Panel on Government and its role in the Economy (Summary)

The panel discussion on Monday morning, Mar 9, 2009 at Franklin High school was an instructional moment in politics and civics. The discussion was recorded and is available for listening in three parts.

Part One

Vice Principal Joe DiLorenzo provided the welcoming remarks and the introduction of the panel.
The panel included:

• Congressman James McGovern
• State Senator Scott Brown
• State Senator Karen Spilka
• Majority Leader of the House, Representative Jim Vallee
• Town Administrator Jeff Nutting
• Town Council Chairperson Chris Feeley

The moderator for the discussion was Franklin High School Senior April Crehan.

The first question that everyone on the panel got to answer was summarized as: "What is the proper role of government in our economy?" They spoke in the following order so you can make out who's voice belong to who. McGovern, Spilka, Brown, Vallee, Nutting, and Feeley.

Listen to Part One here

Part Two

Question - Senator Brown, you spoke of reform in your response, indicating that Governor Patrick has been in office for 2.5 years and has not done any meaningful reform, if you were in charge what reform would you make?

Answered by Brown, Spilka

Question - How do you think that market panic has contributed to the economic downturn?

Answered by Feeley, Nutting, Vallee

Question - How do we help people with mortgage foreclosures and business on Wall Street with bailouts?

Answered by McGovern, Brown, Spilka

Listen to Part Two here

Part Three

Question - When you are creating bills to help people in the foreclosure crisis, do you plan on differentiating between predator lenders, those who made poor choices and those with unfortunate circumstances? or do you plan on doing so?

Answered by Brown

Question - Have you agreed to a salary freeze for next year?

Answered by Nutting, McGovern, Vallee, Brown, Spilka, Feeley

Question - What's your opinion on the stimulus package that was recently passed?

Answered by McGovern, Brown, Spilka

Interesting side note: Brown challenged McGovern on the number of earmarks supposedly in the package. McGovern came right back with "There are none." Brown insisted there are and that they would take it offline to resolve. This occurs about 9:50 into the recording.

Senator Spilka gets cut short as the bell rings.

Listen to Part Three here

Pictures from this event can be found here

FM #35 - Panel on Gov't and Economy - P3

This is #35 in the series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin MA. This is the third part of a three part panel discussion recorded at Franklin High School on Monday Mar 9, 2009.

Time: 13 minutes, 57 seconds



MP3 File


Session Notes: FM #35

Music intro
My intro

This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 35 in the series.

This session is a special one. On Monday morning, March 9, 2009, there was a panel discussion on the government and its role in the economy. The panel included Congressman James McGovern, State Senator Scott Brown, State Senator Karen Spilka, Majority Leader of the House, our own Jim Vallee, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and Town Council Chairperson Chris Feeley. The panel was held at Franklin High School and put together by Michael Walsh. The moderator was FHS Senior April Crehan. The session was well attended by students but only a handful of citizens took part.

Now you can share in that opportunity. What follows is the audio recording of the panel discussion split into three parts.

The first part covers the introduction of the panel and moderator and the first question which all had a chance to talk to.

The second part covers three questions. This third part also covers three questions and the closing is cut off by the bell for the students to change class periods.

Thanks to all the panelists for sharing their thoughts in this forum.

Thanks also to Mike Walsh for the opportunity to provide this recording for those who missed to take part.

--------------

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

Live reporting - Financial Plng Comm - cont'd

Data integrity checks; keeping the original sources marked and separate to come back to when the deck is complete

always took the conservative number and one that could be reasonably justified

bulk of employment has gone down from the schools but the school population has still increased

the town employment side has lost employment while the number of roads, houses, population has all increased

there are a lot of interesting things that aren't going to make the cut

one of the key values of the chart showing the overall per pupil cost in comparison to other relative communities, is that we are not overspending

The state aid will be a variable within a range, what reasonable conclusions can we draw about the possible ranges for state aid? Could it be flat, sure. When will the recovery occur? Anyone's guess but when it does come back, all the revenue streams, income tax, excise tax, etc. will increase and help.

The best guess is the most conservative, flat next year, and modest increases thereafter.

