Thursday, January 23, 2014

Senior Center: Conversations about Dementia - Feb 4

The Senior Center is holding a "Conversations about Dementia" on Tuesday, Feb 4th

conversations on dementia
conversations on dementia

You need to call the Senior Center to register: 508-520-4945

For more information about the Senior Center and the programs they offer, visit they page on the official Franklin website  http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/index

In the News: bond rating


Standard & Poor's has upgraded the town’s long-term bond rating to AA+ from AA, citing its strong local economy and adept budgeting. 
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting announced the new rating — the highest Franklin has ever received — on Wednesday night at a Town Council meeting.
See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140123/NEWS/140128729/1994/NEWS#sthash.y4LfHfVS.dpuf

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Live reporting - Legislation, Closing


I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-05: Appropriation: Fire Detail Account
tabled until April 1, approved 9-0

2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-726: Amendment to §185, Attachment 9. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard, and Height Requirements – 2nd Reading- Requires 2/3 Vote
Mercer and Bissanti recused themselves

motion to approve, seconded, 7-0 (via roll call)
a correction to the original bylaw

3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-728: Changes to §185-5 Zoning Map- Referral to Planning Board
motion to table until after the workshop, until first week of April
approved 9-0

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
thanks to DPW for the work on the snow storm, job well done

received notification on bond rating increase, good news, highest level ever

zoning workshop next Wednesday, open to all, 7:00 PM, 3rd Fl Training Room

several stabilization accounts, recap from FinCom meeting totals
these accounts and overall fiscal prudence have helped to get the rating increase

Financially we are good shape, yes because we have made the difficult decisions, you still have reserves

Vallee - I am impressed with the way you are doing things, good job

L. OLD BUSINESS
Kelly - what is snow budget?
Nutting - we were at 485K and we'll now later this week what this one did

training session for all town officials?
Nutting to send draft agenda
Cerel going to Planning Board for how to properly hold a public hearing, Feb 10th

Jones - What about the Remington Jefferson issue?
I'll have an update next week

Bissanti - do we have a bylaw on blight properties
Nutting - we have a vacant property bylaw in the town code


M. NEW BUSINESS
Feldman - local aid numbers?
Nutting - The governors budget was just released, it was within the ballpark expected (about 18K off)
what will the legislature do with the totals? Not sure. We'll go with the governors total for now

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Padula - good show of support from the community for the Monroe family
great news on the bond rating, that is why you get the big bucks
great follow up today with the notice and reminder on the trash pickups

Kelly - great work on the bond rating

Jones - echo Councilor Padula's comments on the Lexi and Sean wake/funeral

Bissanti - I reserved the first three foot ladybug, I know where I am going to put it
I see the roads deteriorating, that is something we are going to have to face

Nutting - I want to thank Jennifer for organizing the candle light vigil

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Collective Bargaining – Fire Union
motion to go into executive session, passed 9-0 (via roll call)

Live reporting - Housing


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Christopher Vericker
info on new project starting to buy and sell housing for affordable buyers

mini team together, something formal being prepared
alert the realtors of this option
the Town would be a cash buyer to help sellers

Nutting - funding source for affordable housing Trust, from two developers who didn't want to develop affordable housing as part of their plan
payments from one of them still coming
formula set by Government based upon members of the household and income
it should be cheaper than otherwise

Bissanti - revitalization?
Nutting - we would prefer not to get into that aspect because then it becomes a construction project

Padula - deed restrictions forever?
Cerel - yes, as long as you apply with the process when it is set up




Live reporting - Ladybug project

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
• Franklin Cultural Council, Claire Griffin

 to be added




Live reporting - Town Council - Jan 22, 2014

Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams
Absent:  none


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 11, 2014
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS
Library Board of Directors - Doug Newton
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 (Feldman arrived)

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

Munroe Family fundraiser - Sunday, Feb 9th - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Yard sale at the Franklin VFW, Sunday, Feb 9th

yard sale - Franklin VFW
Monroe Family Fund raiser - Yard Sale

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 22, 2014

Assuming the meeting doesn't get canceled due to the snow storm, this would be the scheduled agenda


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 11, 2014

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Library Board of Directors - Doug Newton

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
• Franklin Cultural Council, Claire Griffin
• Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Christopher Vericker

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-05: Appropriation: Fire Detail Account
2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-726: Amendment to §185, Attachment 9. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard, and Height Requirements – 2nd Reading- Requires 2/3 Vote
3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-728: Changes to §185-5 Zoning Map- Referral to Planning Board

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Collective Bargaining – Fire Union

P. ADJOURN

The set of documents released for this agenda can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/012214.pdf

One Book, One Community: "In the Heart of the Sea"


The Franklin Public Library is pleased to announce the One Book, One Community town-wide read for 2014, In the Heart of the Sea, the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. The 2014 One Book, One Community Franklin Kids Read is Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, adapted for younger readers from the National Book Award winner In the Heart of the Sea.
In the Heart of the Sea
In the Heart of the Sea

More info on the book from the wikipedia page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Heart_of_the_Sea

There is a movie based upon the book directed by Ron Howard scheduled for release in March
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Heart_of_the_Sea_(film)

Read more on the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/01/one-book-one-community.html


Lifelong Learning: Music programs


Lifelong Learning offers several music programs that complement and supplement instruction during the traditional school day. These programs include the Private Music Lesson program, The String School of Franklin, the After School 4th/5th Grade Band and the 4th/5th Grade Honors Chorus. On Tuesday, January 28, the strings, band and chorus programs will host their mid-year recital.
Horace Mann Middle School Band from Memorial Day parade 2013
Horace Mann Middle School Band from Memorial Day parade 2013

For more information on the music programs available from Lifelong Learning
http://lifelonglearningfps.blogspot.com/2014/01/january-21-2014.html

and to register on the Lifelong Learning page here
http://cfweb.smartedu.net/lll/