cut out for us. The formula for Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR) looks at the budget for the library averaged over a three year period and requiring a minimum of 2.5% increase. The MA Board of Library Commissioners also requires that a library for a community of our size be open a minimum of 6 days and a total of 59 hours. I recall that we are only open 5 days so we would need a waiver for that requirement even if we fix the overall budget requirement.

Updated:  8:00 AM 2/7/12

Library budget in 2009 = $888,335, 2010 = 778,622, 2011 = 700,415 and FY 2012 = 469,172
a 47% cut over the past 4 years.

Info provided in the joint budget workshop held on 1/11/12 with the Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee.

The video from that meeting is available on demand here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634641994167375981&indexSessionSKU=w0MGH7wAkNppSa53WNWU3A%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D


Library Spending Waiver 
“Public libraries are required to meet certain spending levels each year in order to receive state aid. Under the current system, a municipality must fund its library at 2.5% above the average preceding three years‟ budgeted amounts. This is in order to provide balanced funding responsibilities within inter-library loan programs and continuity of library services from year to year. If a library cannot meet this requirement, it may petition for a one year waiver from the Board of Library Commissioners, but there are only 10 waivers issued per year. 
In this fiscal climate, many municipalities across the Commonwealth will have difficulty meeting this spending requirement. In order to prevent unnecessary reductions in state aid, the Commission would allow all communities to waive the spending requirements in fiscal year 2010 without approval from the Board. Communities choosing this option would be required to restore library spending to required levels within 24 months, and no waivers would be available to those communities who do not meet this stipulation.”
From the MA Board of Library Commissioners website
http://mblc.state.ma.us/grants/state_aid/blog/state-aid-to-public-libraries/what-is-the-library-spending-waiver/


Additional details on the FY 2012 Waiver Process
http://mblc.state.ma.us/grants/state_aid/blog/state-aid-to-public-libraries/fy2012-mar-waiver-process/

Read more from the Milford Daily News here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1341762588/Franklin-library-is-decertified#ixzz1lgxpx6h5

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 7, 1858


Very Pleasant but very windy & cold. Shoveled some paths. On loaded some wood & c. Staid in store some. Jos was in house fixing book for papers at Franklin. Sarah & Father came home. He got a Dog, 7 mths old of W. Reed of Milton. His name is Sanco.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html  
 



Workplace Wellness Initiative


Working on Wellness – Saving Money through Healthy Living

As part of the Town of Franklin Mass in Motion and YMCA Healthy Futures Initiative – a proactive community approach to reducing inactivity and poor nutrition – we are offering an incentive to Franklin-based businesses who attend a Workplace Wellness Workshop.

We are inviting all interested Franklin-based businesses to attend a 1½ hour workshop to learn the benefits of adopting a workplace wellness program, best practices, successful evaluation tools, and how to become eligible for funds and resources through the Town of Franklin Mass in Motion grant as well as through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

With one in every three Massachusetts adults affected by chronic disease, we know we have to look for innovative solutions to support the adoption of healthy habits. Our goal is to improve the health of employees by helping businesses build an infrastructure that is sustainable and expandable to promote wellness and prevent chronic diseases. We hope that by addressing workplace wellness, we will support the health of families and the community-at-large.

Workplace Wellness Programs have been shown to:
  • Reduce sick time by 28%
  • Reduce health care costs by 26%
  • Reduce workers' compensation by 30%
  • Produce a $5.93-to-$1 savings-to-cost ratio

The Franklin-based Workplace Wellness Initiative will be held Thursday March 1st from 10:30 – 12 PM at the Hockomock Area YMCA, Bernon Family Branch. Please feel free to extend an invitation to other Franklin-based businesses with which you work.

To attend, RSVP to Lauren Marciszyn, Director of Youth & Community Wellness, at 774-235-2737 or via email at Laurenm@hockymca.org by Friday February 24th.

