Letter to Editor: Denommee
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1222191969/Denommee-Congratulations-despite-low-turnout
Saturday, November 12, 2011
In the News: Denommee, collecting gifts
Letter to Editor: Denommee
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1222191969/Denommee-Congratulations-despite-low-turnout
Franklin, Medway football players collect gifts for injured Bellingham soldier
Friday, November 11, 2011
UNO CHICAGO GRILL "DOUGH RAISER"
Here's another great opportunity to have a quick and easy meal AND support the Franklin Music Boosters at the same time.
UNO Chicago Grill in Bellingham (205 Hartford Ave.) will donate up to 20% of your check to benefit the Franklin Music Boosters. Dine-in or Takeout!
For this one, you'll need a COUPON in order for the Music Boosters to get credit for the meal sales of that day. Please print out a coupon and bring it with you!
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Cheerios collection
Members and friends of the Franklin Federated Church have been stacking the church altar high with hundreds of boxes of Cheerios - all to benefit the patients of The Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center.
The effort is part of the Mission: 1 project of the United Church of Christ (UCC), one of the two progressive Christian denominations to which Franklin Federated belongs. Nationwide, members of the UCC are working to collect more than i million items of food for the hungry by November 11, 2011. The UCC is also writing thousands of letters to Congress related to issues of hunger and poverty, and raising money for hunger-related ministries in the US and in East Africa.
The Grow Clinic specializes in caring for children diagnosed with Failure to Thrive, and Cheerios are high in nutrition and they make great finger food for young children.
Franklin Federated has been collecting Cheerios for The Grow Clinic for years, encouraging members to place them in a shopping cart in the church's foyer whenever they can. This is the biggest effort yet, however, with the church attempting to collect 1,111 boxes for the Mission: 1 project between 11/1/11 and 11/11/11.
Related links:
Franklin Federated Church - http://franklinfederated.org/
Franklin Federated Church - http://franklinfederated.org/
The Grow Clinic - http://www.bmc.org/pediatrics-
United Church of Christ Mission: 1: http://ucc.org/mission1/
For more information, contact Pastor Charley Eastman at 508-528-3803 or Tiffany Vail Miller at 508-553-9085.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Franklin Historical Museum: "Outfitted for war"
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Kathleen Burge, Globe Staff on 11/9/11
An exhibit officially opening this weekend at the Franklin Historical Museum tells story of a century's worth of wars through the uniforms of local veterans. The exhibit is expected to contain about 17 uniforms, said Deborah Pellegri, Franklin's town clerk and also chair of the Franklin Historical Commission. One of the most poignant stories is told by an Army uniform that belonged to Staff Sgt. Robert R. Pirelli, who was killed in Iraq in 2007.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Boston Globe -- Globe West using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Additional information on the uniform display can be viewed in this document
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1apRZlLAd7TLwqEHuL-hXa8Iz8Rkeiq0A83Jjax-OuYRkA6olfZtoS0hfXJvK
Write-in candidate wins associate spot on Franklin Planning Board
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 11/10/11
The town has filled the Planning Board associate position, two days after the election, with a former member of the Planning Board (Ron Calabrese).
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Town Council workshop 11/09/11
The collected reporting from the Town Council workshop held on Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011
Attendance sheets updated
The attendance tracking spreadsheets have been updated for the new Town Council and School Committee. The two worksheets for the past Council and SchCom are still present in the workbook and each tab has been renamed to reflect the term of service. The past sheets are labeled as '2009-2011', current sheets are named '2011-2013'.
I have also added a sheet where I will attempt to record the roll call votes by councilor. I already record the votes during the meeting, putting them into the spreadsheet will allow for an easier analysis of who is voting on what.
The link to the workbook does not change. You can find it here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdEZSWlZLTFVqNmcxZWFTNDNxNk5PZkE
If there is other information you would be interested in having, please let me know.
Partridge closure extended to Nov 18th
Due to construction delays, Partridge St which is closed to all traffic between Harborwood and Dover Circle due to a culvert collapse, will remain closed until Nov 18th.
This notice was originally posted on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/017D32A1-000F8513
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Live reporting - workshop - part 2
Nutting - anything that you would like done, please go through Maxine or the Chair. We are available for questions, etc. but we'd rather not have 9 folks directing our people.
