Jeff: state aid will be very lean next year
Jim: they might also repeal the income tax
Jeff: that would be a disaster and relatively easier to deal with
Doug: if level service would lead us on a trajectory that would endanger us with accreditation
Wayne: we are already on probation for the high school facility, we are notifying them of the teacher cuts which may change that status. The school committee was notified of this.
Jim: come from with a level service budget beginning
Doug: two options, really. one with level service, two what would we propose to cut to maintain the budget within the level allowed.
Jeff: this is the potential menu, one or more of these scenarios will get us to the number
Gwynne: if you cut some number from roads, what does that mean for me. If you could say that the work on Daniels instead of being completed in 2009 would be completed in 2012, that might be more meaningful. That is just an example.
Doug: even loosing 17 teachers tells most folks nothing
Jeff: we had 50 police officers in 2001 and we have 42 today. Did you see that? It is really hard to show that to the average citizens.
Wayne: in 2002 I had 500 teachers, this year we have 430 with 350 more students. This is more easily shown
Rebecca: it would be easier to tell the school story, everyone either has someone in the schools or knows someone with one in the schools. this is a family town
Wayne: only 33% of the households have children in the school system
Doug: it has to be more than numbers on paper, it has to be the "so what does it matter"
Jeff: I have asked the department heads for that, it doesn't need to be much but it needs to be at least a bullet item
Gwynne: are there examples from other towns where there were cuts in police and fire and the crime rate rose, etc.
Deb: I don't know that I need to justify every police or fire person when it is a town problem.
Doug: maybe some standard, in response time for police and fire; accreditation for the schools, etc. and by those standards, the metrics could be shown where Franklin relates. What are the metrics we could use?
Jeff: there is no long term answer, there is either more taxes or less services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Every once in a while we may skip a year of the Legislature is generous. There is a minimum level of education required by the law. If you want to maintain the minimum, then other services will be cut to maintain the level.
Deb: some solutions may come out of this, that I my hope
Steve: I hope so
Deb: why can't the inventory of the school library books be counted as part of the town library? if it requires major changes, where do we go to start that process.
Shannon Zollo arrived late
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Live reporting - process discussion
Present:
Doug Hardesty, Steve Whalen, Rebecca Cameron, Deb Bartlett, Jim Roche, Gwynne Wilschek, Shannon Zollo (late)
Not Present:
Matt Kelly, Roberta Trahan
Adjunct members present:
Jeff Nutting, Wayne Ogden
Discussion on charter for group.
Discussion on the minutes for meetings of June 11, July 10, August 7.
Motion made an approved by unanimous vote to accept minutes.
Discussion on how to gather information on the budget
Jeff is meeting with the Town department head next week to finalize their planning contribution to the discussion. They are developing a model with historical numbers and forecasts based upon known items and capital requirements.
Jim suggested 2 departments per meeting and 1 for the school department
starting with the current budget with additional color explanation with some outlook
A modest increase for me maybe different than someone else would be looking at
The school department took the hit this year that no other Town departments did.
Jeff: need to look at staff assumptions, wage assumptions, student population, High School renovate or replacement, energy assumptions... these type of items need to be looked at
Everyone tends to forget that the schools lost 20 plus positions and the override passed.
The library had a budget several years ago of 900,000. This year they are at 700,000.
Wayne: can provide the information according to the questionnaire Jeff sent to the department heads. I would refer to get a little more guidance to bring the appropriate info to the table.
Steve: I can appreciate that your situation is different and maybe you do need a little more guidance.
Jeff: you need at least a baseline for last year and this year, then the committee can build upon that the assumptions and models to determine what it would look like.
Rebecca: Within 2 1/2, there is very little room.
Jeff: if you stay within the 2 1/2, we need to keep it simple and outline what it would take to stay within.
Rebecca: people don't understand what the details are.
Steve: how do we bridge the gap to get a good discussion when you bring the numbers to the table
Deb: I don't want anyone to bring forth a budget number that would further degrade the level of town services.
Doug: we don't have to make the decision, we need to outline the range of options upon which someone can make a decision
Doug Hardesty, Steve Whalen, Rebecca Cameron, Deb Bartlett, Jim Roche, Gwynne Wilschek, Shannon Zollo (late)
Not Present:
Matt Kelly, Roberta Trahan
Adjunct members present:
Jeff Nutting, Wayne Ogden
Discussion on charter for group.
Discussion on the minutes for meetings of June 11, July 10, August 7.
Motion made an approved by unanimous vote to accept minutes.
Discussion on how to gather information on the budget
Jeff is meeting with the Town department head next week to finalize their planning contribution to the discussion. They are developing a model with historical numbers and forecasts based upon known items and capital requirements.
Jim suggested 2 departments per meeting and 1 for the school department
starting with the current budget with additional color explanation with some outlook
A modest increase for me maybe different than someone else would be looking at
The school department took the hit this year that no other Town departments did.
Jeff: need to look at staff assumptions, wage assumptions, student population, High School renovate or replacement, energy assumptions... these type of items need to be looked at
Everyone tends to forget that the schools lost 20 plus positions and the override passed.
The library had a budget several years ago of 900,000. This year they are at 700,000.
Wayne: can provide the information according to the questionnaire Jeff sent to the department heads. I would refer to get a little more guidance to bring the appropriate info to the table.
Steve: I can appreciate that your situation is different and maybe you do need a little more guidance.
Jeff: you need at least a baseline for last year and this year, then the committee can build upon that the assumptions and models to determine what it would look like.
Rebecca: Within 2 1/2, there is very little room.
Jeff: if you stay within the 2 1/2, we need to keep it simple and outline what it would take to stay within.
Rebecca: people don't understand what the details are.
Steve: how do we bridge the gap to get a good discussion when you bring the numbers to the table
Deb: I don't want anyone to bring forth a budget number that would further degrade the level of town services.
Doug: we don't have to make the decision, we need to outline the range of options upon which someone can make a decision
Town Council Mtg Summary - 9/3/08
The summary of reports concerning the Town Council meeting of 9/3/08
TOWN COUNCIL - Agenda - 9/3/08
- Live reporting - Administrators report, Councilor ...
- Live reporting - Parking study
- Live reporting - presentation on DP&CD
- Live reporting - Zoning bylaw
- Live reporting - rezoning bylaw moved to 2nd Readi...
- Live reporting - Resolutions approved
- Live reporting - Street opening bylaw
- Live reporting - Town Council - 9/3/08
TOWN COUNCIL - Agenda - 9/3/08
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Live reporting - Administrators report, Councilor comments
Nutting - provided an update on the real story at the Horace Mann complex, a leak not an explosion caused the problem.
Making steady progress on the Norfolk water issue, hopefully we'll get a check at the cut off date so hopefully all things will end well.
Reviewed cell phone usage, reduced minutes by over 6,000 per month.
Old business:
Doak - web site
Nutting - next meeting
New business:
Bartlett - ridership increase if GATRA makes the accomodations
Councilor Comments:
Whalen - Supt resignation, got a wide variety of responses from the town residents. I worked closely with him over the previous months on the override campaigns. When I read his resignation, I was sympathetic. When you deny that person the resources to pursue their talent and interests, then this is not a surprise. I hope we figure out a way to reverse course.
Mason - On the Supt resignation since it was brought up, basing his resignation on the belief that the citizens have backed away from education is stupid and an insult. I don't know of a Franklin voter who voted no intentionally to give up on education.
Pfeffer - also had some negative comments on the resignation
Making steady progress on the Norfolk water issue, hopefully we'll get a check at the cut off date so hopefully all things will end well.
Reviewed cell phone usage, reduced minutes by over 6,000 per month.
Old business:
Doak - web site
Nutting - next meeting
New business:
Bartlett - ridership increase if GATRA makes the accomodations
Councilor Comments:
Whalen - Supt resignation, got a wide variety of responses from the town residents. I worked closely with him over the previous months on the override campaigns. When I read his resignation, I was sympathetic. When you deny that person the resources to pursue their talent and interests, then this is not a surprise. I hope we figure out a way to reverse course.
Mason - On the Supt resignation since it was brought up, basing his resignation on the belief that the citizens have backed away from education is stupid and an insult. I don't know of a Franklin voter who voted no intentionally to give up on education.
Pfeffer - also had some negative comments on the resignation
Live reporting - Parking study
2,088 striped parking spaces available
additional unstriped 2 hour parking spaced
77,8 believe there are problems with parking
There is a perception that there are problems when with a little walk there are available spaces available. Can we increase the spots in specific areas? How else can we help to address the perception?
Rarely are more than 80% of the metered spaces utilized.
Bartlett - is there still discussion amongst the businesses to improve the walking within the downtown?
Taberner - while there was good discussion before, I am not sure that has been a current discussion. There is no consensus on a resolution to parking.
