Live reporting - Summer Blackboard

Pandora Carlucci introduces this joint venture between the Life Long Learning and the High School

Supt Ogden with his leadership and collaborative encouragement, this was finally possible

Peter Light's tenacity lead to the success of the program

50 students participated, 3 obtained scholarships to participate

-----------

Peter Light claims it really was a team effort

looking for this to be a self-sustaining program, could extend the program to

a key goal:
create new opportunities for students, limited offerings due to curriculum requirements

Blackboard, an online platform to facilitate learning
this platform is used at some colleges
students completed coursework from around the world
credits for courses offered an completed successfully

mailed to other schools around the state
reaching out to other districts and other students (will help fund the program)

Mr Sutherland - create and set up course, allows for adjustments along the way
allows for secure dialog between students and teacher
there was a learning curve with the program particularly with setting up the test and enabling it to be available online
allowed flexibility to turn in assignments early
11 students took his class in forensics, a lot of reading, a lot of outside research required
his class is archived and available for re-use, embellishment, etc.

Mrs Belastock

Mr Lima provided a demo of the Blackboard

could key the astronomy program to the specific longitude/latitude so that the view of the sky would be as close to actual as possible, assuming no clouds, you could turn around and see the sky

paper copies made available if computer was not available

each Tuesday night, there was a live session, Mr Lima was online, the students had tasks to observe and report back via the online, they could also ask other questions

over 4 weeks, on Tuesday nights averaged about 75 messages each night

Q&A
Armenio - what were the challenges? You're at home, relaxed.
I was at band camp at UNH and taking the course online
Needed self discipline and motivation to do the assignments and complete them on time

Armenio - would you do it again?
yes

Armenio - are you using Accuplacer?
Pam Gould, FHS Principal - yes a possibility, we are looking at it for the future

Trahan - I am blown away, I would love to take the astronomy class myself
I was in Europe and came back, introduced myself and caught up fairly quickly

Trahan - would you be using this info now or later
Doing this music course has helped me with music this year

Rohrbach - anything you experienced that you would like to see done differently or improved?
happy with everything, nothing really to change

Mullen - you took pre-calc and you are a sophomore, what are you going to do with the rest of the high school?
I can take two full years

Mullen - did you find yourself at the same level with others who took the full year course?
Yes, I did not see a difference

Ogden - As juniors, those taking this pre-calc offering will exhaust the curriculum when they are seniors. Exploring options with Dean, Framkingham St and other places to see what can be done

This was done without cost to the community and a small cost to the families. The courses can be taken anywhere on the planet that there is access to the internet. A number of folks have made this a hugh success. A number of faculty did not get the option to participate and will be able to next summer

Cafasso - what is the capacity of a course?
Light - from his pilot experience about 25-30 students to provide good feedback

? - what about the variety of student pacing and ability, how was it for the teaching?
Light - Not a completely different environment from the classroom.
Belastock - need to be aware of time differences when the testing is open and due.
Lima - ability for students to learn from other students

2 minute recess to allow for breakdown of demo

Live reporting - School Committee meeting

Committee Present: Armenio, Cafasso, Kelly, Mullen, Rohrbach, Trahan
Absent: Roy


Call to order Mrs. Mullen

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence


1. Routine Business

• Citizen’s Comments- none
  
• Review of Agenda- action item D to be removed from agenda this evening
  
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 23, 2008 School Committee Meeting. Moved to accept - approved 6-0
  
• Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly Moved to accept - approved 6-0
  
• Payroll Ms. Armenio
• FHS Student Representatives
• Correspondence: 1. Budget to Actual

Franklin School Committee Meeting - Agenda - 10/14/08

Franklin School Committee Meeting
October 14, 2008
Municipal Building – Council Chambers
7:00 P.M.

AGENDA

Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

• Citizen’s Comments
• Review of Agenda
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 23, 2008 School Committee Meeting.
• Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
• Payroll Ms. Armenio
• FHS Student Representatives
• Correspondence: 1. Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations

• Summer Blackboard
• Transportation Update

3. Discussion Only Items

• Ballot Question #1
• FY10 Budget Timeline
• Superintendent Search

4. Action Items

1. Moved that the Franklin School Committee opposes Question 1, a ballot initiative that would eliminate the state income tax. Passage of Question 1 would cut the state budget by 40%, cause massive reductions in local aid to cities and towns, and result in drastic reductions in school programs.
2. I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from money left over from a community service grant awarded to 2 Remington Teachers to be used for supplies for RMS.
3. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a “Fun Hoop” for the Keller Elementary School in memory of Noreen Coffey from FPS Staff (Cost: $800.00)
4. I recommend acceptance of a check for $800.00 from the Horace Mann PCC to fund Middle School Magic at HMMS.
5. I recommend acceptance of a check for $5,000 from the Jefferson PCC for admission, buses and nurse for a field trip to Plimoth Plantation and a Grade 4 trip which has not yet been finalized.
6. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,420.00 from the ECDC PCC to purchase a laminator for the ECDC.
7. I recommend approval of the recurring trip to Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH on October 25, 2008 for 30 students in the Remington Adventure Club.
8. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a ½ size string bass, (said value: $1,200.00), from Ms. Colleen Pierson for the Davis Thayer Elementary School Music Program.
9. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3880.50 from the Keller PCC for a 1st grade field trip to Jane & Paul’s Farm and a 3rd grade field trip to Plimoth Plantation as described on the attached form KCD-E.
10. I recommend acceptance of a check for $180.39 from Target’s Take Charge of Education Program for In-house enrichment for the Horace Mann Middle School.
11. I recommend transferring $1,268.17 from the Brick School Revolving account to the Town of Franklin.

5. Information Matters
• Superintendent’s Report

1. Enrollment Comparison (9-28-07 to 9-26-08)
2. MCAS
3. Art Gallery
4. Special Ed. Tuition Increases
5. Revolving Account

• 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

candidate orientation/parent meeting on Oct. 23

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 13, 2008 @ 10:52 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

After learning that organizers were canceling the Junior Miss program due to a lack of money, a local woman decided to rescue this year's competition.

"I have a 14-year-old daughter (Jordan) who can't wait to do Junior Miss ... in the year 2013," said Jill M. Bedoya, who took part in a competition here in 1988 and served on Junior Miss committees at both the town and state levels.

"I stepped forward to offer my services to run this year's program so there were no girls left without the opportunity to participate in and experience a Junior Miss program. Junior Miss has been a part of my family for many, many years. My father, Tom Mercer and my aunt, Raye Lynn Mercer, ran the Franklin program for about 10 years, prior to taking over the Massachusetts state program, which they both ran for years. I grew up with Junior Miss," Bedoya said.

She refused to let the 40-year-old program, open strictly to Franklin High School senior girls, cease.

Many people put the program together, she said, and they just needed a little support.

"I have lots of contacts and I'm trying to use my coordination abilities to give the Franklin committee some support," she said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

WHY VOTE NO TO THE INCOME TAX PROPOSAL?