Additional information regarding the states Phase V Working on Wellness Program can be found at: www.mass.gov/massinmotion

Supporting Healthy Living,
Lauren

Lauren A. Marciszyn, RD, LDN
Director of Youth & Community Wellness
Hockomock Area YMCA



Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR)

I spent some time looking around the MA Board of Library Commissioners website on Monday. I was trying to find information on the de-certification of the Franklin Public Library. I eventually found this:


Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L., c.78, s.19A), states that a municipality must appropriate a figure of at least the average of the last 3 years' municipal appropriations to the library for operations, increased by 2.5%, in order to be certified for State Aid to Public Libraries 
This calculated figure is known as the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR).  
A municipality must meet the MAR or apply for and receive a waiver of the MAR in order to be eligible to be certified for State Aid to Public Libraries by the Board of Library Commissioners. Capital appropriations cannot be used to meet the MAR.



Monday, February 6, 2012

Franklin Public Library - decertified

An email from a Franklin resident reveals this notification from the Norfolk Public Library

Dear Franklin Residents: 
You are receiving this message because you have a library card at the Norfolk Public Library and we have important news about the status of your home library, the Franklin Public Library. 
We are sorry to inform you that the Franklin Public Library was decertified by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners on Feb 2, 2012, due to inequitable budget cuts. The Franklin Library was hit with a 30% cut in its funding this year. This is far below the threshold set by the Board of Library Commissioners to grant a waiver. Decertification negates the state-wide reciprocal borrowing agreement and Franklin residents are no longer eligible to borrow books and materials from the Norfolk Public Library. 
We urge you to contact Franklin officials, i.e. your Town Administrator and City Council members to restore funding to the Franklin Public Library in order to regain the library's certification status. When the Franklin Public Library regains its certification the recripricol borrowing privileges will be restored and you will once again be able to borrow materials from the Norfolk Public Library. 
Norfolk Public Library
Statement on Lending to Residents
of Municipalities with Decertified Libraries 
Public libraries in Massachusetts that do not meet the minimum standards for funding and service necessary for certification by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) are 'decertified' by the Board. As such, they are not eligible to participate in reciprocal borrowing with other libraries. 
Massachusetts state law (605 CMR 4.01) states that certified public libraries are not required to lend materials to residents of municipalities with decertified libraries. 
The Norfolk Public Library will not lend materials to residents of municipalities with decertified libraries, as this places an inequitable burden on NPL resources and local tax dollars. 
Massachusetts General Law (605 CMR 4.01) states, "all residents of the Commonwealth shall have access to reading and reference rooms under the same conditions as residents of the community." Residents of communities with decertified libraries are therefore welcome to use Norfolk Public Library resources within the library building. 
Robin Glasser, Director
Norfolk Public Library

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 6, 1858


Very Stormy, Windy & cold all day. Snow Made & set 2 hoops on a cask, took most fournoon, than helped Jos shell our corn that grew on the Pherson lot, about 18 baskets. Than went up with oxan & c. Dutchman staid here last night in barn, couldn’t understand him. Sent him off in cars. 
Written on side: Mrs. Wright is here this eve. Going to stay tonight.

 In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html  


CDC Fact Sheet: Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports

One of the Franklin Matters readers suggested taking this from the larger document and giving it better recognition. I concur. This is an important matter and should be shared broadly. Head injuries don't only occur on the sports fields. They can occur at home or in the backyard or playground.

Substitute "parent" for coach and this would be good to use.


SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION:

Signs Observed by Coaching Staff

If your child has experienced a bump or blow to the head during a game or practice, look for any of the following signs and symptoms of a concussion:
• Appears dazed or stunned
• Is confused about assignment or position
• Forgets sports play
• Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
• Moves clumsily
• Answers questions slowly
• Loses consciousness (even briefly)
• Shows behavior or personality changes
• Can't recall events prior to hit or fall
• Can't recall events after hit or fall

