REcycle: helping Bikes Not Bombs

There was order and process to the REcycle Club event yesterday at Franklin High School. The end result was 65 bikes and over $200 collected for Bikes Not Bombs!

Bikes that were donated were lined up.



Care was taken to not damage the seat as the peddles were removed and the handle bars turned to make the bikes more compact for shipping



When the bikes were complete they were lined up ready to board the truck



The truck from Bikes Not Bombs arrived and was ready to be loaded



And part of the crew processing the bikes paused briefly from their work for a photo:



From Left to right: Zak Borelli, Cody Williamson, Michael Williams and club leader - Eamon Earls

For more about BikesNotBombs visit their website: http://bikesnotbombs.org/

Community turns out to clean up Milford trail

For those following the development efforts of the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee, this from neighboring Milford catches the eye. They had the clean up this Saturday in advance of the ribbon cutting to formally open the new section on Sat, Sep 24.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Community turns out to clean up Milford trail

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff on 9/17/11

Armed with brooms, garbage bags and rakes, more than a dozen volunteers descended on the Milford Upper Charles Trail yesterday, adding beauty to the recreational resource.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Related posts covering the Milford Trail
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/08/upper-charles-trail-milford-section.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-new-milford-rail-trail-update.html

Could the Blackstone Valley become a national historic park?

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Could the Blackstone Valley become a national historic park?

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by By Brian Benson, DAILY NEWS STAFF on 9/17/11

It may not be as well known as historic sites in Boston or Lexington and Concord, but supporters of a proposal to create a national historical park in the Blackstone Valley said the region played a critical role in the country's industrialization.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Networking Luncheon - Friday, Sep 23

Franklin Downtown Partnership

Networking Luncheon

Friday, September 23

1 p.m.

Dean College Campus Center

New Dining Hall

$5.50

It's a great way to meet new members!

Contact Joel Carrara if you have any

questions -- jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Parmenter: Back to Football Friday

The NFL is sponsoring a Back to Football Friday whereby they will award 34 $10,000 grants to benefit Health and Wellness in local schools in a country wide competition.

What Parmenter did was to incorporate community service as a way to not only stress the importance of Health & Wellness but to also stress the importance of community service. We collected:

P - Paper Products
A - Animal Products
T - Toiletries
S - Stuffed Animals

These items will be distributed to the Friends of Franklin, Franklin Food Pantry, Animal Shelters, etc.

We took pictures of all our students and a few of smaller groups. Our group picture is still with our photographer, but here are two pictures of smaller groups.

One has all our items that we collected (which were abundant):



One at our school sign.




Thanks to Mary Jo Peterson and Jennifer Taddeo, a couple of "community contributors", who provided info and photos from the event at the Parmenter School on Friday.


If you have a local event or good news about Franklin to share, please let me know. Good news is always welcomed!

Halloween costumes for a good cause

A nice cool, fall morning can get us thinking that Halloween will be coming soon!


Berry Insurance, with offices in Franklin and Quincy, Massachusetts, will be collecting Halloween costumes to benefit Children’s Hospital Boston.

This will be Berry Insurance’s third year hosting the drive. In years past Berry Insurance has collected and donated over 50 costumes to the Hospital.

Berry Insurance is collecting only brand new, unused/unworn, Halloween costumes and accessories for children of all ages to be donated just in time for Halloween. All costumes must be new and shouldn’t be violent or scary. Don’t forget about accessories like hats and crowns for those children that can’t get out of bed to dress up.

For anyone who would like to donate, drop off locations are set as follows. Please bring in any donations prior to October 21, 2011.

· Berry Insurance, 9 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038 from 8am – 4pm

· Berry Insurance, 300 Congress Street, Suite 306, Quincy, MA 02169 from 8am – 4pm

· United Regional Chamber of Commerce, 42 Union Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

· United Regional Chamber of Commerce, 5 West Street, Franklin, MA 02038

The donations will be made in conjunction with Four Point’s by Sheraton’s nationwide costume drive.

In the News - Dean College, Ellis Paul, FPAC season

Dean named makes 'Best College' list

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Ellis Paul plays Saturday night in Franklin

by Ed Symkus/DAILY NEWS CORRESPONDENT

FPAC announces ‘11-’12 season

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

2 Kennedy Playground Fund Raisers

From the Kennedy Playground Committee comes word on two fund raisers:


#1

We are having a day at the 99 Restaurant. David Camilleri, the Franklin's 99's general manager, has set it up that if a person or a group brings in the Kennedy Voucher, 15% of their bill will go toward the Kennedy Playground Fund. Usually they only do 4pm to 9pm but extended it to 11am to 10pm so people can come early for lunch or for a late dinner.

