"going to whichever one was open"

By Krista Perry/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Mar 12, 2009 @ 01:12 AM

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MEDWAY —

Selectmen said last night that Medway is in talks with Franklin about regionalizing library services.

During a discussion about the municipal budget, selectmen Chairman Glenn Trindade mentioned that the board wants to add $42,000 to the town budget to pay for expenses related to a merger.

"This is only a recommendation," said Selectman Dennis Crowley. "The library trustees have to vote to approve this amount."

Trindade said that in the tentative plan, the libraries would alternate their operating days so that they would each be open three days a week, but residents of both towns would have access to a library six hours a day, six days a week by going to whichever one was open.

Read the full article on this next step in merging services between the two communities, Franklin and Medway, in the Milford Daily News here

"It's a significant sacrifice they're making"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 12, 2009 @ 01:40 AM

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FRANKLIN —

In a move that has thrilled town officials, members of the Franklin Police Association have unanimously voted to freeze their salaries until July 2010. Union President John Maloney called the decision "a no-brainer."

The 41-member union also voted Tuesday to change its health care coverage and take higher co-payments to save the town money, said Officer David Gove.

"That is excellent, that's outstanding," said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

"That's going to save police jobs (up to three). As far as I'm concerned, there will be no need to reduce the police force in 2010 because of the money they're going to save," which exceeds $100,000, Nutting said.

The union, which was due to receive a 3 percent raise in October, voted to forgo that increase until July, mainly to avoid layoffs, Maloney said.

"If you can defer a raise for eight or nine months to save at least one officer's job, it's a no-brainer," he said.

Read the full article about the Police Union actions in the Milford Daily News here

School Committee Mtg 03/10/09

The live reporting from the School Committee meeting on March 10th can be found here

• Live reporting - closing
• Live reporting - Superintendent update
• live reporting - action items
• Live reporting - Discussion only items
• Live reporting - Horace Mann Enrichment Model
• Live reporting - Presentations
• Live reporting - School Committee 3/10/09

• School Committee - Agenda - 3/10/09

"Franklin High School will still be a great place to get an education"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 11, 2009 @ 01:23 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Superintendent Wayne Ogden said he anticipates local schools will receive about $1.3 million in federal stimulus money.

That funding, along with $125,000 in increased circuit breaker aid and the money saved by 51 staff members forgoing raises, will help close a projected $3.3 million gap in next year's budget, Ogden said.

The School Department should get the stimulus money over the next 24-48 months, Ogden said, but it is not yet clear how it can be spent.

Ogden said he hopes to use it to save teaching jobs.

Though many financial variables are still up in the air, Ogden and School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy promise to keep parents and school staff up to speed on the numbers.

"It's a very dynamic budget, we're still waiting for the federal stimulus money," Ogden said.

Read the full article from the School Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here.

"You just gotta believe it's going to happen"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 11, 2009 @ 01:18 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Despite some rocky relations in the past, the general sentiment among downtown businesses and town officials is one of sympathy for developer John Marini, whose plans were halted by the recession.

On Monday night, Marini told the Planning Board he has not been able to sell any of his 27 upscale condos in the 2 1/2 months they've been on the market, and cannot secure financing to demolish and rebuild 12-28 East Central St., as originally planned.

Instead, he will put $100,000 worth of repairs into the property and lease the first floor spaces for a three-year period.

"I promise to make it look presentable," he told the board.

This article follows up on the presentation to the Planning Board Monday night revealing a revised schedule for completion of the Center Commons project. Marini will be back to the Planning Board in April to file the formal paperwork. You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Live reporting - closing

The meeting is going into executive session and not to return

Live reporting - Superintendent update

5. Information Matters
• Superintendent’s Report

• Enrollment Comparison
• FY08 Per Pupil Expenditure Comparison to State Average

expenses per state average below across all eleven categories counted at the state level
a year ago we were below in 10 of the 11, and forecasted that we would be below in all 11
If we continue this trend, we will be below the state minimum level and the town will be forced to cut from the town side to fund the schools at the minimum level

actually one of the 11, we do want to be below the state average. In that one category, special ed students sent out of district, we are below the state average and should be, that is a good number to be

While we are still meeting scholastic performance and are performing above average, I don't know who long that will last. 2 of our middle schools are one year into a performance plan for not meeting the annual performance requirements

• FHS Building Projects