Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Zollo, Powderly
Absent: none
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
none
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The meeting is recorded by Verizon, Comcast and Franklin Matters
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Vincent Magina - consider changing policy for $40 reimbursement for mailboxes destroyed by plows and trucks. Doesn't believe it is a fair reimbursement of a piece of my property that I have spent money on. Daughter hit another mailbox in an auto accident and was responsible for the full reimbursement. If you go down Pond St, I don't believe that there is one that is not in shambles.I don't believe I should be penalized for something I may have spent more money on. Yet the policy is only responsible for the Home Depot special. I am asking to reconsider the policy. Hold the town and its drivers responsible for the care of the mailboxes.
E. APPOINTMENTS
none
F. HEARINGS
none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
T.D. Beverage Inc. D/B/A Tedeschi Food Shop
motion to approve license transfer, passed 9-0
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
October Storm Update 11/2/11
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN" <email@blackboardconnect.com>
Date: Nov 2, 2011 3:00 PM
Subject: October Storm Update 11/2/11
To: <shersteve@gmail.com>
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN" <email@blackboardconnect.com>
Date: Nov 2, 2011 3:00 PM
Subject: October Storm Update 11/2/11
To: <shersteve@gmail.com>
 | ||||||
|
Ed Cafasso answers 3 questions
Ed Cafasso and I met for coffee at Cafe Dolce recently to discuss his to the three questions.
FM - Tell me a bit about yourself, your family and your life here in Franklin?
EC - We moved here from Walpole.13 years ago. It was just before Halloween, we moved here to Franklin. It has been a great place to raise a family. On November 2, 2004, I was appointed to fill a vacancy on the School Committee. I ran for my first full term a year later in 2005. So, if I’m fortunate enough to be re-elected, it would be my fourth full term. Between work and family, I keep a pretty busy schedule. The School Committee for me fulfills a sense of public service. I like being involved in the community and trying to help. We are fortunate to have a lot of great friends here. It has been interesting to see how the city has changed. It is becoming a city now where it really was more of a town before.
FM - What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? or What do you think makes you a good candidate to fulfill this role?
EC - I started my professional career as a reporter. I covered city government in Newton and other local issues for three years for a suburban newspaper chain. I then spent eight years at the Boston Herald, where I covered (Boston) City Hall, the State House, and the White House. So I got a look at government from the perspective of a reporter and an analyst. Following that, I spent five years as communications director for a progressive activist Attorney General. That gave me a great education in the various stakeholders in government and the need to stay in touch with the different groups who are touched by what government does.
Since then, as a communications professional, I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of large complex and sprawling enterprises that have multiple stakeholders. That experience, combined with the fact that I am a parent and a taxpayer who cares about what goes on where I live, has been a good training ground for the School Committee. This is a substantial school system. So I come at this position from multiple perspectives. As a parent, as a taxpayer, as well as one more akin to a management consultant.
I do happen to believe that education is a big part of the answer to societal problems. I think that was something I experienced very much at the Attorney General office where it became very clear that where the people that got off to a better start to their lives, they were less likely to wind up on the wrong side of the law. The experience I bring to the position is as one who can see the forest for the trees.
FM - What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?
EC - I am not sure that people understand essentially, that the School Committee serves as an active Board of Directors for a $51 million non-profit. We serve 6,200 kids, and their parents, guardians, employees, etc. It is a very large enterprise that has a very important mission. I think that one of the challenges is to help people see that although their focus is naturally on their son’s or daughter’s classroom, that classroom is just one piece of a larger organism.
I think that one of the big challenges is to find a way to continue to inform the stakeholders about the big picture. To unify the community around a specific set of facts so they can make some informed judgments about the future of the school district. We have a lot of priorities. The next teachers’ contract is going to be important. The high school project is very important. Getting the schools website up to speed and modernized will be important.
One of my goals, if I am re-elected, will be to do a parent survey. When I first joined the committee, I led an effort to do a survey of all parents. It was more of a communication survey. I’d like to replicate that survey today. We need to get a good pulse from one of our key stakeholders on what they think about how things are going and how can we serve them. We hear things. Sometimes, it is just the loudest voices that get served. I can sympathize. I know what is like to work 12 hours days. It is hard to pay attention when you are just trying to provide for your family.
