A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 16, 2011
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS - Conservation Commission
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Longhorn Steakhouse – Alteration of Premises
Joe’s American Bar & Grill – Transfer of License
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS – Auditor’s Report
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION:
1. Resolution 11-08: Report of Franklin Town Council, Re: Advisability of Requiring Removal of Poles and Overhead Structures Along Main Street From its Intersection with East Central Street to Its Intersection with Depot Street
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
Franklin, MA
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Let the sun shine!
We have one entry thus far with multiple questions around substitute pay:
This query was sent to School Administration late Friday. With the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, I would expect to have an answer posted no later than Wednesday.
If you have a question on how Franklin spends its money, ask and we'll find out. The form to ask your question can be found at the top of the center column or by following this link.
More about Sunshine Week - a national initiative to highlight open government, freedom of information, and transparency can be found here.
Franklin, MA
How much total pay is made to substitute techers. I was surprised to see the number of substitue people and some of the amounts are pretty high. Are teachers paid straight salary? How is leave handled? Is excessive teachers absence accounted for?
This query was sent to School Administration late Friday. With the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, I would expect to have an answer posted no later than Wednesday.
If you have a question on how Franklin spends its money, ask and we'll find out. The form to ask your question can be found at the top of the center column or by following this link.
More about Sunshine Week - a national initiative to highlight open government, freedom of information, and transparency can be found here.
Franklin, MA
Saturday, March 12, 2011
"ensure greater transparency in government"
To ensure a continued and consistent focus on the Open Meeting Law, Coakley created the Division of Open Government to educate individuals about the law, enforce the law, and act as a readily accessible resource for members of public bodies, members of the public, municipal officials, and the press. The division has focused its efforts on educating members of public bodies and the public at large about the revisions to the OML, establishing a complaint process, and resolving Open Meeting Law complaints.
“The goal of the new law is to promote uniform interpretation of the Open Meeting Law and ensure greater transparency in government,” said Coakley. “As we move forward, we will continue to work with these governmental bodies, news media, and the public to ensure that we reach this shared goal of good governance.”
Read more: In first year, AG's office handled Open Meeting Law complaints, conducted training sessions
Franklin provides a "Visitor's Orientation to Meetings" focused on the Town Council but generally applicable to other committee meetings.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project released a report that showed:
"... government transparency is associated with residents’ feelings of efficacy and empowerment: Those who think their government shares information well are more likely to say that people like them can have an impact on government. It might be the case that signals from government that “we want to be open about what we do” make people think they can take advantage of that openness and influence the way the government operates."This report helps foster the activities that you and I have been taking here. Our engagement on the website, through the weekly and daily newsletters, and on Facebook are helping to encourage Franklin to do more in these areas. Franklin regularly wins an award for for government information sharing but it can still do better. One of the major issues with the budget crisis we face is the lack of trust in the information provided. Increasing the transparency will foster trust.
The full report can be found here:
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/08-Community-Information-Systems.aspx
Franklin, MA
In the News - Fenway, VFW
Franklin men's group hosts program about Fenway
Franklin VFW to celebrate 75 years
"I think for the VFW to succeed we're going to have to take in new members," said member Howard Crawford, 87, who served in the U.S. Army in World War II and Korea. He said he is confident soldiers from the Gulf War and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will become active as they get older.
"When people are returning from war (today), they are consumed with their family and want nothing to do with us. They just want to forget it."
Franklin, MA
Friday, March 11, 2011
Reach Out for Youth and Families
The Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA will be holding a fund raising event at 3 Restaurant on March 22, 2011.
Details can be found in the flyer below. Please RSVP by March 15, 2011.
YMCA Invitation
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document.
Franklin, MA
Reach Out for Youth and Families
Details can be found in the flyer below. Please RSVP by March 15, 2011.
YMCA Invitation
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document.
Franklin, MA
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Citizens against waste
There are folks who complain about the money Franklin spends. This form will enable those Franklin residents identify an item where the expense is questioned.
You ask the question. I'll facilitate to get an answer.
(The collection of questions and answers can be found here)
This should at least get the discussion respectfully focused on facts and details.