WHY VOTE NO TO THE INCOME TAX PROPOSAL?

The income tax question on the ballot this fall is a reckless proposal that will have severe and immediate consequences for all of us. This binding referendum will take more than $12 billion—nearly 40 percent—out of the state budget, driving up local property taxes and leading to drastic cuts in services. Our communities will suffer sweeping education cuts, steep reductions in public safety personnel and further deterioration of roads and bridges. Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.

Here is what we know

• The income tax proposal will cost the Commonwealth more than $12 billion in revenues
• That’s 40 percent of the state budget
• This is a binding proposal that will become law effective January 1, 2009

This reckless proposal will:

• Drive up local property taxes
• Have dire consequences for our communities, putting:
  • Education at risk with:
    • Larger class sizes
    • Fewer afterschool programs
    • More school closings
  • Health care at risk for:
    • Seniors
    • Working families
    • People with disabilities
  • Public safety at risk with:
    • Fewer emergency response personnel
    • Longer 911 wait times
    • Fewer police officers and firefighters
  • Our infrastructure at risk with:
    • Unsafe bridges
    • Broken roads and more potholes
    • Cuts in service to public transportation
• Put our fragile economy and job market at even greater risk

What to do about it

1. Pledge to VOTE NO
2. Sign up for email from VoteNoMA.com to stay informed. You can do that here. As volunteer opportunities arise we will contact you.
3. Tell your friends and family to VOTE NO. Let them know that you think this is a reckless and bad idea. Send them to VoteNoMa.com and ask them to learn more and sign up to help as well.

Times are hard enough. Let’s not make them worse.

This info came from the folks at Vote NO on Question 1

"The mirror simply slid down the wall"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Oct 13, 2008 @ 12:32 AM

Last update Oct 13, 2008 @ 12:33 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Even after a century, members of the philanthropic Ray family may still be hanging around their old haunts, according to staff at Dean College.

Workers at Ray House, which serves as the school's admissions office, and several staff members, including Vice President of Enrollment Jay Leiendecker, have reported encounters with spirits they believe are Ray family members. The house was their former home, built in the 1800s.

Sensing a spirit, or seeing a shadow flash by is not rare at Ray House, Leiendecker said.

"It's not once every so many years - there's definitely a spirit living in the house," he said, adding, "Nothing bad has happened."

In fact, if the otherworldly inhabitants are members of the Ray family, he said they're probably quite friendly ghosts, because they were incredibly charitable people in life.

Although encounters are common, they can still be startling.

"We had window-washing crews come here on weekends, and a man was washing the window inside and out one Saturday," Leiendecker said, pointing to his tall office window overlooking the campus, "and he apparently went screaming for the hills after he saw ... something."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

More home heating saving tips

Today's Sunday Globe covers a number of the same home energy saving tips covered in the presentation at the Franklin Public Library this past Monday evening. The graphical depiction of the savings in the online edition is not the same as the graphic that appears in the print version. It leaves off the dollar savings and payback periods. You'll need to read the full article to find that info.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

The presentation from the Library session earlier this week can be found here.

"We ask them virtually to perform miracles"

The Framingham and Franklin school systems face a common problem - the need to hire a new superintendent - but they're looking to solve it in different ways.

They're among at least 11 school systems in the region that have either hired new district leaders in the past year or are in the process of doing so. Some, like Franklin, have sought to nurture internal talent and hire from within the school district. Others, like Framingham, have put out a nationwide call for applications.

Both approaches reflect a desire to hire the best leaders from what area school officials say is a shrinking pool of candidates for a growing number of openings.

Just last week, Shrewsbury's longtime superintendent, Anthony Bent, announced he will be retiring at the end of the academic year.

Bent, who has headed Shrewsbury's system for 15 years, said the School Committee will search for his successor both inside and outside the district, casting a broad net in order to "have the best potential pool to choose from."

Thomas Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, said there have been between 50 and 60 superintendent vacancies in each of the last five years, up from fewer than 10 annual openings a decade ago. Each open slot used to draw 75 or more applications, whereas school districts are now lucky to get 20 applications, he said.

Read the full article in the Boston Sunday Globe West section here

Parking fees increase at MBTA

The MBTA's oversight board voted yesterday to raise parking rates by $2 at all of its lots and garages beginning Nov. 15 as part of a plan to pay back wages owed to union employees.

For many daily riders, the increase will have the same effect as a $10-per-week fare increase, or about $500 per year. Rates currently vary, from $1 per day at ferry yards, to $2 at commuter rail station lots, up to as much as $5 at the four most expensive garages.

"That's doubling it," said Margie Katz, a record supervisor at the University of Massachusetts at Boston who takes the commuter rail to work from the Campello station in Brockton, where daily rates had been $2. "It will be an extreme hardship."

Read the full article here in the Boston Globe

"It's really depressing"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 10, 2008 @ 10:10 PM

Last update Oct 10, 2008 @ 10:53 PM

---

MILFORD —

Calling the global economic crisis and financial pressure "the perfect storm" for taxpayers to pass Question 1, which repeals the state income tax on Nov. 4, legislators implored local politicians to rally against it.

"If it passes, we can pretty much shut our doors and go home," said Rep. John V. Fernandes, D-Milford, during a legislative breakfast with the Massachusetts Municipal Association at the Milford Senior Center yesterday.

"We can't sit back on such an important question. The cynicism that drives this means we have to explain to people the seriousness of the consequences. I know people who tend to vote for this who work for local government," Fernandes said.

Fernandes, state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, Ashland Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Mark Purple, and Douglas Executive Director Michael Guzinski, along with others at the forum, believe the question has a very good chance of passing, and it scares them.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"some people are just self-centered and narrow-minded"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 10, 2008 @ 10:34 PM

Last update Oct 10, 2008 @ 10:41 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Neighbors are rallying to save a nearby colony of feral cats, contacting national animal rights organizations after learning Highwood Condominiums' board of trustees plans to trap and euthanize them.

Animal Control officers Cindy Souza and Tracey Holmes say the feral cats' feeding station, which they set up with Purr-fect Cat Shelter of Medway in nearby woods is on state land where trapping is prohibited.

"We've kind of stepped back ... It's really up to the people to stand up to the association at this point," Holmes said.

And they are.

Resident Leslie McShane contacted Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, to bring attention to the situation.

"I thought they should know what goes on in small towns that want to euthanize their problems ... instead of reaching out to the community to try and find homes for the feral cats or try to relocate the colony to a friendlier area that they can all survive in," McShane said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Question 1 effect on Franklin

Check out these editorials from around the state.

• Tax repeal would result in chaos The Springfield Republican
• Income tax repeal would create chaos Worcester Telegram and Gazette
• For fiscal sanity, no on Question 1 The Boston Herald
• This question is not the answer The Boston Globe
• Reality of Question 1 The Berkshire Eagle
• A ridiculous idea The Cape Cod Times
• Taxes and tactics South Coast Today
• Eliminating income tax is madness The Patriot Ledger

Check out the facts provided here for the effects on Franklin

Or click here to make your own navigation amongst the communities in our Commonwealth of Massachusetts to see the effect if Question 1 passes.

Please don't be swayed by something that sounds too good to be true. You know what happens then, something bad!

"We plan for the worst, hoping it never happens"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 08, 2008 @ 11:38 PM

---

MILFORD —

Just outside Milford Regional Medical Center, men covered from head to toe in protective suits, gloves, rubber boots and breathing apparatus had already decontaminated several victims of a mock terrorist attack when Fire. Lt. Patrick Salmon got a message over his walkie-talkie.

A voice on the other end said the state was reporting: "It may be a terror attack with sarin gas," a nerve agent used in chemical warfare.

Around 7:35 p.m., 55 minutes into a drill mimicking a terrorist incident on a commuter train arriving in Franklin, emergency workers were prepping the third and final victim to bring to the hospital.

"So far, it's good. It's dark out, so we had some issues until we got the lights set up, but now we can keep taking patients" if necessary, Salmon said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"members worried about the safety of students, faculty and staff "

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Oct 09, 2008 @ 12:54 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's board of trustees last week voted to rent the historic Red Brick School from the town for one year.

"I'm feeling very good about it. I've been a strong proponent on using the building," said John Neas, president of the charter school's board.

Neas said the school faces a critical need for space in its building, which he estimated to be about 35,000 square feet.

"We use every inch of space available to us. We have 416 students and a waiting list of 200 students we can't accommodate," Neas said, noting that the board is looking for another school site. (In the best scenario, he said, they might have a new building in five years.)

And every weekday afternoon, charter school students and staff must vacate the building so that St. Mary's Church, which owns the building, can hold religious ed classes there, Neas said.

"That means our school dismisses at 3:10, and we have from 3:10 to 3:45 for after-school activities. That creates some issues for us," he said.

"This is a possibility for us in terms of having space to do those types of things," Neas said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Fiscal 2010 will be "a very challenging year"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 07, 2008 @ 10:44 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

In keeping with the same financial forecasts given over the last year, Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting last night told the Finance Committee he anticipates fiscal 2010 will be "a very challenging year."

"Local receipts aren't going to bounce back quickly. Everything is tightening and tightening and tightening," Nutting said in the first Finance Committee meeting of the new fiscal year.

His biggest concern for the fiscal '10 budget is whether there will be a reduction in state aid, he said.

Nutting does not believe Franklin will be "as revenue-rich" as last year, he said, noting that the town's fuel, pensions and insurance costs will continue to escalate, outpacing revenue.

The town will bid for a new electric energy contract this spring, "another big exposure," Nutting said.

Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here

Energy $ense - presentation

With many thanks to Fred Schlicher for sharing the PowerPoint presentation he used Monday night (10/6/08) at the Library for his talk on Energy $ense.

Energy $ense Saving on Home Energy Bills - Oct 2008

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: energy savings)

Thank you Fred!

Many thanks to the Friends of Franklin Library and the Franklin Area Climate Team for sponsoring this event!


You can review my notes taken during the presentation here

Andro's Pizza - preparing to open

Some progress was observed on our walk about town this weekend. A new sign for Andro's Pizza is up. There are indications of getting ready but the ladder observed in the window says there is still work being done to prepare for the opening.





Enjoy!

Franklin School Personnel Reductions 2003-2009: updated

In the preparations for the Override Vote in June, I had prepared this slideshow with the help of information from the School Department and careful review by some School Committee members. With the Override finalized, the adjustments to staffing levels complete, I thought it would be good to go back and update the numbers to ensure that this record will be available.

The override in June was probably not the last one Franklin will vote on. Hence the need for keeping the numbers current and accurate.

Franklin MA School budget reductions - Updated

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: school dept)

The earlier version of this can be found here

"Yeah, there are things you can do"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 07, 2008 @ 12:02 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Saving cash on energy can be as simple as choosing a conventional television over its plasma counterpart, which is three to four times pricier, said Fred Schlicher.

Residential energy use, which accounts for about 20 percent of all energy consumption in the United States, is "a near and dear subject to us, " Schlicher said, particularly this winter, when "we may be facing energy prices twice as high as last year."

Schlicher, a program manager for Massachusetts Climate Action Network, offered tips on cutting home energy bills and suggested resources for improving energy efficiency in the first of a four-part climate series at the public library, attended by about 40 people last night.

Some of the top energy-suckers at home: appliances and lighting (20 percent), water heating (16 percent), space heating (60 percent), and refrigerators, particularly those more than 10 years old (no statistic given), Schlicher said.

He recommended using a "Kill-A-Watt" meter, which costs about $30, to identify "very quickly" which appliances use the most electricity at home.

"You plug it into the wall and see what the big users of electricity are; it's a great monitor," Schlicher said.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

read my live reporting summaries here

Museum construction progress

Since the last picture: the columns have been replaced, a fresh coat of paint applied, new entrance steps/landing almost complete.







Have you been observing the changes? Did I miss something?

Energy $ense - meeting summary

• Live reporting - Energy $ense - clean power
• Live reporting - Energy $ense - NationalGrid
• Live reporting - Energy $ense - heating, cooling t...
• Live reporting - Energy $ense - behavioral, hot wa...
• Live reporting - Energy $ense - intro/overview
• Live reporting - Energy $ense - before meeting

Live reporting - Energy $ense - clean power

buy clean power

• support renewable energy in MA
• sign up for NationalGrid's GreenUp Program

cleanernergychoice.org

Look for the post card in your next bill! Should be in the October bill.

Live reporting - Energy $ense - NationalGrid

Windows

• longer payback
• standard double-glaze only R-3
• triple glaze R-5

consider using window quilts


Gerry Hanna, from NationalGrid

Masssave, a collaboration funded with the conservation charge on each of our utility bills

You can call for an energy audit. The auditor will take about 2 hours to go through the house with you. The printout will prioritize the opportunities according to the energy savings projected by the audit.

Will do less audits but more implementation work. Will pay 75% up to $2000 if qualified for thermal work

"You need to want to do something but now is the time to do so."

"Audits are already scheduled through January, call now and they will honor the request after March 2009 when the offer expires."

The education is available on the Massave website. They'll need your zipcode and primary heating method (oil, gas).

Live reporting - Energy $ense - heating, cooling tips

Electric reductions

• phantom load reduction with power strips
• determine power eaters with "Kill a watt" meter and economize use
• energy appliance purchases

buy Energy Star appliances (www.energystar.gov)

Appliance tips

• don't buy a plasma TV (uses 3-4 times as much than conventional)
• gas-fired clothes dryer
• front loading washing

heating & cooling purchases

• programmable thermostat (rebate available from local utility)
  
• new furnace or heat pump

heating & cooling tips

• boiler, efficient, tuned and cleaned
• insulation, windows, don't let heat escape

Weatherization

• sealing of air leaks (attic, basements)
• insulation installation

air leakage paths

• air comes into the basement through the windows, cracks in the walls
• warm air rises and will go out where it can

homeowners who have insulated and did not see an improvement in energy usage, usually had air leaks that were not properly addressed

Blower door Air Leakage analysis
helps to find big leaks, assess ventilation, requires training, measure leakage before and after work, can cost $4-600 for a single household

get the neighborhood together to have the contractor come in to do several at the same time and reduce the cost

Infra-red Camera
assess current level of insulation in walls and spot gaps
check results of contractor work

windows are very expensive to replace but the energy saving payback is hard to get; about 8-13% on savings

Live reporting - Energy $ense - behavioral, hot water, etc.

