This is what the $2.8 Million budget reduction would look like at each school in Franklin.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
School by School class size if the override fails
A new slideshow based upon the reductions if the override scheduled for June 10th were to fail.
This is what the $2.8 Million budget reduction would look like at each school in Franklin.
This is what the $2.8 Million budget reduction would look like at each school in Franklin.
Monday, June 2, 2008
FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL - Agenda - 6/4/08
FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL
June 4, 2008
7:00 PM
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 2, 16, 30, 2008; May 7, 2008; Dec 5, 2007
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS – Appointment of Financial Planning Committee
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
q Supportive Day Program
q Amendments to Town Code Chp 125-Peace & Good Order
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 08-39: Unnamed Private Way Off Upper Union Street: Acceptance of Covenant
2. Resolution 08-40: Local Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 71, Section 37M
3. Resolution 08-41: Consolidation of School Maintenance Functions with Town’s
4. Resolution 08-42: Amending Elected Officials’ Salaries
5. Resolution 08-43:Establishment of Traffic Signal Improvements Stabilization Fund
6. Resolution 08-44: Appropriation – Traffic Signal Improvements Stabilization Fund
7. Resolution 08-45: Grant of Utility Easement – off Panther Way
8. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-617: Amendment to Chp. 185, Town Code: Water Resource District – 1st Reading
9. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-618: Amendment to Chp. 185, Town Code: Biotechnology Uses – 1st Reading
10. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-619: Amendment to Chp. 185-5: Zoning Map - Biotechnology Use – 1st Reading
11. Bylaw Amendment 08-622: Amendment to Personnel Code, Salary Structure- 2nd Reading
12. Bylaw Amendment 08-623: Water Map Amendment: Spring Valley Estates- 2nd Reading
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Q & A - Music teacher from Kennedy; Trahan (Audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Mary MacMurray, music teacher; Roberta Trahan
Time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds
MP3 File
This was also part of the Milford Daily News coverage reported here.
Mary MacMurray, music teacher; Roberta Trahan
Time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds
MP3 File
This was also part of the Milford Daily News coverage reported here.
Q & A - get involved, Roy, Sherlock (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Jeff Roy mentions the PAC committee that has been formed.
I commented about the cuts amounting the 83 positions since 2002. We need to get a good turnout on June 10th. Need all the school parents, need recent FHS graduates, need any FHS students eligible to vote.
Time: 3 minutes, 17 seconds
MP3 File
Jeff Roy mentions the PAC committee that has been formed.
I commented about the cuts amounting the 83 positions since 2002. We need to get a good turnout on June 10th. Need all the school parents, need recent FHS graduates, need any FHS students eligible to vote.
Time: 3 minutes, 17 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A - Whalen final comment (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
A - Whalen, it would be depressing if the turnout were less than 25% and the override lost. There is a popoulation that won't vote for an override under any circumstances.
Time: 1 minute, 18 seconds
MP3 File
A - Whalen, it would be depressing if the turnout were less than 25% and the override lost. There is a popoulation that won't vote for an override under any circumstances.
Time: 1 minute, 18 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 10 - How do parents get a say on FHS cuts? Ogden, Cafasso respond (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - Would students or parents have a chance to dialog with whomever on what cuts would be made?
A - The parents can always come to the School Committee meeting and voice their concerns. The students are unknowingly participating with the student cost selection data. There are 17 teachers with 85 classes to be cut, there is not much room for wiggle. The music cut is bad for the music students but there are also English teachers, Math teachers, Science teachers, physical education, etc. These are bad choices. There are no good choices with the override. Parents need to express their choices.
A - Cafasso, to re-inforce that participation is open and looked for, if you have ideas we are looking for them. The meetings are open. Citizen comments are always on the agenda. Our email addresses are available.
Time: 6 minutes, 22 seconds
MP3 File
Q - Would students or parents have a chance to dialog with whomever on what cuts would be made?
A - The parents can always come to the School Committee meeting and voice their concerns. The students are unknowingly participating with the student cost selection data. There are 17 teachers with 85 classes to be cut, there is not much room for wiggle. The music cut is bad for the music students but there are also English teachers, Math teachers, Science teachers, physical education, etc. These are bad choices. There are no good choices with the override. Parents need to express their choices.
A - Cafasso, to re-inforce that participation is open and looked for, if you have ideas we are looking for them. The meetings are open. Citizen comments are always on the agenda. Our email addresses are available.
Time: 6 minutes, 22 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 9 - Arlington plan? Feeley responds (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - What about something like the Arlington plan? Do you think it would be wise to do that?
A - Feeley, a committee is being formed now that would look at that process.
Time: 1 minute, 32 seconds
MP3 File
Q - What about something like the Arlington plan? Do you think it would be wise to do that?
A - Feeley, a committee is being formed now that would look at that process.
Time: 1 minute, 32 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 8 - Ogden, Whalen also respond (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
A - Ogden, we are looking for other sources. The parent groups provide funding each year. The Franklin Education Foundation contributes approx. $20,000 per year. Working with a lawyer to set up an endowment. Looking at advertising revenue.