Whalen - There is good news on the availability of spaces. It may just be an awareness campaign that is needed.
Taberner - if the town does go down the road of bricks and mortar we should only go forward with businesses as a partnership to share the expense.
additional unstriped 2 hour parking spaced
77,8 believe there are problems with parking
There is a perception that there are problems when with a little walk there are available spaces available. Can we increase the spots in specific areas? How else can we help to address the perception?
Rarely are more than 80% of the metered spaces utilized.
Bartlett - is there still discussion amongst the businesses to improve the walking within the downtown?
Taberner - while there was good discussion before, I am not sure that has been a current discussion. There is no consensus on a resolution to parking.
Whalen - There is good news on the availability of spaces. It may just be an awareness campaign that is needed.
Taberner - if the town does go down the road of bricks and mortar we should only go forward with businesses as a partnership to share the expense.
Live reporting - presentation on DP&CD
Brian Taberner, Director of Department of Planning and Community Development
Beth Dalhstrom also present at the meeting
Open space and recreation plan due for public review in October 2008
Affordable Housing plan due for 2010
Zoning bylaws
Commonwealth Capital
Avg score 76.5, Franklin score 102. Currently only 11 communities have a higher score
Doak - What are the top things that are driving that score?
Taberner - an aggressive and proactive policy development is driving that, will be tougher to get a hig score each year as we go forward. It looks at what you are doing now, not what you did before.
Taberner - yes, not directly but yes
Nutting - yes, declines in education will cause property values to decline
Nu-Style Property, Grove St
Town owned properties
working on unresolved parcels and tax title properties
Four Corners: just about ready to go to the Planning Board and begin that process
Business outreach - don't have the resources to go out and attract specific businesses to Franklin. No longer have the Downtown Manager position to do this.
Industrial zone - substantial opporuntity
900,000 sq ft either empty or underutilized
We want to identify and work with the owners to get the property occupied and generating more revenue than it was before.
Downtown Revitilization plan
Public transit - EMC interested, meeting with GATRA later this month to explore options
Beth Dalhstrom also present at the meeting
Open space and recreation plan due for public review in October 2008
Affordable Housing plan due for 2010
Zoning bylaws
- Non-conforming use bylaw due to Town Council in 2-4 weeks
- Sign Bylaw revisions to follow
- Inclusionary bylaw to follow
Commonwealth Capital
Avg score 76.5, Franklin score 102. Currently only 11 communities have a higher score
Doak - What are the top things that are driving that score?
Taberner - an aggressive and proactive policy development is driving that, will be tougher to get a hig score each year as we go forward. It looks at what you are doing now, not what you did before.
Create a community where entrepreneurs will want to settle and raise their familiesBartlett - given the recent major layoffs, will that pattern affect this?
Taberner - yes, not directly but yes
Nutting - yes, declines in education will cause property values to decline
Nu-Style Property, Grove St
- may get a brownfields grant to help in this
Town owned properties
working on unresolved parcels and tax title properties
Four Corners: just about ready to go to the Planning Board and begin that process
Business outreach - don't have the resources to go out and attract specific businesses to Franklin. No longer have the Downtown Manager position to do this.
Industrial zone - substantial opporuntity
900,000 sq ft either empty or underutilized
We want to identify and work with the owners to get the property occupied and generating more revenue than it was before.
Downtown Revitilization plan
- continue to work with the Downtown Partnership
- establish an image and identiy
- Promote Franklin as a Historic Commercial District
- Create and promote Cultural Corridor including a historic walking trail
Public transit - EMC interested, meeting with GATRA later this month to explore options
Live reporting - Zoning bylaw
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5:Zoning Map: Business to Commercial II- 1st
resumed after recess
----------
Vallee - the business zoning is already set for allowing a number of items
Doak - I worry about things going bad and something else coming in with the change and we wouldn't be able to stop it.
Taberner - this is the ideal zoning for that area.
Nutting - Condos are a good thing for the town. One where there were 1200 residents and 22 students was a favorable deal for the town.
Approved for second reading (unanimous)
Live reporting - rezoning bylaw moved to 2nd Reading
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5:Zoning Map: Business to Commercial II- 1st Reading
Vallee - I won't for that bylaw until they tell me what they are going to do with that.
Nutting - I heard that they are attempting to get a car dealership in there.
Doak - I share Vallee's concern. I don't think we should change this to open an opportunity for housing or a car dealership.
Nutting - intent is to take a piece of property that does not pay taxes and turn it into a paying property.