Behavioral

• hot water use
• heating & cooling
• lighting
• electric use reductions

kilowatt meter, approx $30 to measure usage by device within the home

Hot water use

• adjusting hot water heater (recommended setting the temp at no higher than 120 degrees F)
• insulate heater (if an older heater, consider a blanket wrap)
  
• shorter showers (try)
  
• hand dish washing (do a full load whenever using the dishwasher)
  
• wear clothes longer (a personal decision)
  
• washing with cold water
  

Fred followed a low carbon diet and was able to reduce his carbon footprint by 22% by following some of these tips

Hot water tips
buy the most efficient, don't buy more capacity than you need

put a cut off switch on your shower head, and reduce flow when water is not needed

Heating & cooling

• turn down the thermostat
• change the A/C filter frequently
• regular tune up of furnace or heat pump
• seal doors and windows

decide for yourself what temperature you can live with, Fred used to use 74 as the standard setting during the day, he has now dropped it to 68,

Air sealing

• rope caulk
• clear plastic on windows
• weather stripping along door edges
• plug holes in ceilings, floors, walls, etc.

lighting

• use CFL bulbs, last longer, uses less electricity
• turn off lights when not in room

Live reporting - Energy $ense - intro/overview

Franklin Area Climate Team sponsored this series. On October 19th, the Global Warming Cafe will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street.

-----------


Fred Schlicher, Program Manager of the Mass Climate Action Network.
email address -> Fred. Schlicher @ MassClimateAction.net

representative of NationalGrid here as well

over 20% of the US energy use is from residential (vs. commercial, industrial or transportation).

60% of the individual residential BTU usage from from space heating.

Four basic approaches:

• behavioral (lie style changes you can make)
  
• appliances (items you can buy)
  
• weatherization investments (home improvements)
  
• education (reliable sources of information to help you become an educated consumer)
  

MassSave website, collaborative effort to provide information on energy efficiency

Behavior

• massclimateaction.net
• empowermentinstitute.net

Appliance

• energystar.gov
• masssave.com
• consumerreports.org

Weatherization

• energyratings.org
• masssave.com

Live reporting - Energy $ense - before meeting

Here at the Library tonight to report on the following presentation:

“How to Cut Home Energy Bills: a home energy efficiency workshop”

Fred Schlicher, Program Manager, Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Heating your home this winter is going to cost you far more than it did last year. This program will show you a variety of things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your house and lower your energy costs. Most of the things covered will cost little or nothing and you can go home with a helpful resource handout and how-to guidance.

There will be a good number of folks here, more than are usually at a regular Town Council or School Committee meeting.


head count at the end of the presentation showed almost 50 people

Ed Cafasso - Letter October 5th

Hello everyone!

I hope you enjoyed the weekend. Here’s a brief update on recent school issues in Franklin…

The Late Bus is back! Late bus service for middle and high school students resumes this week after the Town Council approved a $10,000 appropriation. The money came from funds set aside for the town many years ago by a local developer. The four buses carried hundreds of riders each week during the 2007-08 academic year, helping students who stayed after school for extra help, detention, clubs or extra-curricular activities. Kudos to the Town Council for a decision that means a great deal to students and working parents throughout the community!

The School Building Committee held its inaugural meeting last week. This volunteer group includes town and school officials as well as private citizens who are experts in architecture, finance, design and engineering. Chaired by Tom Mercer, the committee’s mission is to oversee either the replacement or renovation of Franklin High School; decide the fate of the numerous modular classrooms that have surpassed their life expectancy; and, to map out renovations needed at the Davis Thayer, Parmenter and Kennedy schools, our oldest elementary facilities.

Several Franklin programs have earned accreditation from the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The latest to win this recognition for educational quality are the ECDC and the Kennedy School kindergarten. The kindergarten at Oak Street earned NAEYC accreditation last year. The kindergartens at Davis Thayer and Parmenter earned the distinction in 2005 and are currently working towards re-accreditation, which occurs every five years. Jefferson and Keller are hoping to become accredited in 2011.

Franklin High School Principal Pamela Gould has notified the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., of the impact of recent budget decisions. The Association is the accrediting body for high schools in this region. The loss of 16 high school positions, including an instructional technology slot, forced the elimination of Woodshop, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I and II, Public Speaking, Journalism, French V, and French AP courses. Meanwhile average class sizes increased to two to nine students, depending on the subject.

The notification to the NASC came just a few weeks after Franklin High fared relatively well in a study commissioned by Boston Magazine. Based on a complex and somewhat controversial analysis conducted by Elaine Allen, research director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College, FHS ranked right in the middle of the pack in terms of cost efficiency (72nd out of 143 schools) and in the top half of the group in academic performance (62nd). You can view the rankings online at http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_high_school_chart/index.html. The feature articles can be found at http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_best_schools_2008/.


Many parents have begun a letter-writing and e-mail campaign in an effort to have a school schedule adopted that allows classes to begin after Labor Day. Proponents of the change cite school calendars in other districts, such as Medway, in which several professional development days are scheduled in late August so that students do not start the academic year until after the holiday. Parents’ views on this topic are welcome. The School Committee typically discusses and votes on the school calendar in the spring. Stay tuned.

And finally, the School Committee hopes to name a new superintendent this month. It is likely we will discuss internal candidates for the post at our upcoming meeting on October 14. If all goes well, a final discussion and vote could occur as soon as the Committee meeting on October 28.

These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. I try to distribute at least one e-mail update each month during the school year, as issues warrant. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. If you are receiving duplicate e-mails or if you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. If you know of someone you would like to add to the list, please send along their e-mail address.

Thanks!


Ed Cafasso, Member

Franklin School Committee

edcafasso@comcast.net

“ENERGY" SERIES KICK OFF

The Friends of the Franklin Public Library are pleased to sponsor The Franklin Area Climate Team’s “Energy $ense” Series for residents starting on October 6, at 7:00 p.m. The Franklin Area Climate Team has developed a four part speaker series titled “Energy $ense for Franklin Residents” that will feature energy professionals from around the state who will provide practical solutions on how to reduce your energy costs and improve the environment at the same time. The four program series schedule is:


Monday, October 6
“How to Cut Home Energy Bills: a home energy efficiency workshop”

Fred Schlicher, Program Manager, Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Heating your home this winter is going to cost you far more than it did last year. This program will show you a variety of things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your house and lower your energy costs. Most of the things covered will cost little or nothing and you can go home with a helpful resource handout and how-to guidance.


