2. Resolution 09-10: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Medway
Motion to approve 7-0
A joint agreement that Franklin will administer the program and gain the fees from Medway to offset the overall administration overhead. A win-win move to trial until Dec 2010. Will come back with status updates.
3. Resolution 09-11: Appropriation – Capital – Fire Dept Ladder Truck
Motion to approve 7-0
4. Resolution 09-12: Appropriation – Capital – DPW Lawn mower
Motion to approve 7-0
The new one is $75K, a used one is $35K, this is a good buy to save the town money
This is a wider cut machine replacing a 15 year old unit
7. Bylaw Amendment 09-630:Amendment to Chapter 37, Town Properties - 1st Reading
Motion to move to second reading 7-0
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
live reporting - action items
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 09-09: Appropriation – Survey on 30+ Acres on Pond Street
discussion on the survey details
Motion approved 7-0
1. Resolution 09-09: Appropriation – Survey on 30+ Acres on Pond Street
discussion on the survey details
Motion approved 7-0
Live reporting - Town Council 3/4/09
Attending: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak
Missing: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 4, 11, 2009
Motion approved - 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Feeley read an announcement formally acknowledging the state's interest in purchasing land to expand the Franklin Forest as reported earlier.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - None
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None
E. APPOINTMENTS - Public Land Use Committee
F. HEARINGS - None
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None
Missing: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 4, 11, 2009
Motion approved - 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chris Feeley read an announcement formally acknowledging the state's interest in purchasing land to expand the Franklin Forest as reported earlier.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - None
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None
E. APPOINTMENTS - Public Land Use Committee
- Timothy Twardowski
- James Estabrook
F. HEARINGS - None
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None
Live reporting - Planning update
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS –
1. Update – Mike D’Angelo
postponed until 3/18/09 meeting so McGann can participate
2. Update – Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning
NewStyle building - working underway
Priority development sites and economic opportunity areas
will raise attention to the area for development
two resolutions before you to take action in this area
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposed as part of these areas
Pond Street parcel approved for priority development as requested earlier
Should hear next week on the grant application for up to $60K
This would help streamline the processing of permits, etc within the town
as well as to help market the parcel itself
Now that the parcel is a priority development site, the State will help us to market the site
What we have to do is to develop the process, stick to it, and guarantee a 180 approval process
We are already well within 180 days for most approvals today
Difference between the priority development and economic opportunity is that the owners need to sign off on the priority development individually, they do not need to sign off on the economic opportunity proposal
Skipping ahead to those resolutions in the agenda
5. Resolution 09-13: Creation of Forge Park Economic Opportunity Area
This enables the possibility of a TIF agreement but does not guarantee it. The Council still has final say on the TIF.
Motion to approve 7-0
6. Resolution 09-14: Creation of Franklin Industrial Park Economic Opportunity Area
Motion to approve 7-0
1. Update – Mike D’Angelo
postponed until 3/18/09 meeting so McGann can participate
2. Update – Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning
NewStyle building - working underway
Priority development sites and economic opportunity areas
will raise attention to the area for development
two resolutions before you to take action in this area
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposed as part of these areas
Pond Street parcel approved for priority development as requested earlier
Should hear next week on the grant application for up to $60K
This would help streamline the processing of permits, etc within the town
as well as to help market the parcel itself
Now that the parcel is a priority development site, the State will help us to market the site
What we have to do is to develop the process, stick to it, and guarantee a 180 approval process
We are already well within 180 days for most approvals today
Difference between the priority development and economic opportunity is that the owners need to sign off on the priority development individually, they do not need to sign off on the economic opportunity proposal
Skipping ahead to those resolutions in the agenda
5. Resolution 09-13: Creation of Forge Park Economic Opportunity Area
This enables the possibility of a TIF agreement but does not guarantee it. The Council still has final say on the TIF.
Motion to approve 7-0
6. Resolution 09-14: Creation of Franklin Industrial Park Economic Opportunity Area
Motion to approve 7-0
"online coursework can be an excellent option"
Dr. Scott McLeod writes on his blog, Dangerously Irrelevant, this post about online learning opportunities.When most people think about online learning, they think about adults taking online university classes. Or they might think about the online training that occurs in many workplaces. But online learning opportunities occur in the K-12 sector as well and are increasingly popular with students and their families.
The Sloan Consortium estimates that at least 1 million K-12 public school students took an online course last year. This represents approximately 2% of the national K-12 public school student population and is a 22–fold increase since 2000. About 20 states have statewide virtual high schools that deliver online courses to students across the state.
As you read the following, do a simple replacement exercise, substitute "Franklin, MA" in place of Iowa.
A robust online learning infrastructure for students makes a lot of sense for the state of Iowa (and I’m glad there’s a bill in the Iowa House to consider it). If we’re honest with ourselves, we will recognize that most of our school districts will NEVER be able to provide the curricular diversity that most of our graduates need to be effective digital, global workers and citizens. If we’re truly honest, we also will recognize that the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is not a viable future option. The ICN is a closed, aging network and the course offerings (and monies) there, like everything else in the world, must move to the Web. Whether it’s a statewide virtual school or some other model, we must significantly increase the number of online courses available to Iowa students if we are to provide them access to the high-quality learning opportunities envisioned in the Iowa Core Curriculum.You can click through to read the full article here.
Franklin has started exploring this option and should continue to do so. It is not a silver bullet to save money. There will likely be some contractual and procedural changes required to implement appropriately. It will be some work but it should be worthwhile to develop our children for life and learning in this new world.
"This one had the least impact on education"
This is the summary of the article written by Gene R Carter, Executive Director, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).
We know that for students to learn, educators must also be afforded the same opportunity. When Congress was developing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we asked a sample of superintendents about their school systems' greatest funding needs. The education leaders identified professional development as a top priority even during this financial crisis. Let us hope that before cutting back on professional development, elected officials and school administrators will carefully consider its importance in supporting the success of our students and our educators. Even in these difficult times, professional growth opportunities are a worthy investment for the long-term benefit of our students.
The quotation is from this article and in direct reference to Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri's recommendation to eliminate his state's teacher professional development funding for the year.
In a year full of tough choices, the toughest choices we will face will affect our children. If the proper education of our children is not a priority, what is?
"Very strong household income factors"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Thanks to its slightly improved bond rating and good timing, Franklin saved about $100,000 last week, said Treasurer/Collector James Dacey.
The town was due to award a bid for a 19-year note in a few weeks, but seeing that the bond market was "perfect," Dacey acted last week to secure a $17.89 million bond issue.
The town received seven bids on the bond, and awarded it to Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc., with an average interest rate of 3.49 percent, Dacey said, adding that interest rates have been as high as 7.25 percent in the past.
"We got a great rate on that - probably the best rate we've ever had," Dacey said.
"We planned on 4 percent, or 4.25 percent, but by getting 3.49 percent, we saved about $100,000 in interest costs for fiscal year 2010 - a huge savings," Dacey said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
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