Symptoms Reported by Athlete
• Headache or "pressure" in head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Concentration or memory problems
• Confusion
• Does not "feel right"


http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/coaches_Engl.pdf


Scholastic Art Awards


Announcement: Scholastic Art Awards - Franklin School District

Congratulations to the all the FPS Middle School and High School Visual Art students who were selected by their art teachers to participate in this year’s Massachusetts State Scholastic Art Competition! More than 150 students from Annie Sullivan, Horace Mann, and Remington Middle Schools and Franklin High School had their artwork chosen for this competition, FPS’s strongest showing ever. This is a testimony to the beautifully creative and skillful work these art students are capable of and to the art faculty who nurture students’ creative, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. 
The Franklin School District is proud to announce that 36 students received awards in this competition: 11 Gold Key Awards; 8 Silver Key Awards; and 17 Honorable Mentions. The students garnering awards are in the attached worksheet. Franklin's 11 Gold Key and 8 Silver Key winners' artwork will be shown from Monday, February 13 through Friday, April 20, 2012 at the State Transportation Building in Boston. The exhibit will be open Weekdays - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. including holidays and Saturdays & Sundays - 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. 
Additionally, the work of the entire 150+ Franklin Students will be on display at Franklin High School's Gallery 218 in late April and May when all the work returns to the district. Please join me in congratulating all these wonderful young artists and celebrating their hard work and creative spirits! 
Regards, 
Jane Hogan
Franklin Public Schools

High school plan will be on ballot

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Deirdre Fernandes, Globe Staff on 2/4/12

A new Franklin High School looks closer to becoming a reality and several other school replacements in the region, including Angier Elementary School in Newton and Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington are moving forward.

Add to Facebook Add to Twitter Add to digg Add to StumbleUpon Add to Reddit Add to del.icio.us Email this Article

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Franklin Downtown Partnership: Important Dates

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 2/5/12

Mark your calendars and be sure to join us! 


Next General Meeting -- Thursday, March 1, 8:30 a.m.


FDP Networking Luncheon -- Friday, March 9, 1:00 p.m.


Dean College "Hairspray" Night Out -- Wednesday, March 28


Strawberry Stroll -- Thursday, June 7, 4:00 to 7:00


Harvest Festival -- Sunday, September 30, 11:00 a.m. 


Holiday Stroll -- Thursday, November 29, 4:00 p.m.



Things you can do from here:

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 5, 1858



Very Pleasant & warn, clowdy towards night. On loaded 2 load wood than went after a load with Jos oxan and got set. The pole pulled out & pin broke & c. Than came home, (it was noon) & staid in store till 3 o’clk (than Jos. came home). Than went after the wood with both yoak oxan. Wm. Young, Albert Newell & G. Hall went with me. Hard work to start it, throwed off part, got home most night. 
Written upside down: Abby Daniels is here. Herman, Mary & Isa here in eve. Jos, Abbie & Sarah went to Franklin & around Sarah staid. Started 10 ½ o’clk, got home 3 o’clk. 
Written on side: Father went to Dedham & Milton

 In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html  

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 7, 2012

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the January 24, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence 1. Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Horace Mann Middle School Update – Shawn Fortin
b. Special Education Update – Beth Fitzmaurice (presentation document)
c. New Head Injury Policy Presentation – Sally Winslow, Nancy Whitehouse, Brad Sidwell (presentation document)

3. Discussion Only Items
Student Conduct Policy Changes

Policies – First Readings
1. JAB – Handbooks Are Policy
2. JIC – Student Conduct (new)
3. JIC – Student Conduct (old)
4. JIC-E – FHS Code of Conduct
5. JICH-R – Drug and Alcohol Use by Students
6. JJICA – Athletics in Public Schools
7. JJICA-E – Athletics Policies During Sports Season
8. JK – Student Discipline
9. JKBA – Academic Suspension

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from the Keller Elementary School PCC for field trips and enrichment.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,800.00 from Edith and David Kirk for in-house enrichment at Remington Middle School.
c. I recommend acceptance of two checks ($740.00 & $810.00) totaling $1,550.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for student music competition fees and transportation.
d. I recommend approval of the Field Trip request of the Sub-Separate Special Education Class at FHS to the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Providence, RI on March 8, 2012 to see Seussical the Musical.
e. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a plotter for the FHS CAD Program from Ai3 Architects.
f. I recommend approval of the request of Mr. Joseph for a field trip for 5th graders to Roger Williams Zoo on May 4, 2012 as detailed.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Special Education Update - 2/7/12

The Special Education Update scheduled for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012

FPS SPED Update 20120207


The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-feb.html

Student head Injuries and Concussions

The presentation scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012


FPS_Student Head Injuries and Concussions_20120207


The draft policy and procedures document for student head injuries and concussions

FPS_Draft Concussion Policy Procedure Appendices_20120207


The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-feb.html

Spring 2012 Recreation Programs

The Franklin Recreation Dept brochure for Spring 2012 programs is available:

Franklin Rec Brochure Spring 2012

You can register online at the Recreation Dept page
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/index

Hopedale company donates, installs solar panel on Franklin church

 
 

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

 
 

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 2/4/12

phoMDsolarpanels1_0131.jpg

Second Generation Energy, based in Hopedale and specializing in solar panel installation, began putting up 44 solar panels on First Universalist Society's roof this week, partly to advertise the benefit of solar panel energy to the community, and partly out of neighborly spirit.


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

Saturday, February 4, 2012

School Presentation video link

The video for the Town Council meeting is now available for viewing on-demand.

Follow this link:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=j7GV7c2hLg1qV9cGtXT67w%3d%3d


You can watch the video and follow along with the slides here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/school-building-committee-presentation.html


Wadsworth Diary - Feb 4, 1858


Very Pleasant & Warm. Father went to Rev. Thayers after the wagon & I went after Jos. Oxan. Than we drawed birchwood from the Rockwood lot. Drawed 3 cords with oxan & 1 with horse. Jos was away part the day. Went to writing school in eve with Sarah.


In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html   




Note: The vote to continue was close but positive for continuing: 13 for, 10 against. The diary skips Feb 1892 and picks up again in April. What I have done to keep with the February period is go back to one of the earlier years in the diary, 1858.  

Date Set for FHS Debt Exclusion Vote!

Dear Franklin Friend,
It's official. Tuesday, March 27 is our "now or never" opportunity to say YES in a town-wide vote in support of building a brand new, fully furnished and equipped 21st century high school in Franklin  --with a state reimbursement rate of nearly 60 percent.
The Franklin Town Council approved the voting date during their meeting Wednesday night, and councilors unanimously and unequivocally endorsed a YES vote. During the past week, the Franklin Long Range Finance Committee, the Franklin Finance Committee and the Recreation Advisory Board also publicly endorsed the project and urged residents to vote YES for FHS on March 27.
More than 200 of your friends and neighbors have stepped forward as YES vote supporters so far. They recognize that Franklin has a Real Need for a new facility that will:
·        Meet all future needs, including 20 percent more educational space; 21st century classrooms and science labs with integrated technology; an 830-seat auditorium/theater; a 17,700-square-foot gym and 6,000-square-feet-indoor walking track; full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for access and special education.
·        Remove Franklin High from accreditation warning status.
·        Provide modern resources that will give our kids the best chance for success in an increasingly competitive academic environment and economic marketplace.

The Right Time to seize this opportunity is now, when we can take full advantage of historic low construction and borrowing costs. If the debt exclusion vote does not pass:
·        Franklin will lose the chance to build a new high school with a state reimbursement rate of nearly 60 percent.
·        Franklin taxpayers will pay 100% for repairs to keep the building safe and operational.
·        Accreditation officials will consider moving Franklin High onto probation status.
·        Our property values and tax base will be threatened.
Please mark your calendars and let your friends and neighbors know that The Right Time is March 27 to go to the polls to vote.
Visit www.newfhs.com to learn more about why there is a Real Need for this project and why the new FHS deserves your YES vote on March 27. Please share this email with your friends and neighbor here in Franklin.  It is important that all of us have the information we need to make a good decision.
To those who are already volunteering and have contributed financially, thank you. To those who have not, we need your active support and donations, and we welcome questions. You can email us at voteyesforFHS@gmail.com, or visit: http://www.newfhs.com/contact.php for more information.


Thank you!

Citizens for a New Franklin High School
Vote Yes for FHS on March 27! A Real Need. The Right Time.