Thursday, November 13
“How Businesses Get Help Going Green”

Jen Boudrie, Sustainable Business Leader Program Director
The Sustainable Business Leader Program offers assistance to small to medium sized businesses in Franklin to improve their current practices in energy and water conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, transportation efficiency and sustainability management. The program provides: guidance in assessing your company’s current sustainability condition, help in developing an Action Plan to improve it and on-going assistance and monitoring.


Wednesday, December 10
“Incentives for Residential and Commercial Solar and Wind Instillations”

Tyler Leeds, Project Manager, Green Building & Infrastructure of the Mass. Technology Collaborative
If you’ve ever thought about installing a wind turbine or solar array at your home or business to cut energy costs this speaker will answer your questions and help you better understand the basic investment economics involved. The State of Massachusetts has recently developed a variety of incentives to spur the development of renewable energy in the state such as: Commonwealth Solar Rebates, Small Renewables Initiative and Business Expansion Incentives. Find out all of the details.


Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Showing of the Award Winning film “Kilowatt Ours” by Jeff Barrie

Ted McIntyre, Ph.D., Board Member, Massachusetts Climate Action Network - moderator
This film traces the path of the electricity you use in your home from the light switch, through the wires to its source. Along the way you’ll meet power companies, schools, businesses and everyday Americans finding ways to meet our energy needs using conservation and green power. “Kilowatt Ours” will teach you how to dramatically reduce your electric bill and improve the environment at the same time.

This informative energy series is free and open to the public. All presentations will be in the community room, lower level of the Franklin Public Library located at 118 Main Street at 7 p.m.

My analysis of the Audit Report - updated

I went back to the Audit Report from earlier this year and updated my summary and analysis of the report.

My Analysis of the Forensic Report

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: school dept)

This was originally published in February and can be found here

FM #16 - 5 Things you should know

#16 in the series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin, MA. This one focuses on the 5 things you should know about Franklin this week: (1) the late bus decision, (2) zoning bylaw rescheduled yet again, (3) Financial Planning Committee, (4) Energy $ense Series at the Library begins and (5) Question 1 on the ballot in November.

Time: 20 minutes, 59 seconds



MP3 File

Session notes:

Music intro

FM #16

This podcast for Franklin Matters will focus on the 5 things you need to know about what happened this week.

First, the Town Council approved funding for the Late bus. Yes, this is the Late bus that due to the override was out of service. In late July, it seemed like the bus could be provided. By the end of August, the bus was back out. As noted in the School Committee meeting of 9/23/08, the Holmes bus company had reduced the cost of the late bus for this year from 40,000 to 10,000. The middle school PCC’s got together and pledged to pay for it. The School Committee worked with the Town Council and Town Administrator and it became know that the Town Council would consider it at their meeting 10/1/08.

In this clip from the Town Council meeting on 10//1/08, we hear the full discussion and vote
- insert clip on Late bus -

I think the Late bus is a good thing but I don’t like how it is being paid for. Money was “found” in an account that could be used for public transportation. This does nothing to restore confidence in Town government. The townies who are keeping track just put another notch in their belt, ha more found money, they did it again.

Second, the bylaw to rezone some parcels along RT 140 near the Knights of Columbus and Dunkin Donuts ended up being rescheduled for yet another meeting as it was evident that the matter was not going to gain enough votes. Two councilors were absent (Bartlett, McGann) with a two thirds majority required to pass. Due to the reschedule we don’t not know of the outstanding information was provided.

Third, the working sessions for the Finance Planning Committee (FPC) continued earnest this week. The Dept of Public Works (Brutus Cantoreggio) and Facilities (Mike D’Angelo) came in to review their departmental operations, their forecast for the next several years, cost drivers for their areas and answer a number of clarifying questions from the committee. There will not be any presentations at the next FPC meeting as they begin to digest what they have learned from the first four departments. The School budget is scheduled for review at a meeting in November.
You should recall that the FPC is charted with developing a long term plan for the Town, assuming there is an override next year (very likely) what is the long term outlook, how many will there need to be, or is something like the Arlington plan going to work in Franklin. This is important work. I encourage you to keep track of what is going on here. There is a whole lot of great data and information being presented. I am doing my best to report it live but if you have a chance to attend, please do so. It will be worth your while.

Fourth,

The Friends of the Franklin Public Library are pleased to sponsor The Franklin Area Climate Team’s “Energy $ense” Series for residents starting on October 6, at 7:00 p.m. The Franklin Area Climate Team has developed a four part speaker series titled “Energy $ense for Franklin Residents” that will feature energy professionals from around the state who will provide practical solutions on how to reduce your energy costs and improve the environment at the same time.

The schedule is available on the Town website, as well as on Franklin Matters.

Fifth, I still believe Question One is the most imminent danger that Franklin faces. Question One is on the ballot in November.

The State Income Tax Repeal is also known as Massachusetts
Question 1. It is an initiated state statute that will appear on the November 4,
2008 ballot in Massachusetts.[1] If the measure passes, it will end the state's
current 5.3% income tax on wages, interest, dividends and capital gains.

You can find objective information at this link:
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_State_Income_Tax_Repeal_%282008%29

You can find the Yes position here:
http://www.smallgovernmentact.org/

You can find the No position here:
http://votenoquestion1.com/?adtrack=education&gclid=CO2I-trz65UCFQpwGgodmkJeew

Where would you cut $11 million from the Town Budget?

Public safety is about 9 M, Central Gov’t Services is about 9 M. Public Works is about 6 M. If 2.8 million cost the town 44 teachers, what would loosing $11 million dollars cost the town?

The idea of the commonwealth is for all of us together to work and pay for the community services we need. If you think taking $11 million dollars out of the Franklin budget would bring you the community you want, I’d like to know what it would look like.

These are the five things that matter to Franklin this week:

1. Late bus back in
2. zoning postponed again
3. FPC meeting
4. energy $ense for Franklin residents
5. the imminent danger of Question 1

---- ---- ----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

Short school week this week

Short school week this week, originally uploaded by shersteve.

With a combination of events coming together on the calendar this week: Rosh Hashanah arrives on Thursday and Columbus Day on Monday. Figuring that it didn't make sense to have the students come in for one day, with parents able to take advantage of the long weekend, Friday slips in as a no-school day.

Don't worry, they still get 180 days in, just distributed a little differently this year.

To all our Jewish residents, Happy New Year!

First floor

The new foundation for the house to be numbered either 190 or 192 King Street is getting the first floor laid down.







Enjoy!

In the News - Dean; School Building Committee

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Oct 04, 2008 @ 11:00 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The entire Dean College community yesterday celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the new Library Learning Commons, a new hub for student activity that made visiting alumni jealous.

"We didn't have anything like this,'' said Jane Dorr, a Class of '58 alumna at Dean for her 50th anniversary this Homecoming Weekend.