It could go below flat if we don't get a recovery for 2011

Next meeting: March 26th
Focus group: April 2nd

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee

Attending: Cameron, Hardesty, Whalen, Bartlett, Nutting, Zollo, Wilschek
Absent: Kelly, Trahan, Roche, Ogden,

Discussion on override history added to one table but while the numbers are not completely accurate, even if it were, it doesn't add much of relevance to the discussion.

Some handouts for review, not all the package was reprinted.

Objectives for tonight:

• revisit the assumptions from last week's draft
• objectivity of the process
• ensure accuracy of the data and report

discussion on relevance of data that is directly from the DOR Franklin at a Glance section

FM #34 - Panel on Gov't and Economy P2

This is #34 in the series of podcasts on Franklin, MA Matters. This is the second part of the panel discussion on government and their role in the economy recorded at Franklin High School, Monday, March 9, 2009

Time: 21 minutes, 32 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes: FM #34

Music intro
My intro

This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 34 in the series.

This session is a special one. On Monday morning, March 9, 2009, there was a panel discussion on the government and its role in the economy. The panel included Congressman James McGovern, State Senator Scott Brown, State Senator Karen Spilka, Majority Leader of the House, our own Jim Vallee, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and Town Council Chairperson Chris Feeley. The panel was held at Franklin High School and put together by Michael Walsh. The moderator was FHS Senior April Crehan. The session was well attended by students but only a handful of citizens took part.

Now you can share in that opportunity. What follows is the audio recording of the panel discussion split into three parts.

The first part covers the introduction of the panel and moderator and the first question which all had a chance to talk to.

This second part covers three questions. The third part also covers three questions and the closing is cut off by the bell for the students to change class periods.

Thanks to all the panelists for sharing their thoughts in this forum. Thanks also to Mike Walsh for the opportunity to provide this recording for those who missed to take part.

--------------

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

FM #33 - Panel on Government and the Economy

This is #33 in the series of podcasts for Franklin Matters. The panel discussion was recorded at Franklin High School on Monday Mar 9, 2009 and split into three parts for ease of listening. This is part one of three.

Time: 24 minutes, 12 seconds


MP3 File



Session Notes: FM #33

Music intro
My intro

This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 33 in the series.

This session is a special one. On Monday morning, March 9, 2009, there was a panel discussion on the government and its role in the economy. The panel included Congressman James McGovern, State Senator Scott Brown, State Senator Karen Spilka, Majority Leader of the House, our own Representative Jim Vallee, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and Town Council Chairperson Chris Feeley. The panel was held at Franklin High School and put together by Michael Walsh. The moderator was FHS Senior April Crehan. The session was well attended by students but only a handful of citizens took part.

Now you can share in that opportunity. What follows is the audio recording of the panel discussion split into three parts.

The first part covers the introduction of the panel/moderator and the first question which all had a chance to talk to.

The second part covers three questions. The third part also covers three questions and the closing is cut off by the bell for the students to change class periods.

Thanks to all the panelists for sharing their thoughts in this forum. Thanks also to Mike Walsh for the opportunity to provide this recording for those who missed to take part.

--------------

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

Free US History Course from Stanford via iTunes

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Free US History Course from Stanford via iTunes

via Free Technology for Teachers by rbyrnetech@hotmail.com (Mr. Byrne) on 3/11/09

Once again through the great Open Culture blog, I learned about a free Stanford University course being published on iTunes U. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jack Rakove is teaching a course about Colonial and Revolutionary America. The course will cover all of the topics typical of early American history survey courses. You can find the course here or look in the Stanford section of iTunes U. When the course is complete there will be 30 lectures available, currently there are seven lecutures posted.

Applications for Education
This course will cover topics that students have heard about from elementary school history teachers through high school history teachers. iTunes U provides high school students with an opportunity to learn in more depth about topics with which they are already familiar.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Franklin high school capital projects

I am trying a new service to share files in their original format and enable a conversation around their contents. Follow the link below to view the original PDF file format of Mike D'Angelo's memo to Wayne Ogden summarizing each of the capital projects where the projects were greater than $10,000. The sum total of all the projects was $6.5 million.

http://drop.io/FranklinMatters/asset/franklinhighschoolcapitalprojects-20090310-pdf

As you click through to view the file, you will also be able to comment on the document there (drop.io) or feel free to return to comment here.

sent via drop.io

NEED - National Energy Education Development

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

NEED - National Energy Education Development

via Free Technology for Teachers by rbyrnetech@hotmail.com (Mr. Byrne) on 3/11/09

The NEED Project is an educational program designed to teach students about energy consumption, energy sources, and the energy industry in general. NEED provides curriculum and lesson plans for teachers in all grades form elementary school through high school. The educators section of NEED makes all of their lessons with require materials available as PDF files.