I think a survey of parents would be important to try and just get a sense of what they see as important -- what they would like to see more of, would like to see less of, what they would like us to do better. The PCC attendance is not high. The surveys conducted by individual schools are based pretty much upon the school environment and are very specific to each school. I think it would be instructive for everyone to be able to hear from the parents on what they think of Franklin Schools; what the parents think of the issues that hold the most significance for them.
The answer to this question then is the issue of creating a two-way dialogue and being able to engage people. It is very difficult here; partly because of the nature of modern life. They are busy working; they are commuting’ taking care of elderly parents; they have a lot of things going on in their lives. So I think that if I could come away from this term with anything, I’d like to see what the results will tell us to do. I am not sure what it will say.
FM - Tell me a bit about yourself, your family and your life here in Franklin?
EC - We moved here from Walpole.13 years ago. It was just before Halloween, we moved here to Franklin. It has been a great place to raise a family. On November 2, 2004, I was appointed to fill a vacancy on the School Committee. I ran for my first full term a year later in 2005. So, if I’m fortunate enough to be re-elected, it would be my fourth full term. Between work and family, I keep a pretty busy schedule. The School Committee for me fulfills a sense of public service. I like being involved in the community and trying to help. We are fortunate to have a lot of great friends here. It has been interesting to see how the city has changed. It is becoming a city now where it really was more of a town before.
FM - What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? or What do you think makes you a good candidate to fulfill this role?
EC - I started my professional career as a reporter. I covered city government in Newton and other local issues for three years for a suburban newspaper chain. I then spent eight years at the Boston Herald, where I covered (Boston) City Hall, the State House, and the White House. So I got a look at government from the perspective of a reporter and an analyst. Following that, I spent five years as communications director for a progressive activist Attorney General. That gave me a great education in the various stakeholders in government and the need to stay in touch with the different groups who are touched by what government does.
Since then, as a communications professional, I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of large complex and sprawling enterprises that have multiple stakeholders. That experience, combined with the fact that I am a parent and a taxpayer who cares about what goes on where I live, has been a good training ground for the School Committee. This is a substantial school system. So I come at this position from multiple perspectives. As a parent, as a taxpayer, as well as one more akin to a management consultant.
I do happen to believe that education is a big part of the answer to societal problems. I think that was something I experienced very much at the Attorney General office where it became very clear that where the people that got off to a better start to their lives, they were less likely to wind up on the wrong side of the law. The experience I bring to the position is as one who can see the forest for the trees.
FM - What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?
EC - I am not sure that people understand essentially, that the School Committee serves as an active Board of Directors for a $51 million non-profit. We serve 6,200 kids, and their parents, guardians, employees, etc. It is a very large enterprise that has a very important mission. I think that one of the challenges is to help people see that although their focus is naturally on their son’s or daughter’s classroom, that classroom is just one piece of a larger organism.
I think that one of the big challenges is to find a way to continue to inform the stakeholders about the big picture. To unify the community around a specific set of facts so they can make some informed judgments about the future of the school district. We have a lot of priorities. The next teachers’ contract is going to be important. The high school project is very important. Getting the schools website up to speed and modernized will be important.
One of my goals, if I am re-elected, will be to do a parent survey. When I first joined the committee, I led an effort to do a survey of all parents. It was more of a communication survey. I’d like to replicate that survey today. We need to get a good pulse from one of our key stakeholders on what they think about how things are going and how can we serve them. We hear things. Sometimes, it is just the loudest voices that get served. I can sympathize. I know what is like to work 12 hours days. It is hard to pay attention when you are just trying to provide for your family.
I think a survey of parents would be important to try and just get a sense of what they see as important -- what they would like to see more of, would like to see less of, what they would like us to do better. The PCC attendance is not high. The surveys conducted by individual schools are based pretty much upon the school environment and are very specific to each school. I think it would be instructive for everyone to be able to hear from the parents on what they think of Franklin Schools; what the parents think of the issues that hold the most significance for them.
The answer to this question then is the issue of creating a two-way dialogue and being able to engage people. It is very difficult here; partly because of the nature of modern life. They are busy working; they are commuting’ taking care of elderly parents; they have a lot of things going on in their lives. So I think that if I could come away from this term with anything, I’d like to see what the results will tell us to do. I am not sure what it will say.
Reminder: Town Council meeting Weds night
After taking back $350,000 from the school budget last week, the current Council will hold their last meeting. On the agenda, the FY 2012 budget is being re-opened again. This time to possibly add back some positions.
Will they use the $350K?
Will they vote to raise additional funding?
Attend the meeting or tune into the broadcast via local cable or the internet to see what happens.