Following a ceremony and remarks by President Dr. Paula M. Rooney, Dorr and two girlfriends from '58 toured the officially opened, brand-new building to see a Jazzman's Cafe & Bakery, new library, learning spaces, faculty offices and central home for the college's academic support services.

"Now I know what I'm sending money for,'' Dorr said. "In fact, I'm encouraged to keep giving.''

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

-------------------

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Oct 04, 2008 @ 10:39 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The Town Council-appointed, newly formed School Building Committee has elected its leaders and will meet a second time Wednesday to begin talks on renovating or rebuilding Franklin High School and prioritizing its other projects.

"It's really a great group in terms of professionals,'' said committee member Ed Cafasso, who is on the School Committee as well.

"We had more volunteers than spots, so many people in the community were willing to serve,'' he added. "It just shows how important the high school and other school buildings are to the community.''

In addition to working on the high school project, the committee will create a plan for the modular classrooms, which have gone past their life expectancy, said Cafasso. The group will also address any other school enrollment issues.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"We're all affected by the war"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 03, 2008 @ 10:54 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

When Police Chief Stephen Williams returned home from the Vietnam War, the reception he got was "terrible," he said.

"I don't want that to happen to those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, I don't want that to happen to them," said Williams.

"There's all sorts of support now we never had when we came home - and it's only right," Williams said.

Placing a war memorial honoring those who fought in the current conflicts next to the existing World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War monuments on the common "is a fitting tribute to people in our military," said Williams, a member of the veteran's monument committee.

Franklin's Veterans Agent Bob Fahey put the committee together in November 2006, at the behest of Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, with the intention of honoring fallen troops from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

How to Cut Home Energy Bills: a Home Energy Efficiency Workshop

When: Monday, October 6, 7 p.m.

Where: Franklin Public Library

What: Heating your home this winter is going to cost you far more than it did last year. This program will show you a variety of things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your house and lower your energy costs. Most of the things covered will cost little or nothing and you can go home with a helpful resource handout and how-to guidance.

This presentation is free and will take place in the community room, lower level of the Franklin Public Library located at 118 Main Street at 7 p.m.

in the news - Library book sale, exercise, folk music

The Friends of the Franklin Library Fall Book Sale will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thousands of hard- and soft-cover books will be available in nearly every category.

Fiction and non-fiction books are $1, and $2 for trade publications. Most children’s and young adult hardcover books are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents. Audio and videotapes, cassettes, CD’s and DVD’s are as low as $1 apiece.

A selection of books in excellent condition, recent releases or collector’s titles suitable for gift giving may be found in the special pricing section. The book sale takes place at the Franklin Department of Public Works Garage. Take Hayward Street to Public Service Way.

Free admission to the public.

Originally published in the Franklin Gazette here

------------------

FRANKLIN -

It’s not too late to get in shape by signing up for the second fall session of Franklin Schools’ health and wellness classes.

...

Sign up online at the Franklin Public Schools Web site (www.franklin.k12.ma.us). Click on Lifelong and follow the prompts to Adult Education listings. Or contact the Franklin Adult Education office at 508-541-2100, ext. 3178, or e-mail adulted@franklin.k12.ma.us.

Read the full article in the Franklin Gazette here

------------------

Peter Mulvey returns to the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse Saturday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m.

A live wire on any stage, Wisconsin native Mulvey is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist whose guitar playing seemingly whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings, said a Circle of Friends spokesman.

Read the full article in the Franklin Gazette here

Go the Circle of Friends website to view the schedule and order tickets here

Tracey Grammer performs at Circle of Friends on October 11th

Financial Planning Committee 10/2/08

• Live reporting - Facilities
• Live reporting - DPW
• Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 10/2...

The official minutes for this meeting can be found here

cat fight continues

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 02, 2008 @ 10:16 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The Highwood Condominium Association's board of trustees has decided to trap and euthanize a colony of feral cats at the complex that has been the center of a neighborhood dispute, according to Animal Control Officer Cindy Souza.

The move may be illegal, however, depending on who actually owns the woods where the cats roam and eat, she said. Souza and fellow Animal Control Officer Tracey Holmes believe the state owns the property, and trapping is not allowed on state property, Souza said. If that is the case, the association may instead put traps on Highwood grounds, she said.

"It's sad," Souza said.

Souza first intervened in 1997, when more than 200 feral cats roamed the premises, at times jumping out of a trash bin at people, she said, adding, "it was a real health issue."

She solicited the help of Purr-fect Cat Shelter in Medway to catch the cats, spay and neuter them, provide shots, and release them back where they were found, she said. They set up a feeding station in the woods next to the property, and for 10 years, resident and self-proclaimed "Cat Lady" Dorothy "Dottie" Luff, 81, has been feeding and caring for the cats, which she has also named.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Live reporting - Facilities

Mike D'Angelo

Any structure that is owned by the town we cover. Electricians, plumbers, roofers, etc. We handle all major construction.

Everything I touch cost more today, plastic bags, etc. The labor market hasn't changed much but all the supplies have.

Signed a natural gas and propane contract, only going up 2.5% is great. It is a significant piece overall but controlled.

Electric put in at a 15% increase.
Water/sewer up due to the rate increase.

Telephone - bringing the police online so all the buildings will be connected and on the same network

How many FTEs?
35 full time, 10 part time and then 4 management staff

The things that are hurting me. The cost of the products that we are buying to replace are killing me. Not labor, just parts.

Will you exceed the $362,000 this year?
I can't. Stuff won't get done.

Remington-Jefferson is 14 years, no longer new; Keller-Sullivan is not new
The King St Fire Station is 10 years.

Can we look at a 5 year period?
But we have new buildings, new town hall, senior center, fire station...
Need to look at the increase in square foot increases year over year, at window sq footage, windows need to be washed

The telephone consulting is actually giving us money back. Reducing lines, keeping numbers. Eventually we want to go with fiber optics, that will help us save more.

5 leased, 4 at Parmenter, one at the High School. All the original ones were leased to own.

Bartlett - What is the life expectancy?
At 15 years, you might expect a total replacement. We did 8, 8, and 10. The first ones are 10 years old.

If you can help us with a narrative description?
Yes

You got to fix the things that you need to fix. As you go towards the end, you hope things don't break that cost a lot of money. You make it though the heating season, and then adjust.

Request is to add staff back at both the school and town. We lost 8 custodians. we clean bathrooms, we clean cafeterias, the rooms are lucky if they get cleaned once a week.

You can always make the schools look good on day one. Going through the year, it gets tougher.

We lost 8 out of forty, that was 20% of the staff. When a custodial system starts deteriorating, you go down a trouble road.

At an elementary level , the standard is a custodian can clean about 25,000 sq feet.

The high school is continuing to grow, maybe it will stop in a couple of years but it is a constant activity day and night.

We would add back four in the first year plus some part timers.
We don't pain enough, we could use the summer help to paint at least in year one. Then try to get the proper amount of folks in to maintain it on-going.

