Franklin Matters

Thursday, May 28, 2009

"Someone needs to be responsible"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 27, 2009 @ 11:05 PM

FRANKLIN —

Now that their mission seems nearly complete, members of the long-range financial planning committee last night said they want to "keep the momentum going" regarding public interest in town finances.

"People are ripe right now, people are starting to listen," said School Committee member Roberta Trahan, a member of the committee.

The feedback is mostly positive, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, reading bits of residents' e-mails.

Doug Hardesty, the group's vice chairman and one of two citizens-at-large on the board, said, "Everywhere I go, people are talking about it."

The group spent the last year meeting, researching and compiling a report on the town's finances and fiscal outlook, which culminated in a public presentation on April 27.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Read the live reporting from this meeting 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!!

here's a sneak peak at our raffle prize list -

Curt Schilling autographed Jersey
Bruins Alumni Jersey (signed by over 20 players including Terry O'Reilly, Rick Middleton, Brad Park, "Pie" McKenzie...)
Red Sox Jersey signed by Bill "Spaceman" Lee
Shawn Thornton autographed Bruins Jersey
30+ autographed 8x10's of misc players including Sammy Morris, Lawrence Maroney, Cam Neely & Ray Bourque
Over a dozen baseballs autographed by players such as Jim Lonborg, Rico Petrocelli, Bill "Spaceman" Lee and the "wild thing" Jonathan Papelbon!
autographed pucks from Bruins greats - Rick Middleton, Milt Schmidt and more
T-shirts signed by current Bruins players including Phil Kessel, Blake Wheeler & Milan Lucic!
There will be other memorabilia signed by players including Vince Wilfork
Lots of other non-autographed items, too. Including a dart boards set, tickets to the Brockton Rox, Pinz gift cards, "Supahfans" T-shirts, Pump-it-Up party...There's a lot!!

We are setting up lots of fun activities in our "Kid's Tailgate Party" room, too.

This is going to be a lot of fun and it's for a great cause. hope to see everyone there!!

Financial Plng Comm 05/27/09

The collected posts from the Financial Planning Committee meeting on 5/27/09

If you have not viewed the draft report produced by the committee:

The Executive Summary report can be found here (PDF)
The full report can be found here (PDF)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Live reporting - FPC - cont'd

Modify the report
Take to Council for 7/1/09
Endorsement of the findings
Consent, approval to come up with a plan
FPC takes lead on next steps
Finalize plan before November election so the candidates can at least talk to it

Reference to J Pfeffer's email feedback
Deb Bartlett to all, then Doug to confirm that the changes have already been incorporated or could be, then Doug to cycle back with her to confirm the report is okay.

June 25th 7:30 PM next meeting

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 5/27/09

Attending: Roche, Bartlett, Nutting, Zollo, Hardesty, Cameron, Wilschek, Kelly, Trahan
Absent: Ogden, Whalen

Approved minutes of 4/23/09

Document located off the Town Administrators page although the Committee is listed as a subcommittee of the Town Council

Discussion on potential schedule for budget, open hearing on 10th, continue it the 11th, and then continue to the 24th. At that point decide upon a number, and go with that. You can adjust later. Especially if the State hasn't made their decision.

Reading some of the citizen feedback via email.

One feedback is better PR on what the Town has done to cut costs.

The problem is real. What are we going to do to get out of this mess?

Short term, finalize the report; let the Town Council, School Committee, FinCom accept the report and then they should set next steps. Probably shouldn't come up with recommendations before they specifically ask us.

Within 2 or 3 key assumptions, this is the number. They can go with that.

School Committee Mtg 05/26/09

This is the collection of live reporting posts from the School Committee meeting of 5/26/09

"very serious fundraising"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 27, 2009 @ 12:59 AM

FRANKLIN —

The Franklin Fourth of July Coalition is seeking the public's help to raise $30,000 for this year's fireworks and parade as well as starter money for next year's celebration.

"In order to keep this tradition alive, it's important that we, as a private group not affiliated with government, get public support," said coalition co-Chairman Michael Walker-Jones.

"This celebration is one of the things that contributes to the quality of life in the Franklin region," he said.

Three major donors the nonprofit organization had been looking to for funds totaling $20,000 are not able to help during the recession, he said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here