Franklin Matters

Friday, May 22, 2009

"We schedule them one at a time"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted May 22, 2009 @ 12:31 AM

FRANKLIN —

Negotiating teams for the teachers union and School Committee met for more than two hours yesterday in an effort to reach an agreement on a proposed wage deferral, but they haven't gotten there yet.

"We still haven't come to an agreement yet," said School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy. "Both sides have stressed we would not discuss the details of negotiations."

Among those in the closed-door meeting: Roy, School Committee members Cora Armenio, Vice Chairwoman Paula Mullen, Franklin Education President Robert McLaughlin, Superintendent Wayne Ogden, Assistant Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski, Oak Street Elementary School Principal Corine Minkle, school Human Resources Director Lisa O'Keefe, school Finance Director Miriam Goodman, as well as an elementary school teacher and a middle school teacher.

To close a gap, the town has teachers for a wage freeze. The union, in return, asked for other concessions, which led to the current stalemate.

Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Block Party -> 4:30 - 8:00 PM Downtown

The Franklin Downtown Partnership announced special activities planned for "Third Thursday" on May 21, 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Join downtown businesses on the third Thursday of every month for special offers, discounts and fun activities for the entire family.

The May theme is a Block Party, featuring acoustical entertainment on the outdoor patio at the newly opened Cafe Dolce and a Beader Night Party at Sara Paan Beads.

Following are the planned activities:

Cafe Dolce, 17 East Central St.:

Free live, acoustical entertainment in the outdoor patio and complementary muffins and scones during Third Thursday. Visit http://www.cafedolce.net/ for details.

Sara Paan Beads, 16 East Central St.:

Staff will help customers finish a piece during the "Beader Night Party" and give special demonstrations on creating multi-strand necklaces, loop earrings and more. Refreshments will be served. Visit http://www.maysjewelry.com/ for more details.

Artbeat, The Creativity Store, 9 Summer St.:

Children are invited to meet local author/illustrator Debra Wainwright, who will read from her new book, "That Kind of Dog." Get a signed copy of the story and take a picture with Bramble. Free craft projects can be made while enjoying light refreshments.

Other downtown business will participate in the event.

Town Council Mtg Smry 05/20/09

The collection of posts reported live during the Town Council meeting of 5/20/09 are here:

"not the final word"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 21, 2009 @ 01:15 AM

FRANKLIN —

Just as town officials seemed to have nearly closed a budget gap for next year and avoided widespread layoffs, Franklin stands to lose another $1.7 million in state aid.

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting told councilors last night that the Senate budget reduces Franklin's local aid by $1 million, which means the school district's share will be reduced by at least half a million.

Franklin is also slated to receive hundreds of thousands less in stimulus funds and reimbursements for special education costs, he said.

"There is no good news coming out of the Senate budget," Nutting said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

New England Sports Celebration - 5/31/09

From the Facebook page for the New England Sports Celebration

Come down and help us raise funds for the F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center PCC. We are planning a fun-filled family day celebrating the proud tradition of New England sports!!

Currently, we have Boston hockey legend TERRY O'REILLY coming down to sign autographs from 2PM-4PM.

Signatures are $15 each with no charge for inscriptions. You are welcome to bring your own items, and we will have a great selection of pictures, pucks and other items available for sale!

Also from 2PM - 4PM, Wally the Green Monster will be visiting to take pictures and sign autographs for his fans for FREE!!!

AND JUST ANNOUNCED - Football Legend STEVE GROGAN will also be available from 2PM-4PM!!! Signatures are $15 each with no charge for inscriptions.

There will be lots of other fun activities for the kids, as well. Cash bar and concessions will be available. did we mention....ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

This is a public event and we want to pack the place - so please feel free to invite anyone you would like!!! A lot more to come on this...

SAVE THE DATE!!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Live reporting - Councilor Comments

Doak - I want to thanks the Charter Commission for the work they did, there is a lot of good info here that we'll need to get into.

Pfeffer - I thought Gov Patrick did very well with handling the comments, especially with asking for if you don't want this cut, where do we cut?

Nutting - I can't tell you how proud I was of the Senior Center, it was wonderful to have the Governor there

Whalen - Downtown Partnership, general meeting at Dean 8:30 AM
Third Thursday 5/21/09
Strawberry Festival, June 19th
Networking Luncheon, May 27th Golder Room

I'd like to know more about it?

Nutting - The Quinn provides a financial incentive for a degree, town pays half and state pays half; bachelors degree gets a 10% bump, the town puts in 5 and the state puts in 5. If it gets cut, the town side would still be there, the state side wouldn't. Effects folks differently depending upon their rank and their education level, it can be part of their base pay would would affect their detail rate.

Bartlett - Dow e pay any reimbursement for them on the courses themselves?

Nutting - there are 8 collective bargaining agreements, I'd like to get back to you specifically on that. I don't won't to mis-speak

Bartlett - I found it interesting that Gov Patrick has the same issue with explaining the capital vs operating budget problem that we do.

Feeley - It think it should be noted that despite what reported in the Milford Daily News, the town did provide space and was willing to do the retro-fitting necessary for the Franklin Food Pantry.

The Council went into Executive Session for purposes of collective bargaining not to return to open meeting.

(my editorial note: per Joyce Kelly, it was part of the article and the editor cut it out.)

Live reporting - Old/New Business

Vallee - with the Police department taking the wage freeze, the Quinn Bill, and the potential loss of details, what are you planning to do for them?

Nutting - The Quinn bill hasn't been finally decided yet

Nutting - if it is cut, we can have an executive session to review compensation