(two minute recess)
Live reporting - Resolutions approved
- Resolution 08-56: Establishing an Economic Opportunity Area
- Resolution 08-57: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Foundation tax collection does not change, the proposal is to provide a tax reduction for the improvement. With the improvements come 200 manufacturing jobs being relocated here from Holliston and RI.
By doing so, the owner would also get state tax credit. If he doesn't do the investment, he doesn't get the tax break.
Approved - unanimously
Live reporting - Street opening bylaw
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS –
- Street Opening Bylaw – Gas Conversions
Nutting - No, that is a slippery slope.
Whalen - I disagree, I think we are in unchartered waters here. The spot market for home heating and gas prices are still higher than they have been. Anything that we, the Town Council, can do to help our citizens get through this period we should.
Brutus - In an emergency, it is a formality to provide a permit where there is a gas leak. It is between the owner and the gas company (or other utlity company) to repave the street.
Whalen - they are digging up Charles River Dr, what is that for?
Brutus - Verizon is putting in FIOS there. It is permissible because of the age of the road.
Vallee - We have to protect the roads. I helped work this bylaw. It needs to be tightened.
Brutus - the builder had the option to tie in when the road was being done. Others in the development tied in at that time. It is unfortunate that he happened to buy into the property after the opportunty came and went.
Bartlett - How does a road degrade?
Brutus - good recap of the life of a road. (will do more justice with the recording of this later).
Bartlett - What did Maple St cost us?
Brutus - About $350,000 for the top, it was another about 500,000 for the water lines.
Pfeffer - how much was the overlay on Summer St?
Brutus - about $47,000 for that portion.
Zollo - How many requests of this type have come in during the past year?
Brutus - About a couple of dozen.
Vallee - I didn't think we paid that?
Brutus - no it was a betterment fee. The Councilor asked how much it cost and it did cost that amount. We did not pay it.
Live reporting - Town Council - 9/3/08
Councilors Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak, and Zollo present
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 9, July 23, August 6,
minutes approved -
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 - Harvest Festival - rain date Sep 28th
2 - Rep Vallee has sent Mr Campbell to represent his office tonight and will have someone at each future Council meeting
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
recognition to Joe McGann and Ron Higgenbottom for installation of grab bars for elderly residents in Franklin
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Bottle & Can Drive - FHS - 9/6/08
Take your bottles and cans to the High School parking lot and help out the Hockey Team!
TOWN COUNCIL - Agenda - 9/3/08
FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL
September 3, 2008
7:00 PM
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 9, July 23, August 6,
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS –
- Street Opening Bylaw – Gas Conversions
- Department of Planning & Community Development – Bryan Taberner – Downtown Parking, DPCD Update
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
- Resolution 08-56: Establishing an Economic Opportunity Area
- Resolution 08-57: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5:Zoning Map: Business to Commercial II- 1st 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
Link to the agenda on the Town page here
Link to the package on the Town page here
In the News - Plain St fire, schools re-open
Franklin woman escapes blaze
A napping woman escaped her second-story Plain Street apartment without injury yesterday afternoon, awoken by fire alarms and fleeing as her house filled with smoke and flames, officials said. |
Fire caused by match or cigarette
Fire Chief Gary McCarraher Tuesday, Aug. 2, announced the two-alarm blaze that roared through the home at 185 Plain St. Monday was accidental, caused by careless disposal of smoking materials. |
Franklin schools to reopen after pipe explosion
|
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Primary Election - 9/16/08
For additional information on the Primary Election coming up two week from today -> Tuesday, 9/16/08 visit the Secretary of State web page here
FM #11 - School Committee 8/26/08
Another in a series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin, MA. This one focusing on the School Committee meeting of 8/26/08 and then the news of Supt Wayne Ogden's resignation.
Time: 40 minutes, 6 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes
Music intro
My intro
FM #11
From the School Committee meeting on Tuesday 8/26/08, there were a few items of real interest. There are a number of items on the agenda and respectfully while all of them are important these are the most important. The most significant item of all for the week occurred after the public portion of the meeting but we’ll get to that in due course.
Pay-to-Ride
Miriam Goodman and Maureen Sabolinski provided an update on the pay-to-ride program. Miriam also had an analysis (copy of the one pager provided) of pay-to-ride for the past four years and an outlook for this school year 2008-2009.
