Sunday, September 6, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Election "line up" card - updated
A phone call to the Town Clerk's office resulted in a number of updates as we head into this Labor Day weekend.
Prior updates can be found here and here
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Table below shows the positions available for election this November.
The Candidates column initially showed just the incumbents.
Those who have confirmed taking out papers are marked with a * and bold.
New candidates have their name in bold with -new.
The incumbents who have confirmed not to be running again have been marked in red text.
The existing position holders who have not yet taken out papers are listed for reference to keep track of the "line up card"
So what does this tell us?
We need more candidates! The only election competition is for the Board of Health position.
Prior updates can be found here and here
------
Table below shows the positions available for election this November.
The Candidates column initially showed just the incumbents.
Those who have confirmed taking out papers are marked with a * and bold.
New candidates have their name in bold with -new.
The incumbents who have confirmed not to be running again have been marked in red text.
The existing position holders who have not yet taken out papers are listed for reference to keep track of the "line up card"
So what does this tell us?
We need more candidates! The only election competition is for the Board of Health position.
| Name | # of Openings | Candidates | Term of Office |
| Board of Assessors | 1 Position (For 4 years) | Robert Avakian* | 2009 to 2013 |
| Board of Health | 1 Position (For 4 years) | Bruce Hunchard* Koren Kanadanian-new | 2009 to 2013 |
| Planning Board | 2 Position (For 4 years) | Anthony Padula* | 2009 to 2013 |
| * 1Vacant | Joseph Halligan-new | 2009 to 2013 | |
| Planning Board (Associate) | * 1 vacant position (For 4 Years) | 2009 to 2013 | |
| Town Council | 9 Positions (For 2 Years) | Joseph McGann | 2009 to 2011 |
| Deborah Bartlett - not running again | |||
| R. Scott Mason* | |||
| Christopher Feeley | |||
| Judith Pond Pfeffer* | |||
| Thomas Doak - not running again | |||
| Shannon Zollo* | |||
| Robert Vallee* | |||
| Stephen Whalen | |||
| Glenn Jones- new Daniel Ballinger-new Bryce Kuchs - new Robert Avakian - new Matthew Kelly (switch from School Committee) | |||
| School Committee | 7 Positions (For 2 Years) | Cora Armenio | 2009 to 2011 |
| Susan Rohrbach* | |||
| Paula Mullen* | |||
| Edward Cafasso* | |||
| Roberta Trahan* | |||
| Matthew Kelly - switch to Town Council | |||
| Jeffrey Roy* William Glynn - new |
Bang for your buck
The Boston Globe "G" section has an interesting table depicting the performance of school districts (according to MCAS scores of the 4th and 10th grades) compared to the assessed home value. Franklin is amongst the top.
No real surprises there. Steve Whalen had put together a similar table and now that table is part of the Financial Planning Committee's report.
If the tax rate was use instead of assessed home values, Franklin would rise higher on the chart.
View the full chart here in the Globe
View the Financial Planning Committee report here
No real surprises there. Steve Whalen had put together a similar table and now that table is part of the Financial Planning Committee's report.
If the tax rate was use instead of assessed home values, Franklin would rise higher on the chart.
View the full chart here in the Globe
View the Financial Planning Committee report here
Does age of the respondents determine survey answers?
Results of the Citizen Participation Questionnaire were very helpful in identifying what Franklin residents believe to be the Town’s biggest recreation and open space needs. When asked what recreation and open space facilities the Town needed most, Bike Trails, Conservation Areas, and Hiking Trails were the three most popular responses. The survey data shows there appears to be a desire for additional passive recreation facilities. Franklin residents’ desire for improvement and expansion of passive recreation activities and facilities is consistent with regional and national trends.Analysis of survey data show that a respondent’s opinion of which facilities the Town needs may be directly related to the age of individuals in their households. For example, of the respondents that claim to have children in their household, 35.9% chose Youth Center as one of the Town’s more important facilities needed, compared to only 15.0 percent of households with individuals 60 years and over, and 28.2 percent of all respondents. Likewise 52.2 percent of respondents with children in their household chose Bike Trails as a needed facility, compared to 22.5 percent of households with individuals 60 years and over, and 41.9 percent of all respondents. The most popular response from respondents with individuals 60 years and over in their households was conservation areas, with hiking trails and dog park coming in close behind.
Each one of us has a point of view. It is good to acknowledge and respect that. It is also good to then find some common ground within those points of view. The common ground can bring diverse sections together to build a community effort.
Read more about the survey and the resulting Open Space and Recreation Plan on the Town web site here (PDF).
Friday, September 4, 2009
Visit Grateful Farm at Farmer's Market
The Farmer's Market is open on the Town Common today from noon to 6:00 PM.
One of the farms regularly appearing to feature their produce for sale is a real "local" farm, Grateful Farm.
Grateful Farm is located on Prospect St and has been growing organic produce since 1983.
If you get a chance to stop by their tent on the Town Common, say hi to Kyle. She will help you with a smile!
Pleasant St - paving work
One of the signs that had been reported stolen earlier this summer at least is now back in place to for warn drivers that Pleasant St gets rough from that point on towards Norfolk.
It had been so hot and humid, I cut back my longer runs on the weekends and had not been out Pleasant for several weeks in this past Sunday. The top layer had been removed in preparation for paving. I did not observe that the casing were raised as I ran on Sunday. That work must be underway.
It had been so hot and humid, I cut back my longer runs on the weekends and had not been out Pleasant for several weeks in this past Sunday. The top layer had been removed in preparation for paving. I did not observe that the casing were raised as I ran on Sunday. That work must be underway.
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