Administrator's Message - Feb 5, 2009

A Message from the Administrator

Punxsutawney Phil reportedly saw his shadow on February 2. If you believe Phil, we are in for six more weeks of winter. That is unfortunate, in my opinion. However, New Englanders understand, perhaps better than some, that changing seasons parallel the cycle of life. We know and are comforted by the knowledge that winter will slowly yield its icy grip to reveal the rebirth of spring. While we clear snow from our driveways, slip and slide on ice-covered everything, and fight the bitter cold, we understand that somewhere in our future, the beautiful colors and warmer, longer sunshine –filled days of spring will follow.

The economy mirrors our seasons. Whether it is the revolving seasons or the current state of our economy, we know that “change happens” and on a regular basis. When the economic forecast is calling for cold bleak times, the eternal hope that is recovery seems so far away. But as are the changing seasons, the economy is cyclical. 2009 will be an economically challenging year for the nation. Daily forecasts reveal more bleak economic news. With job losses, mortgage foreclosures, and disappearing savings and retirement funds plus soaring energy and food costs and rising debt, we are certainly in the winter of our economic cycle.

There is “good news” and that is what New Englanders know well: things will eventually get better. While it seems that winter is longer than spring and summer, and bad times last longer than good times, they are both part of a continual cycle.

Franklin will follow a similar path. We face difficult choices. We will be saddened to lose hard working, dedicated employees through jobs cuts, we will suffer reduced municipal services and a changing school system. Yet, working together, united as a community, we will weather this storm. We will do our best to continue to ensure public safety and public services. We will educate our children and support all our residents. You, the citizens, I am confident, will unite to support and encourage each other.

Spring is coming, and so will better times. The Staff and I and your elected officials remain dedicated to serving you, the citizens of Franklin.

Respectfully,
Jeff Nutting

“There are two ways of being happy: We must either diminish our wants or augment our means - either may do - the result is the same and it is for each man to decide for himself and to do that which happens to be easier.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Live reporting - Administrator report

Nutting - with a little knock on wood, we'll be able to meet the winter snow and ice with what we allocated (initially $700K and an additionally $600K)

GATRA - meeting today on how to keep them alive, the ridership is only 149/per week. They need 250-300 per week to meet their needs.

Meeting Friday for elected and Town officials with McGovern's office. Not for the public but FYI for those folks here.

Old business - none
New business -

Question, probably should have been asked earlier - where are we with the state and the possible new revenues?

Nutting - It might be several months before those local tax options are decided at the State level. I'll be putting the budget together assuming we don't get those.

Pfeffer - When the Haywood family donated it, it was a bandstand. In those days, folks didn't do gazebos, they built bandstands.

Vallee - I just want to go on record that I will not support the fee increases. It goes against what is supposed to be done at this time of recession/depression.

Motion - to go into executive session. Passed 8-0

Live reporting - Town Administrator's report

Old Norfolk water issue resolved.
Story from September 2007 can be found here and here
Recent update on this - September meeting


Rock pile at Chestnut/RT 140 purchased by Sovereign Bank, Town inquiring to see what the bank plans to do with it.


Dedication of Museum and new sculpture November 19th, 9:00AM.


Some capital planning coming in future meeting, also with "free cash" being certified soon, he'll being some proposals to look at adding some funds to the Stabilization Fund.

live reporting - Administrator report

Nutting -

• thanks for the website conversions

• Beaver St to be open on Thursday. There is still some paving to do possibly next week but the road is passable now.

• Question 1 is on the November ballot would remove the income tax and remove about 12 billion dollars from the State budget. This money provides about 35% of our annual budget. I hope folks think long and hard before voting on that question.

• Offer for special meeting on commercial property tax evaluation, will be scheduled

Bartlett - question on Verizon work to install FIOS
Nuttling - Verizon is going to fix, patch, repair, etc. Call Verizon 24x7

Old business - none
New business -
Vallee - if the zoning bylaw is going to be brought here again, let's get the information we asked for. If it had come for a vote tonight, it would have failed. It requires a two-thirds vote to pass.

Councilor Comments
Zollo - the fields are a standard barer for the town
(will add comments for the school teachers putting in effort in trying times)

Vallee - The school department is going to have to look forward to less next year. The economy is going into the tank.

Nutting quietly got new 3 year deal last year

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting confirmed this week that he has been working under a new, three-year contract.

The contract was negotiated with the council and signed shortly before the town's Nov. 6 election, Nutting said, with the terms retroactively taking effect a few months before in July.

Under Nutting's new deal, he gets a 2 1/2 percent raise this year, with subsequent raises up to the council as part of their annual review. Nutting received a $119,978 salary and a $5,983 car allowance in 2006, according to the town's most recent annual report.

Michael Morton reports the remainder of the details in his article in the Milford Daily News