Budget
Capital
Senior Outreach
Economic Development
really open to what the Council needs to operate
electronic agendas were requested by last council, will provide inexpensive laptops to bring to the meetings
ultimately will save a lot of trees
Financial summary, FY 2012 budget as amended last week; current account balances
enterprise accounts are not part of the general funds, they are sustained by the fees generated for that service
TA puts the budget together with the department heads, makes a recommendation to the Finance Committee which in turn makes a recommendation for the Town Council which votes on it.
Calendar of fiscal events for the Town Council(copy to be added later)
TC Workshop 111109
No word from the State on the budget for FY 2013, they need to see what the Federal government will do first
School Building committee wants to get everything into the MSBA for Dec 9 so we can get a decision on their Jan meeting. Debt exclusion requires a 2/3 vote of the Council to put on the ballot. If the time line holds could have the override in Mar/Apr.
Storm water regulations are coming, sometime.
all debt currently is declining principle level interest, the high school is proposed to be level/level
cable access corporation being set up; once corporation is set up, transfer of money and potential for leasing space to be worked out. $1.5M in the cable account currently with more coming in. Agreement likely to be for five years between Town and cable access with renewal options.
collective bargaining update coming during an executive session, nine units with contracts
Copies of reports from the department heads are provided for review, if you have any questions, please let us know.
When you get phone calls, there are three sides to the story.
Pictures for the website needed for next time.
2 ways to get something on the agenda, talk to the chair or you can make a motion (and need five votes - majority)
next meetings are the 16th and 30th
Budget
Capital
Senior Outreach
Economic Development
really open to what the Council needs to operate
electronic agendas were requested by last council, will provide inexpensive laptops to bring to the meetings
ultimately will save a lot of trees
Financial summary, FY 2012 budget as amended last week; current account balances
enterprise accounts are not part of the general funds, they are sustained by the fees generated for that service
TA puts the budget together with the department heads, makes a recommendation to the Finance Committee which in turn makes a recommendation for the Town Council which votes on it.
Calendar of fiscal events for the Town Council
TC Workshop 111109
No word from the State on the budget for FY 2013, they need to see what the Federal government will do first
School Building committee wants to get everything into the MSBA for Dec 9 so we can get a decision on their Jan meeting. Debt exclusion requires a 2/3 vote of the Council to put on the ballot. If the time line holds could have the override in Mar/Apr.
Storm water regulations are coming, sometime.
- Zoning changes some coming next week to add more bio-tech overlays
- DelCarte dam engineering effort underway, how it will be fixed and how we will fund that remains to be figured out. Two dams are registered.
- Downtown Project on schedule for 2013, public hearing to be scheduled
- Trash fee for FY 2012 - may be a minor adjustment
- portable classrooms plan being put together on removal over time
- David Thayer renovations on the horizon (get an architect to do an assessment first) what are the enrollment projections, by removing the modular unit you will need the room for the students
all debt currently is declining principle level interest, the high school is proposed to be level/level
cable access corporation being set up; once corporation is set up, transfer of money and potential for leasing space to be worked out. $1.5M in the cable account currently with more coming in. Agreement likely to be for five years between Town and cable access with renewal options.
collective bargaining update coming during an executive session, nine units with contracts
Copies of reports from the department heads are provided for review, if you have any questions, please let us know.
When you get phone calls, there are three sides to the story.
Pictures for the website needed for next time.
2 ways to get something on the agenda, talk to the chair or you can make a motion (and need five votes - majority)
next meetings are the 16th and 30th
Live reporting - Town Council workshop
Present: Vallee, Pfeffer, Roy, Jones, Kelly, Dellorco, Bissanti, Powderly
Nutting, Cerel, Kinehart
Absent: Mercer
Workshop - first year with the charter change that the Council doesn't get sworn in until next week.
Copy of charter provided. Bylaws are online. Mark Cerel undergoing a review of the bylaws to bring them up to current terminology
Council procedure manual - typically approved at one of the first meetings
Mark Cerel to touch base on open meeting law, conflicts of interest, etc.
open meeting law presentation
memo addressing email use
quorum in case of council would be five members, meetings doesn't have to be in person to qualify, email qualifies whether in serial or all at once. There is case law on this with a Boston case where their council was shuffling in and out of the meeting.
demands for public records do include personal email if referencing town business
think twice before email
commenting on public internet sites you are representing yourself as an individual citizen, not a representative of the position
posting does require 48 hour notice although there can be an emergency but there are requirements around what constitutes an emergency
sanctions for open meeting law can be significant civil fine as well as possibly setting aside the law/resolution that was the result of it
issuance of a new alcohol license or for a violation, know what is relevant and not, allow for an impartial hearing. even when you do everything right, you may still end up in litigation. We have insurance for this but the first 10,000 is still on us with the deductible we have.
