Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Live reporting - FY 10 Budget hearing

Update on current status, the amount not balanced is about 800,000 off and is really only 1% of the total budget.

From left to right Susan Gagner, Jeff Nutting

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11 Town positions lost for FY 2010

An adjustment will be required in the fall for unemployment costs.

Tax levy increased by 2.5%
State revenue has been reduced by 1.5 million (from various sources per the Governor's numbers).
Motor vehicle receipts down driving the total of Local receipts down over 940,000.

Public facilities did increase due to the total number of buildings covered (schools, etc.)

Public Schools are level funded
Regional school has a savings due to a decrease in enrollment and their own budget reduction efforts

Debt did increase, bonding for the Senior Center, Fire truck and a couple of other items drove this increase.

Norfolk County Assessment increased by 180,000

Q&A
Doak - if we have to make additional cuts, can you give any insights as to where they would be coming from?
Nutting - I think they would be split between Town and School. We haven't had that discussion yet. There are really only 5 Town budgets that could absorb any significant amounts. How much more peril do we want to put the Schools in? I'd rather not start making assumptions, it really depends upon what the amount is. If local option tax is coming around, that would be another Council discussion on how it would be used.

Bartlett - when you go to the Capital, are they aware of the impact with layoffs, etc?
Nutting - They know how important Chapter 70 and local aid is to the cities and towns. There is such a budget dilemma, they are trying to weigh all the possibilities. We managed to get co-pay increases this year, will that happen again, can't say.

Live reporting - Action items

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
  1. Resolution 09-40: Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 39, Section 23D and Specification of its General Applicability Approved - 7-0
  2. Resolution 09-41: Appropriation – Library Repairs Approved - 7-0
  3. Resolution 09-42: Establishment of Elected Officials’ Salaries- FY 10 Approved - 7-0
  4. Resolution 09-44: Appropriation – Rt. 140/King Street Construction Approved - 7-0
Notes:
#1 - currently, if a member of Conservation Commission, Planning Board, etc. misses a meeting they can not vote on the final approval. This change allows if they miss one meeting to particiapte via the meeting archives records and continue to provide a vote. If they miss more than one meeting this does not apply.

#2 - the net proceeds of the Four Corners sale could be used for any bondable item (building, roads, fire truck, etc.). It can not be used for operational expenses. The net amount from the sale would be 1.5 million, this uses approx 300,000 leaving 1.2 million still in the account to be used for some other bondable uses.

#3 - correction to amounts on pre-release copy. The amounts also include 4 days at the end of fiscal 2010 that are part of the next pay period in FY 2011 for simplicity sake for the payroll process.

#4 - this is using some monies left over from prior work efforts to re-do the corner at King Street and RT 140. The work will improve traffic flow at the corner for Walgreens.

Live reporting - 4th of July

Presentation by Michael Walker Jones, Warren Revell

An update on the fund raising status
Garelick Farms has contributed so that the fireworks will be held this year.
The Lions Club has provided support for the parade to be held on July 5th

The committee has a new website www.july4thfranklinma.com

You can contribute to the 4th of July via the donation form on the web site here

There is a mailing going to all residents asking for contributions to this effort.

The group will be accepting donations year-round to continue to maintain and support the events on the 4th this year and future years.

Live reporting - Town Council - 6/10/09

Attending: Whalen, Mason, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak, Zollo
Missing: Vallee, McGann


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - Cub Scouts
Citizenship awards presented to several Cub Scouts for showing interest in government by attending the Town Council meeting of 6/10/09

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None

E. APPOINTMENTS
  • Zoning Board of Appeals - Phil Brunelli, as an associate member - approved 6-0, 1 abstention
  • Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - re-appointment of existing members, one vacancy remains approved 7-0

Town Council - Agenda - 6/10/09

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - Cub Scouts

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
  • Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

F. HEARINGS – 7:10 PM - FY 2010 Budget – Public Hearing

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - Franklin 4th of July Committee

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
  1. Resolution 09-40: Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 39, Section 23D and Specification of its General Applicability
  2. Resolution 09-41: Appropriation – Library Repairs
  3. Resolution 09-42: Establishment of Elected Officials’ Salaries- FY 10
  4. Resolution 09-44: Appropriation – Rt. 140/King Street Construction


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Updated to add two items from the revised agenda

Congresman Jim McGovern - local office hours

On Saturday, June 13th, Congressman Jim McGovern will hold local office hours to meet and talk with us at the following places:

  • Medway: Coffee Sensations, 116 Main St, 8:00 - 9:00 AM
  • Franklin: Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St, 9:30 - 10:30 AM
  • Wrentham: Public Safety Bldg, 89 South St, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Plainville: Fire Station, 157 South St, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
  • North Attleborough: Richards Memorial Library, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

This is your chance to talk with Congressman McGovern.

Sign up for his newsletter on his web site here

School Committee Mtg 06/09/09

The collection of live reporting posts from the School Committee meeting on June 9, 2009 can be found here: