In the News: Tri-County conf room, Pellegri runs for Town Council

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School dedicated the school’s main office conference room to founding school committee members Louis E. (Ted) Hoegler, of Walpole, and Robert J. Rappa, of Franklin, during a ceremony on Oct. 21.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151025/NEWS/151027268/1994/NEWS

Longtime Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri is looking to serve the town in a different capacity during her retirement - as a member of the Town Council.
Pellegri, a lifelong resident, is one of 14 candidates seeking nine council seats in Franklin's Nov. 3 election. After 31 years in office, she will retire as clerk next month.

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In the News: Lippert Field, Franklin Distinguished Young Women, Johnston essay on Pellegri

On Oct. 17, Dean College honored faculty member and coach Dale Lippert with a surprise dedication at the Longley Athletic Complex, 69 Maple St. 

Thanks to a donation from Peter Hexter, a member of the board of trustees, Dean College was able to dedicate the football field in Lippert’s name. 

The surprise was announced during the halftime show of Saturday’s Dean College football game. Lippert was asked to make his way to the center of the field and he was honored for his dedicated service with an unveiling of a sign across the press box with his namesake.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151023/NEWS/151027850/1994/NEWS

The Greater Franklin Distinguished Young Women Program will host an information session for female high school juniors 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the community room at the Franklin YMCA, 45 Forge Hill Road. 

The program is open to all female high school juniors and is free to join. Rehearsals will start in late February and will meet one night per week. Attendance is preferred. The program show date will be in May or June, but it will be announced at a later time.

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James Johnston, Franklin historian and regular contributor to the Milford Daily News has this piece on the retirement of Deborah Pellegri

Deborah Pellegri is ending a long era of public service in the town of Franklin. Her civic service to the Franklin community has spanned four decades, going way back to her founding of the Fourth of July Committee with two other great Franklin civic leaders, Jean Cataldo and Lorraine Doherty. Together this dynamic trio has created a tradition of celebration of this nation's birth that has spanned a third of the last century and lives on to today.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151020/OPINION/151029056/2011/OPINION

Live reporting: recognition of Town Clerk, Debbie Pellegri

There is a delay in the meeting as the listing of recognitions is coordinated with some presenters to cover for those not present



C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
- Town Clerk, Debbie Pellegri

Franklin Town Council recognition - Bob Vallee

Recognition by former Chief Larry Benedetto - Pfeffer

From Governor of MA, Charles Baker - Vallee

Secretary of State William F Galvin - Rep Jeff Roy

Congressman Joe Kennedy III - Matt Kelly

MA State - Senator Karen Spilka, Senator Richard Ross

MA House of Representatives - Rep Jeff Roy

District Attorney Mike Morrissey - Bob Dellorco

Sheriff Michael Billotti - Peter Padula

Andrew Dowd, MA Town Clerks Association

"town clerks don't run the town, they make the town run"

Tri-County Clerks Education Committee

Franklin School Committee - John Jewell

Debbie Pellegri

31 years has changed my life

family members present were recognized

especially her husband Ron

Clerks are the best people in the world

"I knew what I was doing from that first day forward, this is what I wanted to do"

31 years have been wonderful

the planter down stairs is a gift from the Pellegri's

"Doubting anonymous" should be satisfied now

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Sep 20, 2008 @ 10:52 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Weeks into the new school year, some residents are still skeptical that the district actually laid off 44 teachers, an accusation Superintendent Wayne Ogden says he wishes were true.

Referring to an anonymous caller who only identified himself as a former town councilor, who asserted teachers were not given pink slips, or have since been rehired, Ogden said, "He is completely wrong.''

"I wish he were right. I wish that were true. I'd be a happier human being. In fact, I might not have resigned,'' he said.

Residents will be able to check "the truth according to the Department of Education,'' by the end of October, when the department publishes the number of students, teachers and administrators in every school district in Massachusetts, Ogden said.

The department produces both a current list and last year's numbers, so people can compare and view them side-by-side, he said.

.......

This summer, Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri, on behalf of the Brick School Association, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the School Department, seeking the names of all those teachers and positions that had been cut.

"We weren't doubting (teachers had been laid off), we just wanted to see the people's names and how many people were let go,'' Pellegri said.

The list she received in response to her request identified the names, positions, and corresponding schools of 46 teachers, four of whom were part-time, and two administrators.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

'Franklin received a ``huge amount'' of Chapter 70 aid compared to other towns"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 17, 2008 @ 10:25 PM

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FRANKLIN —

The House of Representatives has shot down a $25,000 earmark for the Red Brick School submitted by Rep. James Vallee, he said, but supporters of the school are still ``hoping and praying'' to find a way to keep it open, said Deborah Pellegri.
``We're just hoping and praying the school remains in existence, because it's going to be a shame (if it closes). This is history,'' said Pellegri, the town clerk and a member of the Brick School Task Force.
``The town of Franklin is known for the little Brick School and being home to the first public library, and (being the first town named after) Benjamin Franklin. It would be devastating for the Brick School to be closed - it would be an injustice to the town,'' said Pellegri, noting the Brick School was originally a wooden school building.
Vallee filed an amendment adding $25,000 to the House budget, he said, but members rejected it.
``I think it's a wonderful asset to our community, and I'd like to see it used as a school. I support it,'' Vallee said.
``I tried. I just think the Legislature was reticent to earmark a specific amount of money for a specific school,'' Vallee added.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

"To receive an award for something that you do every day and that you enjoy doing just doesn't make sense"

Deborah Pellegri, Franklin Town Clerk, was quoted in the Milford Daily News as part of the article on the state recognition for "unsung heroines":

"To receive an award for something that you do every day and that you enjoy doing just doesn't make sense,'' said Pellegri, who helped to raise money for the town's statue of Benjamin Franklin.
Pellegri, who also planned the town's yearly Fourth of July activities for years, said she is excited to go to the State House for the ceremony.
"My husband and I are going to hop on the train and we'll scoot into the State House for day,'' she said.

Read the full article in the Daily News here.

Election Info - McGann uses Citizens Comment

Live blogging from the Council Chambers at the Town Hall

Town Clerk - Debbie Pellegri with election information

absentee ballots are available in the Town Clerk office at Town Hall
can vote at the office up to 12:00 noon on the day of the election
absentee requests must be made in writing (no emails)

Register by Wednesday 5/21/08

phone for Town Clerk office - 508 520 4900

Voting from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on June 10th
All precincts will vote at the high school field house

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Councilor Joe McGann making a citizen comment regards to missing last week's 6:00 PM meeting

claims he was not notified of the meeting, was the only councilor not notified

should have been a different way of notifying the public of the change

would have voted for putting the override on the ballot

Chairman Feeley can not answer the question during the citizens comment portion of the meeting

is posted on the Clerk's office that the meeting was 7:00 PM, although below it was a smaller notice changing to 6:00 PM

no finger pointing intended, just wants to make the point clear

Override Date 6/10/08 (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting on 4/30/08, the discussion on the override date (6/10/08), Tuesday vs. Saturday, and absentee ballot information.

Councilors Whalen and Mason questioned Town Clerk Debbie Pellegri on Tuesday/Saturday

Time: 5 minutes, 11 seconds



MP3 File

In the News - Dean renovation, empty homes

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Apr 27, 2008 @ 09:37 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Instead of lamenting the lack of library use on campus, Dean College President Paula M. Rooney is capitalizing on the Internet-driven trend.

By the time students return to classes Sept. 8, $8 million worth of construction will have converted the E. Ross Anderson Library to "The Library Learning Commons," home to more than 60 staff members, a new cafe, and a more efficient library, Rooney said.

"This is a big deal for us," said Rooney. "It's terrific for our students - it'll be the hub of activities in the center of campus. It is a very strategic decision on our part," bringing faculty, learning support, and knowledge together in one place, she said.

"It will pay off day 1, because both students and faculty will have a much better learning environment and (extra) space. When they need to come together, they will be able to," Rooney said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Apr 27, 2008 @ 09:42 PM

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FRANKLIN —

In the 24 years Deborah Pellegri has served as town clerk, she has never seen as many vacant homes as this year: 805, she said.

On every street in Franklin, there are houses that are vacant or for sale, Pellegri said.

"A lot of people come in and say, 'We're moving down south.' The costs are less and they (don't) have the heating costs there," Pellegri said.

Pellegri doesn't necessarily view the record high number of vacant houses, apartments and condominiums as a problem for the town, per se, she said, but the statistic begs a few questions.

"You ask yourself, 'Why is this so high this year?' and I think the answer is, the way the economy is today," Pellegri said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

In the news - Chamber of Commerce Awards

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GateHouse News Service

Posted Mar 13, 2008 @ 01:27 AM

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WRENTHAM —

Franklin business leaders dominated the United Chamber of Commerce's 20th annual meeting and awards gala at Lake Pearl Luciano's last night, taking home five of seven awards recognizing members.

People winning awards at last night's Chamber gala included: Franklin Town Clerk Deborah L. Pellegri, the Public Service Award; Franklin's Luigi Moccia of Putnam Investments, the Ambassador of the Year; Incontro Restaurant in Franklin, the Small Business of the Year; William D. Green, a Dean College alum and chairman and CEO of Accenture, a global management consulting and outsourcing company, Business Person of the Year.

Dean College President Paula Rooney accepted the award for Green, who was out of the country. ``He is without a doubt the most compassionate, caring intellectual human being I get the pleasure of speaking with on a regular basis,'' she said of Green.

Rooney read from a letter Green gave to her: ``We need an educated work force. Without that, the future is very bleak.'' Rooney said Green just gave Dean College a $1 million gift.

Read the full article here.

KCD Policy - Gifts (audio)

The School Committee gets to the final discussion and vote on the policy. Matt Kelly attempts to amend the form and when that fails he remains as the lone negative vote when the policy passes 6-1.

Deb Pellegri speaks on behalf of the Brick School Association.

Time: 23 minutes, 23 seconds



MP3 File

Help is needed for the 4th of July

Yes, the call for help is going out. The long time volunteer effort from Deborah Pellegri and Charles Oteri has come to an end. They are both stepping aside from their leadership roles in coordinating the 4th of July celebration for Franklin.

For more than two decades, Pellegri has served as either the chairwoman or a co-chairwoman of the town's Fourth of July celebration, begun in 1982 to provide a family venue for the holiday to keep the community's children safe. Last year, the six-day event included fireworks, a parade and daily entertainment, and was touted in Family Circle magazine when Franklin was named one of the top 10 places in the country to raise children.

But during a November thank-you party for volunteers, Pellegri announced she would no longer be organizing the event, sponsored the past three years by the town's Lions Club. Oteri, a fellow Lions officer, followed suit, leaving the celebration without leadership or a sponsor.

"We're ready to retire," Pellegri said, agreeing with Oteri that it was time for new blood.

"Fresh ideas," Oteri added.

To that end, Pellegri and Oteri plan to hold an information session Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall for members from other clubs willing to take over their duties.

Read the full article by Michael Morton in the Milford daily News.

If you can step forward as a volunteer, consider attending the information session on January 17th.