"would need to figure a way to balance the budget"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Jun 05, 2008 @ 12:38 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Town Council last night unanimously voted to consolidate the town and school maintenance functions, a $5.5 million account takeover pending approval by the School Committee.

Councilors Joseph McGann and Thomas Doak were absent from the meeting.

Custodians and groundskeepers have spoken against the move, while Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting and councilors have advocated for it, believing it will create greater efficiencies and make a good system better.

Nutting said he hopes to finish a draft memorandum of understanding with Superintendent of Schools Wayne Ogden today. In order for the merger to be legal, the School Committee, which meets Tuesday, must vote to adopt the resolution, Nutting said.

Prior to voting, Councilor Shannon Zollo asked about possible legal repercussions of the School Committee rejecting the consolidation after the council approves it.

Note: Councilor Scott Mason also missed last night's meeting, leaving only 6 in attendance which is 2/3 majority and sufficient for enacting resolutions that are legal.

Read the remainder of the story here in the Milford Daily News.

Listen to this section of the meeting to hear what happened here

Mr Winkle wakes up

Another in a series of thought provoking videos on education.



Thanks to Dr. Scott MacLeod for the pointer to this video.

Enjoy!

Senior Center: Sunshine Club (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 6/4/08

Time: 15 minutes, 32 seconds



MP3 File

My notes taken during the meeting can be found here

Facilities Consolidation (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 6/4/08.

Time: 4 minutes, 56 seconds



MP3 File

The key piece here is now that the Town Council has approved, if the School Committee does not approve, they would also be liable to deliver the slate of services and maintain the school facilities with their budget reduced by another 5.4 million dollars that the town took assuming the town would support the facilities.

If there is no agreement, the town is only legally obligated to provide the minimun the state requires so if the school would presist in supporting their services including the facilities, they would be forced to either turn over the facilities, or make additional significant cuts.

Nothing like having a little leverage to get something done!

Town Council Meeting Summary - 6/4/08

The collection of live reporting and audio segments from the Town Council meeting on 6/4/08

Additional audio segments will be posted as I have time

• Senior Center: Sunshine Club (audio)
• Facilities Consolidation (audio)
• Appointment of Financial Plan Subcommittee (audio)...
• Citizens comment - Frank Falvey (audio)
• action items, continued
• traffic signal improvement fund
• Action items
• Supportive Day Program - Sunshine Club
• Live reporting - Town Council 6/4/08

• FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL - Agenda - 6/4/08

Appointment of Financial Plan Subcommittee (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 6/4/08

School Committee representatives:
Roberta Trahan, Matt Kelly

Finance Committee representatives:
Jim Roche, Rebecca Cameron

Town Council representatives:
Deborah Bartlett, Steve Whalen, Shannon Zollo

Franklin citizen representatives:
Douglas Hardesty, Gwynne Willschek

first meeting to be arranged by Deb Bartlett


Time: 39 seconds



MP3 File

Other than the councilors present for the meeting, no one on the committee was present. It took all of 39 seconds to make the appointment. There was no objective or charge stated. One is forced to ask if they are really serious about this effort.

Citizens comment - Frank Falvey (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 6/4/08.

Time: 4 minutes, 18 seconds



MP3 File

My notes as recorded during the meeting were:

Citizens comment -Frank Falvey

with Fiscal year completed, audit report should have been completed by now
audit should be ready for the election, in case there is something revealed that could have bearing on the vote

why hasn't this been completed?
Audit firm probably should not be renewed for next year

procedures for comments and feedback for dialog is flawed
Inappropriate and incorrect

on an unrelated matter, what is being done in Franklin with regards to the sale of cigarettes to minors