Here is the summary of live reporting posts for the meeting 3/4/09
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Live reporting - Administrator, and closing
Thanks to the DPW for the never-ending winter we are having.
Thanks to Jim Dacey and Susan Gagner for their work to gain us an upgrade on our bond rating which saves us $100,000 in interest.
Compliment Allen Earl's new book on Franklin, available in local bookstores
Group working to make the rail trail a reality as an other recreation use in Franklin, contact Jeff Nutting if interested in helping out.
Food Pantry met with Chris Feeley, a pretty positive meeting. We are looking for a new location.
Old business - none
New business -
Vallee - are delinquencies up in this economy?
Nutting - actually no, the banks are tending to pay to protect their property
Councilor Comments
Bartlett - TV Trivia is the theme for the next FEF Trivia Bee is coming March 19th
Move to executive session
roll call - unanimous
Thanks to Jim Dacey and Susan Gagner for their work to gain us an upgrade on our bond rating which saves us $100,000 in interest.
Compliment Allen Earl's new book on Franklin, available in local bookstores
Group working to make the rail trail a reality as an other recreation use in Franklin, contact Jeff Nutting if interested in helping out.
Food Pantry met with Chris Feeley, a pretty positive meeting. We are looking for a new location.
Old business - none
New business -
Vallee - are delinquencies up in this economy?
Nutting - actually no, the banks are tending to pay to protect their property
Councilor Comments
Bartlett - TV Trivia is the theme for the next FEF Trivia Bee is coming March 19th
Move to executive session
roll call - unanimous
Live reporting - action items
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
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
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.
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