Live reporting - closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT 
House Ways and Means budget is calling for an increase of $350,000 over and above the Governor's budget

All budgets done by FinCom except for Schools, the budget is balanced
The budget is a little easier than the past several years when we were cutting jobs

Earth day this weekend, register through the DPW website

National Grid will be coming to the next Council meeting to discuss storm preparation and response

L. OLD BUSINESS
Pfeffer, facilities manager
Nutting, coming to the next meeting

Vallee, met with Dean recently to discuss contribution to the community

Kelly, I think it would be good to have Dean present on what they do for the community
Powderly, not to single out Dean, the largest non-profit using our resources and not paying taxes. It would be educational to see what they are doing and how equitable it is.
Bissanti,
Jones, discuss at the next Economic Development Committee meeting to work on a set of question for the student. Do need to have continued communications.
Pfeffer, Dean has grown from a junior college, to a full college. Is everyone aware of the opportunities that Dean provides?
Mercer, I can remember back some time that met quarterly the Dean Council, a very helpful group, had regular communications between the two entities


M. NEW BUSINESS
Bissanti, how do we approach an available liquor license
Nutting, when we tripped over on population, and had a new one, we advertised, received applications and then the Council awarded. Can make a motion to put an item on the next agenda to discuss process
Bissanti made motion to review process to offer a new liquor license
motion passed 9-0 via roll call


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer questioning status of the trees in the front of town  hall
Bissanti, thanks to K+Councilor Jones efforts on the summit

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION 
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

motion to go to executive session, passed 9-0 via roll call

live reporting - Action items

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-24: Authorization for Installation on the Town Common
discussion on the two capsules moved from the front of the sign needed due to the construction on RT 140

motion to approve, passed 9-0, via roll call

2. Bylaw Amendment 12-674: Amendment to Chapter 48, Tobacco Products – 2nd Reading
bylaw no longer required, superseded by state law


motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call




3. Bylaw Amendment 12-675: Amendment to Chapter 63, Numbering of Buildings – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call


background, some folks don't want to identify their homes so this helps to define the authority and penalties as a last resort, usually occurs a couple of times a year


4. Bylaw Amendment 12-676: Amendment to Chapter 84, Fire Alarms - 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call


the old fire alarms have been removed, this bylaw change takes them off the books


5. Bylaw Amendment 12-677: Amendment to Chapter 86, Fire Lanes – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call


expands the fines from $15 to $50 for parking in the fire lanes


6. Bylaw Amendment 12-678: Amendment to Chapter 95, Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call

clean up of bylaw references

Live reporting - Jack Lank

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 
Jack Lank, Chamber of Commerce


largest business organization in the region
wanted to thank Bryan Taberner about the business process here in Franklin
the business process here is head and shoulders above the others in the area
you go to a department, that's not my job, you need to go to another window
not here, the person will get up and go over to the other desk to get you involved with what you need to get done


The 2nd economic summit held recently
about 60 representatives from a variety of businesses took part
resources provided, still getting phone calls, had personally received 4
Chamber tends to be one of the first call for information on Franklin
Jack has information from Bryan and company
You guys truly get it


Never once have I heard it about the Town of Franklin
We truly appreciate it at the Chamber of Commerce
we have concrete evidence to provide


Kelly - how is the economy doing from what you have seen?
Lank - haven't gotten a tremendous amount, the four I just mentioned, established businesses here in Franklin that are looking to expand, one has added one, another 3, another 10, so there is some expansion. You can get that info from the Franklin website. We have seen a small up tick


Bissanti - are you saying that the special permit process is not that bad
Lank - from a number of phone calls, it is not good for me to reveal the source


Jones - thanks for your comments at the summit
 Lank - 2 of the calls have already been set up with training for new hires.




Vallee - going back to announcements momentarily
The budget hearings will be May 23, 24
There will be only one meeting in July and Aug and those dates are 7/18, 8/15

Live reporting - license transfer

F. HEARINGS 
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS 
Transfer of License – Ferrara Imports, Inc


motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call

Live reporting: Town Council 4/18/12

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti,
Remote: Roy
Absent: none

all votes will be via roll call with Roy participating remotely

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 30,2011
December 21, 2011
January 18, 2012 Regular Session
April 4 Executive Session
motion to accept all, 9-0 via roll call

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon and Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Brian Loomis, Chestnut St
new here, congratulations on getting the new high school
how do you get new utilities, it took 10 days to get this in when we came here


E. APPOINTMENTS
Design Review Commission
Adrianna Kelly
Nancy Coleman
request to table, motion made, 9-0 via roll call

Motion to appoint Bissanti to GATRA Advisory Board
passed 9-0, via roll call

In the News - Victorian secrets, SWAT Team, Art

Franklin museum reveals Victorian secrets

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin man arraigned after SWAT team standoff

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin Art Association to meet, May 2

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Teachers as Individuals (1946)

Perspective is important. Some issues that we face today have been faced before. How does that saying go, "if we don't learn from the past we are condemned to repeat it?"