Using students as the part time help, gave them a job and ownership. They gained some respect for the work and effort to paint, clean the school. They would help police the other students to not write on the walls, etc.

Big difference in using students for help between what you can do with a public school versus a private school.

How much more do we spend at the high school due to its age versus the other schools?
I budget by school so I could look at the details. we actually have replaced a lot of systems there with 20/20, etc. If we had not done that, I'd be in trouble. A new high school will increase utility costs but reduce maintenance costs.

No more presentations for next time. Let's start to work on the model.

Look at minutes for the 4th and 18th to see. We should have them on the agenda to approve them next time.

Motion to adjourn.

Live reporting - DPW

Brutus Cantoreggi - presenting the insights on the DPW

We are already $100,000 down due to fuel costs. The salt bid came in at .71 vs .51 cents which is what we had been paying.

Budgeted for 550,000 for snow and ice this year; 500,000 last year just on salt. The past year was 1.1 million spent.

We have been trying to catch up by budgeting another 100K each year. We are short each time and can't catch up.

State reimbursed 3 years ago and 6 years ago.

Last year was an average year, this year will be more just with the salt increase. Over a million, probably 1.2 million.

We use 70 outside contractors, we only have 30 employees. We could not do it all ourselves. It is cheaper to do it ourselves, we pay overtime for our employees and we already own our trucks. Minimum we have to pay the contractors is four hours.

Initially we like to start bringing up the snow and ice budget by $250,000 per year. We need to get closer to the actual yearly cost.

All our road work is paid by Chapter 90, State funds, the Town has not budgeted for sidewalk or street repairs. Typically we are able to get 750,000 from the state. We can keep fixing stuff, it is going to deteriorate.

$28 per square foot for a concrete panel.

25 miles of unaccepted public way, sitting for 6 years in legislature in action

Water line replacement program, at the same time we rebuild the road. We use some water funds to rehab the road. 60% of the water funds, 40% of the Chap 90. Approx $800,000 to do Wachusetts St. They put down three inches.

The hot top is sometimes the cheapest thing to do. The money is in the drainage, storm water issue. Mandates coming down from Federal and State government, but there is no funding behind it.

Cantoreggi - They have targeted the Charles River basin (which we are part of) to reduce phosphorous by 60%. We are going to have 4-5 years but we will have to implement this. Without compliance, there will be a fine, possibly up to $25,000 a day.

Nutting - Police and Fire budgets comparison town to town is easy, they are generally apples to apples. DPW can be configured differently amongst the towns and therefore harder to get an apples to apples comparison.

Cantoreggi - It is a difficult thing to explain, we are out to respond all the time. water break, sewer back ups. Mowing fields can be fill in time. There is no way I can get rid of the guys doing the emergencies, that is what the people see. You need the bodies in house. I don't have the luxury of closing a park and keeping all the others up. What will happen will be a slow down in service, in stead of mowing every five days, it may be mowing every eight days, grass is longer, soccer may complain as the balls will slow down.

Cantoreggi - In DPW there is always more work than help.

The assessor needs help moving things, who are they going to call? DPW

Asphalt along the road is actually more expensive than the stuff on the road itself. We do all that hand stuff to save a ton of money.

Nutting - If we did outsource, we could use less mowers/equipment, still keep some but may not need all.

Cantoreggi - Outsource cutting the high school fields perhaps but use the DPW folks to do the Town Common.

D'Angelo - Pesticide handling is a problem. It actually costs more to print the paper to give the notice to the school students to take home than it does to actually cost to do the fertilizing. There are certain things that are cheaper to do in-house and others are cheaper to do via outsource.

Cantoreggi - The DPW guys are skilled and multi skilled. They paint but they are not painters.

Hardesty - How do you prioritize the work you do?
Brutus - A large chunk of what we do is water and sewer. Wells need to be tested daily. A lot of other stuff is seasonal.

Nutting - Public safety gets the big headlines, but DPW is far more complicated. 33 FTE's.

Whalen - We will need your help to craft the story. The public will see snow removal, fuel costs, salt costs, field conditions. We should target attempting to budget 85%, how do we get there?

Bartlett - Is there anything else we can do budget or legislative issues we can help with?
The street issue is the big one.

Whalen - What do people think about charging field use fees?

Trahan - If we outline how many fees people will pay, it can offset what the override would cost.

Bartlett - If we go with an override and a fee, the override won't pass.

Cantoreggi - a lot of the leagues are good and leading the way to take care of the field. I can't get them to pick up the trash though.

Ogden - we were losing 30-40,000 per year where the building use fees did not cover the expense of maintaining the space. Girl scouts, Cub scouts, and other groups are giving the School Committee a headache about the increase in fee. We charge Recreation for use. We charge Adult Ed.

Bartlett - if we decide to go down this road, we need to get all the leagues together and let them know.

Nutting - they all come together at the Rec Advisory Committee. It is a very difficult issue to address.

Whalen - I don't think we can take it off the table.

Cantoreggi - it is not much money to take care of the the parks and fields, but that is what the people see.

Roche - what about the recycling the older vehicles?

Whalen - this has been really educational. There are so many moving parts, it might be good to do a subcommittee to look at this more closely.

Nutting - Water/sewer is self supporting due to the fees but we get some of the roads covered.

Cantoreggi - They are self funded but not self managed

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 10/2/08

Attending: Jim Roche, Roberta Trahan, Steve Whalen, Doug Hardesty, Jeff Nutting, Wayne Ogden, Miriam Goodman, Mike D'Angelo, Brutus Cantoreggi, Gwynne Wilschek,

Not Attending: Shannon Zollo, Matt Kelly,

Roche - let's publish an agenda prior to meeting, Steve has been good getting the meeting reminders out. We need to figure out a timeline to determine our financial model, build some assumptions, we are not here to arrive at the right number, we need to determine and understand the cost drivers, set the assumptions for the model.

Whaelen - without assuming we will go for an override, if there is one needed, we are going to need to start earlier, the work product will need to be good, explanable, etc.

Roche - next three months, build the model, start telling our story, circulate it for feedback

Bartlett - the Council will need to prepare in February that if no money is coming across, we are going to need to make some hard decisions

Nutting - the Town budget will need to come together, it likely will come out in the same time frame, one driver will be the School budget

Let's start - DPW will go first

"From a fiscal standpoint, it's a small action"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Oct 01, 2008 @ 10:45 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Town Council last night voted to fund the late bus service to the town's three middle schools at a reduced price of $10,000.

Only Councilor Judith Pond Pfeffer objected to the funding. Holmes Bus Service offered to provide the service, which normally costs about $40,000 annually, for $10,000 this year after school administrators announced the district could not afford it.

The town will pay for the service out of an old account, Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting said.

