FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING
DECEMBER 18, 2008
A meeting of the Financial Planning Committee was held on December 18, 2008 at the Franklin Municipal Building. Members present were Deborah Bartlett, Shannon Zollo, Roberta Trahan, Rebecca Cameron, Doug Hardesty and Gwynne Wilschek. Also present were Jeffrey Nutting and Wayne Odgen. Absent were Steve Whalen, Matt Kelly and Jim Roche.
The Town Administrator handed out information on the comparison of the FY01 to FY09 budgets, a list of all things all departments have done over the last many years to reduce staff, cut costs, improve efficiencies, receive grants, etc., as well as a list of legislative priority items the Massachusetts Municipal Association and others are hoping the Legislature will consider in order to control costs.
Doug Hardesty asked what the Committee thought should be included in the report. Deb Bartlett suggested an executive summary, budget information, fiscal policies, history of capital, school mandates, costs beyond the control of the Town, services we must perform and how citizens might help. Other suggestions were bulletin points, graphs and charts, but keeping the summary to a few pages, as well as information on population, students, staffing etc. Doug offered to try a "straw man" draft of the format and then committee members would need to do some work to fill in the information.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Nutting
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Green Reel: "The Next Industrial Revolution"
The Green Reel: a series of films for sustainable living will be shown on Sunday evenings this winter.
What: The Next Industrial Revolution"
When: 7:00 PM on February 22, 2009
Where: Agudas Achim, 901 North Main St, Attleboro or directions here
read more about the file "The Next Industrial Revolution" here
Sponsors:
What: The Next Industrial Revolution"
When: 7:00 PM on February 22, 2009
Where: Agudas Achim, 901 North Main St, Attleboro or directions here
Free and open to the public.
For more info: 508-695-2389
For more info: 508-695-2389
read more about the file "The Next Industrial Revolution" here
Sponsors:
Agudas Achim
Crystal Spring Center
Simply Keep It Local
Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary
Citizens for a Sustainable Local Economy
Murray Unitarian Universalist Church
Green Committee of First Universalist Society of Franklin
New Dawn Earth Center
Oake Knoll Ayrshires
Franklin Area Climate Team
White Barn Farm
St Mark's Episcopal Church-Foxboro
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Financial Plng Comm 02/19/09
The live reporting from the Financial Planning committee meeting of 2/19/09 can be found here
Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee (continued)
Executive summary, page 2.
In 1995, the town paid 71% of the school budget, we are now down to 50%.
The idea behind the plan is a call to action. These trends will continue unless action is taken.
If we eliminate services, we can address costs.
If we are too general here, they might miss the point. I think we do need to get an example in their.
March 5th for the trial preview is not likely. We have spent time just on the 3 page executive summary.
You don't have to rush to March 5th. What we have before us will not likely change. The train has already left the station.
Getting this done by April 1st should be our goal.
Need to provide the option. The citizens are either going to vote for or against but there is a choice that the citizens need to make.
Jeff is ready to send the soft copy of all the data accumulated to date.
We will be meeting March 5th. No preview for focus group.
March 19th is the FEF Trivia Bee.
Considering the 12th or 26th? Meet on the 12th.
April 2nd? can that be the focus group? yes
Keep the 26th for a meeting.
April 15th joint meeting of Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee
TBD - Horace Mann for town wide discussion. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
(updated 2/24/09 - the date had been tentatively planned for 4/29/09 but that day has a prior commitment)
We are gaining momentum as the material comes together.
In 1995, the town paid 71% of the school budget, we are now down to 50%.
The idea behind the plan is a call to action. These trends will continue unless action is taken.
If we eliminate services, we can address costs.
If we are too general here, they might miss the point. I think we do need to get an example in their.
March 5th for the trial preview is not likely. We have spent time just on the 3 page executive summary.
You don't have to rush to March 5th. What we have before us will not likely change. The train has already left the station.
Getting this done by April 1st should be our goal.
Need to provide the option. The citizens are either going to vote for or against but there is a choice that the citizens need to make.