The details are
Location: 99 Restaurant, Franklin Ma
Date: Wednesday, Sept 28th
Time : 11am to 10pm
15% of a person's bill goes toward the Kennedy Playground Fund 

Vouchers can be downloaded and printed from our website - www.KennedyPlayground.com

Dining for a Cause Customizable Organization Flyer

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view this document


#2

Ladybug 5K Road Race/Walk and Fun Run

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Race/Walk - registration $20 (before Oct 24), $25 on race day

Fun Run - registration $5 (before Oct 24), $10 on race day

Registration forms can be found here or online at the Kennedy Playground website

"Do I have to do anything?"

The Milford Daily News has a follow up conversation with Police Chief Stephen Williams who is scheduled to retire in December:

Williams worked his way through the ranks exclusively in Franklin, an advantage he said he hopes his successor will have. 

"It's an advantage for me to be a homegrown boy in that I know the people and the players - knowing what Franklin is, what it has been and what it will be," Williams said. 

Williams said his replacement will most importantly have to be connected to and involved with the community, pointing to officers who pay attention to local government decisions, coach school sports, visit senior centers and care about downtown parking problems. 

"Those are very key components of having a department that's well-entrenched in the community," Williams said. "The new chief will continue to build those bridges and friendships."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x948307078/Police-chief-looks-back-as-Franklin-prepares-to-fill-his-spot#ixzz1Y6gVwuyX

Chief William's retirement was announced during the Town Council meeting Wednesday night
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/09/live-reporting-door-to-door.html

Farmer's Market - Open - Noon to 6:00 PM

Franklin Farmers Market,  Friday,  12:00pm to 6:00pm

Located on the Town Common

Reminder that the Farmers' Market now accepts SNAP dollars and can double your purchasing power.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/07/franklin-farmers-market-doubles-food.html

Visit the Food Pantry tent at the Farmers' Market for details.

In the News - 9/11, Cultural Council, Women's Club

Students pay homage to 9/11 in Franklin

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin Cultural Council seeking applications

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s Club season begins

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Reminder: Bike Recycling

On Saturday, September 17th there will be a used bicycle collection at the Franklin High School parking lot, 218 Oak Street, to benefit charity. The collection runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is sponsored by the Franklin High School RE:Cycles Club to benefit a Boston based charity that provides used bicycles to people in need, in the US and overseas. We are looking for used bike donations as well as money donations to defray the cost of shipping overseas. Bikes Not Bombs, the beneficiaries of the drive, are a 501(c)3 charity, and donors can request a receipt for tax purposes. We are especially in need of adult bikes in reasonable or easily reparable condition. The event will be held, rain or shine.

For more information contact Eamon McCarthy Earls at re_cycles@yahoo.com.

"I'm sad to see him go"

... councilors voted to raise sewer and water bills by 10 percent each in June of 2012, amounting to about $44 more in sewer bills to the average customer and $60 more in water bills to the average customer in the first year. 

The additional money is expected to pay for planned capital improvements to those utilities. The Charles River Pollution Control District requires upgrades to the regional sewer treatment plant, of which Franklin owns 65 percent, said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. On the water end, councilors authorized a $7.5 million bond to improve the water system last year. 

Though two years of increases were on the budget for approval, councilors approved both years of sewer, and only the first year of higher water bills.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x948306558/Franklins-top-cop-to-retire-in-3-months#ixzz1Y0tpptLB

My summary of the Town Council meeting

• Four establishments get penalized for serving underage minors on July 29, 2011.
• A new restaurant to open in Franklin Village Plaza gets a liquor license
• Chief Williams will be retiring in December
• Chief McCarragher provided an update and lessons learned from the response to Irene
• Sewer rates are going up due to EPA requirements for the Charles River Pollution Control District of which we are responsible for 65% of the volume
• McGann will run for Town Council and let the voters decide if his attendance record matters (54% attendance)

The full set of notes can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/09/town-council-091411.html

"I'm going to let the voters decide"

"I'm really surprised that more people aren't interested in the Town Council and the School Committee," said Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri, a 27-year incumbent who does face a challenger, former Town Councilor Deborah Bartlett. "We've had so much going on. People have been blogging left and right, and I wish some of these people would come forward and run." 

Every one of the nine Town Council seats and all seven School Committee seats are available every two years. 

The Town Council has only eight candidates who have returned nomination papers so far. Incumbents Glenn Jones, Tina Powderly, Robert Vallee and Judith Pond Pfeffer are running. New hopefuls include School Committee Chairman Jeff Roy, School Building Committee Chairman Thomas Mercer, Robert Dellorco and Juan Ramon Rivera. 

