With the House and Senate working to reconcile their budget proposals, MassBudget offers some new tools for understanding the issues they currently confront.
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* This report is the fourth in a series of budget briefs published by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and produced by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
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Fenton said studies of the three communities show that 19 percent of adults are obese, 77 percent consume fewer than the five recommended servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and 19 percent report leading completely sedentary lifestyles.
Fenton said that towns and cities can make changes that are shown to encourage more active and healthy lifestyles for residents, but he noted that the solution can’t just be a stop-gap.
“Simply telling people to exercise more is not enough,” he said. “What we have to do is build a system where healthy choices are the new normal.”
Fenton said there are several changes leaders can make to build communities where people are more active, like encouraging mixed-use developments that mix housing with commercial enterprises. If people live within walking distance to a business, for example, they are less likely to drive there, he said.
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Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038 |
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5. Resolution 12-44: Authorization to Transfer Funds – Dam Repairs
Vallee notes that the Council voted this down last year
Nutting - Dam 3 is a registered dam and needs to be repaired
the plan is to repair both dams, there are some legal and structural issues involved as well as environmental
the long term plan is also to put in a playground in the area including a canoe launch
there would be walking trail around the town and conservation land
Could be the premier recreation space in the Town
Have applied for $300,000 grant for recreation improvements
Pfeffer - this is an asset of the town of Franklin, there is a family of swans there
it is an excellent asset of the town, it needs to be maintained and taken care of
Bissanti - are people using it now
Nutting - there is a small parking lot, the pools do contained big mouth bass and other fish
Kelly - I think it is great for recreation, it is a perfect spot. We are well on our way to making something very beautiful spot
Dellorco - a lot of people are using the trails now when they aren't really good
Powderly, I concur with a lot of points already made, because of the registration, if we don't decide the State will decide it for us. I'd rather figure it out on our time line
Jones - I agree that is a valuable asset of the town, if we approve this, how long would it take?
Nutting - it is a heavily permitted process and we are working on it, we have to wait for the permit
motion to approve, passed 9-0
6. Resolution 12-45: Establishment of a Senior Center Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
creating capital funds for known future investments, projected to grow from 4400 to 7500 in the next ten years. Make money contributions each year as funds are available. You can create the account and then start putting the money in it to plan ahead. We are planning ahead!
If you at the pecking order of the items on the listing, we can see what the others will cost and see how much we have debt available
Pfeffer - this is a good idea, putting money aside now is good
Nutting - can always appropriate the hotel/motel taxes in anticipation at about 400K a year.
Pfeffer - the Friends of Franklin Senior Center is a 501c3 organization that accepts charitbale donations, they have an account for the elevator already
Mercer - it is roughed out and ready to go
Bissanti - it is great thing that we did building the Senior Center
Roy - I am supportive of getting these items on the listing and planning for it, getting it to a discussion is good
motion to approve, passed 9-0
7. Resolution 12-46: Appropriation Senior Center Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
amount requested, $150K, approved by the FinCom by a vote of 8-0
motion to approve, passed 9-0
8. Resolution 12-47: Establishment of an Athletic Fields Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
similar to the fund creation above, this for the replacement of the turf fields when they will be needed in a few years
motion to approve, passed 9-0
9. Resolution 12-48: Appropriation Athletic Fields Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
amount requested, $150K, approved by the FinCom by a vote of 8-0
motion to approve, passed 9-0
10. Resolution 12-49: Establishment of a Fire Truck Stabilization Fund
similar to the fund creation above, this for the cyclical replacement of a fire truck according to the rotation, every five years
motion to approve, passed 9-0
11. Resolution 12-50: Appropriation Fire Truck Stabilization Fund
amount requested, $75K, approved by the FinCom by a vote of 8-0
motion to approve, passed 9-0
12. Bylaw Amendment 12-683: Amendment to Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic-Parking- 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call
13. Bylaw Amendment 12-684: Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 2nd Reading
a modest increase effectively to a dollar a day, $360 per year
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call
14. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-685: Amendment to Chapter 185, §24. Floodplain District – Referral to Planning Board
needs to go to the Planning Board and will come back, changes a few lines a couple of maps, minimal changes but required to be settled in July
referral to planning board, passed 9-0
15. Bylaw Amendment 12-687: Amendment to Chapter 25, Personnel Regulations, Appendix A - Classification Plan and Appendix B – Pay Schedules- 1st Reading
referral to planning board, passed 9-0
this sets the salary range but does not affect the actual salary of any particular employee
Some other opportunities that we are looking for volunteers for would be on a less consistent basis. Sometimes we get calls from local businesses with donations that we need to go pick up that day. One of these businesses is Garelick Farms. They will email us in the morning to let us know that they have product available and we would need to get there that day. Fresh dairy products are not easily obtained at the Franklin Food Pantry, so when we are offered milk, yogurt, cream, etc., it is greatly appreciated by our Clients. We use our van to pick up the items, and usually each crate weighs up to 40 pounds so it is heavy lifting into the van and then unloading at the Pantry and stocking the refrigerators with the product.
Thank you for considering the Franklin Food Pantry for your volunteering opportunities. These opportunities are normally performed Tuesday-Friday between 9:00am-1:00pm. We ask that no one under the age of 18 respond as there will often be Clients in the Pantry and we don't have student volunteers when the Clients are here. Also we ask that you be prepared to sign a confidentiality agreement as a volunteer and also have a safe driving record and a valid driving license as we may have to included you as a driver on our van's insurance policy.
Again, there is a lot of heavy lifting, stairs, etc. involved with this opportunity and if you know of anyone or a company that may be willing to help out, especially if they have a small truck that the forklift can load directly onto at the Greater Boston Food Bank, then please forward them this request or have them contact me directly.
Farmer's Market Volunteers Needed
The Franklin Food Pantry has received a grant that offers any SNAP (food stamp) recipient to double their money at the Franklin Farmer's Market every Friday from June 8, 2012 through November 2, 2012. We are looking to fill slots from 11:30am-6:00pm every Friday at the Franklin Town Common. The volunteers would help the clients process their transaction on the handheld EBT terminal (easy training), and also we will provide other documentation if anyone is looking for information on the Food Pantry, SNAP, WIC, etc. There are times when it is very slow and I will try to have 2 volunteers at all times so there is someone to talk to and if someone needs to leave for a moment there is someone else there at the table. The table will be next to Grateful Farms and one of our Board members will be at their table so any questions or concerns can be handled immediately by a Franklin Food Pantry Board member. Also the volunteers may have to stop at the Pantry prior to arriving at the common to pick up the tables, chairs, canopy, documentation, vouchers, terminal, cooler with waters, etc., and and then help set up and later break down the table, chairs and canopy. The volunteers would have to be adults, we ask that no one under the age of 18 be at the table at any time and they will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. This is a very private situation for a lot of families and confidentiality is very important. Also it is very important for the volunteers to know that the market opens rain or shine, hot or cold weather, and should always plan accordingly. Volunteers should be willing to work 1-2 Fridays per month for a minimum of 3-6 hours.
Thank you again.
Regards,
Linda Sottile
Franklin Food Pantry
