The collection of live reporting for the Financial Planning Committee meeting on 3/5/09:
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Live reporting - FPC continued
Teacher compensation needs to be understood to develop the assumptions. A percent makes a difference when the schools account for 33% of the overall budget.
Big discussion on how to present the data to create the proper conversation.
Jeff will look at the revenue and expense assumptions to see if there would be any changes.
The assumptions will be critical as these numbers will be what will drive the model.
Meeting next week on the 12th
Doug will update the changes and we'll pick up from there.
Big discussion on how to present the data to create the proper conversation.
Jeff will look at the revenue and expense assumptions to see if there would be any changes.
The assumptions will be critical as these numbers will be what will drive the model.
Meeting next week on the 12th
Doug will update the changes and we'll pick up from there.
Live reporting - Financial Planning (continued)
When doing the benchmarks with other communities, need to define why which towns are used for which categories. For school comparisons, the number of students needs to be similar. When you get to Police, Fire, and DPW, they get problematic as they are not an apples to apples comparison.
Discussion on the teacher salary percent increases, mixing the cost of living and the step/lane changes is confusing, need to be more clear.
Discussion on the teacher salary percent increases, mixing the cost of living and the step/lane changes is confusing, need to be more clear.
Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee
Attending: Roche, Cameron, Hardesty, Ogden, Trahan, Whalen, Wilschek (late), Bartlett (late), Nutting (late)
Absent: Kelly, Zollo,
Review of Steve Whalen's charts/tables. He updated the numbers he has prepared for the past two years. He has two new charts, one that shows Franklin is third from the bottom in percent of revenue from property taxes (~46%). Another shows Franklin at the top of the listing in terms of the percent of revenue from the state (~30%)
Need to look at the past history across the state for operational vs. debt override results, what does that show, would be good to have.
Reviewing the draft compiled by Doug Hardesty: Working through the draft, page by page, looking carefully for the wording and what it conveys to try and get the message tight and accurate.
Absent: Kelly, Zollo,
Review of Steve Whalen's charts/tables. He updated the numbers he has prepared for the past two years. He has two new charts, one that shows Franklin is third from the bottom in percent of revenue from property taxes (~46%). Another shows Franklin at the top of the listing in terms of the percent of revenue from the state (~30%)
Need to look at the past history across the state for operational vs. debt override results, what does that show, would be good to have.
Reviewing the draft compiled by Doug Hardesty: Working through the draft, page by page, looking carefully for the wording and what it conveys to try and get the message tight and accurate.
"Take a deep breath; you can do this"
Well said!
The world is changing because of social web technologies. Our kids are using them. No one is teaching them how to use them to their full learning potential, and ultimately, as teachers and learners, that’s our responsibility. To do that, we need to be able to learn in these contexts for ourselves.
This is Wil Richardson writing about a new report from the Harvard Graduate School Of Education. You can find Wil's complete posting here. He also has the link to the Harvard report or you go directly to the report here, and then go to Wil's page.
Recommended viewing
Technology has created a world where learning takes place here and now.
How do we want to prepare our children for the future?
one laptop per student
Dr Scott McLeod is continuing his series on recommendations for the Iowa schools. In part 3, he writes:
In addition to funding, numerous other challenges exist as well. One of the biggest is the current predisposition of schools to invest in teacher-centric technologies like televisions, DVD/VCR players, projectors, electronic whiteboards, and document cameras. They’re important and useful but they’re also primarily used as yet another way for teachers to push out information to students. In contrast, laptops, netbooks, digital cameras, small high-definition camcorders, digital voice recorders, webcams, digital scientific probes or sensors, and other devices are primarily used by students to facilitate their own academic learning. If we want Iowa students to gain the technology skills they will need to be productive citizens and workers, schools should be making as many investments in these latter, student-centric devices as possible. There also are a number of free or low-cost online software and tools that students and teachers can use in creative and productive ways.You can read the full article here. It is rich with links and additional media (pictures and video).
Interesting court case in CT on schools
A court case from Connecticut is stirring a debate over where to draw the line on what schools can or should do about things students say online. High school student Avery Doninger railed online against the “douchebags” in her school district and urged her classmates to bombard the superintendent with complaints to “piss her off more.” When the school said that this was inappropriate for a student government leader and told her she couldn’t run for senior class secretary, she sued.
The lawsuit has gone up and down in the courts, but so far the student has lost. All the legal nitty-gritty on the Doninger case is available starting here, courtesy of NSBA’s Legal Clips e-newsletter.
You can read the full posting on the National School Board Association website here
"town helps create favorable conditions for business expansion"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
In its ongoing efforts to reel in some extra cash, Town Council last night voted unanimously to establish Forge Park and Franklin Industrial Park as economic opportunity areas.
Designating the two parks as economic opportunity areas will provide significant incentives for businesses and property owners wishing to sell, lease, develop or redevelop their properties, said Bryan Taberner, director of the Department of Planning and Community Development.
In turn, the business expansions and developments will bring more tax revenue, he said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
For everything that occurred during the Town Council meeting on 3/4/09, check my live reporting here
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Town Council Mtg 03/04/09
Here is the summary of live reporting posts for the meeting 3/4/09
Live reporting - Administrator, and closing
Thanks to the DPW for the never-ending winter we are having.
Thanks to Jim Dacey and Susan Gagner for their work to gain us an upgrade on our bond rating which saves us $100,000 in interest.
Compliment Allen Earl's new book on Franklin, available in local bookstores
Group working to make the rail trail a reality as an other recreation use in Franklin, contact Jeff Nutting if interested in helping out.
Food Pantry met with Chris Feeley, a pretty positive meeting. We are looking for a new location.