A - Whalen, he is a financial analyst by trade, it is impossible to continue to delivery high quality services at the low tax rate. Goal would be more near the median and not near the bottom.
Time: 3 minutes, 22 seconds
MP3 File
A - Ogden, we are looking for other sources. The parent groups provide funding each year. The Franklin Education Foundation contributes approx. $20,000 per year. Working with a lawyer to set up an endowment. Looking at advertising revenue.
A - Whalen, he is a financial analyst by trade, it is impossible to continue to delivery high quality services at the low tax rate. Goal would be more near the median and not near the bottom.
Time: 3 minutes, 22 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 8 - Will there be continuous overrides? Nutting (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - Father comes back appreciating the comment on the chorus. If there is a scale, where are we on the scale? Will there be continuous overrides? And we haven't even talked about the high school problem.
A - Nutting, Franklin gives a high quality service for a low cost. By any standard, we provide more or better service for less dollars. Overrides will not go away. Until the state and the citizens decide that there needs to be another way, it won't go away but it will not be every year. Most of the requirements are out of our control. Regionalization is an option but it will take a lot of pain.
Time: 4 minutes, 25 seconds
MP3 File
Q - Father comes back appreciating the comment on the chorus. If there is a scale, where are we on the scale? Will there be continuous overrides? And we haven't even talked about the high school problem.
A - Nutting, Franklin gives a high quality service for a low cost. By any standard, we provide more or better service for less dollars. Overrides will not go away. Until the state and the citizens decide that there needs to be another way, it won't go away but it will not be every year. Most of the requirements are out of our control. Regionalization is an option but it will take a lot of pain.
Time: 4 minutes, 25 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A - Student comment on cutting Chorus (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Comment from a high school student regarding cut of chorus at the high school.
Time: 1 minute, 33 seconds
MP3 File
Comment from a high school student regarding cut of chorus at the high school.
Time: 1 minute, 33 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 7 - How does the facility consolidation effect the school budget? Feeley (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - Would like to ask the Council to address the consolidation of facilities? In a time when the schools are in need, taking the money away from the schools.
A - Feeley, the Council took the corresponding dollars and responsibility (associated expenses) were taken away at the same time.
Time: 1 minute, 41 seconds
MP3 File
Q - Would like to ask the Council to address the consolidation of facilities? In a time when the schools are in need, taking the money away from the schools.
A - Feeley, the Council took the corresponding dollars and responsibility (associated expenses) were taken away at the same time.
Time: 1 minute, 41 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 6 - "emergency repair and replacement fund" Nutting, Doak, Zollo respond (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - What about the "emergency repair and replacement fund"? Can we dip into that?
A - Nutting, there is a minimal cost to the interest. The overall factor is that 4M on an annual budget of 100M is not a lot of cushion. It is not a lot of money in a savings account for a good business. it is similar to our debt. Our debt is going down next year to less than 3%. we are looking to continually reinvest an appropriate amount over time.
A - Doak, over the years from the power plant settlement we have benefited that we did not need to use the money for which it had been set aside to mitigate the power plant.
A - Zollo, to address another myth, 4500-5000 per year in taxes, three children in school, the Zollos are receiving a subsidy for the school education. K-12, would amount to a 275,000 subsidy. You never pay the town back to pay for your children to go through the school system. The value that the average citizen receives is great.
Time: 6 minutes, 47 seconds
MP3 File
Q - What about the "emergency repair and replacement fund"? Can we dip into that?
A - Nutting, there is a minimal cost to the interest. The overall factor is that 4M on an annual budget of 100M is not a lot of cushion. It is not a lot of money in a savings account for a good business. it is similar to our debt. Our debt is going down next year to less than 3%. we are looking to continually reinvest an appropriate amount over time.
A - Doak, over the years from the power plant settlement we have benefited that we did not need to use the money for which it had been set aside to mitigate the power plant.
A - Zollo, to address another myth, 4500-5000 per year in taxes, three children in school, the Zollos are receiving a subsidy for the school education. K-12, would amount to a 275,000 subsidy. You never pay the town back to pay for your children to go through the school system. The value that the average citizen receives is great.
Time: 6 minutes, 47 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 5 - replace older teachers with younger ones? Nutting, Ogden respond (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - Teacher rates have a greater disparity, any chance of getting some of the older teachers to leave and replaced with younger less experienced teachers?
A - Nutting, no, that kind of program is authorized at the state level. It has been done twice in the last twenty years.
A - Ogden, new teachers are cheaper overall early on but year to year are more expensive
Time: 2 minutes, 34 seconds
MP3 File
Q - Teacher rates have a greater disparity, any chance of getting some of the older teachers to leave and replaced with younger less experienced teachers?
A - Nutting, no, that kind of program is authorized at the state level. It has been done twice in the last twenty years.