Franklin, MA: Affordable Housing Lottery

There is an Affordable Housing Lottery coming up for units in 55+ housing at Meadowbrook Heights

Details contained here:



The lottery application can be found here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0183E268-000F8513.1/Affordable%20Housing%20App%20Fina%2011-22-11l.pdf

Note email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document

Friday, February 3, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 3, 1858


Very Pleasant & Warm Went to meeting al day. Rev.J. Thayer preached. Olive Sayles & Mrs. Carlton were taken into church. It was communion, no meeting this eve. There was notice given that there would not be any regular service in fournoon.
Written upside down: but prayer meeting instead at (?) commencing next Sabbath. Sarah stayed at home.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html   




Note: The vote to continue was close but positive for continuing: 13 for, 10 against. The diary skips Feb 1892 and picks up again in April. What I have done to keep with the February period is go back to one of the earlier years in the diary, 1858.  

School Building Committee presentation

The presentation slides as shown during the Town Council meeting on Wed Feb, 1 2012

I have already seen several of the design photos (and have shared them here) so the part of the presentation that really caught my interest were slides 6 and 7 where the Jim Jordan described the design features of the Ray Memorial Library building and then showed how they incorporated them into the new building.

The dollars and important facts around the project begin with slide 10 and clcse with the tax rate details on slide 13.

Slide 1

New FHS Slide 1

Slide 2

New FHS Slide 2

Slide 3

New FHS Slide 3

Slide 4

New FHS Slide 4

Slide 5

New FHS Slide 5

Slide 6

New FHS Slide 6

Slide 7

New FHS Slide 7

Slide 8

New FHS Slide 8

Slide 9

New FHS Slide 9

Slide 10

New FHS Slide 10

Slide 11

New FHS Slide 11

Slide 12

New FHS - Slide 12

Slide 13

New FHS Slide 13

Franklin saves money by refinancing bonds

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 2/2/12

Thanks to lower interest rates, the town is saving money by refinancing old bonds.

Things you can do from here:


Additional information from the Town Council meeting on Wed Feb 1, 2012 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/town-council-020112.html


Franklin students to show art at Patriot Place

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Heather McCarron/STAFF WRITER on 2/2/12

Art show
Two Franklin High School seniors are getting a practicum in the world of event planning and art exhibitions, working with the Artist's Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place to share their peers' creations there.

Things you can do from here:

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 2, 1858


Very Pleasant & Warm, some clowdy in afternoon. Went to Mrs. Frosts after the clothes. Split & got in some wood. Took care of the bees, we thought were dead. They got quite lively. Put up 10 bushl of my potatoes (Davis seedlings) for Clary & c & c. Went to Lycium in eve. Haid full house. Question was, Resolved that the power of Eloquence is grater than the power of Wealth. Decided in the Negative.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html   





Note: The vote to continue was close but positive for continuing: 13 for, 10 against. The diary skips Feb 1892 and picks up again in April. What I have done to keep with the February period is go back to one of the earlier years in the diary, 1858. 

Town Council - 02/01/12

The collection of posts reported live from the Town Council meeting on Feb 1, 2012




Town Council Chair Bob Vallee missed the meeting but sent in a letter to the editor to the paper which was read during the meeting by acting Chair Tina Powderly

"nothing less than historic"



"Now is the right time," Finance Committee Chairman James Roche said. "Now the costs are lower and the payback doesn't start until four years down." 
Officials last night contended that because the models have been thoroughly vetted by state and independent contractors and are meant to be complete plans, the chance of additional costs, above the town contribution of $47 million, is negligible. 
"The way I look at it is, if I was going to re-do my house and I only had to pay for 40 percent of it, and someone else was going to pay for 60, I don't think there are too many people in here who wouldn't take that," Town Councilor Robert Dellorco said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1368171321/Town-Council-approves-Franklin-to-vote-on-new-school-in-March#ixzz1lDhDemWn

Related posts:

Live reporting from the Town Council meeting on the School Building Committee presentation

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/live-reporting-school-building.html

the Q&A that followed the presentation

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/live-reporting-school-building_01.html

The high school project collection is found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html