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Teachers as Individuals (1946)

via ASCD Inservice by ASCD Bloggers on 4/12/12

Those looking to get some historical perspective on the issue of avoiding teacher burnout should investigate the March 1946 issue of Educational Leadership on the theme "Teachers as Individuals." Read the full issue: Teachers as Individuals In the introductory essay,...

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to ASCD Inservice using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Left hand please meet right hand

So one of our eagle eyed readers found this was posted on the Schools webpage. Note the date of the application of fertilizer - April 15th. And that folks are supposed to stay off the fields for three days after.

SummerFertilization_2012

So why was a Little League baseball game in full progress Monday evening Apr 16 on the Parmenter fields? This is one of the fields listed in this public notice. Yes, this was only one day after the fertilization.

Budget Monitor: Analyzing the House Ways and Means Budget for FY 2013

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

BUDGET MONITOR: The House Ways and Means Budget for FY 2013 Last Wednesday, the House Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013. Our Budget Monitor shows how the HWM budget affects each major area of state government, from health care and education to public safety and the environment--including information on tax revenues. It also compares the HWM budget with the Governor's across these same areas. Facing a budget gap of roughly $1.3 billion, the House Ways and Means Committee proposes a combination of one-time revenues and spending reductions, including: Cuts and savings of nearly $600 million, half of it from MassHealth  Temporary revenues worth $685 million--$400 million of which is drawn from the "rainy day" fund.  For further details and analysis, read our BUDGET MONITOR MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

Forward email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

SWAT team called to Franklin home standoff

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

SWAT team called to Franklin home standoff

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff on 4/16/12

An hours-long standoff at a Lewis Street home with police from Franklin and other departments as well as a regional SWAT team ended peacefully around 11 p.m. tonight, police said.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Spring Break

For those school families, I hope you enjoy the week off!

BIG Y starting to hire

The Big Y is continuing to make progress on their new location here in Franklin. One good sign I noticed on my run by this weekend was that they are now starting to hire.



Go to www.bigy.com/careers/ for more information about the company and to apply.

"continue to analyze the House budget"

The Milford Daily News posts reactions from some State legislators on the House Budget proposal released last week. The House is scheduled to discuss and approved their version of the budget by the end of April when it will go to the Senate for their review. The Senate will likely have some changes that both will need to reconcile in a joint committee before the Governor gets to sign off by June 30th.

The budget would increase Chapter 70 education aid by $164 million to cities and towns — $18.5 million over Patrick’s proposal. It would be a 4 percent increase over this year’s, bringing the Chapter 70 funding to $4.15 billion. 

Dempsey said the $164 million increase guarantees each school district a minimum of $40 more per student. 

.... 

The House budget also includes $221.5 million for the special education costs for the state’s school districts — an $8.4 million increase from last year. 

State Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, said the funds help school districts provide mandated, high-cost programs for special education students. Many schools pay tuition for those students who require an outside program or facility. 

The House budget also includes $45 million for regional school transportation, a $2 million increase from last year. A new line item in the House proposal provides $11.3 million to reimburse communities for providing special busing services for homeless students.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1963536391/House-budget-proposal-praised#ixzz1sC65eMiM

MassBudget's analysis of the Governor's proposal and the House proposal can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/budget-monitor-analyzing-governors-fy.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/massbudget-first-look-house-ways-and.html

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 4/18/12

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 30,2011
December 21, 2011
January 18, 2012 Regular Session
April 4 Executive Session

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon and Comcast

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Design Review Commission
Adrianna Kelly
Nancy Coleman

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Transfer of License – Ferrara Imports, Inc

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Jack Lank, Chamber of Commerce

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-24: Authorization for Installation on the Town Common
2. Bylaw Amendment 12-674: Amendment to Chapter 48, Tobacco Products – 2nd Reading
3. Bylaw Amendment 12-675: Amendment to Chapter 63, Numbering of Buildings – 2nd Reading
4. Bylaw Amendment 12-676: Amendment to Chapter 84, Fire Alarms - 2nd Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 12-677: Amendment to Chapter 86, Fire Lanes – 2nd Reading
6. Bylaw Amendment 12-678: Amendment to Chapter 95, Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN


The full set of documents published for this meeting can be found on the Franklin webpage here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/041812.pdf

Coming soon: Froyo World

Out and about on Saturday, found that Froyo World is coming soon to the Franklin Village Plaza.