Late bus
Based upon the decline in enrollment Supt Wayne Ogden recommended keeping with the failed override plan of cutting the late bus. It was not included in the budget unless the override had passed so no additional action was required of the School Committee on the recommendation. There was additional discussion primarily from Ed Cafasso to find the “short money” and keep the bus running. There was not additional support for this idea across the committee. The override failed hence no late bus.
FHS Scheduling problem
The High School encountered a scheduling problem. After cutting the teachers and the classes associated with the override failure, the schedule came up with a hole were approx. 200 students had an empty period. As state last forbids study halls, they played with a couple of options. One additional teacher (in English) resigned in early August and backfilling that position with another English teacher did not provide coverage for the schedule. Backfilling the English teacher with a music teacher did cover the hole so they did hire a music teacher.
The major news of the week occurred after the public portion of the School Committee meeting ended. As you have no doubt heard by now, Supt Wayne Ogden submitted his resignation effective June 30, 2009. To those who call him a quitter, he is hardly that. A quitter would have provided two weeks or less notice and gone out the door. Wayne took the far more courageous option of providing significant notice to the School Committee in order for them to start to look for a replacement, while he continued in his role running the school department.
Yes, it is a disappointment but Franklin voters have no one to blame but themselves. The majority of those who came out to vote on the override defeated the increase to provide a level service budget to the schools. The real issue lies with the many, many voters who did not come out to vote at all. As I have mentioned previously, the quick numbers on the override showed that 500 voters changed their vote from 2007 to 2008 and voted NO. An additional 1000 voters who came out in 2007 to vote Yes, simply did not show up.
We do have tough time ahead of us. We need to work together. We need to make our presence felt at each and every school committee meeting and town council meeting.
Don’t just sit there.
Please get up and do something.
If you need inspiration, view the Do You Believe video posted from YouTube on Franklin Matters on 8/30/08.
The Ben Franklin quote comes from the following website:http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Benjamin_Franklin/31
-----------------
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
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
Time: 40 minutes, 6 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes
Music intro
My intro
FM #11
From the School Committee meeting on Tuesday 8/26/08, there were a few items of real interest. There are a number of items on the agenda and respectfully while all of them are important these are the most important. The most significant item of all for the week occurred after the public portion of the meeting but we’ll get to that in due course.
If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth reading or do things worth the writing. Benjamin Franklin
Pay-to-Ride
Miriam Goodman and Maureen Sabolinski provided an update on the pay-to-ride program. Miriam also had an analysis (copy of the one pager provided) of pay-to-ride for the past four years and an outlook for this school year 2008-2009.
Late bus
Based upon the decline in enrollment Supt Wayne Ogden recommended keeping with the failed override plan of cutting the late bus. It was not included in the budget unless the override had passed so no additional action was required of the School Committee on the recommendation. There was additional discussion primarily from Ed Cafasso to find the “short money” and keep the bus running. There was not additional support for this idea across the committee. The override failed hence no late bus.
FHS Scheduling problem
The High School encountered a scheduling problem. After cutting the teachers and the classes associated with the override failure, the schedule came up with a hole were approx. 200 students had an empty period. As state last forbids study halls, they played with a couple of options. One additional teacher (in English) resigned in early August and backfilling that position with another English teacher did not provide coverage for the schedule. Backfilling the English teacher with a music teacher did cover the hole so they did hire a music teacher.
The major news of the week occurred after the public portion of the School Committee meeting ended. As you have no doubt heard by now, Supt Wayne Ogden submitted his resignation effective June 30, 2009. To those who call him a quitter, he is hardly that. A quitter would have provided two weeks or less notice and gone out the door. Wayne took the far more courageous option of providing significant notice to the School Committee in order for them to start to look for a replacement, while he continued in his role running the school department.
Yes, it is a disappointment but Franklin voters have no one to blame but themselves. The majority of those who came out to vote on the override defeated the increase to provide a level service budget to the schools. The real issue lies with the many, many voters who did not come out to vote at all. As I have mentioned previously, the quick numbers on the override showed that 500 voters changed their vote from 2007 to 2008 and voted NO. An additional 1000 voters who came out in 2007 to vote Yes, simply did not show up.
We do have tough time ahead of us. We need to work together. We need to make our presence felt at each and every school committee meeting and town council meeting.
Don’t just sit there.
Please get up and do something.
If you need inspiration, view the Do You Believe video posted from YouTube on Franklin Matters on 8/30/08.
The Ben Franklin quote comes from the following website:http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Benjamin_Franklin/31
-----------------
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
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
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