"mandatory arbitration that would bind municipalities"

By Dan McDonald/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Jun 07, 2009 @ 12:13 AM

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Embedded in the state Senate's budget, an insurance proposal is presenting a not-so-veiled ultimatum to municipalities: Curb your health care costs or else.

Essentially, the provision would force municipalities to reduce their health care costs to meet a state standard, lest they face an outside arbitrator coming in and settling matters with unions - to say nothing of the possible gouges to local aid.

The proposal is in Senate conference committee right now and could be tweaked, rejected, or given the go-ahead within the next month.

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"We're very worried," said Jeff Nutting, Franklin Town Administrator and president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. "It's a huge step backward in the worst economy of our life."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"some of the best habitats are already occupied"

By Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Jun 07, 2009 @ 12:17 AM

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Last month, a breached beaver dam flooded Bob Szymanski's property in Milford. Several months before, it was a very intact one in Holliston that swelled the Hopping Brook so it nearly washed over a small bridge.

Beaver habitats routinely clash with those of humans in metro Boston. Other recent reports come from Westborough, Concord, Bolton and Andover, where a hasty dam breaching flooded a charity golf event.

The issue of beaver management isn't purely academic. Untimely dams can flood houses, or muck up sewer systems and roads - costly problems to repair. In Westborough, the town set aside $5,000 in this year's budget just to deal with beavers.

Beavers' ecological benefits are also substantial, as beavers, North America's largest native rodents, create wetlands that nurture other wildlife, control flooding and purify water.

Read the full article on the beaver dams in the Milford Daily News here

This is news of interest to Franklin. The condition of the dams on the DelCarte land was the subject of some discussion during the May 6th Town Council meeting. The 8-1 vote approved spending some money to get engineering estimates on how to correct the dams. A breech in one of the dams could result in down stream flooding. The estimates of damage were hard to quantify.

Yard sale Sat 6/6/09

Franklin: yard sale Sat 6/6/09, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Multi-family yard sale

Saturday, June 6th - 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Lawrence Dr and Susan's Way

"the Alumni Association is to be a conduit"

By Nick O'Malley/Daily News correspondent

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 06, 2009 @ 01:03 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Giving the 2009 graduating class a glimpse into the distant future, the Franklin High School Class of 1959 reunited at a reception at Horace Mann Middle School yesterday. The tradition, which was started by former Principal Jack Lucas, dates back to 1998. However, this was only the second year that a reception was held for the alumni to gather and catch up on the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

Organized by the Franklin High School Alumni Association and the Franklin Lifelong Learning Institute, the event gathered 23 members of the 95-member 1959 class. It was a strong turnout, according to Lifelong Learning Executive Director Pandora Carlucci.

"Every graduate means a lot to us, no matter how long you've been out of school," Carlucci, the first of a handful of speakers, said to the lively crowd of alumni.

Read the full article about the FHS Class of 1959 in the Milford Daily News here

"Only those who risk going too far will know how far they can go."

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 06, 2009 @ 01:00 AM

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FRANKLIN —

In his last speech to the Class of 2009, Superintendent Wayne Ogden urged the 370 graduating seniors, "Educate your soul, and your spirit."

"I'm pretty darn sure the world has enough smart people - it (needs) people with compassion and integrity," Ogden said.

A "good, successful human being" is balanced, he said.

He told students now that they are graduating, they "can start the process of learning."

It may seem a strange bit of advice from a school superintendent, but he explained that for too many young people, the pursuit of a credential is substituted for the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

"Seek knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. An associate's or bachelor's degree will fall into place," Ogden said.

To those who are not planning to go college, Ogden said, "you can learn a tremendous amount without going to school."

Read the full article on the FHS Graduation in the Milford Daily News here

The list of graduates can be found in the Milford Daily News here

"it's unlikely the bills were lost"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 10:50 PM

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FRANKLIN —

The town treasurer mailed excise bills in February, but about 600 residents never received them, and now they've gotten hit with late fees and interest penalties, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Nutting attributes the problem to a mailing error on the part of the U.S. Postal Service.

"When one person says they didn't get their bill, that's one thing, but when hundreds of people are coming in and telling the same story, you have to believe it's true," said Nutting.

"They've been coming in and saying, 'Why do I have to pay this? I never got an original bill,"' he said.

Read the full article about the missing excise tax bills in the Milford Daily News here

Four Corners sale complete

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 10:53 PM

Last update Jun 05, 2009 @ 12:07 AM

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FRANKLIN —

The town sold the former Four Corners School to Arista Development LLC and got the check for $2.5 million Tuesday, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Norwood-based Arista is replacing the building at the intersection of Rte. 140 and King Street with a Walgreens pharmacy.

About $1 million of the money will be used to pay the existing debt on the property, which the town bought for $1.32 million, Nutting said.

Town Council voted Wednesday to put the $1 million in an escrow account for that purpose.

The remainder of the funds can be used for any bondable expense, or capital project, such as building repairs, but cannot legally be used for operational costs, such as salaries or schools, and cannot be put into free cash, Nutting said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here