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 11-58: Appropriation: Library – Prior Year- Salaries
2. Resolution 11-59: Appropriation: Recreation – Prior Year- Salaries
3. Resolution 11-60: Appropriation: OPEB Actuary Study
4. Resolution 11-61: Appropriation: Nustyle Demolition
5. Resolution 11-62: Appropriation: Roads/Sidewalks/Drainage/Storm Water/Infrastructure
6. Resolution 11-63: Amendment of the FY 2012 Budget
7. Bylaw Amendment 11-665:Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A – List of Service Fee Rates 2nd Reading
Based upon the Finance Committee meeting held on Oct 11 (and reported on here) I have the following insights to offer on these agenda items.
The first two items were unpaid bills that got caught in July and should be paid against the June (FY 2011) budget. The dollar amount is small ($716.94)
Res 11-60 would fund the study required periodically to determine the current status of our liability. Amount requested is $12,500. Recommendation to be paid from 'free cash'.
Res 11-61 for $165,000 - actually a place holder for the 'real' total. Bids to demolish the NuStyle build were to be opened Oct 27 so this meeting can provide a good current total amount.
Res 11-62 for $400,000 to be designated from the Hotel/Meal tax receipts received during the FY 2012 fiscal year.
Res 11-63 this is where the fun begins!
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED AND VOTED to further amend said FY 2012 Budget as
amended October 26, 2011 from $99,668,355 to $99,753,355, as outlined below: (Increase Planning
Board Salaries $8,000, Board of Health Salaries $9,000, Fire Department Salaries $85,000 and
decrease Employee Benefits –$17,000."
Note the full agenda and associated documents can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/11-02-2011agenda.pdf
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Beaver St Recycling Center - additional hours
Additional hours have been posted for the Beaver St Recycling Center:
Franklin DPW Recycling Days 111101
This was posted on the Franklin website
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/017C9CE7-000F8513
Franklin DPW Recycling Days 111101
This was posted on the Franklin website
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/017C9CE7-000F8513
October Storm Update 11/1/11
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN" <email@blackboardconnect.com>
Date: Nov 1, 2011 2:11 PM
Subject: October Storm Update 11/1/11
To: <shersteve@gmail.com>
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN" <email@blackboardconnect.com>
Date: Nov 1, 2011 2:11 PM
Subject: October Storm Update 11/1/11
To: <shersteve@gmail.com>
| ||||||
|
Tina Powderly answers 3 questions
2 years ago, Tina Powderly and I got together to do this interview when she ran for Town Council for her first term in 2009. Now running for re-election, we got together again to answer 3 questions.
FM - Tell me a bit about yourself, your family and your life here in Franklin?
TP - I am the daughter of an Army soldier so my childhood was very transient. We moved around all over the US and we even lived in Germany for awhile. I went to college at Georgetown University in Washington and received my bachelor’s in business. After college I worked for a health economics and health care industry consulting firm. Then I came to Massachusetts to study for my Masters in Public Health at Harvard. I worked as the Manager for Community Health Center Affiliations at Partners and then moved to Franklin about 10 years ago. Now, all three of my children are enrolled in the Franklin public schools.
FM - What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? or What do you think makes you a good candidate to fulfill this role?
TP - In terms of experience and background and what makes me a strong candidate for this position, I would divide it into two buckets: personal and professional.
From my personal background, again, my father was an Army pilot and my mother was a nurse. The two of them instilled in me the importance of serving your community. My father did it on a national level but it is just as important to do that on a local level. They really ‘walked the walk’ in their everyday lives. They also taught me to respect the differences of others. I believe it is imperative to success to have differences between people. Whether it’s in one’s background (something you can see - age, religion) or in one’s philosophy or temperament, in order to foster solutions that are well rounded, one needs to consider all the viewpoints of everybody involved.
From my professional background, my work and educational experiences in finance and management in health care and public health are key. In Franklin, I was on the Finance Committee for a year and I am finishing my first term on the Town Council. While on the Council I was on the budget subcommittee, the liaison to the Long Range Planning Committee and Chair of the Senior Outreach Committee. Being Chair of the Senior Outreach Committee has driven some of the most rewarding work I have done. Something as simple as the Senior Center Breakfast, which I absolutely enjoy, has introduced me to a great group of people. With my personal life centered on the school system and my young children, I have to actively reach out to gain that perspective.