A - Ogden, new teachers are cheaper overall early on but year to year are more expensive
Time: 2 minutes, 34 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 4 - Other revenue sources? Closing Davis Thayer? Nutting, Ogden respond (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - What about other revenue sources. Mother of 3 children, one a junior at the high school and facing significant cuts. She has heard of the 4 Corners Building, how will that help? She has also heard about the possible closure of Davis Thayer?
A - Nutting explaining that the 4 Corners Building is a capital revenue and to be used for other capital not for operational expenses. In MA, all tax authority is vested at the state level. Our industrial parks are pretty full. The Council has re-zoned some land and that is still in the process of development.
A - Ogden, referencing the space needs committee whose work is underway. There are the portable classrooms coming to an end of life that will need to either be absorbed or replaced. The school district wants to move cautiously due to problems with re-districting. There are 800 empty residences in town, there are a number of open permits for buildings to come online, there is potential for growth in the school population so closing schools prematurely could create greater problems.
Time: 7 minutes, 18 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 3 - responses continued by Doak, Cafasso (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
A - Doak, picking up on another comment to increase the revenues. We get get a good deal from the industrial and retail establishments. We have tried to foster commercial and industrial growth with smart policies. Council has encouraged good growth over the years and is looking to continue that so the residential taxpayers don't take the whole burden.
A - Cafasso, the school department has made cuts over the years to protect the classroom and to be as efficient as possible.
Time: 3 minutes, 15 seconds
MP3 File
For reference, the Franklin School Departments budget reductions over the years from 2002 to 2009 can be found here
A - Doak, picking up on another comment to increase the revenues. We get get a good deal from the industrial and retail establishments. We have tried to foster commercial and industrial growth with smart policies. Council has encouraged good growth over the years and is looking to continue that so the residential taxpayers don't take the whole burden.
A - Cafasso, the school department has made cuts over the years to protect the classroom and to be as efficient as possible.
Time: 3 minutes, 15 seconds
MP3 File
For reference, the Franklin School Departments budget reductions over the years from 2002 to 2009 can be found here
Q & A 3 - Zollo adds his response, tackling 2 myths (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
A - Zollo, there are certain myths about town government. There is an unrealistic expectation that costs will not go up over time under normal circumstances. The town is the same situation as the schools. The Police, Fire and DPW are underfunded. We are getting a great deal. If we didn't build the Senior Center and the Fire Station we would not be in this situation. That is incorrect. Those are capital expenses and can't be used to cover the operational expenses. There are many myths that are getting perpetuated and we need to correct them.
Time: 4 minutes, 11 seconds
MP3 File
A - Zollo, there are certain myths about town government. There is an unrealistic expectation that costs will not go up over time under normal circumstances. The town is the same situation as the schools. The Police, Fire and DPW are underfunded. We are getting a great deal. If we didn't build the Senior Center and the Fire Station we would not be in this situation. That is incorrect. Those are capital expenses and can't be used to cover the operational expenses. There are many myths that are getting perpetuated and we need to correct them.
Time: 4 minutes, 11 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 3 - Are we looking at all expenses; Ogden replies (audio
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - Been here for 4 years, 3 kids in school, came here because of the schools. If we have the override, I can afford to pay it because I have 3 kids. But are we looking at all the other expenses. Are we in line? Are we looking to increase revenues?
A - Ogden, speaking to the cost control measures mentions the teacher contract with a 3-year settlement for 6% in a time when other contracts were coming at 9-11%. They negotiate long term energy contracts. They are looking at other kinds of expenses like that to leverage and reduce costs.
Time: 5 minutes, 46 seconds
MP3 File
Q - Been here for 4 years, 3 kids in school, came here because of the schools. If we have the override, I can afford to pay it because I have 3 kids. But are we looking at all the other expenses. Are we in line? Are we looking to increase revenues?
A - Ogden, speaking to the cost control measures mentions the teacher contract with a 3-year settlement for 6% in a time when other contracts were coming at 9-11%. They negotiate long term energy contracts. They are looking at other kinds of expenses like that to leverage and reduce costs.
Time: 5 minutes, 46 seconds
MP3 File
Q & A 2 - Question on next year, Roy, Nutting respond (audio)
From the Franklin Override Information Forum coordinated by the Joint Parent Communication Councils and held on Wednesday, 5/28/08.
Q - Brett Feldman, Finance Committee member but speaking on his own behalf. Can you explain what next year will look like after the override if it passes?
A - Jeff Roy, we have settled contracts and will probably be in the 3-4 million increase range which is what we were looking for this year.
A - Nutting, suggesting that this is the bottom of this fiscal scenario we should be in a better position next year. Excise tax and other revenue sources declined.
Time: 3 minutes, 42 seconds
MP3 File
Q - Brett Feldman, Finance Committee member but speaking on his own behalf. Can you explain what next year will look like after the override if it passes?
A - Jeff Roy, we have settled contracts and will probably be in the 3-4 million increase range which is what we were looking for this year.
A - Nutting, suggesting that this is the bottom of this fiscal scenario we should be in a better position next year. Excise tax and other revenue sources declined.
Time: 3 minutes, 42 seconds
MP3 File
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