Ethic law was passed in 2009, what changed was the penalty. Ethic law is a criminal statue. This is serious business. Upon swearing in, you will be given an online requirement for training. The training that was initially released was something not pertinent to local town business. A revision should be ready for the next cycle.
By definition of the statue, council members are "municipal employees" - statue applies to you and your immediate family... The family definition is extensive. Need to be aware of the prohibitions. Bribery or gifts and solicitations are targeted. Public official are prohibited from accepting or soliciting.
Compensation can be goods or services. The council is a licensing authority, if you are out to dinner and the owner of the establishment sends over some freebies, be careful. Can't do that. There is a fine line between the actual gift and the perception of a gift.
Ethic Commission has two functions, one is as an adviser. You can provide a circumstance and they can let you know what the situation would be. The safest way to go is to check with them. The Ethic Commission will take anonymous tips. They have the ability to fine up to $25,000 as well as imprisonment.
You can't use your position to gain a benefit. "Do you know who I am?" are the six most dangerous words.
The general improvement of downtown is one thing but if the benefit would be substantial for an individual, then that would be dangerous and the individual should recuse themselves.
The standards now include prohibitions on the following:
Nutting, Cerel, Kinehart
Absent: Mercer
Workshop - first year with the charter change that the Council doesn't get sworn in until next week.
Copy of charter provided. Bylaws are online. Mark Cerel undergoing a review of the bylaws to bring them up to current terminology
Council procedure manual - typically approved at one of the first meetings
Mark Cerel to touch base on open meeting law, conflicts of interest, etc.
open meeting law presentation
memo addressing email use
quorum in case of council would be five members, meetings doesn't have to be in person to qualify, email qualifies whether in serial or all at once. There is case law on this with a Boston case where their council was shuffling in and out of the meeting.
demands for public records do include personal email if referencing town business
think twice before email
commenting on public internet sites you are representing yourself as an individual citizen, not a representative of the position
posting does require 48 hour notice although there can be an emergency but there are requirements around what constitutes an emergency
sanctions for open meeting law can be significant civil fine as well as possibly setting aside the law/resolution that was the result of it
issuance of a new alcohol license or for a violation, know what is relevant and not, allow for an impartial hearing. even when you do everything right, you may still end up in litigation. We have insurance for this but the first 10,000 is still on us with the deductible we have.
Ethic law was passed in 2009, what changed was the penalty. Ethic law is a criminal statue. This is serious business. Upon swearing in, you will be given an online requirement for training. The training that was initially released was something not pertinent to local town business. A revision should be ready for the next cycle.
By definition of the statue, council members are "municipal employees" - statue applies to you and your immediate family... The family definition is extensive. Need to be aware of the prohibitions. Bribery or gifts and solicitations are targeted. Public official are prohibited from accepting or soliciting.
Compensation can be goods or services. The council is a licensing authority, if you are out to dinner and the owner of the establishment sends over some freebies, be careful. Can't do that. There is a fine line between the actual gift and the perception of a gift.
Ethic Commission has two functions, one is as an adviser. You can provide a circumstance and they can let you know what the situation would be. The safest way to go is to check with them. The Ethic Commission will take anonymous tips. They have the ability to fine up to $25,000 as well as imprisonment.
You can't use your position to gain a benefit. "Do you know who I am?" are the six most dangerous words.
The general improvement of downtown is one thing but if the benefit would be substantial for an individual, then that would be dangerous and the individual should recuse themselves.
The standards now include prohibitions on the following:
- Accepting compensable employment which is "inherently incompatible" with one's public responsibilities
- Soliciting or receiving anything of substantial value (value of $50) or using official position to secure favorable treatment
- Acting in a manner which would cause a reasonable person to conclude that official can be improperly influenced. (Liability can be avoided by filing of written disclosure.)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Election results - Nov 8, 2011
Updated 11/9/11: Precinct totals added
Updated 11/11/11: link added to view directly in Google Docs
As an alternative, you can follow this link to view the spreadsheet in Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdEdVeU5CTlo3ano3QU5EX3d0dHloZGc
Updated 11/11/11: link added to view directly in Google Docs
As an alternative, you can follow this link to view the spreadsheet in Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdEdVeU5CTlo3ano3QU5EX3d0dHloZGc
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