The 2010 Annual Report can be found here (PDF)
Other reference links for the FY 2012 Budget can be found here
Franklin, MA
You ask the question. I'll facilitate to get an answer.
(The collection of questions and answers can be found here)
This should at least get the discussion respectfully focused on facts and details.
The 2010 Annual Report can be found here (PDF)
Other reference links for the FY 2012 Budget can be found here
Franklin, MA
Attention: knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, dyers, and anyone curious about fiber crafts
For the fiber crafters amongst us, a good event this weekend at MIT.
You can register via Eventbrite here
The FiberCamp blog with information from last year's event can be found here
Franklin, MA
FiberCamp Boston is a PodCamp like community un-conference for fiber craft enthusiasts including knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, dyers, and anyone curious about fiber crafts. Fibercamp is based on the fact that everyone has something to share and teach. Connect with the community by sharing your passion.More about FiberCamp on their website
You can register via Eventbrite here
The FiberCamp blog with information from last year's event can be found here
Franklin, MA
"It's misinformation that makes barriers to good decisions"
"There are very well-educated, insightful people who say I don't have enough information, so I'm always going to vote no," Chairman Doug Hardesty said. "To me if we can define what the questions are that will really provide a roadmap ... I think Franklin will be better off because you will have a bigger group of people more confident about decision they will make."
In 2009, the committee, which was then composed of members of the Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee, produced a 45-page report that explained how the town was facing a structural budget deficit where annual revenue growth was less than what was required to maintain town services. They projected that, through 2014, expenses would grow faster than revenue by $7 million to $10 million.
The following year, voters rejected a $3 million property tax override.
Graydon Smith, one of the seven residents who comprise this year's committee, noted many residents may assume the town has direct control over costs such as pensions and benefits provided to part-time employees. Instead, those are mostly determined at the state level and are difficult to change.Read more: Franklin financial planners at work again
My notes from the meeting can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/live-reporting-long-range-financial.html
Franklin, MA
Facts At A Glance: Impact of Proposed Federal Budget Cuts on Massachusetts' Residents
|
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 |
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Live reporting - Long Range Financial Planning Committee
Present: Doug Hardesty, Craig DiMarzio, Graydon Smith, Sue Rohrbach, Orrin Bean, John Hogan, Ken Harvey, Tina Powderly, Jeff Nutting (late), Glenn Jones
Absent: Deb Bartlett
Brian Benson, Milford Daily News reporter, in attendance
Motion to approve minutes of Feb 9, Feb 23 meetings. Separate motions, both passed unanimously.
Agenda - to complete the review of the Long Range Financial Planning Report
the final report of the prior committee from last year (PDF)
picking up on page 26
Structural deficit likely to continue
Another item to be added is the proposed EPA regulations (originally to be determined by Dec 2010 but not yet finalized) There are two aspects, one for the M4 permit and one for the private sector with more than 2 acres of impervious coverage.
Key example of the 'known unknowns' - tabled a full update of the regulation and issues around it, point to come back to, for now, just to have it acknowledged as an item
Discussion on prior committee role in making recommendations, they were not part of the charge but were attempted (see page 27 of report link above)
Let's make sure that we can present the facts such that no matter what position one may take, they at least can work from the same set of numbers with confidence.
There is little remaining to be done with efficiencies in Town operations so from the Committee point of view that there is only an increase in revenues or a cut in services.
There is little agreement amongst some aspects of the population on this point however. The point needs to be addressed.
Improve transparency and accessibility remains a key route to success
comparative metrics can make a strong point but they can't be used alone
Do you spend time on new issues, or do spend time working to spread the word on what we have?
A regular question being revisited.
If you show some progress on the major issues, you might have a chance to gain their buy in
Town Council and the citizens, two major stakeholder groups
1 - From the Town Council view, how bad is the budget crisis and what can we do about it?
2 - We can't hold ourselves responsible for making those who are not interested interested. You have also folks who already have their minds made up. Then there are the people on the fence who haven't made up their minds. Those are the ones who we need to focus on.