Jeff is ready to send the soft copy of all the data accumulated to date.
We will be meeting March 5th. No preview for focus group.
March 19th is the FEF Trivia Bee.
Considering the 12th or 26th? Meet on the 12th.
April 2nd? can that be the focus group? yes
Keep the 26th for a meeting.
April 15th joint meeting of Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee
TBD - Horace Mann for town wide discussion. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
(updated 2/24/09 - the date had been tentatively planned for 4/29/09 but that day has a prior commitment)
We are gaining momentum as the material comes together.
Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 2/19/09
Attending: Roche, Bartlett, Cameron, Hardesty, Nutting, Trahan, Whalen, Zollo, Wilschek (late)
Absent: Kelly, Ogden
Accepted minutes of Dec 18, Jan 15, Feb 5.
Discussion on the executive summary draft
Need to be consistent with numbers used. The State DOE calculates slightly differently. They include the enterprise accounts.
Include a glossary of terms in the appendix so everyone can have and use the same terms in the same way.
Doesn't want to use any term in the executive summary that would be required to be defined in the glossary.
Discussion on raising issues
Newton did their study; Harvard professors spent six months reviewing the finances and determined that the current process was not sustainable.
There are 2 or 3 budget busters that should not be a surprise; wages, health costs, SPED costs (including transportation).
Need to be accurate and unbiased on the data presentation.
We can get to the other infrastructure items over time. We will have capacity to borrow some 3 million. We won't be able to do the high school without a debt exclusion for sure, but overtime we can get to the other infrastructure items. Recall, this year's total capital budget was 8 million in requests of which we are proceeding with 1.3 million.
At some point, specifically with the roads, we are to a point where we need to do something in addition to the way we are tackling the roads today.
Absent: Kelly, Ogden
Accepted minutes of Dec 18, Jan 15, Feb 5.
Discussion on the executive summary draft
Need to be consistent with numbers used. The State DOE calculates slightly differently. They include the enterprise accounts.
Include a glossary of terms in the appendix so everyone can have and use the same terms in the same way.
Doesn't want to use any term in the executive summary that would be required to be defined in the glossary.
Discussion on raising issues
Newton did their study; Harvard professors spent six months reviewing the finances and determined that the current process was not sustainable.
There are 2 or 3 budget busters that should not be a surprise; wages, health costs, SPED costs (including transportation).
Need to be accurate and unbiased on the data presentation.
We can get to the other infrastructure items over time. We will have capacity to borrow some 3 million. We won't be able to do the high school without a debt exclusion for sure, but overtime we can get to the other infrastructure items. Recall, this year's total capital budget was 8 million in requests of which we are proceeding with 1.3 million.
At some point, specifically with the roads, we are to a point where we need to do something in addition to the way we are tackling the roads today.
"I have my concerns about the cost to implement this in our current economy,"
Under the draft regulations, the DEP is proposing a $200 fee for the initial certificate and a $200 annual certification fee. Those seeking a variance could have to pay $3,000, Civian said.
During a mid-morning break, several local developers and business owners shared their worries about the proposal.
Sherry Clancy, project manager for National Development, threw out several questions yesterday.
"I think it's something we have to get educated about and understand," Clancy said. "If there is something troublesome or cumbersome, that comment should be made now before it's too late."
-----
Another information session is scheduled for Wednesday at the DEP's Central Regional Office at 627 Main St., Worcester, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The DEP has extended the comment period on its proposed Statewide Stormwater Management Program until March 11. All comments should be submitted in writing to Mass DEP, 1 Winter St., 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108, attention: Glenn Haas or by e-mail to DEP.Waterpermitting@state.ma.us.
The proposed regulations and program details are available at the DEP Web site at www.mass.gov/dep.
Read the full article about stricter storm water management in the Milford Daily News here
Congratulations to FHS Cheerleaders
Read the full article on the team in the Milford Daily News here
Franklin High School's Varsity Cheerleaders: They are the second FHS cheerleading team to take home first place at a national competition; the first title was won in Providence in 2006.
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