Old business - none
New business -
Vallee - are delinquencies up in this economy?
Nutting - actually no, the banks are tending to pay to protect their property
Councilor Comments
Bartlett - TV Trivia is the theme for the next FEF Trivia Bee is coming March 19th
Move to executive session
roll call - unanimous
Thanks to Jim Dacey and Susan Gagner for their work to gain us an upgrade on our bond rating which saves us $100,000 in interest.
Compliment Allen Earl's new book on Franklin, available in local bookstores
Group working to make the rail trail a reality as an other recreation use in Franklin, contact Jeff Nutting if interested in helping out.
Food Pantry met with Chris Feeley, a pretty positive meeting. We are looking for a new location.
Old business - none
New business -
Vallee - are delinquencies up in this economy?
Nutting - actually no, the banks are tending to pay to protect their property
Councilor Comments
Bartlett - TV Trivia is the theme for the next FEF Trivia Bee is coming March 19th
Move to executive session
roll call - unanimous
Live reporting - action items
2. Resolution 09-10: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Medway
Motion to approve 7-0
A joint agreement that Franklin will administer the program and gain the fees from Medway to offset the overall administration overhead. A win-win move to trial until Dec 2010. Will come back with status updates.
3. Resolution 09-11: Appropriation – Capital – Fire Dept Ladder Truck
Motion to approve 7-0
4. Resolution 09-12: Appropriation – Capital – DPW Lawn mower
Motion to approve 7-0
The new one is $75K, a used one is $35K, this is a good buy to save the town money
This is a wider cut machine replacing a 15 year old unit
7. Bylaw Amendment 09-630:Amendment to Chapter 37, Town Properties - 1st Reading
Motion to move to second reading 7-0
Motion to approve 7-0
A joint agreement that Franklin will administer the program and gain the fees from Medway to offset the overall administration overhead. A win-win move to trial until Dec 2010. Will come back with status updates.
3. Resolution 09-11: Appropriation – Capital – Fire Dept Ladder Truck
Motion to approve 7-0
4. Resolution 09-12: Appropriation – Capital – DPW Lawn mower
Motion to approve 7-0
The new one is $75K, a used one is $35K, this is a good buy to save the town money
This is a wider cut machine replacing a 15 year old unit
7. Bylaw Amendment 09-630:Amendment to Chapter 37, Town Properties - 1st Reading
Motion to move to second reading 7-0
live reporting - action items
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 09-09: Appropriation – Survey on 30+ Acres on Pond Street
discussion on the survey details
Motion approved 7-0
1. Resolution 09-09: Appropriation – Survey on 30+ Acres on Pond Street
discussion on the survey details
Motion approved 7-0
Live reporting - Town Council 3/4/09
Attending: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak
Missing: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 4, 11, 2009
Motion approved - 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Feeley read an announcement formally acknowledging the state's interest in purchasing land to expand the Franklin Forest as reported earlier.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - None
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None
E. APPOINTMENTS - Public Land Use Committee
F. HEARINGS - None
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None
Missing: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 4, 11, 2009
Motion approved - 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Feeley read an announcement formally acknowledging the state's interest in purchasing land to expand the Franklin Forest as reported earlier.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - None
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None
E. APPOINTMENTS - Public Land Use Committee
- Timothy Twardowski
- James Estabrook
F. HEARINGS - None
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None
Live reporting - Planning update
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS –
1. Update – Mike D’Angelo
postponed until 3/18/09 meeting so McGann can participate
2. Update – Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning
NewStyle building - working underway
Priority development sites and economic opportunity areas
will raise attention to the area for development
two resolutions before you to take action in this area
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposed as part of these areas
Pond Street parcel approved for priority development as requested earlier
Should hear next week on the grant application for up to $60K
This would help streamline the processing of permits, etc within the town
as well as to help market the parcel itself
Now that the parcel is a priority development site, the State will help us to market the site
What we have to do is to develop the process, stick to it, and guarantee a 180 approval process
We are already well within 180 days for most approvals today
Difference between the priority development and economic opportunity is that the owners need to sign off on the priority development individually, they do not need to sign off on the economic opportunity proposal
Skipping ahead to those resolutions in the agenda
5. Resolution 09-13: Creation of Forge Park Economic Opportunity Area
This enables the possibility of a TIF agreement but does not guarantee it. The Council still has final say on the TIF.
Motion to approve 7-0
6. Resolution 09-14: Creation of Franklin Industrial Park Economic Opportunity Area
Motion to approve 7-0
1. Update – Mike D’Angelo
postponed until 3/18/09 meeting so McGann can participate
2. Update – Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning
NewStyle building - working underway
Priority development sites and economic opportunity areas
will raise attention to the area for development
two resolutions before you to take action in this area
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposed as part of these areas
Pond Street parcel approved for priority development as requested earlier
Should hear next week on the grant application for up to $60K
This would help streamline the processing of permits, etc within the town
as well as to help market the parcel itself
Now that the parcel is a priority development site, the State will help us to market the site
What we have to do is to develop the process, stick to it, and guarantee a 180 approval process
We are already well within 180 days for most approvals today
Difference between the priority development and economic opportunity is that the owners need to sign off on the priority development individually, they do not need to sign off on the economic opportunity proposal
Skipping ahead to those resolutions in the agenda
5. Resolution 09-13: Creation of Forge Park Economic Opportunity Area
This enables the possibility of a TIF agreement but does not guarantee it. The Council still has final say on the TIF.
Motion to approve 7-0
6. Resolution 09-14: Creation of Franklin Industrial Park Economic Opportunity Area
Motion to approve 7-0
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