Franklin Matters

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Town Council Mtg 07/01/09

Delayed reporting via a review of the video archive on the Town website

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Attending: Whalen, Mason, Valle, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak, Zollo
Missing: McGann

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recognition for the Veterans Memorial Committee
Bob Fahey, Bob Gannon, Ken Norman, Charles Oteri, Steve Williams, Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, Dave Roche, Franklin DPW, Franklin Garden Club

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Charter Commission Report

Presenting: Paul Cheli, Michael Walker Jones, Larry Benedetto

A question from Deb Bartlett on the comparison between the information supporting the recommendation of changing the Town Treasurer from an elected position to an appointed position versus the lack of similar information for the Town Clerk sparked a long discussion that eventually still did not answer her question. Would the commission add information so that the folks reading the report could come to a valid understanding of the duties of the Town Clerk?

The discussion instead resulted in the Commission members pledging several times that the current elected officials perform outstandingly well for Franklin. The fact remains that once elected, there is nothing written anywhere that actually requires them to perform their duties or furthermore to allow either the Town Administrator or the Town Council to take corrective action prior to the next election.

The discussion revealed that while there is substantial information about the technical requirements, qualifications and state certifications for the Town Treasurer, there are not similar items for the Town Clerk. Hence the recommendation for the Town Treasurer to be changed to an appointed position and the Town Clerk to remain as an elected position.

These and other items in the Charter Commissions report will now be the subject of a new sub-committee to work the report into a format (primarily adding the legal language required) for the report to be submitted to the State Legislature. Assuming the Legislature votes to accept the recommendations, then the citizens of Franklin would then be required to vote to accept the recommendations before they actually became law. According to Jeff Nutting at the meeting, this could be more than a two year process.

One other item of significant discussion was staggering the terms of the Town Council and School Committee. I encourage you to view at least this section of the Town Council meeting. The segment lasts just over an hour but it is well worth understanding the positions and arguments pro/con. These items will help determine Franklin's future.

You can view the Town Council meeting in the video archive here

You can review the full detail of the Charter Commission report (PDF) here

The Milford Daily News got around to writing about this portion of last week's meeting with an article today here

Shades IN Place - Ribbon cutting - 7/16/09

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is organizing a ribbon cutting event at Shades IN Place, 76 Grove St., Franklin on Thurs., July 16 at 11 a.m. The ribbon cutting marks the grand opening of Shades IN Place new showroom. Established in 2006, Shades IN Place is a custom window treatment installation company that also offers a "Shop At Home" service. The business is owned and operated by Roger Magalhaes.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, business support organization serving the communities of Attleboro, Bellingham, Blackstone, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Wrentham.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Town Council archives

My notes from the Town Council meetings held during 2009 can be found here

The notes from Council meetings during 2008 can be found along the far right column of Franklin Matters.

The video archive on the Town website has many meetings readily accessible here. You can pull up the meeting and choose to watch the whole meeting or skip to specific sections of the agenda.

School Committee Archives

My notes from the School Committee meetings from 2009 can be found here

In the right column on Franklin Matters, you can find the meeting notes for the School Committee meetings during 2008.

The video archive on the Town website has many meetings readily accessible here. You can pull up the meeting and choose to watch the whole meeting or skip to specific sections of the agenda.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Finance Committee archives

My notes from the Finance Committee meetings for the FY 2010 budget hearings can be found here

The video archive on the Town website has many meetings readily accessible here. You can pull up the meeting and choose to watch the whole meeting or skip to specific sections of the agenda.

Financial Planning Committee archives

Feel free to utilize the archives here.

The long range plan produced by the Financial Planning Committee is available on the Town website in two versions: the Executive summary is here (PDF) and the full report is here (PDF).

My notes from the Financial Planning Committee meetings earlier this year:

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Sunday Schedule

Sunday July 5

1-7 p.m.: Everything open

1- 2:30 p.m.: Parade

3-7 p.m.: Children's activities

3-5 p.m.: Interfaith music concert

6 p.m.: Franklin Idol winners announced

7 p.m.: Closing ceremonies (Raffle drawings and lowering of flag)

Saturday, July 4, 2009

4th of July - Schedule

Children's Day

9 a.m.: Road race registration

10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Everything open

10 a.m.: Children's road race

11 a.m.: Adult road race

11 a.m.-7 p.m.: Children's activities

12-12:45 p.m.: Jamie Barrett performs

12:45-2 p.m.: Okey Dokey DJ

2-4 p.m.: Franklin Idol under 14

4-6:30 p.m.: Franklin Idol 15 and up

7-10 p.m.: Corvairs

Happy 4th of July

I wish you all a most happy and safe 4th of July.

Thanks to Spell with Flickr

Friday, July 3, 2009

Celebrating Franklin

Why reprint the Administrator's messages from September 2008, January and February of 2009?

Did you read them the first time they were published?

Maybe not.

Did you read them now?

Hopefully.

As we get into the 4th of July weekend, "celebrating Franklin", let's look around us and see what is we really are celebrating.

Let's also take some time to think about how we want to continue to live here.

What services will we dig into our pockets to pay for?
What services can we afford to live without?

The Town budget used to support the 4th of July. For many years local folks took it upon themselves to create the parade, party, and fireworks. The latest iteration of the 4th of July committee has no under taken a year round fund raising effort to maintain this traditional celebration.

Other services around Town are supported by other similar organizational efforts of people passionate enough to continue a "tradition". These organizations raise money in a variety of methods but ultimately, we, the citizens of Franklin do contribute. The Town can raise money via taxes and other fees, or the organizations can raise money from our contributions. We ares still supporting what happens here.

The long range plan produced by the Financial Planning Committee is available on the Town website in two versions: the Executive summary is here (PDF) and the full report is here (PDF).

Please take time during this wonderful weekend to review the reports.

Please make time in the coming months to make you participation in Town Council, School Committee and other important meetings more of the "contact" sport that Jeff mentioned. Show up.
Put in an appearance (or two).
Become informed.

There will be an election later this year to select Town Council and School Committee. There will likely be a special election in 2010 to consider an override to provide additional funds to support the day-today operations of Franklin that we are celebrating this weekend.

Do not let a day go by without becoming more informed.
Your vote will count.