What is Froyo World?
A frozen yogurt lounge!

Their website
http://froyoworld.com/

Their Franklin Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Froyoworld-Franklin-MA/348522425161509

Wanted: Franklin High School Yearbooks

After getting into your closet to do some spring cleaning and donate shoes to the Scouts, check out your book cases for that high school yearbook that you may want to share with the Historical Museum.

Wouldn't it be nice to have your name on the yearbook that folks pick up when visiting the museum?

Specific years that are being looked for are listed in the document:

Franklin, MA: Historical Commission Yearbook Request


You can drop your yearbook off at the Town Clerk's office or at the Museum during their open hours


The Museum website http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/
The Museum Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

Cub Scouts collecting shoes

The Cub Scouts did collect shoes on Saturday.

Plan to clean your closets to drop off your shoe donation on one of the next several Saturdays. Additional details on the shoe collections can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/cub-scouts-want-your-usable-shoes.html

Photo credit to Mike Attinello. Thanks Mike!

Jeff Roy running for State Representative

Jeffrey Roy of Franklin, Massachusetts has entered the race for State Representative in the 10th Norfolk District. He is seeking election to the seat that Jim Vallee will be vacating in December. The district includes all of Franklin and precincts 2, 3 and 4 in Medway. 

Roy is an attorney who has maintained a trial practice in Boston for the past 26 years. He is also a member of the Franklin Town Council and served on the Franklin School Committee from 2001 through 2011. He is the current chair of Franklin's Democratic Town Committee. 

"I have considered entering this race for a long time," noted Roy. "When Representative Vallee made his announcement last week to step down, I knew it was my time to step up. It has been an honor and privilege to serve Franklin at the local level, but much work lies ahead at the state level, and I will bring my commitment, dedication and experience to those tasks. 

"Jim Vallee is one of the most honorable public servants I have had the pleasure to know. He has served Franklin admirably and has been a great friend to our community. His assistance with securing a new Franklin High is the most recent of the many ways he has helped build the Franklin/Medway area into one of the most desirable places to live in America. He is a model legislator and has been a helpful advocate on the school and town issues. It would be an honor to succeed him at the State House.” 

Roy grew up in Milford and he and his wife Maureen moved to Franklin in 1986. They have three children -- Alicia (21), Natalie (18), and Jeff Jr (15) -- all of whom were educated in the Franklin Public Schools. 

Roy is a 1986 cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He received his undergraduate degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1983, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Bates Student newspaper. In addition, he received engineering training at Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 1979 to 1981 and one year of legal training at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. 

His entire legal career has been primarily devoted to the representation of injured persons. He specializes in product liability cases, automobile accidents, construction accidents, and other work-related injuries. He has represented clients at all levels of the trial and appellate courts in Massachusetts. In addition, he has appeared in cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court and Superior Court, the Federal District Courts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the Rhode Island Superior Court, Colorado Superior Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He was sworn in last year as a member of the United States Supreme Court bar. 

"I am humbled by the outpouring of support I have received from my friends and colleagues about my candidacy," said Roy. "I look forward to engaging in a healthy campaign and demonstrating why I am the best choice to represent the citizens of Franklin and Medway in the next legislature on Beacon Hill. 

"This campaign and election will be about the type of government we want and the type of things we choose to do together as people. If elected, I will be a fierce advocate for Franklin and Medway. My 14 years of service to Franklin demonstrates my commitment to the task at hand and provides a primer on how I will perform as a legislator."

For more information on Roy and the campaign, please visit www.jeffreyroy.com.

Candidates emerge for Vallee’s state rep job

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Candidates emerge for Vallee’s state rep job

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff on 4/14/12

Less than a week after longtime state Rep. James Vallee announced he would not seek re-election, three candidates have emerged to run for the 10th Norfolk District seat.

Franklin Town Councilor Jeffrey Roy, a Democrat, announced his candidacy yesterday. Franklin School Committee member John Jewell and Medway attorney Richard Eustis, both Republicans, said they will also vie for the seat Vallee has held for almost two decades.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Franklin mom fights side-effects of stem cell treatment

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Franklin mom fights side-effects of stem cell treatment

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 4/13/12

At 45 years old, single mother Amanda Gard struggles with the ailments of a much older woman. "I have over 30 medications that I take every day," said Gard, who suffers from cataracts, osteoporosis and breathing issues. "It's affecting my ability to drive, it's affecting my independence ... It limits my ability to spend the time I want with my son." Her problems come from a stem cell transplant in 2009 meant to cure a previously well-managed cancer that became suddenly aggressive toward the end of her pregnancy with her son, Justin, now 3 years old.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

The link to donate to this cause is also found at the end of the article emilyruns.org