This past year, the Town Council did a pretty large expansion of tax credits and tax breaks for Seniors. It is not often that you can see something from the start to finish and that was very gratifying. The tax assistance programs also appealed to my public health training. You can have great policy but there is a whole soft side to the implementation of policy. A lot of it has to do with the stigma of receiving assistance. It is not enough to have the right numbers and long term goals. You have to do outreach. You have to manage the perception. You have to market it well. It’s accomplishments like this that make me feel I have a nice mix of experience and yet a fresh perspective and energy to bring to the Council.
FM - What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?
TP - I would say in general it is our limited resources, which stems from a few different places. We have a trajectory of declining state aid that is not going to turn around, and we have residents living with this huge burden of the recession. It is tough to deal with these two factors at a time when we are facing one of the most important capital investment decisions before Franklin in decades – the high school. The original rational for investing in the high school started around accreditation and what we need to do to be compliant. The particulars of Franklin High School led us to the point we are at now, which is an invitation to participate in the new model school and receive up to 58% reimbursement from the state for the costs.
In addition to compliance and the physical building, addressing the high school is also about bringing Franklin’s children into the 21st century. Renovating the existing building doesn’t address the constraints of our excellent teachers to really teach their craft to their best of their ability. You can look at outdated science classrooms or academic classrooms that are smaller than ideal. There is a lot of wasted space in hallways. When your high school doesn’t have a gathering place and you have to use the middle school auditorium, and then you talk about the technology limitations, if you are really going to prepare our students for the world that is out there, the building at Franklin High is inhibiting that. Our teachers do an amazing amount with very limited resources but they can only do so much. The new model school has more classrooms and more academic space and is designed in a way that our administrators and teachers believe is more beneficial to the student’s experience.
For me, with the high school in the background, and all the limited resources, figuring out how to meet my priorities of education and public safety is really the key. So how would I address that and resolve that? I do believe that one of the best things an elected official can do is commit to communication and transparency. I take responsibility for anything I could have done better in these last 2 years. Very specifically, I was on the Town Council budget subcommittee. Being the new kid on the block I wasn’t really aware of how the Joint Budget Subcommittee worked. Who called the meetings, how often did they normally meet? I could have been more proactive and I will take that lesson into the future. Recent events have shown that having that group meet faithfully is really important. I spent a lot of time as a new councilor trying to improve communications and transparency with the residents. If you email me, I will write back. If you call me, I will call you back. That is a really important piece. I have a website and a Facebook page. I am committed to continuing that. I know also that communicating with your peers is also important and I need to do a better job at that.
While you’re doing all this, you need to have an eye on both short term fixes and long term fixes. One option to increase revenues is to explore PILOT payments (PILOT - Payment in lieu of taxes, generally focused on non-profits who are tax exempt). This is a very sensitive issue. Whether we do it or not, you owe it to the residents to examine it. A subcommittee was just formed that I am on and I’d like to spend time during the next term to really examine the pros and cons of it.
There are long term fixes to focus on as well. I am the liaison to the Long Range Financial Planning committee and they are looking at legislative changes. One big ticket item is around EPA storm water regulations. There is a push for legislation to require non-phosphorus fertilizers. The municipalities would save lots of money trying to manage their storm water if phosphorus was out of the equation. Supporting that, advocating for that helps us on the back end. This legislation could help us avoid tens of millions of dollars in the long run. It is about thinking long term and strategically. Sometimes it is easy to think only within Franklin and focus on that. How do we plow the roads and get the kids on buses to their school? But you also have to balance that with this long term piece, like state level legislation. I’d like to be a little more active on that front.
For additional information from Tina you can visit her website
http://www.tinapowderly.com/ and her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TinaPowderly
"proposed site plan modification would change BJ's hours"
"They're going to be open more hours, which means more people blowing out of BJ's," said Gordon Jenkins, who lives on Conlyn Avenue, which runs behind the store. "Something has got to be done about that (intersection)."
Neighbors at last night's meeting live in a subdivision next to the store, and contend they can only leave their neighborhood through the intersection of West Central Street and Corporate Drive, where BJ's is located.
A blinking yellow light faces motorists driving on West Central Street, while a blinking red light faces those coming out of Corporate Drive.
"We have to pass through that intersection to get out, we're basically an island," said Lauren Chousa, who said she was the 11th person in her neighborhood to get into an accident at the intersection. "The only way to get to and from our street is through this intersection, and to drive through it is honestly a nightmare."
