Saturday, February 9, 2008

Fire station update

Fire station is ahead of schedule

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Construction of the new $9.3 million fire station is ahead of schedule and slightly under budget, with officials fairly confident that the town can scrape together enough money to open the building early.

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Note: Jeff Nutting's comments to the Town Council meeting January 9th

Thursday, February 7, 2008

In the news - layoffs in forecast

Franklin officials told of tight finances

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Working off the assumption the town will not dip further into its savings account, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting warned councilors last night that layoffs could be in store as the budget season begins anew.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Town Council Meeting 2/6/08 (Audio)

The complete audio file for the brief Town Council meeting held 2/6/08.

Highlights:

* FY 2008 school budget will be balanced without further funding from the Town
* High School building committee to be proposed early in March
* First look at School budget for FY 2009 coming at the School Committee meeting 2/26/08
* 2 Town bylaw changes moved to second reading
* Town Council will be asked whether to fund unemployment expenses from stabilization or from the respective budgets.

Time: 15 minutes, 5 seconds



MP3 File

In the news - grim finances, book about Charlie, Michael tried vegan


Finances look grim in Franklin

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Working with drawn-down reserves and expecting only an additional $1.8 million in revenue, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting warned the Finance Committee last night that the next budget could require layoffs.

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Franklin woman pens book on son’s fight with cancer

By Kate Sullivan Foley/CORRESPONDENT

If you don’t believe in miracles, you might just change your mind after reading, "Hope, Faith and Charlie."

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Reporter reflects on a month of being a vegan

Daily News reporter Michael Morton gave it the ol' college try, but after a month of experimenting with a vegan lifestyle, he has returned to his former omniverous self. Michael recaps his experiment on the Food for Thought blog. Give it a read and let him know what you think by clicking on "Leave a Comment."

Agenda for Town Council Meeting 2/6/08

The agenda for the Town Council meeting 2/6/08 is available on the Town web site (PDF).

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

In the news - downtown fire at Delux Tux

Patriots lose Super Bowl, but their wedding tux orders are salvaged

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - While a three-alarm fire destroyed much of his brother-in-law’s downtown business just as Super Bowl XLII got under way, John Ricci discovered yesterday that customers’ paperwork somehow made it through the blaze relatively intact.

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

Right to speak at public meetings

Don't miss the detailed explanation on an individual's right to speak at a public meeting at the Franklin School Committee blog.

Where in Franklin? #29 - 2nd Photo


Maybe this view of the entrance to the building with the tower shown in the first picture for #29 will help add another clue to Where in Franklin?

It was bright and sunny when this photo was taken back in August 2007.

Enjoy!

School superintendent searches in MA competitive

With superintendent searches, turnover likely means big bucks

By By Aaron Wasserman, Daily News staff

Turnover among school superintendents appears to be at an all-time high statewide, escalating their pay packages, says an adviser to many school districts searching for new superintendents.

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From the article:

Franklin Chairman Jeffrey N. Roy said the committee decided to include the $4,200 when negotiating with Ogden two years ago because "our superintendent comes from Duxbury and that was an additional enticement to get him to come."

"To attract people to this job, you've got to be competitive," Roy said.


Recreation, open space survey

Franklin seeks views on recreation, open space

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Seeking to update the town's plans for preserving undeveloped land and providing recreation, a civic committee is asking residents to fill out a survey to provide some guidance.

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From Franklin's web site:
The Town of Franklin takes pride in preserving the character of the community by offering an array of park and recreation opportunities and open space areas to its residents and the surrounding region. Currently, the Town’s Public Land Use Committee is in the process of updating Franklin’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. The purpose of this plan is to create a document through a public input process that will guide the Town of Franklin in its continuing efforts to maintain and enhance the open space and recreation resources in town.

In order to complete a plan that represents the opinions, desires and needs of the community, the Public Land Use Committee is asking that you take a few moments and complete a brief citizen survey. The survey will let the Public Land Use Committee and other Town officials know how Franklin residents feel about preservation of open space and the adequacy of parks and recreation opportunities available.

In addition, the Public Land Use Committee would like to invite you to participate in two public input meetings to review and discuss accomplishments since the development of the 2001 Open Space and Recreation Plan as well as obtain additional input on the future needs of the community. The public input meetings will be held on Thursday, March 13 and March 20, 2008 at 6:30 PM in the Training Room on the 3rd floor of the Municipal Building located at 355 East Central Street.

To ensure your input is included in the development of the 2008 Open Space and Recreation Plan, please return your survey to one of the locations indicated on the survey by March 21, 2008. If you have any questions or would like to know where you can obtain additional copies of the citizen survey, please contact Franklin’s Town Planner, Beth A. Dahlstrom, at (508) 520-4907.
The survey can be found here.