Councilors Joseph McGann and Matthew Kelly have taken out but not yet returned nomination papers. At last night's council, McGann, who would be running for his fifth term, said three councilors have asked him not to run because of missed meetings.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x227170085/Few-candidates-for-council-school-board-seats-in-Franklin-election#ixzz1Y0qI4tOS

The attendance records for Town Council and School Committee for the past two years are available here

Note: the School Committee records are not up to date but the attendance percent is high and their record is consistent. The Town Council has some folks with shady attendance records. The majority of those with poor records are not running for a new term. One will be. So if you want your voice to be represented half the time time (54%), that will be your choice.

In the News - golf tournament, Gerry's Place, diabetes walk

Franklin arts center golf tournament Sept. 26

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Tri-County School restaurant open to public

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin walk to raise money to cure diabetes

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Town Council 09/14/11

Highlights from the Town Council meeting:

• Four establishments get penalized for serving underage minors on July 29, 2011.
• A new restaurant to open in Franklin Village Plaza gets a liquor license
• Chief Williams will be retiring in December
• Chief McCarragher provided an update and lessons learned from the response to Irene
• Sewer rates are going up due to EPA requirements for the Charles River Pollution Control District of which we are responsible for 65% of the volume
• McGann will run for Town Council and let the voters decide if his attendance record matters (54% attendance)

The collection of reporting from the Town Council meeting can be found here.

• Live reporting - Closing
• Live reporting - Legislation for action
• Live reporting - Irene response
• Live reporting - door to door solicitations
• Live reporting - new liquor license
• Live reporting - Liquor license failures
• Live reporting - Town Council - 9/14/11

Live reporting - Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT workshop for new councilors on 11/16tax hearing for Nov 30


L. OLD BUSINESS none


M. NEW BUSINESS meeting next week, rescheduled for Sep 28


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS 
McGann - three comments from councilors about not running again due to his missed meetings, doesn't think it is the council members decision, will let the voters make that decision, you have 12 good candidates to make a choice, my name will be on the ballot, it will be up to the voters to have their say
Kelly - thanks to all for help on Irene, thanks to the Y for opening their doors

Jones - what is the policy on the Kennedy fund raising?
Nutting - it is up to the Kennedy community to raise the money


Whalen -  speaking to the cuts of personnel that is not getting to the other departments rather than the Schools and Library, can we get the department heads in periodically to have the folks hear about the effect of the cuts.



O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

motion to go to executive session, passed 9-0

Live reporting - Legislation for action

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION 1. Resolution 11-10: Request for Legislation – Exempting the Deputy Fire Chief from Civil Service (Tabled on 8/10/2011) - tabled indefinitely, just not ready yet

2. Resolution 11-45: Chapter 61A-1st Refusal Option – Land on Spring Street
second time before the Council, owner has PSA, we have first right of refusal, has no value for the Town, recommended to let the sale proceed
motion to approve - passed 9-0


3. Resolution 11-47: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Medway for Shared Nursing Services
shared nurse through a grant program, looking to extend this for another year with receipt of another grant
motion to approve - passed 9-0


4. Resolution 11-48: Acceptance of Gift of Land at 1156 Pond Street (Lot #2)
donation of land in lieu of foreclosure
 motion to approve - passed 9-0


5. Resolution 11-49: Grant of Sewer Easement on Property At 82 (Formerly 95) Park Rd
sewer line installed without easement being recorded previously, needed to move line and cover it all properly this time
motion to approve - passed 9-0


6. Bylaw Amendment 11-663: Sewer Rates-Appendix B- List of Service Rates - 2nd Reading

as a result of the Charles River Sewer Plant upgrade, rate increases should cover the requirements; $44 and then $88 the year after, plant is under an EPA order to remove phosphorus - ultimately a million dollars raised will cover our 65% of the total amount, timed for when the bond comes in - no further rate changes for 4-5 years, has been steady for 7 years


motion to approve - passed 9-0 (via roll call)


7. Bylaw Amendment 11-664: Water Rates-Appendix B-List of Service Rates- 2nd Reading




related to pay off the 7.5 million bond authorization as approved earlier. Not related to the sewer rate increases.


Powderly - having trouble approving at this time
Nutting - you will need this eventually, could it wait a year, I am trying to be proactive, will we need all of it next year
Nutting - either way it is coming, pay me now or pay me later
Whalen - under different circumstances, it would be a prudent way to proceed. Back to back, 10% when not necessary


Nutting - the surplus has varied year to year, we have used it for road repairs, water system needs improvements all the time, 160 miles of water system even at 2 miles per year it is 80 year project


Mason - no question of economy is still pour, it is a perception problem, if we can spend down it a little, it may more sense - if we can tighten our belt it may help


Nutting - only authorize a rate for 2012, and not for 2013


Powderly, motion to amend, to have only the 2012 rate increase of 10% 


motion to approve amendment - passed 9-0 
motion to approve bylaw - passed 9-0 (via roll call)