The money comes from funds "donated" to the town in 2001, he said. In 2000, he explained, the Zoning Board of Appeals rejected an affordable housing application for Franklin Commons at 575 East Central St. by The Gatehouse Cos. The town lost an appeal and negotiated a settlement that reduced the number of units and gave Franklin $40,000 to be used for extending the bus service to the development or for other public purposes, he said. Since the GATRA, or Greater Attleborough Transit Regional Authority, bus passes by the development, the town no longer needs to fund extending bus service there, Nutting said.

Chairman Christopher Feeley thanked the owner of Holmes Bus Co. for his generosity, noting that he is "not even a Franklin resident."

"For the amount of money it's going to cost us, for the service we're going to get - we'd be foolish not to do this," Feeley said.

Read the remainder of the article in the Milford Daily News here

Town Council Mtg Summary - 10/1/08

• Live reporting - Councilor Comments
• Live reporting - Administrator Report
• Live reporting - Rescheduled items
• Live reporting - Legislature for action
• Live reporting - Zoning bylaw amendment
• Live reporting - late bus approved
• Live reporting - town council meeting 10/1/08
• Town Council Agenda - 10/1/08

Live reporting - Councilor Comments

Zollo - publicly acknowledge the efforts of the teachers stepping up and going beyond under tough times. Secondly to acknowledge the quality of the recreation programs in town. Acknowledge the DPW and grounds maintenance crew have been doing a good job.

Doak - question 1 on the ballot, don't like taxes, but the fact of the matter is Franklin would be hurt significantly, I will be voting against it and would like folks to consider this.

Whalen - if question 1 passes, the loss to Franklin would be $11 million and that is the probably close to the cost of the Fire, Police, and DPW.

Vallee - will bring something to new business about doing something for the Police Dept.

Feeley - thanks to Mr Holmes for reducing the Late bus cost.

Move to go to executive session and not return
approved 7-0

Live reporting - Administrator Report

School building committee met tonight, good meeting

• Tom Mercer, chairman
• Chris Feeley, vice-chair
• Scott Mason, clerk

The Cable TV has a $500,000 gift account

Live reporting - Rescheduled items

• Resolution 08-59: Dissolution of Fire Station Building Committee
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 2nd Reading

both these items were moved to the October 15th meeting

Live reporting - Legislature for action

• Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements

These have been here before, and are coming back from the Planning Board as a recommendation

The street laws date from the 1800's. The subdivision control law in the mid-1900's. A different set of points, more access than travel. The legislature has not updated the process to deal with subdivision road acceptance.

Doak - why are these coming where others may have not and may have been waiting longer

Cerel - Toll Brothers have working this diligently and cooperatively with the Town to get this done.

Doak - if the developer doesn't plan this properly, then it puts the burden on the town?

Ceral - if the developers haven't planned properly, the home owners technically own to the middle of the road, contacting them these days is tedious is possible

Approved - 7-0

• Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements

Same thing as the previous one

Approved - 7-0

Live reporting - Zoning bylaw amendment

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment to Chapter 185-18. Nonconforming Uses and Structures- Dept of Planning & Community Development

Presentation lead by:

David Roche - Building Commissioner
Nick Alfieri - Conservation Agent
Brian Taberner, Director, Downtown Planning and Community Development

Alfieri - As an example, 450 Maple St, built about 28 feet from the road, therefore it is pre-existing as non-confirming, to put a deck on that would be completely compliant still had to go through the Zoning Board of Approvals (ZBA) to get the approval. It will save time and money. This streamlines the ZBA process.

Vallee - this is an excellent amendment

Whalen - sounds good, what would be an example of something more controversial or how it could not be abused?

Alfieri - Speaks directly to single and two-family houses only. Others would still need to go through the ZBA. If the alteration itself is non-conforming, it would still go through the ZBA process.

Doak - how did this change from prior

Alfieri - They split non-conforming structures from non-conforming uses into two separate sections

Cerel - Nick and I worked closely on this, the section is obtuse, in the absence of a local bylaw you had to go through the rigmarole.

Doak - this seems to fall in the category of common sense

Feeley - what would you like us to do with this?

Nutting - put this on the next agenda to put through the process to get to the planning board

Live reporting - late bus approved

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
no citizens for comment


E. APPOINTMENTS
motion to add item for election day poll workers, passed 7-0
motion approved, passed 7-0

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• Funding School Late Bus

Nutting speaking for the Late Bus, the bus company has come back with a reduction to $10,000 for the one year. If the Council would like to pursue funding this, the town has a gift of $40,000 for transportation or other public purposes as a negotiated settlement from Gatehouse in lieu of further litigation after the town lost a court decision. Council could move to transfer the gift.

Feeley moves to fund the Late Bus, authorized expenditure of $10,000 from the comprehensive agreement

Pfeffer disagrees with use of this for 3 middle schools as not being in the "public interest". Three PCC's have volunteered to fund this, let them. Why is not the School Committee here to support this.

Feeley I'll take that one. They offered to be here, I did not think it would be necessary.

Vallee references a letter received this afternoon from Paula Sandham and speaks in favor of the late bus.

Whalen has heard lots of feedback for not funding the late bus, he disagrees with that and explains why. School Dept made their decision based upon a set of circumstances at that time. We are now under a different set of circumstances have changed. Does meet the definition of "public purpose" in his view. This is perfectly appropriate.

Doak was surprised to hear about this funding sitting there for awhile. It is not recurring revenue, it can legitimately be used for this. The PCC's fund a lot of extra things that the school department does not fund.

Mason, my concern is that a number of people will read the paper and say, the override failed, the late bus should not be here. The opportunity is here because of the generosity of the bus company. At the end of the day, you need to side on the needs of the children.

Zollo, if anyone were to think that they were misled, that is not true, the circumstances changed, this money is available, lets use it, it is both legal and appropriate.

Stacy Bower - we were told that the late bus was lost if the override lost. If the PCC wants to fund it, let them. The Fire Dept and Police Dept were also looking for funding. The late bus is not required by the State. Doesn't feel that the Town should use this generous gift. The late bus is a luxury in town. When is the town going to say "enough"?

Feeley regardless of what happened in the past, I am supporting this as a good thing to do.

Approved 6-1 (Pfeffer no).

Live reporting - town council meeting 10/1/08

Councilors present: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak, Zollo

Councilors not present: Bartlett, McGann
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A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – September 3, 2008
moved to approve - approved 7-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
no

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - Thelma Pullen Knowlton
Resident for over 90 years, only remaining graduate of Dean Class of 1948

"I get more out of it now"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Sep 30, 2008 @ 11:22 PM

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FRANKLIN —

For the first time since its Franklin inception 40 years ago, the Junior Miss program is bowing out.

Organizers canceled the show, which is part of the America's Junior Miss Scholarship Program, this year due to a lack of funds and sponsors, but hope to bring it back next year by appealing to former donors and attracting new ones, said Becky Lavergne, chairwoman of Franklin Junior Miss.

"We have no choice - we have no money to give away. Our committee's gone over this a lot. ... We knew it was probably coming since last November. No one wanted to do this, but it was either give it up completely, or raise as much money as possible and come back next year," Lavergne said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here