Override vote in 2010 had 41.7% turnout. 2008 has 40.3%, and 2007 had 47.3%. In 2004 held in Nov, 83.2% turnout failed the override. Situation was different in 2004 compared to the more recent ones. In 2004, the stabilization fund was large and some money was used after the override failed to ameliorate the effect of the vote.
Looking to provide the best most reliable information to the electorate to enable them to make a decision.
Now to do some brain storming on some questions to propose answering withing each area of responsibility.
Where were we, where are we, where are we going?
In what ways can the Town manage its growth?
Do Franklin residents pay a reasonable amount of property taxes? Need to rephrase that as it already has a judgement in the question. Feedback on being under-taxed was underwhelming. What is the relative burden?
Need to have non-judgmental language in all the questions.
Why did I chose Franklin? Taxes, location, schools, house prices were all compelling pieces of the discussion when I came here 12 years ago.
What are relative out of pocket expenses for services? water, sewer, trash, busing... etc.
I know a cynic can attack any information put across. Anyone can raise a 'waste, fraud, and abuse' question without having to back it up.
What is the ultimate goal, is the report just an update or will it look different?
Come up with the list of the key questions and then check to see if the Town leaders agree on these.
poll the council on the questions they would like answered? Poll at least some of the general public to gather some input from them. It will be a sample but should be something to work with.
What are the top 3 or 4 legislative items that would help the town benefit from a budget stand point?
We would have something to hand to Vallee, Spilka and Ross to go work
We could hand to the citizens the listing and say we can do only so much now and do more when these items are changed.
Bringing meeting to close. Continue to work on your own questions, send to Doug. He will compile and bring to the group for the next meeting to review/discuss the listing.
Need to balance the two constituents (Town Council and citizens) if we do one and not the other, then we'll not be providing enough information to make an informed decision.
One of the benefits of the way the committee is comprised is that we have a range of exposure to Town government and we want to leverage that in particular to ask fresh questions, simple or complex.
Franklin, MA
Absent: Deb Bartlett
Brian Benson, Milford Daily News reporter, in attendance
Motion to approve minutes of Feb 9, Feb 23 meetings. Separate motions, both passed unanimously.
Agenda - to complete the review of the Long Range Financial Planning Report
the final report of the prior committee from last year (PDF)
picking up on page 26
Structural deficit likely to continue
Another item to be added is the proposed EPA regulations (originally to be determined by Dec 2010 but not yet finalized) There are two aspects, one for the M4 permit and one for the private sector with more than 2 acres of impervious coverage.
Key example of the 'known unknowns' - tabled a full update of the regulation and issues around it, point to come back to, for now, just to have it acknowledged as an item
Discussion on prior committee role in making recommendations, they were not part of the charge but were attempted (see page 27 of report link above)
Let's make sure that we can present the facts such that no matter what position one may take, they at least can work from the same set of numbers with confidence.
There is little remaining to be done with efficiencies in Town operations so from the Committee point of view that there is only an increase in revenues or a cut in services.
There is little agreement amongst some aspects of the population on this point however. The point needs to be addressed.
Improve transparency and accessibility remains a key route to success
comparative metrics can make a strong point but they can't be used alone
Do you spend time on new issues, or do spend time working to spread the word on what we have?
A regular question being revisited.
If you show some progress on the major issues, you might have a chance to gain their buy in
Town Council and the citizens, two major stakeholder groups
1 - From the Town Council view, how bad is the budget crisis and what can we do about it?
2 - We can't hold ourselves responsible for making those who are not interested interested. You have also folks who already have their minds made up. Then there are the people on the fence who haven't made up their minds. Those are the ones who we need to focus on.
Override vote in 2010 had 41.7% turnout. 2008 has 40.3%, and 2007 had 47.3%. In 2004 held in Nov, 83.2% turnout failed the override. Situation was different in 2004 compared to the more recent ones. In 2004, the stabilization fund was large and some money was used after the override failed to ameliorate the effect of the vote.
Looking to provide the best most reliable information to the electorate to enable them to make a decision.
Now to do some brain storming on some questions to propose answering withing each area of responsibility.
Where were we, where are we, where are we going?
In what ways can the Town manage its growth?