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x603496464/Franklin-planners-put-off-decision-on-BJs-hours#ixzz1cRkqE2wR
View Larger Map
Census releases new data on state and local taxes
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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108
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DOR proposes to expand tax practitioner electronic filing
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 10/31/11
The Department of Revenue has issued a draft Technical Information Release that would require income tax preparers who reasonably expect to file more than 10 returns in a calendar year to file those returns electronically.
The existing rule established in 2004 required tax preparers filing 100 or more returns annually to file electronically. Before that, the threshold was 200 returns.
The new, lower threshold of more than 10 is proposed to take effect January 1, 2012, and would parallel an Internal Revenue Service electronic filing threshold taking place on that date.
While it is hard to say precisely how many additional tax returns would be filed electronically under this new rule, it is safe to say that it would insure continued growth in electronic filing, which increased by 10 percent in tax year 2010 over tax year 2009.
Just among tax practitioner, the number of returns filed electronically increased by 153,983, going from 1.668 million in 2009 to 1.822 million in 2010.
Overall, of 3.424 million tax returns filed in 2010, just 225,672 were paper returns imaged and keyed, a decrease of 56,658 from the previous year. Another 542,487 paper returns came in with 2D barcodes (down 129,063 from the previous year); these are paper returns that are read electronically due to the barcode.
The new rule is likely to reduce the number of 2D barcode returns, virtually all of which are filed by tax practioners, in half.
The existing rule established in 2004 required tax preparers filing 100 or more returns annually to file electronically. Before that, the threshold was 200 returns.
The new, lower threshold of more than 10 is proposed to take effect January 1, 2012, and would parallel an Internal Revenue Service electronic filing threshold taking place on that date.
While it is hard to say precisely how many additional tax returns would be filed electronically under this new rule, it is safe to say that it would insure continued growth in electronic filing, which increased by 10 percent in tax year 2010 over tax year 2009.
Just among tax practitioner, the number of returns filed electronically increased by 153,983, going from 1.668 million in 2009 to 1.822 million in 2010.
Overall, of 3.424 million tax returns filed in 2010, just 225,672 were paper returns imaged and keyed, a decrease of 56,658 from the previous year. Another 542,487 paper returns came in with 2D barcodes (down 129,063 from the previous year); these are paper returns that are read electronically due to the barcode.
The new rule is likely to reduce the number of 2D barcode returns, virtually all of which are filed by tax practioners, in half.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Flu Season is Here – Get Vaccinated Today.
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services by Paulette Song on 10/31/11
Posted by Donna Lazorik, RN, MS. Donna is the Immunization Coordinator in the Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.The best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick this flu season is to get vaccinated. This is true even if you were vaccinated last season. Health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccine every year. That's because flu can be very serious – every year in Massachusetts, an average of 5,000 residents are hospitalized due to complications from the flu, resulting in up to 800 deaths. The good news is that many of these hospitalizations and deaths are preventable.
Getting a flu vaccine is especially important if you or someone in your family:
- Is pregnant
- Has a chronic health condition like asthma, diabetes, or heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease
- Is immuno-suppressed
- Is very overweight
- Is 50 years of age or older.
The flu vaccine is safe, effective, and widely available. There is more vaccine available this year than ever before!
To find out where to get the flu vaccine:
- Call your health care provider;
- Contact your local health department;
- Check with your local pharmacy; or
- Visit the Massachusetts Flu Clinic website for a list of flu clinics near you.
###
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Monday, October 31, 2011
October Storm Update 10/31/11
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN" <email@blackboardconnect.com>
Date: Oct 31, 2011 2:50 PM
Subject: October Storm Update 10/31/11
To: <shersteve@gmail.com>
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN" <email@blackboardconnect.com>
Date: Oct 31, 2011 2:50 PM
Subject: October Storm Update 10/31/11
To: <shersteve@gmail.com>
| ||||||
|
"a society that honors the servant but has forgotten the gift"
A video for Monday. Making a connection on the divided brain. What?
Does this have anything to do with Franklin Matters?
Yes, it does. Watch. Listen. Think.
This will help us understand the paradox. "Einstein said 'The intuitive mind is a sacred gift. The rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant but has forgotten the gift."
Enjoy!
Does this have anything to do with Franklin Matters?
Yes, it does. Watch. Listen. Think.
This will help us understand the paradox. "Einstein said 'The intuitive mind is a sacred gift. The rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant but has forgotten the gift."
Enjoy!
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