The student section of NEED offers students science fair project ideas, games, and puzzles.

Applications for Education
NEED provides a wide range of activities for students in all grades to learn about the science of energy consumption and energy sources.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

"going to whichever one was open"

By Krista Perry/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Mar 12, 2009 @ 01:12 AM

---

MEDWAY —

Selectmen said last night that Medway is in talks with Franklin about regionalizing library services.

During a discussion about the municipal budget, selectmen Chairman Glenn Trindade mentioned that the board wants to add $42,000 to the town budget to pay for expenses related to a merger.

"This is only a recommendation," said Selectman Dennis Crowley. "The library trustees have to vote to approve this amount."

Trindade said that in the tentative plan, the libraries would alternate their operating days so that they would each be open three days a week, but residents of both towns would have access to a library six hours a day, six days a week by going to whichever one was open.

Read the full article on this next step in merging services between the two communities, Franklin and Medway, in the Milford Daily News here

"It's a significant sacrifice they're making"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 12, 2009 @ 01:40 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

In a move that has thrilled town officials, members of the Franklin Police Association have unanimously voted to freeze their salaries until July 2010. Union President John Maloney called the decision "a no-brainer."

The 41-member union also voted Tuesday to change its health care coverage and take higher co-payments to save the town money, said Officer David Gove.

"That is excellent, that's outstanding," said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

"That's going to save police jobs (up to three). As far as I'm concerned, there will be no need to reduce the police force in 2010 because of the money they're going to save," which exceeds $100,000, Nutting said.

The union, which was due to receive a 3 percent raise in October, voted to forgo that increase until July, mainly to avoid layoffs, Maloney said.

"If you can defer a raise for eight or nine months to save at least one officer's job, it's a no-brainer," he said.

Read the full article about the Police Union actions in the Milford Daily News here

School Committee Mtg 03/10/09

The live reporting from the School Committee meeting on March 10th can be found here

• Live reporting - closing
• Live reporting - Superintendent update
• live reporting - action items
• Live reporting - Discussion only items
• Live reporting - Horace Mann Enrichment Model
• Live reporting - Presentations
• Live reporting - School Committee 3/10/09

• School Committee - Agenda - 3/10/09

"Franklin High School will still be a great place to get an education"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 11, 2009 @ 01:23 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Superintendent Wayne Ogden said he anticipates local schools will receive about $1.3 million in federal stimulus money.

That funding, along with $125,000 in increased circuit breaker aid and the money saved by 51 staff members forgoing raises, will help close a projected $3.3 million gap in next year's budget, Ogden said.

The School Department should get the stimulus money over the next 24-48 months, Ogden said, but it is not yet clear how it can be spent.

Ogden said he hopes to use it to save teaching jobs.

Though many financial variables are still up in the air, Ogden and School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy promise to keep parents and school staff up to speed on the numbers.

"It's a very dynamic budget, we're still waiting for the federal stimulus money," Ogden said.

Read the full article from the School Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here.

"You just gotta believe it's going to happen"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 11, 2009 @ 01:18 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Despite some rocky relations in the past, the general sentiment among downtown businesses and town officials is one of sympathy for developer John Marini, whose plans were halted by the recession.

On Monday night, Marini told the Planning Board he has not been able to sell any of his 27 upscale condos in the 2 1/2 months they've been on the market, and cannot secure financing to demolish and rebuild 12-28 East Central St., as originally planned.

Instead, he will put $100,000 worth of repairs into the property and lease the first floor spaces for a three-year period.

"I promise to make it look presentable," he told the board.

This article follows up on the presentation to the Planning Board Monday night revealing a revised schedule for completion of the Center Commons project. Marini will be back to the Planning Board in April to file the formal paperwork. You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Live reporting - closing

The meeting is going into executive session and not to return