Do Franklin residents pay a reasonable amount of property taxes? Need to rephrase that as it already has a judgement in the question. Feedback on being under-taxed was underwhelming. What is the relative burden?
Need to have non-judgmental language in all the questions.
Why did I chose Franklin? Taxes, location, schools, house prices were all compelling pieces of the discussion when I came here 12 years ago.
What are relative out of pocket expenses for services? water, sewer, trash, busing... etc.
I know a cynic can attack any information put across. Anyone can raise a 'waste, fraud, and abuse' question without having to back it up.
What is the ultimate goal, is the report just an update or will it look different?
Come up with the list of the key questions and then check to see if the Town leaders agree on these.
poll the council on the questions they would like answered? Poll at least some of the general public to gather some input from them. It will be a sample but should be something to work with.
What are the top 3 or 4 legislative items that would help the town benefit from a budget stand point?
We would have something to hand to Vallee, Spilka and Ross to go work
We could hand to the citizens the listing and say we can do only so much now and do more when these items are changed.
Bringing meeting to close. Continue to work on your own questions, send to Doug. He will compile and bring to the group for the next meeting to review/discuss the listing.
Need to balance the two constituents (Town Council and citizens) if we do one and not the other, then we'll not be providing enough information to make an informed decision.
One of the benefits of the way the committee is comprised is that we have a range of exposure to Town government and we want to leverage that in particular to ask fresh questions, simple or complex.
Franklin, MA
Asparagus - a stalk-umentary
With food on the radar, found this 'stalk-umentary' on asparagus insightful. Michigan farmers facing foreign competition due to US drug policies and foreign aid. This raises some good questions.
Watch more free documentaries
There are other documentary films like this from SnagFilms.
Franklin, MA
Watch more free documentaries
There are other documentary films like this from SnagFilms.
Franklin, MA
"concerned about keeping costs in check"
"It's 10 years old and 10 years ago it was state of the art," Rapoza said of the current website. "We want to give our teachers more abilities. We have hundreds of teachers and I want them all to have a web presence."
All teachers can create a page on the current website, which is hosted on the district's servers and was designed by a volunteer. But posting requires some knowledge of HTML coding and experimentation to ensure information appears correctly. Many teachers have also requested the ability to upload videos, Rapoza said.
Rapoza hopes a new website, which will be hosted by an outside company, will also be more searchable. Internet users have become accustomed to using Google or other search engines, but the current website relies on navigation trees, forcing people to browse through several layers of pages to find information, he said.
"The Web overall has changed," Rapoza said. "People are looking for something differently. ... They want to see a big fat search page. The information is there. We just need to change with the times."Read more: Franklin schools plan to redo website
Franklin, MA
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Snow art
My, what a nice mushroom you have sprouting!
Nature is wonderful!
I like this one with the snow melt. If you look closely, the lens caught several water drops suspended in act of falling.
I am not sorry to see the snow leave us. It hung around long enough.
Franklin, MA
Nature is wonderful!
I like this one with the snow melt. If you look closely, the lens caught several water drops suspended in act of falling.
I am not sorry to see the snow leave us. It hung around long enough.
Franklin, MA
Two new reports examine data on public employee compensation, pension costs
|
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 |
"We call him the Energizer Bunny"
"The timing is just mind-boggling," Cusson, 43, said yesterday recalling the Presidents Day incident. "I just feel like God had me there at the exact right time."
If Cusson hadn't gotten the milk, she would have arrived five minutes earlier, been occupied helping her grandmother and may not have noticed Thornhill's internal defibrillator had been activated.
The machine, which goes into action when a person has a heart attack or irregular heartbeat, went off at least three times, attempting to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm.
However, the defibrillator was unable to get his heart working properly again and he had a heart attack, Cusson said.
"Had I been a few steps further away, I might not have heard him," said Cusson, who also lives in Franklin and is a nursing student at MassBay Community College in Framingham. "I called 911. ... His eyes started to roll back. And then he passed out. I kicked the feet out of the chair and then laid him down on the floor and started CPR."
Read more: Franklin woman saves grandfather from heart attack
Franklin, MA
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